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Natlan has presentedGenshin Impactplayers with characters who not only have eccentric designs, but also intricate personalities. The nation of war measures up to its revered name and its people are just as mighty when fighting for the future of their land. Much like everyGenshin Impactcharacter, Kinich too has his own quirks which add to the story of his life.
Kinich was one of the first few 5-stars introducedduring the first patch of Natlan. A member of the Scions of the Canopy tribe, Kinich is also one of their core members that often takes part in the Pilgrimage. Like most of the Scions of the Canopy members, he enjoys extreme sports and is very skilled in his abilities as a Saurian Hunter. But the Kinich that players know at face value is a far cry from the one in the past.
Kinich’s Childhood
From his birth and right up until he turned seven, Kinich lived a relatively normal life with his parents as members of the Scions of the Canopy tribe. His father was the breadwinner in the family and his job as a courier for the tribe wasn’t as lucrative. He would often take three days off for one day of work and made a habit of usinghis wages for his gambling addiction.
His gambling addiction was a hit or a miss, because if his father won, he would bring Kinich home a box of sweets and hand-picked flowers for his wife. However, if he lost, he’d come home drunk and take his anger out on the family. His mother had no choice but to remain silent, so as to protect Kinich the best she could. The fights that broke out often ended with his mother on the floor and his father gaining the upper hand, before heading off once again to the betting tables to release his frustration.
Unfortunately, things became worse as Kinich’s father ended up losing the house due to his debt, which had them relocate to the bottom of the mountain the tribe was located on. The family had more land, which gave Kinich the opportunity to learn how to farmGrainfruit, create ropesand make noodles. He also became more adept at his skills as a hunter because the family needed to learn how to survive in the wild.
This limited freedom came at a cost, since Kinich’s father’s antics increased with each passing day. Gone were the times when the neighbors could intervene in his father’s abuse and offer him and his mother some kind of recluse. Their injuries blossomed over the months and his father’s drunkenness didn’t seem to have a peaceful end. Finally, his mother, unable to cope, left in the middle of the night without a sound, and Kinich never heard from her again. Nonetheless, he took up the mantle of the homeowner and dutifully succeeded her in any household chores or beatings. He kept himself and his father fed, and his only means of escape was through his talent for sports.
Kinich’s athleticism was exceptional and his only option at freedom was flying straight out the door with his grappling hook whenever his father turned a hand on him. On his 7th birthday, fate had perhaps taken pity on this boy and decided to grant him the much-needed freedom he so desired. Kinich’s father chased after the boy in a fit of rage and in the midst of their fight, his father lost his footing and plummeted off a cliff.
This was, unfortunately, the first time Kinich had come into contact with a dead body, and so by the time he realized what had happened, he was completely void of any emotions. He was said to be in a daze before he managed to collect himself and come to terms that his abuser lay unmoving at the bottom of the cliff. Kinich had no choice but to pick up his grappling hook and drag his father’s cold body back home. For him,this gift of freedom was all he could’ve desired,but upon accepting it, only then did he realize the hallowing solitude that lay within it.
The Scion Of The Mountains
After his parents' demise, Kinich had to learn how to continue living beneath the mountains and away from the tribe. His daily lifeconsisted of planting, weaving, hunting, and going to the market to trade goods. From a young age, Kinich understood the importance of give and take, and how nothing in this world was earned for free. Since he had been living in the wilderness for quite some time, the idea of gaining an education for free also seemed rather preposterous. It was only after the Elders managed to make a deal with him did he accept to go to the learning institute within the tribe.
Kinich was not treated well in school due to his ‘wild’ looks and ragged attire, but this didn’t stop him from learning of the many heroes that represented the tribe’s ancient history. This was also where his ambition to become a hero began. He didn’t think too much about the glory and virtue such a position would bring, as his version of a hero leveraged on the amount of Mora he could be rewarded with.To him, money was a luxuryand his only goal in life was to accumulate as much as he could.
His ‘quest’ to become a hero was like none other, for he was also given assistance by an Elder of the tribe who saw potential in him. Aside from learning about the glorious history of Natlan, he was taught by many notables in various fields of expertise. Kinich was extremely grateful for this training, yet also preferred to occasionally slip into the mountains andtrain in combat amongst the wild animals. This gave him a full-fledged education in how to intellectually converse with people, look after himself, and hunt safely in the wild.
Kinich became so skilled that after a couple of years, people began requesting him on more dangerous missions, offering higher payment each time. He had grown so much that he was now able to decide whether such missions were worthy and whether they were able to be completed with the right amount ofMora. Kinich is quite money-minded in this way andhis duties as a Saurian hunterdo not come without exceptional costs. His skills were so great that he was regarded as a scion of the mountains because it was the only type of heroic duty he saw in himself.
Kinich and Ajaw
Wherever Kinich is, Ajaw follows and that’s because of the bond the two of them are chained by. The so-called ‘mighty’ K’uhul Ajaw seemsto be a relic from the era of the dragonsand dates back several millennia. According to the Saurian Relics Association, his true form has been sealed by a wristband that Kinich wears and his current form is a mere projection using Phlogiston. Unfortunately, despite being a prime specimen for research, Ajaw is not the most welcoming being. He’s arrogant, wicked, and quite cunning in a lot of situations, which is why Kinich usually locks him up in a separate dimension.
Their contract was made after Kinich located a sealed Ajaw underneath some ruins in Natlan. Despite his recognition for Ajaw’s evil intentions, the two of them came to an agreement by which Kinich would help Ajaw see the outside world in return for Ajaw’s mighty power in battle. Additionally, upon Kinich’s passing, his body would be available for Ajaw to take over.
How Kinich Obtained His Vision
After Kinich obtained his Ancient Name, he had no loyalties to his nation and did not care much about sacrificing himself like the previous heroes. He took part in the Night Warden wars like it was his duty and understood that with every battle, came the looming cry of death. With each Night Warden war he attended,the Abyss grew stronger and often used vile tacticsto mess with the warriors. One such tactic was their ability to shapeshift into something that the warriors held dear to them and then ambush them. For Kinich, he saw his beloved mother. Nonetheless, overcome with emotion, he cleaved through his ‘mother’ before the monster transformed and every other familiar face the Abyss tried to ambush him with.
He ended up being the last one in the party standing and right as the exhaustion began to catch up, he was stabbed from behind by a claw. Ready to accept his fate, Kinich closed his eyes and welcomed the darkness, but according to Ajaw, the warrior was back a moment later and swinging his claymore against the enemy. Kinich’s form was unconscious but brimming with life, for a heart-patterned emerald gem now hung from where his stab wound was.Perhaps his Dendro Vision was granted to himat that moment because he unwittingly became the very hero he said he wouldn’t become. A hero that fights for his friends, his homeland, and his ambitions of a brighter future full of life.
