Disclaimer : this is merely a speculation, every theory presented here is to be taken with a grain of salt.

"When the Archon War came to its end two thousand years ago, the first iteration of The Seven would gather in Liyue and drink with Rex Lapis. But five of those original seven had already passed before Rex Lapis — it's truly a changing of the guard."

"So that means..."

"Yes. Now that the spirit of Rex Lapis has returned to the heavens, only Barbatos of Mondstadt remains of the first Seven."

(Solitary Fragrance, Chapter I Act III : A New Star Approaches. Ganyu talks about the original Seven.)

Lurking around in most lore communities, confusion brings in a slew of questions. Why isn't Baal considered the first Electro Archon? Why is she confirmed to be the one to slay Orobashi-no-Mikoto if she's not the first Electro Archon?

More speculations basing on who is the first Shogun arise, but one thing gets overlooked; there are no mentions of the Shogun getting replaced, because the Narukami Ogosho is eternal, and the Shogun hasn't changed since the Archon War days.

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I. Yamata-no-Orochi, the people of Watatsumi, and Musou no Hitotachi

"Legend has it that when the great serpent (Orochi) first arose within the abyssal nation of ever-night (Fuchishita), its fluorescent body was covered in myriad-coloured corals."

(Coral Branch of a Distant Sea)

"It is said that the great snake god once broke off all the coral branches on its body to give light to the children who were curled up in darkness. They also say that it used these coral branches to create a huge ladder to allow these children to once again reach the surface and see the light of day."

(Jade Branch of a Distant Sea)

The fleeing Yamata-no-Orochi once wandered into the kingdom of Fuchishita (translated into EN as abyssal kingdom of ever-night but I'll stick to Fuchishita to avoid confusion.) and gave away its coral branches to "save" the people of who were dwelt in the deep sea. Its coral was Yamata-no-Orochi's most precious relic, obtained from the Dark Sea, and thus it became the guiding light for Watatsumi Island as it rises from the ocean.

Sangonomiya Chronicles, an in-game book written by Kujou Michizane, tells the tales of Watatsumi Island and how their deity lost in the Raiden Shogun's mission to unify Inazuma.

"During the Archon War, Her Excellency the Almighty Raiden Ogosho brought all of Inazuma under Her unified rule."

"The Great Serpent, Orobashi no Mikoto, had always remained in the western region and respected the boundary between itself and the Narukami, and the two had lived in peace. But now, it suddenly transgressed the boundary and invaded the east without warning."

"Finally, the Great Serpent was slain by the Ogosho where its remains now lie on Yashiori Island. Thereafter, Sangonomiya sent envoys to announce surrender, and they have recognized the Inazuma Shogunate as the legitimate and supreme ruler ever since."

(Excerpt from Sangonomiya Chronicles)

This tale reminds me of Havria, the god of salt in Liyue, who was also a casualty of the Archon War who died without resistance, thus turning her people into solidified salt as she exploded. The difference is, Yamata-no-Orochi wouldn't back down without a fight due its desire to protect Fuchishita, but it ended in vain as it was cut in half by the Raiden Shogun's penultimate skill, leaving a skeleton and Musoujin Gorge behind.

It is said that after Yamata-no-Orochi died, Tatarigami corrupted Yashiori Island to the point it was inhabitable, and the Kitain Family was sent by the Raiden Shogun to put up wards, putting an end to the everlasting storm on the island.

Did this victory of unifying Inazuma sign the Raiden Shogun becoming the Electro Archon? We do not know.

Who is the identity of the first Electro Archon?

Now onto the prime candidate, and how the deciding factor of "taking the seat of an archon" is defined.

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II. Why it is possible for the Raiden Shogun to unify Inazuma, but not take the seat of Archon

Going back to Mondstadt, and the Archon War between Decarabian, the God of Storms, and Andrius, The Wolf King. In the Boreal Wolf's ascension materials, Decarabian Pieces ascension materials, and Razor's story quest, we are told the story of Decarabian, Mondstadt's Old God who locked his people in to protect them from the frozen wasteland.

