HELLO! I have a theory about the Tsaritsa that’s been in my mind since I’ve finished that not-a-quest quest that unlocks the mural room in Dragonspine.
Here is a list of what we know:
Some thousands of years ago, a group of people sought refuge from a land of snow and strife to a lush mountain and established a civilization there and called it Sal Vindagnyr.
Sal Vindagnyr fell sometime before Khaenri’ah was built. Or at least when the latter kingdom was still new. But as far as I can remember, someone from Vindagnyr referenced Khaenri’ah only as (non-verbatim) “a rising godless kingdom.”
Sal Vindagnyr fell due to the Skyfrost Nail, not because of Durin. I think people often mistake that.
The Tsaritsa ascended as the Cryo Archon sometime before Khaenri’ah’s fall.
I’m just gonna say it. The Tsaritsa was one of the people of Sal Vindagnyr. And the former Cryo Archon was their patron god. Do I have any proof of this? None at all. But take a look of this picture.
This is a mural, presumably, of Sal Vindagnyr and what I think is their god. The six-fractal design of their magic makes me think of snowflakes and that’s the entire reason why I think that’s the former Cryo Archon LMAO
So this is what I think that happened:
The former Cryo Archon wanted the best for their people so they searched for a place where they can thrive. The land of snow, while being their domain, was not enough for their people. So they found Sal Vindagnyr.
And thrive, they did.
But the kingdom caught Celestia’s attention and the gods, such proud beings, don’t like it when their greatness is challenged.
So they struck Sal Vindagnyr with the Skyfrost Nail. I mean really, the Nail looks a lot like one of the pillars from Celestia (see: menu screen). So it’s not really so far-fetched to think that the Nail came from Celestia. And look at the mural again. Tell me that isn't a depiction of Celestia destroying the kingdom.
Sal Vindagnyr was then enveloped by the ever-winter we know. And as for the former Cryo Archon, they became like Prometheus of Greek Myth. Punished for giving mortals knowledge. Maybe they were killed. Maybe they were banished to the Abyss. Either way the seat for the Cryo Archon was left for the taking.
Fast forward to sometime later. Everyone, even Imunlaukr, thinks everyone from Sal Vindagnyr was dead. But there was one lady who persevered. One lady that vowed to avenged her god and her people. One lady who wishes to wage war against Celestia.
And so, this lady honed her cryo powers to the point of ascension and she was given the seat of the former Cryo Archon. However, the transition from mortality to divinity left her memories fragmented. She doesn’t fully remember. But hate as fiery as hers can never truly die. All it needs is the right fuel.
Then came the Fall of Khaenri’ah. A kingdom that shared the same fate as hers. She remembers the reason why she wanted power. She remembers Celestia’s injustice. And now she starts to take action.
And there you have it. LMAO. I guess rereading it, it seems more like a headcanon than anything but it is what it is. Yeah. Also, who do I think the Tsaritsa is?
I really wanted the Tsaritsa to be the Princess, “loved and favored by the divine” (but more like, only by the former Cryo Archon). Like she only fell asleep by the tree instead of dying. Or something like that. I feel like there’s more angst if she were to fight for a dead lover.
But I do think she’s more like the Scribe, who wanted (wants) the world to burn until there’s nothing left. That’s Her Majesty’s agenda, isn’t it? To burn the Old World away.
tl;dr: the Tsaritsa was under the wing of the former Cryo Archon, who only wanted the best for their people and was punished for it. Celestia struck her kingdom and her god and so she promised that there would be vengeance.