Since I can’t draw to save my life, I wanted to still contribute something for Kaevember, so here’s a little theory I worked on after the finale of deep galleries set dropped, with a mix of literary analysis, lore speculation, and Kaeya brainrot.

🕵️‍♂️ Curious Theory: Unearthing Parallels —

“Finale of the Deep Galleries” and “The Musgrave Ritual”

1. Introduction

Greetings,

While exploring the many layers of narrative in Genshin Impact, I came across a fascinating post on Tumblr by u/yaeggravate that pointed out a possible connection between the artifact set “Finale of the Deep Galleries” and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes story, “The Musgrave Ritual.”

The original idea really intrigued me, and with the kind permission of the original poster, I’ve expanded on it here—diving deeper into the parallels and adding my own interpretations.

Disclaimer: I am not attempting to prove this was a direct, intentional reference by the writers. Think of this as connecting some intriguing dots. It's less about finding a definitive answer and more about seeing the story in a new light, which gives us plenty of new material to talk about.

2. Narrative Summary

2.1 A Character Comparison of Kaeya and Sherlock Holmes

On the surface, Kaeya and Sherlock Holmes seem to embody familiar archetypes: one is the infallibly rational detective, the other the effortlessly charming cavalry captain. They are masters of their respective domains, appearing to operate with cool, detached precision. But this is a carefully staged performance. As their stories unfold, the polished facade cracks, revealing individuals who are not just observers of their worlds, but active, entangled players in the hidden networks of power and secrets that run beneath them. Their greatest skill isn't just deduction or charm, it's the deliberate curation of their own personas, a performance that masks deep wells of vulnerability and complex, often conflicting, intentions.

Sherlock, though known for his piercing logic, is no stranger to emotional intuition. In "The Adventure of the Three Garridebs," Holmes doesn't just observe or deduce; he takes decisive physical action to protect Watson when the criminal fires his revolver. After, Holmes is shown to be deeply worried:

"You're not hurt, Watson? For God's sake, say that you are not hurt!"

This raw display of care shatters the illusion of Holmes as a mere thinking machine. It’s in these unguarded moments—the fierce loyalty to Watson, the quiet flashes of a personal moral code—that we see the man behind the legend. He isn't just a brilliant mind; he's a deeply feeling one, complicating the cold, logical image he so carefully projects.

Kaeya follows this same compelling arc. We first meet the flirtatious cavalry captain, all easy smiles and calculated wit. But that persona is a deliberate distraction. As layers are pulled back, we find a master strategist weaving a web of influence from charm, secrets, and the occasional veiled threat. The real tension, however, doesn't come from his schemes, but from the emotional undercurrents beneath them—the flicker of grief, the weight of his conflicted loyalties. With every new revelation, we're left wondering what's real and what's just another part of the performance.

This mastery of information is precisely what allows both characters to operate in the moral grey areas they so often inhabit. Holmes is no straight-laced paragon of justice; he's a pragmatist. He will lie, conceal evidence, or bend the law without a second thought if it serves his own definition of the greater good. His success in apprehending criminals is undeniable, but his methods are decidedly not by the book.

Extra:

Like Kaeya, Holmes knows that real intelligence comes from the streets. While he is the brilliant centerpiece, his network is built on the Baker Street Irregulars—a crew of street kids and invisible citizens who form his eyes and ears. It’s a principle Kaeya clearly understands, leveraging everyone from Treasure Hoarders to indebted drunks for information.

His personal history, family background, and where he came from are not revealed initially. Holmes often alludes to his time at university, but very little is said about his origins. He does not discuss his family, and his relationships with them (if any) are not made clear at first.

2.2. Summary of The Musgrave Ritual

In this tale, Sherlock Holmes is summoned by Reginald Musgrave after the strange disappearance of his butler, Brunton, and the young maid Rachel Howells. Brunton, once highly valued in the household, becomes obsessed with deciphering an ancient family ritual—a cryptic set of questions and answers passed down through generations.

Holmes deduces that the ritual is a coded map pointing to a royal treasure: the crown of King Charles I, hidden on the Musgrave estate. Driven by ambition, Brunton seeks the treasure for himself but meets a tragic end, possibly at the hands of Rachel, who later throws the recovered crown into the lake.

