#hunting down that one npc not fun HFJDG

[fatedevour]

HEADCANON - AKADEMIYA DARSHAN

  When Dottore was a member of the Akademiya, he was a member of the NAGARJUNA Darshan BEFORE it disbanded. (See THIS in reference to his timeline-ish for my portrayal). As canon explicitly states, Nagarjuna Darshan’s motto was “the transmission of knowledge at all costs" and that "conflict is the natural order of Teyvat.” Given Dottore’s intense hunger for knowledge (Withering, Ruin Guards, Aranara, and his expertise in the Akasha Terminals, etc.) it makes since THIS is where he would find his spot most comfortably.

It also contributes to why it is SO HARD to find any information on Zandik, due to the Akademiya trying to erase connections by disbanding that Darshan soon after Zandik left,  and now almost never acknowledging the remnants of it. Few people remember the history that the Nagarjunites were once part of the Akademiya and not just a few random followers like they are today. Today they are all but OBSOLETE (unless Genshin decides to expand, but as of now a NPC in Genshin mentions there’s only a few who exist- descendants of past members.) 

 It is also why Dottore was able to participate both in the exploration of the ruin guards in  Devantaka Mountain, the deserts, AND why he was also a part of the MEDICAL research in Apam Woods. Members of the Nagarjuna Darshan sought knowledge in MULTIPLE fields. Dottore primarily focused on Biology/Biochemistry and Technology, but has dabbled in other fields and necessary for the classes.

FURTHERMORE, this ties in well to Sohreh’s note on “the research approach of his (Zandik’s) Darshan” and being rigid. Given the motto of ALL COSTS, Dottore took it quite literally. He would and WILL do anything for the pursuit of knowledge. While the Nagarjuna Darshan DID encourage knowledge at all costs, they meant WITHIN the boundaries of typical morality and perhaps pushing the boundary of morally grey/ethically questionable, but not blatant disregard for it as Zandik was expressing, to the point it even concerned HIS sage. Thus why he became more secretive.

As such, Dottore is NOT surprised when people who know of his past incorrectly try to guess his Darshan. Official records have almost completely been wiped of the  Nagarjuna Darshan, or simply DESTROYED/LOST with the passage of time over the centuries.