| SPOILER WARNING! This article contains spoilers from Version 5.7 |
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- He's improved — next time we spar, I might even use both hands. Ajax has a lot of talent and he is fearless in battle, which gives him the potential to develop great strength. But I've seen many other bright sparks like him fizzle out before ever reaching their prime. If he truly wants to become the person he dreams of being, he still has a long road ahead.
- — Skirk's Voice-Over "About Tartaglia"
TaruNarwhal is the family ship between Tartaglia and Skirk from the Genshin Impact fandom.
Canon[]
Skirk is a mysterious and powerful swordswoman who resides within the Abyss and is known as the mentor of Tartaglia, also known as Ajax or Childe. Little is currently known about her origins or motivations, but she plays a critical role in Tartaglia’s transformation from a frightened boy into one of the Fatui’s most dangerous Harbingers. Her first mention in the game appears indirectly through Tartaglia’s Character Story 4 and his voice-line about her, where she is referred to only as a “mysterious swordswoman.” Her in-game debut occurred during the Fontaine Archon Quest Act V: The Opera of Noirceur and Blancheur, where her identity as Tartaglia’s master is confirmed.
At the age of fourteen, Ajax ran away from home with a shortsword and a bag of bread, longing for the kind of adventurous life his father had described to him. While lost in a snowy forest, he fell into a bottomless fissure and was pulled into the Abyss. According to his Character Story 4, he experienced three months of time within this realm, though only three days passed in Teyvat. There, he encountered Skirk, who trained him in combat and guided him through the dangerous world of the Abyss. This encounter marked a dramatic shift in Ajax’s personality—from a timid boy into a confident, battle-hardened warrior who thrives on chaos and bloodshed. Despite his drastic change, Childe remains devoted to protecting his family, especially his younger siblings.
Skirk taught Tartaglia how to survive and fight within the Abyss, giving him the foundation for many of his current combat skills. As confirmed in "The City of Rains and Remembrance" Fontaine Archon Quest Act 1, she instructed him because he had awakened “it,” a vague and unexplained power. She noted that he still bore traces of it, and that his development would be useful in the future. Tartaglia himself speculates that this “it” may be related to the narwhal he saw in a dream shortly after arriving in the Abyss.
It was later revealed during the Fontaine Archon Quest that the All-Devouring Narwhal is a “whale” that does not belong to Teyvat, but is the pet of Skirk’s master, Surtalogi. When Tartaglia fell into the Abyss at age fourteen, he encountered and “awakened” this creature. This encounter inspired Tartaglia to incorporate the shape of a whale into his combat moveset. At an unknown point, the All-Devouring Narwhal came to Teyvat and began consuming energy from the Primordial Sea, causing sea levels around Fontaine to rise. It is unclear whether Surtalogi intentionally brought the narwhal to Teyvat to feed on Primordial Seawater,[1] or if it followed Tartaglia after being awakened by him.[2]
After their time together, Tartaglia tried to locate her again for years but was unsuccessful, unable to find either Skirk or the location of the rift where he fell. Tartaglia also never spoke of what he experienced to anyone, not even his family.
Skirk's immense power is showcased during her first in-game appearance in the last act of the Fontaine Archon Quest, titled "Masquerade of the Guilty" with the segment called "The Opera of Noirceur and Blancheur", where she uses an unknown force to condense the All-Devouring Narwhal into an orb before effortlessly throwing both the orb and Tartaglia into a rift. Afterward, she performs a brief hand-cleaning gesture, signaling the end of her task. This scene demonstrates the immense difference in strength between her and Tartaglia, despite his long-standing wish to one day force her to “use both hands to beat him,” as mentioned in his voice-line.
During the encounter, when Neuvillette questions her powers and origin, Paimon identifies her as Tartaglia’s master:
- “Uh, Paimon has an idea… From what she said earlier, she must be Childe’s master… Skirk, right?
It’s just that he gave us the impression that she was a less… talkative person.” - — Paimon first met Skirk
Skirk also references her own master, Surtalogi, a mysterious entity previously unknown to the Traveler (Aether/Lumine), Paimon and Neuvillette. When asked about what kind of entity Surtalogi is, Skirk states that he is someone similar to "Gold" Rhinedottir and "Vedrfolnir" in "pursuing some form of perfection," though she admits to knowing little beyond what her master has told her.
