Varric Tethras

Varric Tethras (born 9:1 DragonAs calculated by comparing the dates found in and Codex entry: Bartrand Tethras.) is a surface dwarf and member of House Tethras. He is a companion of Hawke in Dragon Age II and a companion of the Inquisitor in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
== Background ==
The Tethras family was once part of the Noble caste in Orzammar, until Varric's father was caught fixing Provings. Such was the disgrace and danger to the family that the household had no choice but to leave for the surface. Varric's mother, Lady Ilsa found the shame of the family's exile too much to bear and turned to liquor and smoke for comfort. With his older brother Bartrand busy building the family's wealth, it was Varric who took responsibility for his mother. He took pains to keep Ilsa's addiction hidden so as to avoid the public scandal this would bring and cared for her during bouts of illness. Varric thus displayed both the shrewdness and compassion that would mark him in life. Unlike his older brother, Varric was born in Kirkwall and has no feeling of loyalty or love towards Orzammar, his knowledge of which is largely second-hand. He is a merchant prince among the surface dwarves. 
Varric is a rogue from House Tethras. He is the youngest son of the Tethras family while his older brother is the head and runs the family business. On the outside, he is seen as the idle younger brother who spends his time in taverns telling wild stories while people buy him drinks. His real job is to maintain a "spy network" with contacts to deal with various troubles that come along with being in a family that is part of the Dwarven Merchants Guild.
=== Signature weapon ===
Varric has a signature crossbow named Bianca. Bianca has a carved wood stock and brass embellishments, as well as a retractable bayonet that slides out of a slot in the front. As such, Varric is the only companion who cannot equip different weapons. When asked about the story behind how Bianca got her name, he replies that it involves a girl and a promise, and that it is the one story that he can never tell.When asked about Bianca (the crossbow) in Dragon Age: Inquisition, Varric can give several different explanations as to how he acquired it, but with a high enough approval he will indirectly mention Bianca (the Dwarf) on the second dialogue option given. He has put the story to song, but will not sing it, instead humming the tune during battle.
== Involvement ==
=== Dragon Age II ===
=== Dragon Age: The Silent Grove ===
=== Dragon Age: Those Who Speak ===
=== Dragon Age: Until We Sleep ===
=== Dragon Age: Inquisition ===
==== Trespasser ====
=== Dragon Age: Knight Errant ===
=== Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights ===
=== Dragon Age: The Missing ===
=== Dragon Age: Vows and Vengeance ===
Neve Gallus met with Varric Tethras at the Minrathous inn known as the Tattered Veil in order to discuss their progress in finding Solas. Varric told Neve his leads in Orlais were a bust while Neve says that the Shadow Dragons couldn't find anything about Solas either. When they went downstairs to regroup with Lace Harding, who was meeting with an old contact, Neve was approached by Drayden Kiel. Harding, who had recently arrived, recognized Drayden and introduced Drayden as the ally who helped her defend Raven's Brook and companion of Nadia Carcosa. Neve had also crossed paths with Nadia, and Varric thought Nadia could answer some of his questions about Solas' involvement in her life. Drayden tells the group about their search for Nadia's lover Elio Andante but believes that Nadia has been lured into a trap by a demon posing as Elio. The demon said something about taking Nadia to her "home", which is somewhere in Minrathous, but Drayden needs Neve's help to find the exact location. Neve agrees to help Drayden and Varric and Harding were quick to offer their assistance as well.
