Basic Info
-
Disclaimer
-
Because there's been little to no mention of Natlan and its culture in-game, most of Ness's story elements and role is highly speculative and/or just based on my own ideas and headcanons. As such, almost everything here is subject to change as we learn more about Natlan in the future.
Profile
Ness
"Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them."
Adventure Rank 60
Adventure Exp 340,125/340,125
World Level 8
TRUE NAME: Xolotl/Ronove
AGE: Unknown
D.O.B: August 1
PRONOUNS: she/her
REGION: Natlan
CONSTELLATION: Canem Mortis
VISION: Pyro
WEAPON: Claymore
SPECIAL DISH: "Renewal at Dusk"
STATUS: Active
PROFILE
A mystifying and self-proclaimed traveler that hails from Natlan, currently wandering the vast land of Teyvat with a single yet unknown goal in mind. She is a kind and knowledgeable soul that carries a strangely powerful aura despite her initial carefree demeanor.
Ness can often be seen traversing through various ruins across the land as well as Hilichurl encampments. To the surprise of many, she has seemed to form a peaceful relationship with the creatures and can sometimes be heard speaking their native language. Despite this, Ness never stays in one area for too long, and continuously rakes the land to fulfill her own proclaimed duty. And although she speaks with warmness of her homeland, she finds herself never looking back on it.
"The souls of those ravaged by war shall remain ablaze until they too, find peace. And my flames will continue to burn and guide them until they reach that eternal rest."
PERSONALITY
To most, Ness is but another ordinary traveler that has set out to explore the world with her lively, exploratory spirit. Many would describe her as an open-minded, approachable figure that likes to engage in friendly spars, sports and other activities. Yet she holds some reservations as well, and it becomes quite obvious that she keeps people at a distance when speaking to them. Although she finds joy in meeting and connecting with others, Ness becomes a little less animated when questioned about her past and/or family. Instead, she's more inclined to speak about the present, how lovely life's smallest joys can be and the importance of human connection. Ironically enough though, she herself doesn't stay in the same place or with the same people for very long. Fully aware she isn't completely like the mortals she meets, Ness is more than okay to leave people to live their own lives and find their own sparks.
Being accustomed to traveling alone, Ness is also fairly independent. She takes life in strides and with much certainty in her mission, even if she doesn't know whatever the future holds for her. Yet her more laid-back demeanor is by no means an indicator that she can be pushed around. Under her cool gaze lies a fiery spark that can be ignited at a moments notice. Although playful in her spars, her true combat abilities pack as much firepower in them as her vision entails them to. However, it's rare to actually see Ness fully enraged or emotional, as if she's learned to keep her flames from burning out of control. This can also be attributed to her desire to have her flames be a source of light and comfort rather than a tool for war and battle. Despite hailing from Natlan, Ness has a more peaceful outlook on life than the resident Pyro Archon of her nation.
Character Details
During the early hours of dusk and the all encompassing darkness of the night, some people may find themselves catching glimpses of glowing blue orbs lighting up the distant lands. Often mistaken for fireflies, onlookers fail to realize that the orbs of light aren't orbs at all, and that they accompany a passive yet unyielding individual that roams the land freely.
The individual in question calls herself "Ness" and can often be seen emerging from the wilderness and going into small villages all over Teyvat. Despite her youthful appearance and amiable personality, there always seems to be something hidden beneath the surface, and her gaze tells the tale of someone who's seen her fair share of history.
Yet whenever she's questioned about her past, Ness simply responds with a small smile and claims she's nothing but an ordinary traveler.
Story 1
During her travels, Ness has had plenty of encounters with a wide array of people from different nations. Some interactions may be brief, while others may extend for a few days, but the one thing that remains constant is the strange disconnect between Ness and the individual in question. Although her friendly desposition is nothing but true and honest, it's clear that she purposely avoids forming any close bonds with the people she comes across - especially if they're mortal. While some may call her out on this questionable behavior, Ness by no means does this with malicious intent, but rather from force of habit.
In ages past, Ness was not percieved as the spirited traveler she is today, but was rather associated with unfortunate happenings or percieved as an omen of death. This ill-placed correlation didn't surprise Ness given the nature of her role, but it made her highly conscientious about appearing before mortals. Not wanting to strike fear in anyone or let them know of her more "grizzly" business, she purposely began distancing herself for the sake of others' contentedness. Even after retiring her old identity, this instinct to keep away remains intact and ever present. And whether she's aware of this habit or not, Ness seldom ponders over it.
Story 2
TBA.
Story 3
TBA.
Story 4
TBA.
Vision
Story of how Ness acquired her vision.
About Natlan
A look into Ness's old history with Natlan and her thoughts on how it's changed.
True Identity
TBA.