2.3. Summary of Finale of the Deep Galleries

The artifact set tells a tragic tale of a “first angel” who defies the divine order after falling for a “nameless youth.” Guided by her rebellious love, she throws away her divine crown into the snow, symbolizing her break from celestial authority. Meanwhile, a young girl, acting under her master’s command, follows cryptic traces buried in snow and finds a treasure.

3. Parallel Analysis

3.1. The Cryptic Legacy

• Musgrave Ritual: A coded tradition passed down generations that reveals the location of a lost crown.
• Genshin Lore: Divine prophecies and forbidden knowledge guide a girl toward a hidden treasure, echoing the idea of a cryptic, generational path to buried power.

3.2. The Lost Symbol of Power

• Musgrave: The crown of Charles I holds symbolic weight beyond its material value.
• Genshin: The angel’s crown symbolizes her divine authority; discarding it initiates rebellion and the fall of an era.

3.3. Betrayal and Hidden Motives

• Musgrave: Brunton betrays his master’s trust; Rachel's jealousy leads to tragic results.
• Genshin: The angel defies the throne due to forbidden love; her act mirrors Rachel’s emotional response leading to the crown’s discard.

3.5. Hidden Treasure and Symbolic Clues

• Musgrave: The ritual contains precise instructions to find the treasure.
• Genshin: The treasure lies in symbolic locations—beneath snow, near a “withered silver tree,” or within “golden towers”—echoing the idea of secrets hidden in meaningful landscapes.

3.6. Final Act of Discard

• Musgrave: Rachel throws the ancient crown into a lake—an emotional, irreversible loss.
• Genshin: The angel casts away her divine crown in snow, a gesture of cosmic rebellion with lasting consequences.

4. Character Extensions

4.1. Kaeya as Brunton

• Talented and clever, Kaeya, like Brunton, serves a powerful family but hides deeper motivations.
• Both are “outsiders” taken in—Brunton by the Musgraves, Kaeya by the Ragnvindrs.
• Kaeya’s Khaenri’ahn origins and secret knowledge create tension regarding his loyalties, just as Brunton’s curiosity threatens the Musgrave legacy, in the tale he is found looking at personal papers from the Musgrave family by Reginald.
• Both maintain a charming façade, hiding complex inner conflicts.
• It could be made up of two characters as the second part of the story does not fit him. However, similarlly to the summer event it might be about his ancestor.

4.2. Diluc as Reginald Musgrave

• Inherits a noble lineage filled with secrets (Dawn Winery / Musgrave family).
• Takes on responsibility after father’s death: Reginald managing estates; Diluc also managing the state and protecting Mondstadt in his own way.
• Both are haunted by past tragedies and uphold their family’s legacy through different paths.

5. The “Watson” of Genshin?

There’s no direct Watson in Genshin—but the girl guided by her master, who uncovers traces of the angel’s story, plays a similar role. Like Watson, she is the witness, the voice narrating our understanding of past events and forgotten truths. Here we could also say the traveler might be the Watson of the story, lets see in 5.6 aq :P.

6. Connection to the Alberich Clan

• Ancient Lineage: Alberichs appear in Perinheri as one of Khaenri’ah’s most powerful clans—akin to the Musgraves’ royal connection.
• Cadet Branch Parallel: The Musgraves of Sussex were a branch of a greater lineage. Similarly, the Alberichs may have diverged from Khaenri’ah’s main royal family, developing distinct values and agendas.
• Custodians of Secrets: Musgraves kept a ritual; Alberichs, possibly ancient artifacts or forbidden knowledge.
• Crown Symbolism: The crown lost in The Musgrave Ritual and the angel’s crown in Genshin both represent a fallen or unfulfilled legacy—power denied or abandoned.
• Partial Transmission of Knowledge: Just as the Musgrave ritual lost meaning over time, notes in hidden strife event show the Alberichs’ secrets were only partially preserved, hinting at generational decay of knowledge.
• Unrestored Legacy: Holmes says the crown cannot restore a fallen monarchy. Similarly, “Though we could not restore Khaenri’ah to life…” reflects irreversible loss.

