Thread by @wormlandalice

🐦Allegory, Allegorier, Allegoriest: the special thread 🧵about the Redcrown Finch which most likely represents Childe and his mysterious connection to the two Bluecrown Finches... one of which most likely representing Sandrone. Starting in the replies! ↴

BIG DISCLAIMER: it’s not a theory per se. I just share my findings and observations here, and I feel like they are valid because it’s not one time connections or even a singular pattern (but a number of them). You are free to disagree!

Since the thread also concerns @dailymarionette, tagging you just as I’ve promised. Hope you will have fun after the knowledge I’ve shared with you!

Now onto the thing itself.

@dailymarionette As you might know, sometimes developers of Genshin Impact create the whole species which allude to the certain characters in the game. Or at least recreate certain scenes and situations with the existing animals.

@dailymarionette For example, there is a whole Neuvillette otter, which is known for “meek and indolent” temper and the “unhurried” existence (which rather fitting for the long life species like dragons).

@dailymarionette Though the behavior of the otter in the wild is not 1-to-1 to Neuvi’s, we can still see the parallels, like with that one which peeks into Meropide…

@dailymarionette And that’s not the only case as we are not even counting the very likely Neuvillette and Wriothesley geese:

https://x.com/luluraemi/status/1737524077550870754?s=20

@dailymarionette Or there is another example of the similar thing, but now it’s the Narzissenkreuz “children”, so to speak, directly represented in the Realm of Farakhkert tunnel/cave system by the pearl statues and the animals,

@dailymarionette corresponding to the same animals in the NK storyline:

https://x.com/Cyrille_tte/status/1765046440642924654?s=20

@dailymarionette A bigger photo: one shining pearl which attracts the attention of the finch (right below the shell), while the frog and the squirrel look at the one which not shines; and a certain slime is approaching them.

@dailymarionette Thus recreating the whole concept of the NK WQ line: the squirrel = Colonel Kate = Carter, the frog = Jak = Jakob, the finch = Petit Chou = little Mary-Ann and the slime being most likely Rene = Narzissenkreuz;

@dailymarionette curiously enough, the difference between the shining pearl and one that is not shines is potentially hinting at the answer to the question behind the Ann’s and “Mary-Ann’s” identities; and that all while a duck = Alain is absent from the picture entirely.

@dailymarionette The additional callback is achieved through the fact that the shells with the pearls in the caves and in the Annapausis are exactly the same:

@dailymarionette And let’s not forget how the mud frog’s description is actually very fitting for Jakob:

https://x.com/Rayniegirl_/status/1765062257220943874?s=20

@dailymarionette Three last notes on this topic, since we are touching the Sandrone subject soon enough anyways. First: only Al and Chou are represented by the birds, though only Chou is a finch.

Second: the etymology of the Redcrown and Crimson Finch (the one which represents Mary-Ann).

@dailymarionette And the last one little thing: the parallels between the Crimson Finch and Mary-Ann’s story.

@dailymarionette As you can see, the choices for the animals are far from coincidental. For now I will ask you to just keep that all in mind; it will be significant a bit later.

@dailymarionette So far we have an interesting situation: potentially, there is a wild life that could reflect a certain character even to a degree of visual symbolism, conveyed through the objects in the environment.

@dailymarionette But have you ever thought that Hoyo could pull the whole foreshadowing through the animals like this just because they can?

I found out that it’s most likely the case.

@dailymarionette With the release of Fontaine many new species were added into the game, and at that moment many people started to point out that the Redcrown Finch is suspiciously similar to Childe, credits to:

https://x.com/jakthesac/status/1689959380228169728?s=20

@dailymarionette Recently the fact resurfaced and became more known thanks to:

https://x.com/BananaMilkBunni/status/1766536011775983995?s=20

@dailymarionette First things first: why this bird represents Childe? Aside from some visual similarities like a “crown”/ahoge, the red color and the blue eyes, the major reasons lie in their actually similar personalities and themes:

@dailymarionette But there’s also the Bluecrown finch. We will talk about their potential identity later, but as of now I want to highlight that the blue ones are practically coded as Childe’s opposites by the design alone. Thanks to @mmakinar for helping me figuring this fact.

@dailymarionette @mmakinar The other thing to note from the get-go: the Bluecrowns also have a similar color palette to that of Nymph’s Dream artifact set aka Childe’s BiS. Very big thanks to Ellis (on Discord) for pointing that out!

@dailymarionette @mmakinar But are there the same amount of coincidences for the Redcrown Finch and his appearances in the game itself?