Talents
| Icon | Name | Type |
 |
Kindled Bladework | Normal Attack |
|
Normal Attack: Perform up to 4 consecutive strikes. Charged Attack: Drains Stamina over time to perform continuous slashes. At the end of the sequence, perform a more powerful slash. Plunging Attack: Plunges from mid-air to strike the ground below, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE DMG upon impact. |
 |
Blazing Beast | Elemental Skill |
|
Grants all nearby party members the Ashen Resurrection effect and deals Pyro Damage in different ways based on whether it is clicked or held. Press: Summons a small rush of spirit guides that track and deal Area of Effect Pyro DMG to opponents. Hold: Performs a powerful forward slash, dealing Pyro DMG to opponents in front of Ness and decreasing opponent's Pyro RES by 15% for 8s. Ashen Resurrection: When characters with this buff hit opponents, Normal, Charged, Plunging Attack, Elemental Skill, and Elemental Burst Damage dealt is increased based on a percentage of Ness's current Attack. This effect can be stacked 3 times. The Ashen Resurrection effect will be cleared once its duration ends. Holding rather than pressing grants a longer duration and more stacks (maximum of 5 stacks per character). Each member of the party will have these effects and their stacks counted independently. |
 |
Place of Shadows | Elemental Burst |
| Ness unleashes her heavenly blue flames and purifies the area around her with the aid of her spirit guides. During its ability duration, Place of Shadows will continuously attack all opponents within its large AoE, dealing Pyro DMG and providing the active character within its AoE with the same buffs as given by Ashen Resurrection. The buffs provided by Ashen Resurrection will not stack, and its effects and duration will be determined by the last Ashen Resurrection to take effect. |
 |
Harbinger of Dusk | Passive Talent 1 |
| When the active party member is under the effects of Ashen Resurrection, their Pyro DMG Bonus is increased by 2.5% every 1s for 8s. |
 |
Underworld Courier | Passive Talent 2 |
| During Place of Shadow's duration, Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attacks deal 25% more DMG to opponents whose HP is below 50%. |
 |
Foraging Friends | Passive Talent 3 |
| When Ness is in the party, Hilichurls will not be startled nor threatened when party members approach them. This effect will be nullified if they are attacked, however. |
LIKES
- dogs
- axolotls
- hot springs
- music
- light novels
- ball games
DISLIKES
- seafood
- alcohol
- strong perfumes
- extremely cold weather
- plain foods
HOBBIES
- Exploring and resting in old ruins and hilichurl camps.
- Participating in any kind of sports or sparring activity.
- Playing and/or listening to music (is especially fond of Mondstadt music).
TRIVIA
- Ness makes it no secret that her name is an alias and not, in fact, her true name. No one knows why she admits this or why she chose that name in particular. But some have theorized that she chose it to honor the legacy of Vennessa, a famed Mondstadt hero who also hailed from Natlan. Ness has neither confirmed nor denied this speculation.
- She is also capable of "seeing" things many ordinary humans cannot. Whether it be her loyal spirit guides (sometimes described to look like blue orbs to certain people who've seen them) or the lively aura surrounding a person.
- Being a native of the renowned Pyro region herself, Ness is highly accustomed to hot weather, even when it reaches extreme temperatures. It would be no exaggeration to say that she could literally be set on fire and not feel a thing.
- TBA.
- TBA.
VOICE-OVERS
Hello
"Hi there, I’m just another traveler around these parts. You can call me Ness, pleasure to make your acquaintance. I also happen to be on an important journey to fulfill a goal of mine. So, how about we travel together for some time?"
Chat: Spirits
"You can find lost souls from the past just about anywhere. My only hope is that they can one day reach their final resting place."
Chat: Ruins
"One should always be cautious when exploring ruins, lest they anger any restless spirits still inside."
Chat:
""
When It Rains
"I always enjoy listening to the rain. But- usually when I have a roof over my head."
When Thunder Strikes
"A thunderstorm, huh? You know, back in my homeland it was quite rare to experience one of these."
When It Snows
"Ah-achoo! Ugh, sorry I’m not very good with the cold. Hey uh, you wouldn’t happen to have a spare jacket, would you?"
When the Sun Is Out
"Clear skies all around. Now this is the weather I’m most accustomed to.”
When the Wind Is Blowing
"What a refreshing breeze."
In the Desert
"Hah, this blistering heat reminds me of home. Though, if you’re not accustomed to this kind of weather then we should probably get out of here as soon as possible."
Good Morning
"Ah, feeling the sun’s rays first thing in the morning after a cold night is always a delight. It looks like the sun has been successfully guided once again. Oh, sorry, did I wake you?"
Good Afternoon
"The sun is at its peak now. How about we grab some lunch before continuing on our journey?"
Good Evening
"And so the sun sets beyond the horizon once again. May its journey be another safe one."
Good Night
"It’s getting late, you should rest now. Huh? Where am I going? Don’t worry about it, I just have some…things to attend to. I’ll see you in the morning."
About Us: Wandering
"They say ‘not all who wander are lost,’ which is a statement I wholeheartedly agree with. But, sometimes I think my innate urge to guide people that look like they need some kind of direction hampers this belief. Perhaps I’m a little too dedicated to my job, even now I feel compelled to walk you through your journey when you’re more than capable of doing so yourself."