Rebellion came in the name of Barbatos, a wind spirit, and a Nameless Bard. And as the war goes on, Decarabian finally fell and the seat of the Anemo Archon was open.

"The Wolf King, believing itself to despise humans, thought itself unable to envision a happy life for humanity, making it unworthy of becoming the Lord of the Winds of the world. Therefore, it chose to disappear. Yet, in truth, it gazed on the ones the world abandoned ever so gently."

(Boreal Wolf's Nostalgia)

Andrius and Barbatos was both candidate for the Anemo Archon, but the wolf refused as it believed its love for humanity wasn't enough to qualify being Archon.

Another story in Liyue tells of Guizhong, God of Dust, and Zhongli, God of Geo, the two founders of Guili Assembly and after the devastating flood, Liyue Harbor. The two gods worked together in the Archon War to protect their people, but it ultimately ended in Guizhong losing her life and Morax becoming the Geo Archon.

What kind of theory can we speculate from these stories?

1. Winners of the Archon War can decide who gets the Archon seat, one can refuse and one can accept.
2. Gods in the Archon War can work together to fight off other gods.

So if we speculate that the Raiden Shogun didn't take the throne, then who was the other god that became the Electro Archon?

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III. Kitsune Saiguu the Hakushin Kitsune, and the Cataclysm

Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual world quest starts with with an unknown shrine maiden telling us to take a ward from a Kitsune statue with the power of Electro, then a journey of uncovering Sacred Sakura's roots and the tale of the Kitsune Saiguu begins.

"Once I learned how to manage the affairs of the shrine under the tutelage of a mighty kitsune. Back then, I was just a young shrine maiden who had just arrived on Narukami from a small fishing village.

I was duller than a teapot and had yet to lose the obstinate impulsiveness and curiosity of a child, I was always naively skeptical of the elegant but incomprehensible words of Lady Saiguu."

(Shimenawa Reminescene - The story of Kanade, Kitsune Saiguu's disciple)

"When you told me that Ochimusha appeared during the purification of Thunder Sakura root, I already sensed this. Well, as long as she (Raiden Shogun) is on the path she believes in..."

(Kazari, Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual world quest)

The story of the Kitsune Saiguu, leader of the kitsune who resides in Inazuma and close friend of the Raiden Shogun. Not much is known about her, except from the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual world quest, Shimenawa Reminescene artifact set, and White Dragon (Hakushin) Ring catalyst.

"I once met an Oni maiden with a face as lovely as the moon. Together, we performed and played divine music before the throne (Raiden Shogun), and I could not help but applaud her sword-dance. I hope her beauty, bravery, and bearing, shall be praised by people for thousands of years to come."

(Hakushin Ring, Kitsune Saiguu's dying thoughts about Torachiyo)

Hakushin Ring takes the name from Kitsune Saiguu's clan, the Hakushin clan. It is said to be "a catalyst that carries the memory of the Kitsune Saiguu of ancient times."

The Hakushin Ring story takes place during the cataclysm, when the abyss outbreak plagued Teyvat 500 years ago. Inazuma was swamped with many kinds of monsters and corrupted aura, such as the tiger-bodied serpent-tailed beast who swallowed Torachiyo, the Raiden Shogun's beloved Oni warrior.

"I don't know how long ago it was, but in the end, she was consumed by the dark disaster while fighting to protect Narukami Island. However, the barriers that she set up in many places protected a great many people."

(Kazari, Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual world quest)

Hearing the news her death, many of her friends were impacted.

"The Great Tengu went into self-imposed exile, enraged at her own incompetence as the Lady Saiguu's protector, leaving Teruyo behind. Harunosuke left for another country amid the fury of his mourning, while Nagamasa joined the Shogunate to clear the Mikoshi name."