@dailymarionette @mmakinar One of the first to talk about actually happens in the web-event “Lean, Mean, Cleaning Machine”. This event centers around the Traveler literally cleaning different objects around the region.

@dailymarionette @mmakinar During the first stage we encounter the Redcrown, where you need to clean the clock, and we meet two finches, the first — Childe one, and also the other, the mysterious Golden.

During this stage the birds are spooked, obviously; and as the result we get this picture, where the Golden Finch leaves but the Redcrown doesn’t even try to catch up. Which is funny, since they are both, well, birds, clearly capable of flight.

The description for this stage names it “We Will Be Reunited”, referencing the relationships between the siblings and the quest concerning its nature and the current situation with it.

So what’s up with the Golden Finch? I think this bird in this web-event clearly symbolizes the Traveler. The parallels become very clear once you look into the Golden Finch’s description.

And what is happening in the “We will be Reunited” picture is really fitting for Childe’s and the Traveler’s overall dynamic, in Fontaine or else, as Childe clearly awaits to spend some time with them, very consistently suggesting to do so.

While the Traveler is the one to go away and in general to keep their distance, which is only further highlighted in the Fontaine’s AQ and general coldness of the Traveler to Childe.

Before we go, I can also suggest to read my opinion on his overall dynamic with the Traveler can be found here, if you are interested, of course:

retrospring.net/@wormlandalice…

And a side note: it seems like Hoyo puts the golden finches as a stand-in the Traveler into the arts for some time already. For example, there is a Zhongli b-day art where he clearly addresses the Traveler in the description, but looks at the bird…

https://x.com/GenshinImpact/status/1476767066162024450?s=20

But I digress.

As you can see this web-event reflected their relationships through the visuals and references. But what about the birds in the open world? Are they too at least somewhat reflective of the existing or potential dynamics between the characters?

As you will see, I tried to track down and took photos of those birds which are shown on Teyvat’s Interactive Map (see below). According to it, there are 13 Bluecrowns and 20 Redcrowns, but in fact there are more of them in the wild.

In fact, there are at least twice as much of them, as far as I could’ve found, if not more.

If you want to look for those which I am about to mention and follow along this thread, I recommend to use Aloy in one team (because of her passive)…

…and Sayu, just in case…

…and Charlotte, esp. once you’ve already acquired the special gadget for her, for comfortable photo hunt. Of course, for the 4th slot the damage dealer or shielder whose attacks doesn’t startle the animals is highly advised.

(1) The first location we will talk about is Mary-Ann Memorial Park and its vicinity. As you’ve guessed from the name, it’s the park dedicated to the memory Mary-Ann Guillotin which d/ed during the Elynas incident.

This park and the territory around it contains the biggest amount of the Redcrown finches in the game: there are at least 7 of them there, alongside three Bluecrowns and at least three Burgundy Umbrellafinches.

The first Redcrown worth mentioning happens to be in the large hilichurl’s encampment below the mountain and down the road from the Bluecrown near the lake.

There the bird sits on the rock being overly excited while looking at the statue of the giant robot. That’s how I know this bird is sure symbolizing Childe: only he could be happy to reside in an extremely dangerous place while wanting to fight smth looking like the ruin guard.

(2) Yet another confirmation of this bird imitating Childe’s general behavior is the second location of the Redcrown in the park. This time it is near the time challenge on a small patch of land and grass at the lake itself.

The time challenge, which is funny, is the aiming one. Which is fitting. After all…

And here it is, of course.

(3) Still in the Memorial Park, there is a bird which is not marked on the interactive map. It’s well-hidden under the Statue of the Seven, and you need Aloy on the team not to spook it.

There is a nest under the structure where the Statue is. To which the bird brought two pinecones as gifts for the eggs.

Yet again, it’s absolutely in line with how and who Childe is. He always tries to bring the souvenirs for his siblings when he is out for work in the foreign land. One of the most explicit example of that was “Outside the Canvas, Inside the Lens: Greenery Chapter” event:

(4) The similar pattern of the Redcrown keeping an eye on the eggs persists throughout many other its appearances in the wild. First example could be found here (where the blue arrow is):

The Redcrown sits on some ruined wall looking out for the eggs from the distance, and it’s very happy. Highly recommend to check this one out.

(5) Other example of this can be found almost under the Central Laboratory Ruins.

You can find the Redcrown sitting on the broken pine branch and watching somewhere in the distance.

Around this place you will also find a bunch of the Fatui soldiers and also a whole set of the other birds which are NOT paying attention at the eggs on some ruins (the sparkle on the last photo). The Redcrown is the only one who does that.

