The History of the Wind-Borne Bard

2,600 years ago, the entity now known as Barbatos was a nameless, formless wisp of wind in Old Mondstadt. He formed a bond with the Nameless Bard, who sought to see the world beyond the fierce storm that surrounded Decarabian's capital. Known as "the elf,"[1] he participated in the bard's rebellion, and after a fierce struggle, they vanquished the tyrannical lord.[2]

With Decarabian's death, a power vacuum was left in Mondstadt, and both Andrius and Barbatos qualified for the position of Anemo Archon. Andrius, believing himself incapable of the love for humanity that an Archon needed to have, passed over the position. Barbatos thus took up the position, and his first use of his powers was to take up the form of the Nameless Bard in his memory, for he perished in the battle against Decarabian.[3]

He reshaped Mondstadt's terrain and climate into its current state, while Andrius — who was at the end of his life — realized his fierce blizzards could only take away lives and decided to allow his power to flow into Mondstadt so it could nourish the land. After his death, he became one of the Four Winds of Mondstadt and took on his current icy form seen in Wolvendom.

At the end of the Archon War 2,000 years ago, Barbatos was one of the original Seven who emerged victorious. He became rather close with Morax, the Geo Archon and ruler of the neighboring nation of Liyue. After establishing his land as the land of freedom, Barbatos refused to directly rule over his people and departed.

Despite being a land of freedom, Mondstadt would not be free forever. Around 1,000 years after Decarabian's fall, Mondstadt had fallen into the hands of the Aristocracy — an oppressive ruling class that defied all that Barbatos left for his people. Seeing the state of his land, Barbatos descended to Mondstadt once again. Using his tricks[2], he assisted Vennessa in her rebellion against the Aristocracy. After toppling the oppressive rulers, she founded the Knights of Favonius and Mondstadt was established as the land it is known as today.