Following these events, in Arlecchino’s Story Quest: "Sea Breeze Rendezvous", Tartaglia is shown recovering from his injuries in Fontaine. Although he had briefly been taken back to Snezhnaya, he returned on his own, determined to find Skirk again. He explains that he still has many questions for her, but by the time he returned, she had already vanished. With no leads of his own, he asked The Knave for assistance in tracking Skirk down. However, Arlecchino confirms that not even the House of the Hearth could locate someone like Skirk, stating that “certain existences... can still manage to escape our purview.” Tartaglia concludes that unless Skirk herself chooses to appear, she won’t be found. Even so, he believes there is a solution—he simply needs to become stronger. Though still coughing and recovering from his ordeal in the Primordial Sea, he credits a child from the House of the Hearth named Heloir for giving him potions that helped accelerate his recovery, despite their unpleasant side effects.
Promotional Material[]
In the Official HoYoLAB post "Solitary Warrior: Skirk's Tales," Skirk is described as a shadowy, elusive figure—"her existence is like an unproven rumor." For a long time, she moved silently across Teyvat, avoiding prolonged contact with others and only collecting information when absolutely necessary. At times, past midnight, taverngoers claimed to have seen her, spinning vague tales about a person whose existence could never be confirmed. This secrecy persisted until very recently, when one individual could truthfully claim that he knew her: Tartaglia. In the artwork, both Tartaglia and Skirk are shown speaking to Paimon, though not together, as they share remarks about each other.
Tartaglia refers to Skirk as his master and describes her as someone who "keeps to herself." He remarks that she is "an alright cook," though jokes that it might just be the Abyss that made everything taste strange. He recalls they had originally planned to visit his home after leaving the Abyss so she could try his family’s homemade sausages, but she couldn’t make it. Tartaglia praises Skirk's strength and "the sheer arrogance she has to go with" it. He clarifies that he means no insult, explaining that when she trained him, she only needed one hand to defeat him—a display of arrogance he interprets as a kind of aesthetic. To him, crushing weak opponents outright is "unbecoming," while pretending to be humble and then overpowering them would be too calculated. He respects Skirk’s confidence and views it as genuine strength.
Skirk showing concern about Ajax.
In response, Skirk affirms she still communicates with those who have "some measure of skill." She comments on Tartaglia’s training with blunt honesty: “Arrogance and carelessness are both dangerous things. It's good that he wants to improve, rather than to show off. Otherwise, I'd start worrying about finding his corpse in some strange nook or cranny.” She adds that when it comes to training, she doesn’t care how many hands she uses—but she does care how many Tartaglia will have left once she’s finished teaching him. Unlike her, who can regenerate limbs with Abyssal energy, Tartaglia still lives in Teyvat and must survive as a regular human. The artwork also depicts Skirk gazing at her reflection as a child, stating she spent most of her time training in the Abyss because there is still a goal she has yet to accomplish.
In the official character teaser "Skirk: An End, And a Beginning", the scene opens with Tartaglia asking Arlecchino to track down Skirk. This scene most likely takes place before the events of Arlecchino’s Story Quest “Sea Breeze Rendezvous." Arlecchino asks if there are any leads, to which Tartaglia replies, “No. Master’s not one to leave a trail.” When prompted to share what he knows about her, Tartaglia recalls a pivotal moment from his past. He explains that after completing his training with Skirk, she allowed him to ask three questions. The scene then shifts to a flashback featuring a 14-year-old Ajax—Tartaglia’s birth name—during his time in the Abyss. His first question is why she agreed to train him. Skirk answers, “You awakened it,” as the massive shadow of an all-devouring Narwhal looms above them. She tells him that their combat training will be useful in the future, and that to survive such battles, he must grow stronger.
Ajax, pouting, insists that he’s already mastered various weapons and questions what more he needs to learn. Skirk counters by saying weaponry is merely the beginning, criticizing his bow skills as sloppy. A scene follows in which Skirk is seen engaged in a fierce battle against what appears to be a red-colored version of herself, accompanied by shattering glass. She explains that once one masters physical weapons, the next stage is learning to wield all of creation—“Heaven and earth become your blades. All creation bends to your will.” She adds that beyond that, he could follow in her own master’s footsteps and “seek even higher power.”
Skirk throws young Ajax into the rift. She is shown staring at him as the rift begans to close.