(6) This actually a very good time to start to talk about the Bluecrown 1. You might’ve noticed that there are ruins of the Fontaine Research Institute in the background of the last picture. It’s there we can find our first blue bird:

You can even see the broken pine we’ve talked about before not far from it. But that’s not even the curious thing here: it’s a start of the whole pattern of the blue one sitting specifically in the ruins of the Institute, or at least preferring to do so.

(7) For example, there is a whole location with the area alert meka on the flank of Mont Esus, where this bird observes them.

Funnily enough, there’s no joy or any emotion at all here. This Bluecrown is usually calm and doesn’t perform many dances of excitement, unlike its red counterpart.

(8) In the very same area but closer to the edge there appears the second finch, but it doesn’t pay attention to the mekas at all. More so, they are just vibing on the edge of the flank…

…only to fall down. The bird is absolutely fine after that, though usually they turn into the fowl after such accidents.

Of course, the fall can be just a bug, but the appearance of the two identical finches together while only one of them being interested in the machines makes me think only about two specific people: Alain and Mary-Ann Guillotin. See Ancient Log:

It doesn’t help that the second bird fell but survived the fall. If we continue to draw parallels and assume that’s no coincidence, the fallen bird is definitely supposed to be Mary-Ann. After all, she d/ed, but not completely… if at all.

(9) However, it wouldn’t obstruct anyone from thinking otherwise after presumably happened. Nearby the Central Lab Ruins and not far from the Mary-Ann Memorial Park there is a quiet place at the bottom of the cliff.

There you can one of the Bluecrowns looking at the bunch of stones.

It can potentially represent her grave.

To cement the hypothesis that the Bluecrowns most likely represent the Guillotin siblings; after all, the description of the bird is very fitting for them:

(9.1.) There’s yet another curious happening which potentially concerns the same theme. There is the bird which sits nearside the small pond right on the rock before the singular Lakelight Lily in the vicinity.

The choice of the flower here maybe coincidental but still is quite curious. It’s all about “waiting” and “everlasting promises” and wishing “those most precious will be able to follow its cool light, returning to their side”.

You may decide whether it means anything at all for yourself.

But the bird itself can be found here. Be careful when approaching: the pond is surrounded by the Treasure Hoarders.

(10) But let’s go back to the Redcrowns and the Park for a bit (because we are not done there yet).

On the cliff not far from the finch which wants some challenge, there is another happy one sitting on the wooden box.

The finch seems nonchalant despite the clear presence of a threat — a treasure hoarder — just in few meters behind.

Though I wouldn’t be too confident in the treasure hoarder’s place, because I’ve seen the scene that had something really, really similar and didn’t end well for certain someone:

(11) The other Redcrown Finch in the area of the park is in the location of the achievement “The Remains of the Day”. You can see it in this video, it’s on the boxes, but it seems like it doesn’t respawn after you get the achievement:

I don’t have a lot to say here, except @RedMoonDrop75 probably knows why the Redcrown finch is there better than me:

https://x.com/RedMoonDrop75/status/1749664654333260173?s=20

@RedMoonDrop75 (12) On the stairs leading away from the Park to the structures of the Institute there is yet another Redcrown.

This time it calmly observes a Burgundy Umbrellafinch. There are also two umbrellafinches down the stairs and one mechanical dog similar to Seymour nearby.

This finch is quite curious in itself. Its description as a furniture suggests that it may be perceived as a mechanism by someone:

(13) The next and only Bluecrown in the Park actually treats those umbrellafinches just as if they are the recruits, clearly trying to teach them something. Yes, they are not its children: after all, they’re of different sub-species.

And that’s aside the fact that the Bluecrown uses the stone as the pedestal to give a lecture from.

Also interesting detail to note: those finches are of opposite to each other colors, so when inverted…

Which clearly reminds of this:

https://x.com/dailymarionette/status/1748557048412000428?s=20

Yes, it would mean that Alain is indeed Sandrone and also the creator of Katherynes. There is one more Bluecrown which supports the idea even more, but we will come to it later.

As for the location… it’s the one near the lake:

(14) For a while we can go back to the Redcrown. It also has few scenes with its own “recruits”. First I found earlier than the others, located here:

https://x.com/melaganish/status/1766597603397865824?s=20

The Redcrown also uses the “pedestal” to deliver important message to the Flatcrest Fulmars.