(Shimenawa Reminesence, Kanade talks about the aftermath of her master's death)

Now, this Hakushin Kitsune, a great mentor and a precious friend to many people including the Raiden Shogun, just what is her involvement with the Electro Archon?

Warning : lots and lots of speculation and copium

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Hakushin Ring bears the memory of her dying thoughts of her friends while sealing the abyss in Inazuma, and her last wish towards the abyss.

"I once took the body of the Hakushin Kitsune. With my agile and loveable comrades (Hakushin Clan), I dashed across the mountains and plains of Narukami."

"Now then, at this darkest place, I will hold onto those memories and let them be the piercing moonlight that lights up my weak heart."

"In this life, I've also turned into a human to journey with those short-lived but beautiful creatures."

"Using different identities, I became the greatest friend of so many people."

(Hakushin Ring) (credit to u/DieZombie96 for the translation!)

Kitsune in Japanese folklore have the ability to shapeshift into human form, and it is said in the in-game story that the Hakushin clan lost their powers after the death of the Kitsune Saiguu and became the many scattered ordinary foxes in Narukami island. To be precise, they lost their ability to 'speak'.

If I go a little bit 'reaching' and overanalyze the Archon behaviours from former regions, both Barbatos and Morax have chosen to use a different form after becoming an Archon.

Venti's Nameless Bard form :

"Yep. My current form is not so different from the situation with fake Stanley... I took the form of a friend."

(Venti, Carmen Dei story quest)

Zhongli's many forms :

"One night, a wealthy young man who was walking by happen to pause in front of the shop, and began carefully examining the items on the shelves."

"One night, a woman came to his workshop. She was dressed in a long, slender black gown and her eyes shone a brilliant amber in the light of the crescent moon hanging in Liyue's sky that night."

"One day, the fishing vessel owner met a young man. He had just been hired by the fishing vessel owner, and his attire was indistinguishable from that of any other seafarer of the day: a loose-fitting brown shirt and trousers, and a bandana around his forehead."

(Rex Incognito book, tales of Rex Lapis)

Could it be that the Kitsune Saiguu is just another form the Hakushin Kitsune took?

"After reaching 1,000 years of age and gaining its ninth tail, a kitsune turns a white or golden color, becoming a tenko (天狐, 'heavenly/celestial fox'), the most powerful form of the kitsune, and then ascends to the heavens."

(Wikipedia, Kitsune)

Speculation as of now : the Kitsune Saiguu was a celestial fox who was fighting alongside the Raiden Shogun during the Archon War, similar to Guizhong and Zhongli in Liyue, but when Inazuma finally unified and the seat was open, the Shogun gave it to the Kitsune Saiguu instead. And when the cataclysm happened, the Electro Archon changed into the Raiden Shogun we all know.

But another question arose : why wasn't there any mention of another Electro Archon in the history books? Is the information hidden from the general public? What would be the reason?

(Funny trivia : Being the ultimate ruler of Inazuma with no one above her, it is interesting that Baal uses -sama when referring to the Kitsune Saiguu, indicating that she holds a rather big amount of respect towards her. This again is copium.)

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IV. Eternity as memories, the shared ideals between the Kitsune Saiguu and the Raiden Shogun

What does eternity mean to the people of the land of thunder? Is it immortality? Longevity? The notion of existing forever?

Lightning is fleeting, it comes in a single moment and leaves its mark on the ground. What exactly about lightning is eternal?

Eternity for Inazuma, in a sense, isn't about living forever.

"Even if their life is much longer than normal beings, there will be a day for that to end. If they wanted to strive for eternity in their limited lifespan, then their only hope is for [eternity] to remember them."

"And she answered their wishes, remembering all her enemies and friends to heart."

"They say that no matter if it's the one who perches in the fog, the demonic owl that tears the sky, the Bakedanuki that dared to enter the royal garden, or the skillful warrior, the girl who ultimately bared her fangs at her; no matter if it's the Tengu that spread its black wings to soar in the sky or the Kitsune Saiguu-sama who once walked with her, and in the end, disappeared forever..."