Ajax, initially awed, then asks his final question: “Why do you scowl all the time? Doesn’t getting stronger make you happy?” Skirk does not answer him directly. Instead, she walks toward him silently. The next moment, she is shown throwing him into the rift—an action mirroring her first in-game appearance when she saved Tartaglia from a similar situation—demonstrating that this method of parting is something she had done to him before. As the rift starts sealing, she is seen speaking—presumably delivering her final words to him, though what she said at that moment is not revealed.
In the present, Tartaglia appears visibly affected by the memory. Arlecchino presses him for Skirk’s final answer to his question. He responds that before he left, she had left him with parting words. As he recalls this, the teaser shows a younger Skirk, with a visible tear, standing and looking out toward a large, round, shattered world tinged in black and red. Her final message to him was:
- Traverse the wreckage of the stars one day... And you will know the world as I see it.
- — Skirk's voice and Tartaglia's voice blend together as she speaks her final words to him—words that Tartaglia remembers and later repeats to Arlecchino.
Quotes[]
- “It’s been years since I last saw my master. I should hope that next we meet, I’ll at least be able to force her to use both hands to beat me…”
- — Tartaglia's Voice-Over: "About Skirk"
- “Her existence is like an unproven rumor..."
"For a very long time, Skirk has journeyed through Teyvat like a shadow, avoiding anything more than brief contact with others, only gathering intel when absolutely necessary."
"Sometimes, past the stroke of midnight, a taverngoer will swear he gad glimpsed her."
"Waving hands painting a story of a person that nobody could be sure ever was."
"It wasn't until very recently that there came to be one who could claim to know her...” - — The narrator describes that Skirk is a person whose existence could never be confirmed by anyone, not until there's one individual could truthfully claim that he knew her, which is shown to be Tartaglia. From Official HoYoLAB post Solitary Warrior: Skirk's Tales
- “Oh, my master? Haha, she's the type to keep to herself.
She's an alright cook. Could've been the creatures in that space tasting a little of in general, of course."
"We initially agreed to swing by my place after leaving. I wanted to let her try my family's homemade sausages this year. It's a real shame she couldn't make it..."
"After all, what matters most about my master is her strength... and the sheer arrogance she has to go with!"
"Hmm? Oh, no, I know what I said. I'm not being ironic, and I mean no insult."
"When we first started my training, she only needed one hand to beat me. That was undoubtedly her arrogance shining through. But when facing a weak opponent, I believe that arrogance is an aesthetic unto itself."
"To crush them outright would be unbecoming, yet to feign humility, only to turn the tables later on? That, dear comrade, would be far too deliberate.” - — Tartaglia about his master—Skirk to Paimon. From Official HoYoLAB post Solitary Warrior: Skirk's Tales
- “I still communicate normally with those who possess some measure of skill."
"And the food in the Abyssal right only tasted off of him because he's an ordinary human."
"Arrogance and carelessness are both dangerous things. It's good the he wants to improve, rather than to show off. Otherwise, I'd start worrying about finding corpse in some strange nook or cranny."
"And about training — I don't really care how many hands I use, but I do care how many he'll have left when I'm done teaching."
"He still needs to live in Teyvat, so he can't just make new limbs for himself with the Abyssal energy like I can.” - — Skirk about her student—Tartaglia to Paimon. From Official HoYoLAB post Solitary Warrior: Skirk's Tales
Fanon[]
The pairing of Skirk and Tartaglia is widely popular in the fandom, with many fans viewing their relationship as a familial bond. In fanworks, Tartaglia is often depicted as a child being cared for by Skirk. Common themes include him brushing and tying Skirk’s long hair, begging her to train him, or looking up to her with admiration. Skirk is frequently portrayed as a fearsome, intimidating, yet deeply protective figure toward young Tartaglia.
After it was revealed in Version 5.7 that Skirk has a more emotional side and is able to play a mysterious instrument important to her, many fans have imagined that she may have played that instrument to lull Tartaglia to sleep when he was a kid. This moment inspired a humorous wave in the fandom: many had previously joked that Tartaglia resembled Ed Sheeran due to his ginger hair, but with Skirk now shown to play an instrument, fans quip that “the people who mocked Childe by calling him Ed Sheeran were not kidding—because Skirk is the original Ed Sheeran here.”