About Us: Conviction
"I admire people who have the strength to stand up for what they believe in and better themselves in the lessons they’ve learned. You are one of those people, and I hope you continue to thrive no matter what life throws at you."
About Ness: Name
"A lot of people like asking me if the name “Ness” is short for something. Heh, I guess having such a short name would raise that kind of question. Hm? Now you’re asking about it too? Well, it’s certainly a special nickname I chose, that’s for sure."
About Ness: Abandoned Places
"I’ll never quite understand why people are so afraid of old and abandoned areas. Sure there may be unrest spirits around, but they can be found just about anywhere and are quite harmless if treated right. Hm, perhaps people are just frightened by the thought of a place once so full of human life now devoid of all traces of it…"
About The Vision
"Many people seem to attribute a person’s strength to their vision, but I don’t agree with that notion. For it was the individual’s own strength and desire that granted them that vision in the first place, no?"
Something To Share
"It is no secret that I constantly surround myself with people and places from the past. Such a thing is- well, required of my role. As such I don't percieve death in the same way many others do. There cannot be life without death after all, so why fear the inevitable? If anything, it is just a reminder to enjoy the here and now."
Something Interesting
""
More About Ness: I
"You’d like to know more about me? Truthfully, I don’t have much to tell. I’m simply another traveler that hails from Natlan. You can find me just about anywhere - in old tents, caves or even Hilichurl camps. Don’t worry, I actually get along quite well with those fellows."
More About Ness: II
"One of my favorite pastimes to do with others aside from sparring is playing tlachtli - an old Natlan ball game. I’ve been playing it for as long as I can remember, so I guess it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I’m quite the pro at it. So how about it? Wanna play?"
More About Ness: III
""
More About Ness: IV
""
More About Ness: V
""
Ness's Hobbies
"I’ve always enjoyed music from all four corners of the world, but Mondstadt’s music is probably one of my favorites. Hearing the bards from the City of Freedom has even inspired me to pick up lyre playing myself. I’m certainly no expert but I like to play simple tunes every now and then."
Ness's Troubles
"As someone who greatly respects the natural cycle of life and death, those who carelessly tread on and end other people’s lives with no remorse ignite a deep fury within me."
Favorite Food
"I enjoy most meat dishes, especially if they have bursts of flavors or spice added to them."
Least Favorite Food
"I can’t really stand the smell of seafood let alone the taste. Same goes for alcohol, just one whiff of it makes me dizzy."
Birthday
""
Feelings About Ascension: Intro
"What's this? I feel a new spark of power in me."
Feelings About Ascension: Building Up
"My senses have gotten sharper! What do you say about another sparring match?"
Feelings About Ascension: Climax
"The flame in me grows still. Thank you for helping me get stronger, my friend."
Feelings About Ascension: Conclusion
"This power reminds me of my old war days. Although this time I'll use my flames as a guiding light rather than a tool for bloodshed."
About Silas
Best Friend
"You want to know about Silas, hm? Well they're certainly an enigmatic one that's for sure. I can sense she's just like that blond outlander and perhaps more, although I never bother her on the subject since she can't remember much anyways. Aside from that, we get along great! He's especially lively during our sparring matches so I guess it's no wonder that he's got a pyro vision as well."
About Odette
Friend?
"..."
About Aether
Friend
"I actually met Aether the same day I met Silas. And after learning about his reason for journeying across Teyvat, I couldn't help but sympathize with him. To be an outlander tossed into an unknown world without his kin, it's...hard to imagine. I usually pride myself on helping others find where they need to go, but despite my best efforts, I can't really do that for him. So at the very least I'll keep an eye out for him, and should the day comes where he needs a hand, I'll gladly outstretch mine for him."
About Hu Tao
Acquaintance
"Ah, the ever lively director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. I really do admire her energy, but sometimes I wish she'd tone it down a bit when discussing funerary affairs with others. Despite that, her dedication to her job and commitment to ensure everyone reaches their eternal rest is quite admirable. Her ancestors taught her well, and I'm sure they're proud of her."
About Xiao
Acquaintance
"Oh yes, I've only met the guardian Yaksha perchance because of Aether's insistence of bringing him out of his shell. Although our encounters are brief, I sense a sort of kindred tie to him as we are both beings plagued by the effects of war and hold ourselves to our nonstop duty. May we both find peaceful rest one day."
About Baizhu
???
"I understand why he thinks what he's doing is for the 'greater good' and I'm sure others would too. He is a doctor that wants to save as many lives as possible after all. However, I cannot bring myself to agree with his methods and his disruption of the natural cycle of life and death."
About Venti
Acquaintance
"So that drunkard is still kicking, huh? He certainly hasn't changed in all these years, still frolicking about Mondstadt without a care in the world. Not like I can fault him for that though, the Land of Freedom is a warm, carefree place. A place where you can temporarily forget about your troubles. I suppose that's why I've grown so comfortable there."
About Zhongli
Acquaintance
"The Lord of Geo has always had my respect for being a formidable war leader in olden times as well as a wise soul in present times. And even though he's retired his divine status, I still find myself addressing him in an overly formal way."
About Murata
???
"..."
Comments