In motion (thank you so much for a gif!)

https://x.com/melaganish/status/1766849744582713677?s=20

And those fulmars are suspiciously similar to the Hydro and Cryo Legionnaires:

Just to note one thing. According to the Childe’s first SQ, the recruits are always supposed to be baptized by the Harbingers, so it seems like to have such kind of interaction even in the bird form makes complete and absolute sense.

(15) The other example of the recruits thing is happening in Poisson:

Just as in the previous example, there are some amount of the birds which are repeating after the Redcrown: it does the animation of the jumping and dancing, and the blues does exactly the same one after another.

(16) But back to the weird little umbrellafinches. Childe-bird interacts with them not just once.

The second case happens in Lumidouce Harbor…

As I’ve said, the Umbrellafinches most likely symbolize Katherynes, however, I am not ruling out the possibility that it could be also just Sandrone’s previous and current subordinates in general.

So the choice of the Harbor… just like the Liyue Harbor potentially can indicate that this one is somehow connected to Javert, that one Fatui agent which appeared in the Childe’s trailer (on the left) while both of them were in the Liyue Harbor.

Javert was working under Sandrone for some time, and as his name suggests he might be from Fontaine. According to the desc. of the trailer, he was “suddenly sought out by Childe with orders to collect a certain debt”.

This specific description was also the first mention of Sandrone, ever.

The whole situation with Javert alongside the other bird encounters may suggest that Childe is specifically interested in those who knows something about Sandrone for an unknown reason.

It’s partially supported by his voiceline about Marionette, which is mildly curious (unlike the other ones about the Harbingers, which are either slandering them or directly saying how he doesn’t care).

The reason for that — and for Marionette “herself” clearly hating on him — is unclear, and I would prefer not to speculate. However, there is yet another subtle confirmation of his interest in “her”:

https://x.com/wormlandalice/status/1711479936253329788?s=20

And the further we about to go with the finches, the more interesting the situation with the Bluecrown and the Redcrown becomes.

With the next ones it’s better to actually go birdwatching for a while.

(17) There is a broken bridge on the territory of the Research Institute. Highly recommend to come into the pink point on the map and go from there (the blue and red crosses are the birds).

First in this weird progression is the Alain bird, looking at yet another mekas. He will sit on the rock, as always.

The mekas won’t be alerted unless you go straight by the road.

The next is the Redcrown on the first section of the broken bridge. Its behavior is most curious: it will spend some time before the bushes, performing its idle, and then will jump right into them and then stand on the edge.

And that absolutely reminds me of something:

The next finches are on the next section of the bridge, but they don’t notice each other, since they spend their time in the different parts of it.

And at last they are together under the Statue of the Seven, vibing together (the Childe-bird is on the high ground)…

…while the third bird watches them from afar.

(18) Because this pattern of the third-wheeling happens not once, and not even twice.

The next happens in the vicinity of the Mary-Ann Memorial Park, in the location of the “Villains” quest.

This specific quest is quite curious in itself and has many parallels to Childe and what he experiences in the past, and the character which has a lot of common with him happens to be called “Tricky Bulle Fruit”.

I must say that there is a person who may tell about those parallels one day, so I won’t be saying here much.

The finches themselves are sitting on the house. Two of them are close to each other. The third pretends like it has nothing to do with other two.

Additional photo with Celestia in the background and the Childe-bird staring into your soul:

(19) The next occasion of the third-wheeling happens under the bridge near the Treasure Hoarder camp where the Bluecrown and the Redcrown are also happily spending their time hidden near the bushes.

The third-wheeler this time is the Umbrellafinch, who we established as at least a subordinate of Sandrone:

(20) And the last location with that happening is the bridge we were under in the previous case, but now on it, not below.

This one is especially interesting. It’s again the three finches, but now one of them, the blue one, is watching into its reflection in the water, while the other two are just “communicating” with each other.

Which is telling. Because there is only one character which is connected to the reflection in the water, and that’s Alain Guillotin.

Since he is representing “Narcissus”, the dragon.

No, not “Narzissenkreuz”, as it’s Rene; I am talking about specifically “Narcissus” and specifically from “A Story” told by Mary-Ann to Lyris.

The link to the article I am quoting is here (all you need to register, and it will be available):

jstor.org/stable/2630360…

This fact is especially interesting if you look at the “Nymph’s Dream” artifact set. The section which mentions “A Story” is about Alain and is told in the sands — the clock made by him. The story just weirdly jumps from him to the passage about Princess Lyris and the dragon.

The actual name of the “Nymph’s Dream” and “Nymph’s Constancy” only further proves there’s a link between Alain and the tale about the dragon told by Mary-Ann.