Some fanart draws inspiration from Skirk and Tartaglia’s specialty dish as introduced in-game, portraying their bond in lighthearted and humorous ways. For example, one widely shared artwork features Skirk and Tartaglia presenting bizarrely prepared dishes to the Traveler, who reacts in horror—suggesting that Tartaglia inherited his unusual cooking sense from Skirk herself. This comedic portrayal deepens the fanon narrative of their shared quirks and subtly reinforces the idea of a familial or mentor-student relationship.
Additionally, fans have noted that Skirk's eyes, like Tartaglia's, lack the usual glimmer or light—an artistic choice often used in various media and anime to imply that a character has undergone deep trauma or witnessed unimaginable horrors. This shared visual detail has led to speculation that Skirk, much like Tartaglia, may have experienced a similarly harrowing past, possibly connected to her time in the Abyss.
After it was revealed that Skirk lost her original limbs and now uses Abyssal energy to regenerate them, some fans speculate that her own training under her master, Surtalogi, was far harsher than the way she treats Tartaglia. This contrast is emphasized in the “Solitary Warrior: Skirk’s Tales” artwork, where Skirk states that while she doesn’t care how many hands she uses during training, she does care how many limbs Tartaglia will have left once she’s done teaching him. Since Tartaglia still lives in Teyvat and cannot regenerate limbs using Abyssal energy like she can, many fans interpret this as a sign of Skirk’s concern for his well-being. Fans were especially happy to see that Skirk truly cares about Tartaglia, finding her protective attitude heartwarming and reinforcing the close, mentor-like bond between them.
Fans often interpret Skirk’s choice to train Tartaglia using only one hand not merely as a demonstration of her superiority, but as a deliberate act of restraint—believing she holds back to avoid seriously hurting him, out of concern and care. This shift in perception portrays her as protective despite her harsh methods. The “Foul Family,” as fans affectionately call Skirk and Tartaglia, has also become a popular subject of admiration, especially for their chaotic bond and supposedly "terrifying cooking", which has become an inside joke within the community. Many fans express deep affection for the relationship by imagining Skirk forming a lasting attachment to Tartaglia, touched by how he looked up to her during his vulnerable youth—transforming their connection into something familial and enduring, often summed up with sentiments like “that’s my son now.”
This plantonic ship currently has 158+ fan fictions on AO3 as of now.
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Skirk & Tartaglia tag on AO3
- TWITTER (X)
- Skirk and Tartaglia posts on Twitter
- Tartaglia and Skirk posts on Twitter
- TIKTOK
- Skirk and Tartaglia posts on TikTok
- Tartaglia and Skirk posts on TikTok
- TaruNarwhal tag on TikTok
Trivia[]
- Skirk is mentioned in Tartaglia's "Childe: Foul Legacy" Namecard as the one who taught him the Foul Legacy transformation. The description states that "Yet, his "Foul Legacy" was not originally his. Rather, it was taught to him by that solitary girl who dwelt in the darkest corners of the universe," directly referencing Skirk and her role in shaping Tartaglia’s Abyssal powers.
- They both have head accessories located on the right.
- In Skirk's official character introduction, Tartaglia is indirectly referenced twice. First, Skirk is described with the titles "Sinner's Pupil" and "Fool's Master." The "Fool" here likely refers to Tartaglia, who is canonically Skirk's student. This is further supported by the fact that the word "Fatui" is Latin for "Fools", directly linking the title to Tartaglia’s role as a Fatui Harbinger. The introduction also alludes to Skirk's past and her connection to Tartaglia with the line: "Once she had grown up, she too saved a child (Tartaglia) ensnared by providence." This confirms that Skirk personally took Tartaglia under her wing after enduring her own trials.[3]
- In the Version 5.7 Japanese livestream, Skirk, Tartaglia, Aether, and Dahlia appeared as hosts. During the stream, Skirk addresses Tartaglia with the line「少しは成長したようだな。」("Looks like you've grown a bit.") in a calm, casual tone. In response, Tartaglia excitedly exclaims「師匠！」("Master!") with starry eyes and an enthusiastic voice, clearly showing his admiration and joy.[4]
- Skirk refers to Tartaglia by his real name, Ajax, in the official Genshin Impact short. She says, "Ajax has a lot of talent, and he's fearless in battle. If he truly wants to become the person he dreams of being... he still has a long road ahead." This is one of the few times his birth name is spoken by another character in official media. The short also intercuts animations of both characters—Skirk and Tartaglia—in battle, possibly to emphasize the connection between them and visually reinforce that Tartaglia’s combat style and strength stem from the training he received under her guidance in the Abyss.
