Kaveh

Overview

Kaveh is a character from the open-world game Genshin Impact, hailing from the region of Sumeru. As an honor graduate of the Kshahrewar Darshan within the Sumeru Akademiya, he is widely celebrated as the "Light of Kshahrewar" and one of the most prominent architects of his era. Among his grandest creations is the magnificent Palace of Alcazarzaray. Despite his extraordinary talent and artistic dedication, his unyielding aesthetic ideals and overly empathetic nature ultimately led him to severe financial ruin. He currently resides as a housemate in the home of his junior, Alhaitham.

Appearance

Kaveh has mid-long blonde hair that transitions to brown at the ends, styled with double-parted bangs, a rear braid, red hairclips, and a blue feather ornament. He possesses sharp red eyes. His attire features a long-sleeved white shirt with cutouts at the chest and back, accompanied by a red cape adorned with tassels, a blue sash, black partially fingerless gloves, black trousers, and white shoes. He wears gold jewelry including earrings, a necklace, and a thighlet on his left leg. He carries his Dendro Vision on his person and relies on an automated briefcase-shaped device named Mehrak.

Personality

Kaveh is an extraordinarily compassionate and soft-hearted idealist who prioritizes humanistic value and practical utility over empty abstraction in his architectural work. His perfectionism and unwillingness to compromise on artistic vision often lead him to take on unprofitable projects, causing severe financial strain. Gullible and easily moved by sob stories, he carries a deep sense of self-blame stemming from childhood trauma. Though he enjoys drinking, he has a notably low alcohol tolerance. He frequently engages in heated arguments with Alhaitham due to their diametrically opposed mindsets, yet maintains a caring demeanor toward his friends.

Abilities

In combat, Kaveh wields a Claymore and a Dendro Vision. Rather than using physical strength, he uses his automated device Mehrak to levitate and swing his weapon. His Elemental Skill, Artistic Abstraction, unleashes a circular scan dealing AoE Dendro DMG while immediately detonating all Dendro Cores in range. His Elemental Burst, Regalia of an Architect, creates a cubic space that deals AoE Dendro DMG, instantly detonating Dendro Cores, granting him interruption resistance, infusing his attacks with non-overrideable Dendro DMG, and enhancing the DMG of Dendro Cores generated by team members' Bloom reactions. Additionally, he possesses a passive talent that refunds materials when crafting specific categories of furnishings.

Background

Kaveh grew up carrying a heavy sense of guilt after his father died in a desert accident 20 years prior. After graduating with honors from Kshahrewar, he briefly collaborated with Alhaitham before a clash of philosophies broke their partnership. During the construction of the Palace of Alcazarzaray, a sudden outbreak of The Withering destroyed most of the progress. Refusing to abandon the project, Kaveh liquidated his savings, sold his house, and borrowed heavily from the merchant Dori to complete the structure, incurring massive debt. This forced him to move in with Alhaitham secretly. He later competed in and won the Akademiya Extravaganza, choosing to donate the prize money to help those in need while uncovering the truth about his father's past.

Relationships

Kaveh shares a complex dynamic with Alhaitham, his former research partner and current landlord. Despite constantly bickering over household matters and contrasting worldviews, Alhaitham respects his intellect and keeps Kaveh's living situation quiet. Dori serves as the client behind the Palace of Alcazarzaray and Kaveh's primary creditor. He enjoys warm friendships with Tighnari, Collei, and Cyno; the latter purchased a rare trading card from Kaveh at a high price to ease his debt. His mother, Farana, remarried in Fontaine, leaving behind a diary whose lock combination was "companionship."

Trivia

Due to having been forced to grow up quickly following childhood hardships, Kaveh is unable to perceive the mystical Aranara. His culinary preferences include alcoholic beverages, warm soups, dishes containing cheese or cream, and fresh fruit, while he strongly dislikes spicy foods. He was also selected as a featured promotional character for an official environmental collaboration campaign with Discovery Channel.