Variks, the Loyal: Difference between revisions

His bid for Kell of Kells ultimately failed with the House of Judgment's dissolvement, and Variks briefly joined [[Eramis, Kell of Darkness|Eramis]] and her [[House of Salvation]] on [[Europa]]. When she gained the powers of [[Stasis]], however, Variks defected out of fear of her affiliation with the [[Darkness]] that caused the [[Whirlwind]]. He now cooperates with the [[Vanguard]] to dismantle Eramis' Fallen empire and evacuate his likeminded Eliksni to the [[House of Light]], in exchange for amnesty from the [[Reef]].

Variks is exceptionally old, even for the Eliksni. He's a member of the [[House of Judgement]] since before the Whirlwind, and survived Judgement's destruction during it. Before the calamity, he had been a close friend of the artisan [[Athrys]] and her mate [[Eramis, Kell of Darkness|Eramis]].<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Beyond Light]] - [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/rendezvous-with-variks-38 Rendezvous with Variks 38]''</ref> He personally witnessed the [[Traveler]] abandon the Eliksni. After the House of Judgement fell to ruin, Variks travelled with many Houses, forming many alliances, advising Kells and worshipping Primes before eventually seeking refuge within the [[House of Wolves]].

With the Devils denied to Skolas, Variks and the others turned their attention to ensuring the would be Kell of Kells did not forge an alliance with the [[House of Kings]]. Having learned of a meeting between Barons of both Houses in the Cosmodrome, Variks and Petra once again served as guides for the Guardian. However, the Wolves used their [[Wolf High Servitor|High Servitors]] to jam their communication signals. Variks recognized the trick and bypassed it, allowing him to continue communicating with the Guardian. As he directed them to destroy the High [[Servitors]], Variks explained some of his history to the Guardian, including how he was disgusted by Skolas' brutality. He also informed them he liked working with them and Petra. Once the Servitors were destroyed, Petra rejoined them on the comms, and Variks noted that the Kings would be able to detect the Wolves as well. However, he warned the Guardian that the Kings would not care that they were attempting to stop Skolas from taking them over and that they should kill them all just the same.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/5/19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[The Ruling House]]''</ref> Although the Guardian was successful in stopping the meeting and killing the Barons, Variks was left to wonder about Skolas' chances of succeeding in becoming Kell of Kells and capturing the [[Traveler]]. He considered that he may have chosen the wrong side and if it was too late to rejoin the Wolves, but Petra interrupted his thoughts with a report that the Wolves were infiltrating [[Vex]] networks on Venus.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/5/19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]], Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Activities/House_of_Wolves#The_Ruling_House|The Ruling House]]''</ref> When the Guardian returned from Earth having eliminated the Barons, Variks rewarded them with a [[Royal Amethyst]] from the Queen's vaults and told them of the Wolves' return to Venus.<ref name="HoWQuest"/>

They tracked Skolas to [[The Citadel]], a massive Vex fortress at the heart of the Ishtar Sink. As the Guardian raced to stop him, Variks and Petra speculated on what Skolas wanted with Vex technology. Variks believed that with Vex weapons, Skolas might believe he could force the prophecy of him being the Kell of Kells to be true. When the Guardian ascended the Citadel, Variks commented that he had stood with Skolas for most of the Reef Wars, but now it felt right to be the Guardian and Petra to stand in judgment of Skolas. They discovered that Skolas was using the Vex warp gates at the top of the Citadel to pull the entire House of Wolves through time to him, granting him an army of near infinite size should he succeed. Variks translated Skolas' boast of having stolen the secrets of time and space and that the House of Wolves would reign forever, but the Guardian managed to defeat the Kell and Petra captured him for the Reef.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/5/19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Queen's Ransom]]''</ref>

Upon reflection of the events, Variks agreed with Skolas that only the Kells of Kell can unite all the Houses. Variks was then given control of the Crows once [[Uldren Sov]] was believed be dead and utilised the Crows to help find the real, Kell of Kells in order to save the Fallen from extinction.<ref>'''Bungie (2015-9-19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Activities/The_Taken_King#The_Wolves_of_Mars|The Wolves of Mars]]''</ref>

Variks, using the Crows, observed the [[SIVA Crisis]] in the [[Plaguelands]] on Earth. One of his agents brought him an image of [[Sepiks Prime]] reborn as [[Sepiks Perfected]] by the [[Devil Splicers]] using [[SIVA]]. Variks noted this was the result of a [[Golden Age]] project using the technological advancements the Traveler provided humanity, and complimented the young Crow on her good work. He instructed her to speak with the other Crows and learn more of the Devil Splicers' plans. Once she left, Variks allowed himself to feel the full horror of what the Splicers had done to Sepiks. He contemplated once more if he could have stopped his people from using such dangerous technology had he remained among them and found a better way to survive, and resolved to find a way to prevent his people from falling any further.<ref name="GFF5"/>