"Endless stories silently sleep in her heart, maybe they'll shine one day in her ideal [eternal paradise]."

(Narukami's Affection ascension material, the Raiden Shogun's view on eternity)

And then we learn in Yoimiya's story quest that Inazuma's people have a thing for transience, in the meaning that such a short-lived time is held so precious it lasts for a lifetime.

"Principle and craftsmanship are Yoimiya's dearest qualities. Even though fireworks are fleeting, their blaze and warmth lives in people's hearts forever.

Both a moment and an eternity, these fleeting marvels are an expression of "protection" she gives to those around her."

(Genshin wiki, Yoimiya's personality)

If Baal isn't the first Electro Archon, how come Inazuma is the nation of eternity since (speculated) its founding? What is the basis of her ideal and how does it affect a nation she only rules on the surface before?

"Trying to hold on to a moment's beauty is like foolishly trying to grasp the morning dew."

"Like the morning dew, I have already passed away. All you have seen of me is but a residual vision, born of your wishes."

(Shimenawa Reminesence, Kitsune Saiguu's words towards Kanade)

Theory : Dew and lightning are the core themes for Inazuma, both being transient things. Dew being the Kitsune Saiguu, and lightning being the Raiden Shogun.

Eternity is both the ideal of the Kitsune Saiguu and the Raiden Shogun, and thus is the reason why Inazuma has always the been the nation of eternity.

Venti learned his ideal — Freedom — from the people of Mondstadt, as he met the Nameless Bard and heard of the people's cries to be free from Decarabian's prison. Does an Archon's ideals define the land they govern? Or do they listen to the people, saw their beliefs, and thus became the personification of that same ideal?

Is it possible that the Raiden Shogun's eternity was shared by the Kitsune Saiguu?

Lore stuff about the Kitsune Saiguu's belief of eternity and memories :

"That's why you have to be strong and must live on for a long, long time. Even if all the people you cherish are gone, as long as you are still alive, the time you spent with them will never perish..."

(Shimenawa Reminesence, Kanade talks about memories as learned from her conversation with the Kitsune Saiguu)

"Life is full of uncertainty. Love is fleeting, and even lasting memories may be lost. Losing one's memory is no different from losing one's life. It is like death amidst darkness eternal."

(Shimenawa Reminesence, Kitsune Saiguu talks about memories)

"If you can see everything that I treasure,"

"Then I beg pardon on behalf of those beings."

"If you would permit me to make but one wish,"

"Please return my ever-bright memory,"

"To this land that I love deeply."

"That way, that even after your rampage,"

"I may still hold out hope for beautiful things to endure..."

(Hakushin Ring, Kitsune Saiguu's last wish to the abyss)

Her feelings regarding memories, as described by Kazari, was powerful enough to bring Kazari into life with some of her memories intact. And as noted by her, 'a familiar presence on top of Narukami Shrine'. Is it possible that the Kitsune Saiguu, being a god, reincarnated onto a new form as Yae, the current chief priest?

(Fun trivia : In one of the preview livestream, Yae and Zhongli are noted to be old friends. She also knows Ganyu and refers to her as a 'big sister', does this indicate her being at least alive during the Archon War? The current Yae is also still a good friend of the Raiden Shogun.)

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V. Conclusion

We finally reached the end of my sleep-deprived crack theory, here is the culmination of my lack of sleep and fever :

1. The speculation of Electro Archon = Shogun of Inazuma is wrong. The Raiden Shogun has always been somewhat of an 'archon' and ruler for Inazuma, albeit inheriting the title officially several thousand years late.
2. The Kitsune Saiguu might be the previous Electro Archon, and might've reincarnated as the Narukami Shrine's Chief Priest, Yae.

So what do you think? Did I hallucinate some of the facts presented? Are my theories too far-fetched? Did I miss anything?

Thank you for reading this mess until the end!