⠀ Wind-Woven Threads of ⠀⠀⠀✶ Dawn⠀&⠀✿ Spring.
“The only reason to walk in the darkness is to light it up. Behold, that fleeing light in the dead of night is the herald of the coming dawn.”
⠀ Many are familiar with the Ragnvindr Family and their reputation in Mondstadt, as well as many places all around Teyvat. Most notably, the fact they own the renowned Dawn Winery, established thousands of years ago, which grew to become the face of the Wine Industry in the City of Freedom. What is rarely ever brought up in discussion or gossip is the family's history, particular their involvement in many of the rebellions that took place in Mondstadt's history.
All of this information has been compiled from historical weapons, books, Mondstadt traditions, and tales from the people of Mondstadt themselves ⠀⠀ including the current Heir of the Ragnvindr Clan. With the nature of recording history without first-hand accounts of past Eras, it means there are details or other stories lost to time. Despite this, their name should still be remembered akin to weaving the Threads of Dawn into the Winds of Time.
Contents.⠀................................
...............................................................................................................................
Modern Day Mondstadt
⠀ In today's age, most people learn the name “Ragnvindr” through the infamous Dandelion Wine. A staple beverage for any Mondstadtian, to the point where you'll find a bottle of it the moment you set foot in the city. In general, it's simply a high quality wine which sets an example or rivals many other liquors all around Teyvat.
From Dandelion Wine, they'd learn about the manufacturer, the Dawn Winery. Diluc Ragnvindr is the current owner of the winery, inheriting it from his late father, Crepus Ragnvindr. Despite being the tycoon and face of the wine industry, they remain humble and kind to all customers, workers, and the like. The quality of wine rarely ever falls short, and if a mistake ever gets made, the owner is quick to fix it and provide compensation. They also own a few branch taverns, most notably the Angel's Share.
The Ragnvindr family, and people of the Dawn Winery as a whole have always been helpful to Mondstadt. Hosting plenty events and parties, most particularly contributing to Windblume, discounts and giveaways, donating to causes, and remaining just and kind for years upon years.
For those who know a bit more, they'd know that the Ragnvindr Clan is an affluent and noble family. Alongside the Gunnhildr Clan, it is one of the two known noble families that were not exiled from Mondstadt following the fall of the Aristocracy. The history of that Era will be discussed soon!
Other than liquors, there are other areas that the Ragnvindr family is influential over. Particularly how the current Heir was previously part of the Knights of Favonius, known as a prodigy and serving as the youngest Cavalry Captain ⠀⠀ becoming one at the age of fourteen. At the age of eighteen, Diluc resigned from the Knights after his late father's death and the incident involving Ursa the Drake, due to undisclosed reasons.
Afterwards, Diluc had set on a journey to Snezhnaya, seemingly having a grudge against the Fatui in particular. He wrecked havoc in the frozen lands, hunted down by the Harbingers, and being close to death at some point before returning to Mondstadt in the course of three to four years. He has since been declared “persona non grata” in Snezhnaya.
Vennessa's Rebellion
⠀ Mondstadt's aristocracy was the ruling class of Mondstadt after the fall of Decarabian's Mondstadt. Over the course of their 1,600-year reign, however, they went from being the noble protectors of the people to their tyrannical and oppressive overlords.
At the time, Ragnvindr, who the Clan would be named after, served as a Knight's Squire, after the Lawrence Clan and many other noble houses grew corrupt. However, he grew dissatisfied with the way the city was run, a feeling that only intensified after meeting the Dawnlight Swordswoman of the Wanderer's Troupe.
When the Wanderer's Troupe's rebellion was crushed by the aristocracy, the Dawnlight was enslaved and turned into a gladiator. Despite losing all her hope and her friends, she continued to sing of freedom, and her words strengthened Ragnvindr's resolve to fight against the aristocracy.
He somehow ended up collecting her body and buried her along with her sword, The Flute. He was inspired to choose the title of “Dawn Knight” for himself after her own “Dawnlight.”
When Vennessa, with the help of Barbatos, raised the flag of rebellion, Ragnvindr was among those who sided with her. After the aristocracy was defeated and the offending noble houses exiled, when the Knights of Favonius was founded, Ragnvindr turned the aristocrats' indoor baths into a library. Countless contributions from bards, scholars and travelers turned the library into the largest collection of literature in the northern half of the continent.
Unfortunately, the library was once burned down in the “Great Fire of Fall Equinox” tragedy. The scale of the library's collection is now a fraction of what it was at its peak, some say that it is one-sixth of its original size. It is unknown if the Dawn Knight had been a part of the Knights of Favonius during this time.
Ragnvindr tended to the Dawn Winery during his lifetime, although it is unknown whether the winery's history began with him. It remains in operation to this day.
“Ragnvindr once lifted the curtain of dawn over Mondstadt, singing the high song of liberation.
When the dust of warfare settled, the sword-wielding knight would return home, watching the winery and tending to the peaceful orchards, waiting for the coming of every first light of dawn...”
⠀ ⠀⠀ Early Dawn, from Ballads of Breeze.
Age of Kings; Decarabian
“A bow adorned with nameless flowers that bears the earnest hopes of an equally nameless person.”
⠀ ⠀⠀ Description of Windblume Ode.
There was once a wandering flame-haired warrior who came and settled in Old Mondstadt under Decarabian's rule. Discontent with the god's reign, he was one of the first to plan the resistance against the God of Storms and was also one of the first to have used the secret sign of Windblume to communicate with like-minded people. He was friends with the Nameless Bard, the wind spirit who would become Barbatos, Amos, and an unnamed knight (possibly Gunnhildr).
Around 2,600 years ago, with the aid of Gunnhildr and the Gunnhildr Clan, a full-scale rebellion rose up in Mondstadt. Alongside the Nameless Bard, the wind spirit, Amos, and the knight, he stormed the terror and confronted Decarabian personally. Decarabian was slain in the ensuing battle, but the Bard and Amos were fatally wounded as well; the warrior props up the Bard as they witness the fall of the old god.
With the death of an old god in the midst of the Archon War, and with Decarabian's rival Boreas choosing to pass over the position, the elf was selected as one of The Seven Archons and ascended to godhood, assuming the name Barbatos and the form of the late Bard. While Gunnhildr celebrated Barbatos' ascension, the Red-Haired Warrior was less pleased about the development and left the newborn god's side.
His name has since been lost to time, but his deeds are still remembered in song.
Additional Information
The name Ragnvindr may be derived from the Old Norse words ragna “of the gods” and vindr “wind,” together meaning “wind of the gods.”
Ballads of the Squire are said to be songs written by Ragnvindr himself. The title of the book reads “Breaking Dawn” in the Teyvat Language.
Something we learned from the current Heir, there is a tradition from the Dawn Knight of being well-versed in all things weaponry, or at least sword. Thus, under such guidance, no metal is wasted in their making.