7. Now A Fun Theory Linking Diluc, Kaeya, and Hidden Secrets of Teyvat

Speculative Theory: Diluc's Northern Roots, Fatui Connections, and Kaeya's Espionage

• North to East Migration: The detail about the Musgrave family moving from the north to the east could be mirrored in Teyvat's geography, with Snezhnaya situated to the north of Mondstadt. If Diluc's family (either through his mother's or father's side) had origins in a region analogous to this "north" (potentially even a region within or influenced by current Snezhnaya before its consolidation under the Tsaritsa), it could provide a speculative link.
• Diluc's Father's Fatui Connections: This northern origin theory could tentatively explain Crepus Ragnvindr's connections to the Fatui. Perhaps his family had historical ties or knowledge originating from these northern lands that made them of interest to the Fatui. These connections might not have been purely malicious initially but based on shared regional history or resources.
• Diluc's Character Story 4 reveals he was saved from the Fatui by a "third-party observer from the north" belonging to a vast underground intelligence network. He later joined this network. This confirms his involvement with a shadowy group originating from the north, potentially predating or opposing the Tsaritsa's full control. (Note from future me now we know it is Nefer.)
• His constellation, Noctua (Owl), directly ties into an allegorical tale of a hidden power (owls) rising in the darkness, "Wings of Concealing Snow" lore. Diluc, the "crimson-red falcon" taking the owl's name, signifies his alignment with this northern network and their goal of a future resurgence.
• Potential Connection to the Torchforger Faction: If the "Torchforger" faction has roots in a pre-Fatui Snezhnaya or Nod Krai, and as they were indeed childhood friends with a figure analogous to Reed Miller. Miller could have discovered a significant artifact or piece of knowledge (the "crown", symbolizing lost power or a key to the region's past).
• Miller Hiding the "Crown": Before his execution, Miller might have hidden the "crown" or entrusted information about it to his childhood friend within the "Torchforger" faction for safekeeping.
• Kaeya's Mission as a Spy: Given Kaeya's Khaenri'ahn heritage (a nation with its own tragic history and potential connections to regions predating current Teyvat's political landscape), his being sent to Mondstadt as a spy by Khaenri'ah could have had a dual purpose. While ostensibly to monitor Mondstadt, his deeper, perhaps even subconscious, mission might have been to locate this lost "crown" or the knowledge associated with it, potentially due to its significance to Khaenri'ah's history or future. The Fatui's interest in Crepus could also stem from their awareness of this potential lost knowledge or artifact within Mondstadt's sphere of influence. Additionally, if he had ties to reed miller then it would explain the knowledge.

8. Final Literary Reflection

As we continue to learn more about Teyvat’s intricate lore, it’s exciting to consider the many ways these threads might come together. Whether these speculations hold any truth or not, one thing is clear: the stories of Diluc, Kaeya, and their families are far more complex than they initially appear, and the mysteries surrounding them could lead to surprising revelations in the future. Thank you all for reading!

Edit: For clarification direct quote:

"‘that the royal party made head in England even after the death of the King, and that when they at last fled they probably left many of their most precious possessions buried behind them, with the intention of returning for them in more peaceful times.

My ancestor, Sir Ralph Musgrave, was a prominent Cavalier and the right-hand man of Charles the Second in his wanderings.

It is likely that the Musgrave who held the secret died in the interval, and by some oversight left this guide to his descendant without explaining the meaning of it. From that day to this it has been handed down from father to son, until at last it came within reach of a man who tore its secret out of it and lost his life in the venture.’"

Translation Note

The book 《安吉洛斯的冒险》 (literally The Adventures of Angelos) appears in Kaeya’s lore. The Chinese word “冒险” (màoxiǎn) directly means adventure or exploit, not investigation or case. Unlike 《福尔摩斯探案集》 (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes), which uses “探案” (tàn àn)—literally to investigate cases—Angelos’ Adventure conveys a broader, mythic journey rather than detective work.

However, the structure and cadence of the title (“The Adventures of X”) strongly echo Doyle’s collection, making the similarity feel intentional. This parallel invites a meta-reading: while Sherlock Holmes investigates hidden truths of the human world, Angelos’ Adventure—and Kaeya’s connection to it—unfolds as a mythic detective narrative, one tracing divine secrets, lost crowns, and the obscured history of Teyvat.