In an effort to reunite his people in light of the Traveler's apparent neglect of them after awakening, Variks contracted the help of a bounty hunter named [[Groks]] to make contact with [[Craask]], the Kell of Kings. Variks believed that Craask would understand his mission alongside the rest of the Kings, who previously ended the [[Edge Wars]] with the House of Judgement before the Whirlwind. However, Groks divulged that Craask had been killed by Fikrul and an Awoken man, and that the House of Kings has gone into hiding in the [[European Dead Zone]] of Earth.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Lore:Most_Loyal#Job_Undone|Most Loyal: Job Undone]]''</ref> Alarmed, Variks contacted Cayde-6 to meet in person within the territory of [[the Spider]] in the [[Tangled Shore]]. Wearing a cloak devoid of the Judgement sigil to avoid aggression from others hosted by the Spider, Variks met Cayde in a gambling hall, explaining that Fikrul had been seen alive. When the Exo doubted him, Variks presented examples of Fallen cheating death in the past, inadvertently mentioning Taniks, the Scarred, angering Cayde. Variks apologized and asked to be taken to the [[Tower (Destiny 2)|Tower]] to speak with Commander [[Zavala]], offering a rare [[hand cannon]] in return. Cayde agreed, and returned to the Tower with Variks.<ref name="SomeKindOfLuck"/>

Some time later, Variks had a dream of being in [[Unknown Space]], in which a voice, potentially a member of the [[Nine]], told Variks that he had failed, that the Traveler was a dark mirror, and that Unknown Space was a place where everything died and began anew.<ref name=LEUS/> Whether this means Variks had visited Unknown Space before then is unknown.

Variks was awoken from his dream by an alarm and Petra informing him over comms that Cayde-6 had returned to the Prison, requesting that two cells be readied for intake. Believing that Cayde had returned with Fikrul, Variks consumed a large amount of Ether for strength and moved to the maximum security wing to prepare two cryo-cells. He watched as Petra shoved a weak Fikrul into one of the cells as Cayde arrived with a humanoid with a bagged head. Cayde removed the bag and tossed the humanoid into the other cell, revealing that the humanoid is none other than Uldren Sov.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Lore:Most_Loyal#Two_Cells|Most Loyal: Two Cells]]''</ref> A confused Variks questioned Petra, who replied that Uldren seemed to have gone mad, and that no one else should be allowed into the cellblock from there out. As Petra and Cayde left, Variks reopened Uldren's cell and approached him reassuringly.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Lore:Most_Loyal#Reacquaintance|Most Loyal: Reacquaintance]]''</ref> He was immediately alarmed by the sound of exploding Servitors; investigating, Variks discovered that the Servitors that were extracting Ether from Fikrul had been destroyed, due to a [[Dark Ether|mutation]] in Fikrul's Ether.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Lore:Most_Loyal#Revolution|Most Loyal: Revolution]]''</ref>

His decision was made, Variks did his usual routines which he deemed his last as Warden of the Prison. On the day of the Prison Break, he ran simulations on the security systems and made adjustments based on the simulations results. He did everything he normally did, except he had one last talk with his Servitor. He also had a conversation with Fikrul and Uldren on the day of the Prison Break. At the end of the day the Prison Break occurred, the Warden had sent a message through the speakers announcing a malfunction in the security system and began a shutdown and reboot, which resulted in all the prison cells and cryopods opening. As the prison cells opened, Variks made his way through the secret passageway that Petra and Cayde used to smuggle in Fikrul and Uldren into the Prison, and recorded two messages to be sent through the prison's relay. The first message he recorded with his synth voice device deactivated to talk in High Speak, in order to give commands to those Eliksni who would answer the call of House Judgement. The second message he recorded was spoken with his synth device activated about the whispers he hears from all those around him, of his insulting titles, and how he will become the Kell of House Judgement, an envoy for the Eliksni. He boarded a ship full of the prison's ether supply and accompanied by a Vandal wearing colors of the House of Wolves.<ref name=LEWLL/>  

Upon fleeing the Reef, Varks became an uneasy ally of Eramis. When he realised she had became obsessed with the power of Darkness, he stole her [[Splinter of Darkness]] and sneaked out to send a transmission to the Guardian, begging them to come to Europa and fight the House of Salvation. He was captured by Eramis and half frozen. Once freed by the Guardian, he becomes an ally against House Salvation in the Beyond Light campaign.

*Variks is the first kell to not be a captain in rank but instead a [[Vandal]]