[v2.1] Starkeeper Paimon - A Genshin Impact Theory

I've been thinking about the possibility of Paimon the Starkeeper for a while now, so I'm really excited to finally be able to share my thoughts! It's not a very likely theory, I don't think, but it's still really fun nonetheless!

**LINKS**

[chocolateknife]

in demonology terms, Paimon teaches all arts, philosophies and sciences. Traveler has the requirement to use different talent books to upgrade. The leveling of MC has a rotation for talent books per level. Other characters stick to only ONE type of book: Gold, Diligence, etc~

[aaron-gz]

This kind of explains Aloy not even having constellations. With the description saying its not time yet. Aloy just arrived and hasn't made any significant memories in this world YET.

[cyanmoon]

I agree with Paimon being a god who's going through erosion. I've been saying that it's a little sus that the longer our adventure goes on, Paimon seems to begin knowing less and less when she's the one who taught us everything we know in the beginning. Also, if Paimon is the protector of the stars then the star falling in the unreconciled stars event could have been a sign of that-

[maraudingstar]

This “theory” seemed to be hinted by Zhongli at the end of the God of Salt Quest. When he told the Traveler about finding a way to “record history” followed by “If our history is engraved in your memory, it will one day accompany you into another world. As long as a Traveler like you is able to record what happened, then a backup of sorts will exist for times & tides of Teyvat.”

[storm_]

Finally someone who isn’t analysising paimon only to say she’s the unknown God. I’ve always thought it was weird that only a few characters even mention how unusual paimon actually is. You don’t see a floating fairy everyday. Even the Archons don’t bat an eye to her or the symbol on her stomach, which is used in visions and in domains

[benaube]

Also two things I noticed that support this theory:

1. When you send characters on expeditions, you can still use them suggesting that they’re in two places at once. Shape shifting into those characters explains how they’re off somewhere else and in your party.

2. In the world quest where you’re filming with Xavier, he calls you a star and the traveler seems *very* caught off guard by this, almost as if he’s shocked someone may know his true identity, or confused as to why it feels familiar being referred to as one.

[knightofwisdom]

"In Teyvat, the stars in the sky will always have a place for you."

[bananabread]

Honestly if the theory of playable characters being the traveler’s memory of the real character is true, mihoyo could absolutely bring back dead characters like la signora to get money and still be canonically accurate without pulling some weird deus ex machina villain edition and bringing her back from obscure lore implications.

[GeneSysFNLT]

When you said, the traveler is a star that wishes for assistance from other stars to gain new powers (~ 12:48 ), it reminded me of the fight against Ei in her Plane of Euthymia. The traveler resonated with people's ambitions, and those ambitions lit up the sky in Ei's domain like stars, which helped us fight against Ei for the last time.

[mxxnsmelxdy]

Also, the whole thing about transforming back into the traveler during missions, even if they aren't in your party. That thing about characters being the traveler shape-shifting could actually be a good explanation.

Also, I never understood why would the traveller had to fish paimon of off the water when she flies (unless she was clumsy enough to fall while doing something), and it would make sense if she had been sent or descended into a lake so we notice her and rescue her.

[brunetteartist]

Oooh i love the theory of the traveller just calling upon memories to fight as different characters- but it also makes it sadder cus it means they are truly extremely alone🙁

[cloudscovermyflaws]

Another piece of evidence used to support this is when during the Inazuma part 2 quest, the resistance rookies ask the traveler to teach them archery. Traveler in-game uses a sword, not a bow, and there are no characters canonically traveling with you. They don’t address any other characters, they address the traveler. Idk, I just found that so odd.

[OGXanos]

This makes way too much sense. You may end up having some minor details off but I think this is very much the right track. Really like the part about our party being star's memories to explain how we have them all with us at will. Which would further explain why there's not really any mention of us doing things with them outside of main story events/acting like time has passed since we've last seen them.

[CodingPuff]

After the moon chase event, it’s hard not to think Paimon was once big and powerful in ancient times, just like Guoba. But then something happened and she sacrificed her memories and powers to protect people from a greater threat (maybe, the unknown god), resulted in the current form. I like the idea of this Star keeper theory, but I think she’s more likely to be the lost Time god

[actually_curious]

That theory of our party members being memories and us shapeshifting into them and calling down their constellations to have more access to their powers is canon to me now and nobody can convince me otherwise.

Like wow. Just wow. I was so skeptical at the beginning of the video but it just makes so much sense (seriously MiHoYo should hire you to write for them haha)

[Sea]

kazuha said something along the lines of "not only do you two give off the fragrance of the earth and wind, but also that of the stars."

[TheCyberGoblin]

I've recently considering actually that Paimon is essentially a sentient vision, containing the traveller's original powers that were sealed by the UG and that our growing bond with her is what's slowly allowing our powers to return to us - something that is explicitly stated to be happening as the story goes on.

[effortlessfury]

I just had a thought. What if when Visions are granted, a person's memories (related to the formation of their Will) are removed from them and inscribed into the stars; their Vision is essentially a conduit to harnessing the power of their Constellation. That would explain why stripping someone of their Vision not only removes their Will, but even the memories of their lives. (perhaps much of the storage of their memories is shifted to their Constellation?). Then, the Traveler is simply able to channel their memories and powers via the very same Constellations. Would also explain why there are always new dialogue lines related to ongoing events, as the Constellation is always up-to-date with that person's memories.

[aetherald]

Just personal thoughts.
From what i remember, the twin(s) woke up in a meteorite so the their method of transportation is probably though meteorites which appear as shooting stars to planets.
During the kazubro quest(and during a few others) we were asked to show off our skills by fighting enemies, I think people would be quick to notice if the traveler started to shapeshift into other people during combat xD.
Kazuha: show me your strength
Traveller: ok *transforms into beidou*
Kazuha: :o

[aefers]

Some of the statements in the beginning about the traveler's body kinda gets debunked with Albedo's quest where his tests pretty much prove the traveler's body is flesh and blood like anyone else, and his elemental powers flow like anyone else's. Perhaps they were once human, maybe even living in Khaenri'ah, then managed to be reborn. That would explain why their powers are simply "memories".