Neve had her connections investigate Nadia and the group meets with Neve's associate Huxley to receive their findings. Huxley tells the group about Nadia's tragic history and from her story, the group deduced that the demon is holding Nadia in the catacombs—a dismal place that is fit for a demon to enter into the world. The group searches the catacombs and arrives in time to interrupt a ritual that will allow the demon Maeror to possess Nadia. After revealing that Maeror was impersonating Elio, Nadia and the group fights the demon. As the group begins to close in on Maeror, Maeror counters by opening a Fade rift and begins to summon demons. Neve siphoned mana from the Fade and used it to fill the entire chamber with a disruption field. This immobilized the summoned demons, allowing Harding to finish them off with arrow barrages from a vantage point. However, Maeror countered by freezing most of the group with a blast of ice. Only Nadia escaped the ice blast and was given a tonic from Drayden to help her endure its ice attacks. After discovering that Maeror has been stalking her since she was a child and that it also killed Elio, Nadia furiously attacked Maeror. Eventually, Nadia wounds Maeror enough to knock it unconscious and consequently cause its ice magic to wear off. The group recovers but Maeror refuses to die and hits Nadia with an ice attack. Varric shoots Maeror with a fatal headshot and kills it, but Nadia had her lungs punctured from the ice attack and became unconscious from her wounds. 
Luckily for Nadia, the group got her to a healer in time to save her life, but her wounds will cripple her fighting capabilities and she will need a prosthetic. The group attends a funeral for Elio hosted by Nadia on the Andante estate. Afterwards, Nadia and Drayden leave Tevinter to build a new estate in order to help those displaced by the anomalies; ultimately they say their farewells to their new friends. Neve also leaves to follow up on an investigation into a Venatori plot, and Varric and Harding plan their next move over a drink.Dragon Age: Vows & Vengeance, Episode 8: All Roads Lead Home
== Quests ==
=== Dragon Age II ===
Act 1
:
:
:
Act 2
:
:
:
:
:
:
: (gift)
Act 3
:
:
:
:
:
Mark of the Assassin
:
=== Dragon Age: Inquisition ===
:
:
: (war table)
: (war table)
: (war table)
: (war table)
: (war table)
: (war table)
: (war table)
: (war table)
=== Dragon Age: The Veilguard ===
== Approval ==
=== Dragon Age II ===
Varric likes to talk and likes telling exaggerated stories of Hawke's heroism. Solving problems and gaining advantage through diplomacy, outright lies, and even blackmail will impress him, while straightforward violence and thuggery leaves him cold. He also responds well to joking, flirting and sarcasm and to mild greed. Beneath his silver tongue, however, he's a goodhearted person and will appreciate Hawkes who look out for their families and are kind to dwarves.
To earn rivalry with Varric, choose aggressive responses that glorify violence and combat, and show a lack of interest in his stories, his friendship, and your place in Kirkwall.
=== Dragon Age Inquisition ===
Gaining approval with Varric in Inquisition follows generally the same vein as gaining friendship with him did in Dragon Age II. Varric will generally approve of selfless acts, far more so than in Dragon Age II and likes when the Inquisitor acts humble instead of haughty. He will also approve at the occasional joke made by the Inquisitor. Any red lyrium found and destroyed while out adventuring will also net approval with Varric.
Varric generally approves of the Inquisition's actions, so many choices you make won't have a big effect on his approval so long as you don't go out of your way to let innocent people suffer. However, there are three instances that will yield :
If Varric's disapproval rating gets too high, the next time the Inquisitor talks to him he will express his disapproval of the Inquisitor's methods.
== Gifts ==
: - purchased at Trinkets Emporium for 8 77 30 (available during Act 2 only).
== Statistics ==
=== Dragon Age II ===
==== Initial talents ====
:
Available talent trees	Initially selected talents
 	