- Both Skirk and Tartaglia are depicted with no visible light in their eyes, a visual trait in anime and gacha games often used to indicate characters who have undergone extreme trauma or have been shaped by dark experiences.
- In the "Solitary Warrior: Skirk's Tales" official artwork, both Tartaglia and Skirk are shown separately speaking with Paimon, offering candid thoughts about each other.[5]
- Despite Skirk's reputation as a mysterious figure whose existence is compared to an "unproven rumor," Tartaglia is confirmed to be the only known person in recent times who can truly claim to know her.
- Tartaglia openly expresses admiration for her strength and unique combat philosophy. He recalls how she easily overpowered him with one hand when his training first began, which he attributes to her distinct sense of pride and combat “aesthetic.”
- Skirk reciprocates recognition of Tartaglia’s growth, stating that she communicates normally with those who possess skill. She expresses concern for his safety, noting that, unlike her, he cannot regenerate limbs with Abyssal energy and must survive in Teyvat.
- Tartaglia had invited Skirk to try his family's homemade sausages after their departure from the Abyss, indicating that he values their relationship enough to introduce her to his personal life. However, she was unable to attend, to his disappointment.
- Young Tartaglia is mentioned in Skirk's official animated short "Star Odyssey," where he excitedly asks her if she is going to fight him using both hands. Despite previously being described as capable of defeating him with one hand, Skirk is shown using both hands and wielding two weapons during this scene. This moment suggests she was willing to meet his enthusiasm and challenge him more seriously, even during their early training sessions.
- In Skirk’s Character Teaser: “An End, And a Beginning”, the narrative centers around Tartaglia’s efforts to locate Skirk with Arlecchino's help. This scene most likely takes place before the events of Arlecchino’s Story Quest “Sea Breeze Rendezvous,” where Arlecchino later confirms that even the House of the Hearth is unable to trace someone like Skirk. The teaser also primarily features Tartaglia’s flashbacks to his time training under Skirk at the age of 14, including the moment she allowed him to ask three questions before throwing him back to Teyvat.
- At the end of Skirk’s Character Teaser, Tartaglia is visibly upset when he recalls and shares Skirk’s final words with Arlecchino: “Traverse the wreckage of the stars one day… and you will know the world as I see it.”
Gallery[]
Official[]
Artwork[]
.jpg "Solitary Warrior Skirk's Tales - Skirk and Tartaglia(1).jpg (678 KB)")
.jpg "Solitary Warrior Skirk's Tales - Skirk and Tartaglia(2).jpg (770 KB)")
.jpg "Solitary Warrior Skirk's Tales - Skirk and Tartaglia(3).jpg (413 KB)")
.jpg "Solitary Warrior Skirk's Tales - Skirk and Tartaglia(4).jpg (523 KB)")
.jpg "Solitary Warrior Skirk's Tales - Skirk and Tartaglia(5).jpg (595 KB)")
Promotions[]
.jpeg "Tartaglia and Skirk HoYoverse Cafe(1).jpeg (888 KB)")
.jpeg "Tartaglia and Skirk HoYoverse Cafe(2).jpeg (848 KB)")
.jpeg "Tartaglia and Skirk HoYoverse Cafe(3).jpeg (1.15 MB)")
Fan Arts[]
- All art in this section is fan made, and must be sourced back to the original artist. It also must have permission from the original artist to be posted here. If your art is here without your permission and you wish to have it taken down, please inform an admin, so that we may delete it.
References[]
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter IV, Act V - Masquerade of the Guilty, Part 5: The Opera of Noirceur and Blancheur
Skirk: [...] It's a strange use of a planet's primordial waters just to raise an All-Devouring Narwhal. - ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter IV, Act V - Masquerade of the Guilty, Part 6: Finale
Neuvillette: But, whether it be by sentiment or reason, that should not have been enough to consider him the root cause of the disaster. At most, he would have had tangential liability. - ↑ Official HoYoLAB Post "The stars fade to black..." Skirk's Character Introduction
- ↑ Ver.5.7「あなたがいる時空」予告番組
- ↑ "Solitary Warrior: Skirk's Tales" from Official HoYoLAB Post
