In regards to the post about characters who seem collected and have their shit together but then you peel back a few layers and they are so inherently flawed: I'd like to talk about Diluc Ragnvindr.
(as always, k/luc shippers DNI please)
I'm going to be talking about a few of the recent events here, as well.
When the traveler met Diluc, it was clear that the man has a lot of concern about the well-being of others, and Mondstadt as a whole. He accepts the fact that Venti is Barbatos and it doesn't change his objective. He doesn't like to work with the Knights for unknown reasons. He works at night in disguise to keep the city safe.
He seems to be a very level-headed man with straight morals, and he has a gentlemanly presence. He is well-spoken and knows when things need to be taken into his own hands.
When faced the issue of the Abyss Order sending the Knights of Favonius a sort of peace offering to make a mutual enemy of the Darknight Hero, he already knows. It's odd, right? So, he must have connections. And a fast working network at that. Ok, so that's not unheard of. He's rich and powerful, but he's using those resources to help others. Right?
When speaking of good and evil, he states that "heroes and villains are both sides of one coin".
And you think huh. Ok. Alright. That's odd to be saying but whatever. I know you're a good guy, you helped us thwart the Abyss Order.
So you go with him to stake out an area to gather information on the Abyss Order with him. He insists on masks. Ok. Well. I guess that makes sense right? But Diluc has bright red hair. How stupid is the enemy?
You corner the abyss mage and oh ok. Diluc is committing a literal war crime by torturing the mage with pyro. He slipped into a separate angrier tone of voice and started using pyro with his bare hands. Is that something people with visions usually do? Well, according to the Abyss Mage, no.
Diluc burns the guy for intel and then it's hinted that he killed it in the end, seeing as it's disappeared from the area.
Ok.
Paimon is scared of him now. Valid. But he's on our side? So there's nothing to worry about. Only you remember his line about heroes and villains. Ok.
So Diluc comes up with this thought of using this mixture that slimes are attracted to en-masse and dumping that at the side gate to distract the knights. He says this is the only way. Insisting that you do not tell the knights about this because they're ill equipped.
It seems… dramatic honestly. Right? I mean, the Knights are also actively trying to protect the city.
But diluc goes on to explain every bit of his plan. And you realize uh. Well you won't be doing much, huh. This is a plan that mostly involves Diluc telling you what's going to happen. Step by step.
Lie to the knights.
Make sure you get out of the tavern.
Get to the gates by 10pm to meet the small army of abyssal creatures that are set to storm the city.
And diluc just singlehandedly takes them all out. Not even using his vision a majority of the time.
He is a fucking force to be reckonedc with. Why did you come along. He slaughtered everything with no remorse.
So now, at the end of this quest.
You have this man who supposedly is calm and collected- scrambled to put together a very intricate plan to put Mondstadt in danger (specifically the slime infestation at the side gate that, the traveler will STILL get commissions to deal with the slimes years later), simply so he (the more capable one in his mind) could go out and be a vigilante, to save the city himself.
And you start to realize that no. Diluc really isn't a good person.
Does he genuinely care about protecting the innocents in Mond? Yes.
It's clear that this is something that distresses him and that weighs heavily on his shoulders. He never regards himself as a hero, either. He does not do this for recognition.
Will Diluc put others in danger to continue playing out this role he's picked for himself? Yes. He put the city in danger to make sure he could take care of what he did.
He's also not above torturing captives for information
And then you read his story.
He went on a 3 year spree across Teyvat to search for answers in regards to his father's death. Using the delusion that killed his father, and learning to use it without killing himself. He killed so many Fatuus and took out so many strongholds that the Harbingers themselves had to come and put him down.
And it's odd, right?
Because over the last few updates, the traveler has been learning that the Fatui are a cult, essentially. And the soldiers that work hard and fight are doing this because it's this great honor, but they're also people. They're actual people with actual quests and motivations and stories.
(Side note: If you haven't done the fortune slip hidden quest in inazuma you should. There's some juicy fatui lore to be had)
And the more the traveler learns about the Fatui, the more they are people.
Diluc shut out the notion that each and every soldier he killed was an individual. He's not welcome in Snezhnaya because of what he did. He likely killed hundreds of Fatuus in his 3 year spree.
And every time we have conversations with some Fatuus that are willing to talk, I just think about how Diluc went and slaughtered ruthlessly.
Agafya in this quest at golden apple archipelago says something like "you wpuld really burn someone alive? Not even the cruelest Fatui Agent would do that."
And I think that wording was purposeful. We know damn well Diluc would.
She also says it's inhumane to torture people for information, and that they are taught that if they give up intel to the enemy, then they'll be killed with no remorse because the other side will have no use for you. Citing incidents mentioned in the past by her commander.
It's just… telling. And I'm maybe reading too into things, but if the Fatui are all briefed on the traveler and Paimon… with what we've done… there's no way Diluc and his actions aren't being used to further scare the Fatui soldiers into behaving a certain way. They have specific rules to follow during situations where they are hostages. They mention being burned alive and how cruel it is.
What I'm easentially trying to say is: Diluc has committed atrocities. Diluc has likely not paid for these atrocities, just like he hasn't paid for harming his brother.
Diluc is stuck in this world where he thinks his actions are selfless simply because they align with a certain moral cause. But his morals change based on the situation and based on the enemy.
Remember those rumors Moco and Hillie (two of Diluc's maids) talk about at the winery? About people staying the night and then going missing the next morning? And how Adelinde refused to acknowledge it?
I think Diluc has a hand in that.
I think Diluc is a dangerous man who refuses to acknowledge what he is. He's deeply traumatized by what happened with his father to the point where he hates talking about it. He carries the weight of Mondstadt's well-being on his shoulders alone because he 'has to' or 'he's the only one capable'. When in actuality he knows damn well there are good knights who are trustworthy. (Jean, Kaeya, Albedo).
I think he's selfish at heart. Living out his fantasy here in Mondstadt. Refusing to change. Wallowing in self-loathing whenever something horrible happens. Putting others down to continue what he supposedly has to do alone.
He'd a mess, truly. And I wouldn't want to make an enemy out of him.
I know people talk about a betrayal in terms of Kaeya and Khaenri'ah. But I think if anyone, we should be worried about Diluc snapping. He's dangerous. He has connections. He has the means to make problems disappear. He has the money, the status.
He's so dangerous. And yet his self-loathing, his guilt, and his stubbornness keep him from going down that route.
It's part of why I think, if he ever approaches Kaeya to reconcile, I think that's when the traveler should start being worried about ulterior motives or drastic happenings.
Yes he cares. Yes! I do genuinely think he cares! But it's also such a vicious cycle of harm and hatred. And hatred kills people from the inside out.
Anyway yeah thanks for listening to my absolute mess of an infodump. If you made it this far thank you I appreciate your patience and I'd love to hear your thoughts.
