So some theorists bring up the Prayers Artifacts as a source for how Teyvat's supposed to run and what the gods of Celestia want. Humans in these stories come into conflict just like how we're seeing it playing out in game.
But I was reading it and I noticed that many lines are repeats. Could this be why there's a belief that Teyvat's been through many Cataclysms? I decided to combine all the stories and I think each one is talking about the same thing just in different ways with different emphases.
From what I can tell there's really only been 1 cycle being told through these. It talks about the first world how it was first created and Celestia used to speak directly to the first people. But that led them to start asking questions that Celestia didn't like so they abandoned them. To make up for their mistakes some of these people started a tradition where the chief priests used a white leyline branch and set on a pilgrimage to appease them. The first one went deep into the world (maybe the Abyss?) and found a disturbing answer. He came back to warn the rest of the people but at this point they were all so arrogant that they didn't listen and continued to try challenging the gods because they thought as long as they could see Celestia for themselves they could confirm that it was actually there and that the gods were telling them the truth.
IMO it's just Genshin's version of actual bible stories: Genesis and Tower of Babel. Pretty much the gods made the world. They made humans saying follow my orders and whatever you do don't do the stuff I don't like. But humans did end up doing exactly that by questioning them. The gods got angry and threw them out of Eden and then they've been trying to get back ever since. This is a mistake and is making the gods angrier and angrier. Eventually the gods will tear down the tower they try to build. On the other hand there is a group who became priests and are trying to make up for it. The first of these priests (I dunno like a messiah?) sought out the truth and found it so he tried to warn the stupid humans but they didn't listen.
So things like Sal Vindagnyr and Khaenri'ah played out like this. Celestia created the world but demanded the people listen to them. These people didn't so eventually they made Celestia angry enough to chuck a SkyNail down at one and threw 7 lesser gods at the other. Meanwhile the group that are listening to the gods (so like the 7 nations) survived.
Of course we know Celestia is bad in this case so the priesthood probably a stand-in for the devout are staying right where Celestia wants them but those who question will eventually find the answer and attain gnosis. Not a Gnosis but gnosis like from Gnosticism. _(Paimon*)
**mme just check if there are any brains that haven't exploded yet. No? Ok then! [emoji]