This practically cements one of the birds as the allegory of him.

And the second bird is most likely connected to his sister, as it’s identical to him… Whoever it is.

(21) And Alain is not escaping Sandrone allegations even for a second.

The next location of his bird is in the ruins full of the Ruin Hunters and the Ruin Guards. The Redcrown you can see around are actually underground, we will return to them.

Here it is, with the Umbrellafinch:

Which is fitting:

(22) Since we are near location of the Redfinches, let’s look right over there.

This one is exceptionally funny because of where they actually are — Merusea Village, aka Seafoam Village.

Which is quite an overlap with the “Sea-Sand” Village — the place where Childe is from.

Here we have not one, and not even two Redfinch, but a whole four of them, sitting on the four different houses.

One of them sits on the water pipe, and because of that it feels like it’s able to use hydro. Seems very Childe, if I am being honest.

And there is also the Bluebird sitting on the main house, above all others. All the Redcrowns are watching specifically it, while doing little idles.

If you ask my opinion on who the other three are representing, I’d say they Tonia, Teucer and Anthon, Childe’s younger siblings. They are all hanging out together, and it seems like Merusea here is indeed a stand-in for Morepesok!

(23) The idea that extra Redcrowns represent Childe's little brothers and sister is hinted yet again here:

There are three finches which surround Magenta Fantail Pigeon...

These specific birds, as you can see from this description, can be used to send messages. Or send letters.

They also deeply connected to love and friendship due to their heart-shaped plumage.

And the only character who is connected to sending letters and has the letter to home as the major part of their character story is exactly Childe.

And he seems to be rather close specifically to Teucer, Tonia and Anthon.
Three siblings, waiting for his letters.

(24) As you know, Childe in general spends a lot of time far from home, and it actually was him dream — to travel. So few next locations we will talk about are about this.

Then we will return to the bluecrowns.

For example, this one—

Here it is, in the field, near the travelling bags.

This place is not far from the broken pine and the Bluecrown in the ruins, just across the road.

(25) Next one is close to Foggy Forest Path.

This time the Redcrown just chills in the camp in peace.

(26) One of yet another peaceful and contemplative ones is below Mont Esus.

This time it looks in the distance, at the ruins of Fontaine Research Institute of Kinetic Energy.

If you have Aloy on the team, you can actually sit nearby him, on a stump, and enjoy beautiful views together.

And I can't help but think about the first Childe's EP, "Warrior far From Home".
That location of the Redcrown absolutely gives the same energy — at least, to me.

(27) The last and, perhaps, the funniest edition on the Childe-bird traveling around is the finch on the ship in this location. (The easiest way to approach is from the teleport in the water.)

I jokingly call this little one "a Parsifal bird".

After all, Childe is suspiciously similar to him... and they have too much curious parallels, which are not exploring here and now, but-

...just one thing to mention: Parsifal was the Chief Mate on the ship.

Alternatively, we can recall the Childe's second EP, "He Who Wanders Untrammeled", which features this shot:

(28) Before we talked about the siblings dynamic Childe has, and now it's time to return to it (and not only to them).

There is a location near the bridge which has two Bluecrowns and two Redcrowns nearby.

The blue finches are standing in front of each other behind the area alert mekas.
They are not idling/dancing or anything.

They are just standing there, which looks a bit tense.

As for the red finches, one keeps an eye on the other from the respectful distance, creating contrast between two pairs of birds, which is curious, but as well can mean absolutely nothing.

(29) But that doesn't make the Bluecrown Finches dynamic less funny and less weird.

In this location on the shore...

..two of them clearly want some tangeri- ... I mean, a Bulle Fruit (but you know can be a stand-in for Childe), which is safeguarded by yet another Fulmar...

...which happens to be somewhat similar to Pulcinella, at least in appearance.

And only Hoyo knows which this weird (anemo slime, one Bluecrown, a Mitachurl and two umbreallafinches under the Bulle Fruit tree) is supposed to represent, if represents anything at all.

And here we wrap up.

I am not going to analyze and speculate and make a deep dive into why Childe and Sandrone and potentially Mary-Ann are connected: you can make your own conclusions.

I just hope that you enjoyed this thread and went for some birdwatching.

Maybe, you will find something even more interesting that I've managed to find.

And by the way. Please check out these two beautiful arts.

One:

https://x.com/imayyykenn/status/1766904928747086158?s=20

And two:

https://x.com/imayyykenn/status/1771149909422686459?s=20

And have a nice day <3