 	
 	
 	
 	
(specialization) 	
==== Initial equipment ====
:
Weapons	
Armor 	Varric's Tailored Leather Duster
==== Armor upgrades ====
Upgrades to Varric's armor, Varric's Tailored Leather Duster, can be found at the following locations:
: (Act 1) – available from the Apparel Shop in Lowtown. Extra rune slot.
: (Act 2) – available from Shady Merchandise at the Docks. Increases attack (scales with Hawke's level).
: (Act 2) – obtained during his personal quest Family Matter. Extra rune slot.
: (Act 3) – found during the quest Finding Nathaniel. Extra rune slot.
==== Restricted accessories ====
: – requires Rogue Item Pack DLC
: – requires Legacy DLC
: – requires Rogue Item Pack II DLC
: – requires Mark of the Assassin DLC
===Dragon Age: Inquisition===
==== Initial talents ====
:
Ability trees 	Initially selected abilities
 	
 	
 	
 	
(specialization)	
==== Initial equipment ====
:
Weapons	
Armor 	
==== Restricted accessories ====
: (2)
== Quotes ==
=== Dragon Age II ===
* "'I don't like this'? That's right up there with, 'What could possibly go wrong?'"
* "There's a recipe to a good hero, Hawke. It's like alchemy. One part down-to-earth, one part selfless nobility, two parts crazy, and you season liberally with wild falsehoods. You let that percolate through a good audience for a while, and when it's done, you've got your hero."
* "Once more I am falsely accused of whatever it is that I am accused of. Falsely."
* "Hawke, I'm a businessman. Now and then, I shoot people."
* "You should know by now that I love the sound of my own voice, Hawke."
* "Shows what you know. I would definitely bring this up just to gossip. I didn't. But I would."
* (Regarding his brother) "I swear I am going to find that son of a bitch - sorry, Mother - and I will kill him!"
=== Dragon Age: Inquisition ===
* "You know what I think? If Hawke had been at the temple, s/he'd be dead too. You people have done enough to her/him."
* "Varric Tethras: rogue, storyteller and, occasionally, unwelcome tagalong."
* "Bianca? She's one of a kind. There's a hidden shop in Kirkwall called the Black Emporium. I found her in a barrel labeled 'swag.' The owner sold her to me for a ham sandwich and a pair of yellow ruffled pants."
*(Regarding Bianca, the crossbow) "I bought a salvaged ship and found her locked in a dragonbone-reinforced chest in the hold. I broke three dozen lockpicks and blunted nine saws opening that trunk, but it was worth it."
*(Regarding Spymasters) "The truly great ones can keep their distance. They don't get attached to their people. Me? I always wind up babysitting my informants and worrying about their families."
* (During The Abyssal High Dragon Quest) "Baiting a dragon. On purpose. Right. Should have stayed home today.
* "Oh it's been great. Murderous Wardens, Archdemon attacks, plenty of blood mages, and crazy templars. Just like home."
* "Heroes are everywhere. I've seen that. But a hole in the sky? That's beyond heroes. We're going to need a miracle."
=== Nicknames ===
Varric has a penchant for giving people nicknames. In Dragon Age II he calls Merrill "Daisy", Isabela "Rivaini", Bethany "Sunshine", Fenris "Elf" or "broody elf",See Talk Page. Carver "Junior", Anders "Blondie", Sebastian "Choir-Boy", and Tallis "Shivs". He never comes up with one for Aveline, however — a fact she comments on if they are both in the party together. He suggests "Red", but she responds in the negative, stating that it is "too common". 
Varric does not nickname Hawke until Mark of the Assassin, where they can receive a nickname depending on their current personality. A Diplomatic/Helpful Hawke is "Waffles", a Sarcastic/Charming Hawke is "Chuckles", and an Aggressive/Direct Hawke is "Killer". 
The nickname "Waffles" is used again in the official cookbook.
Varric continues with the nicknaming tradition in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Vivienne is "Iron Lady", Iron Bull is "Tiny", Cole is "Kid", Cullen is "Curly", Josephine is "Ruffles", Solas is "Chuckles", Blackwall is "Hero", Dorian is "Sparkler", Sera is "Buttercup", Shaper Valta is "Scribbles" and Lt. Renn is called "Grisly". Varric calls both Hands of the Divine by their established titles: Cassandra is "Seeker", and Leliana is "Nightingale". The Inquisitor does not receive an official nickname, although Varric does occasionally refer to them as "Your Inquisitorialness". During Here Lies the Abyss he refers to Nightmare as "Smiley".
In Dragon Age: Knight Errant, Varric's nickname for Vaea is "Fingers"Dragon Age: Knight Errant, #1 and his nickname for Ser Aaron is "Muscles."Dragon Age: Knight Errant, #3
== Literary works ==
Varric is also an accomplished author renowned throughout Thedas. Most of his stories concern themselves with outcasts and tragic mistakes. His editor is part of the Coterie of Kirkwall and feared for her preciseness in grammatical areas. His publisher seems to withhold informations from him, as Varric was unaware of the success of his work among the Orlesian nobility before attending a party at the Winter Palace. Critics among the Chantry decry his work as smutty and pulpish.
Works include:
* The Dasher's Men, published in 9:18 Dragon, features the feud between two Carta clans, with a pair of casteless brothers caught in the middle. It is his first published work and the least-known. It's also the only one of his novels to feature a dwarven hero.
* Darktown's Deal, published in 9:20 Dragon, a serial about the Coterie of Kirkwall.
* The Viper's Nest, published in 9:23 Dragon, a story about an elven courtier that gets in the friction between the Kalna and Ascendant families in the Dwarven Merchants Guild, as well as the several connections the guild maintains to various assassin guilds.
* Hard in Hightown, published in 9:33 Dragon, his breakthrough work. It features the clash between a secretive group of agents of the Divine with a mysterious organization known as the Executors over a mysterious artifact, with a weary member of the Kirkwall City Guard, Donnen Brennokovic, caught between the fronts. Chapters were published irregularly, due to the unrest in Kirkwall at the time. Hard in Hightown has been the best-selling book in five nations since 9:36 Dragon, eventually outselling Brother Genitivi's Travels of a Chantry Scholar to become the widest-read book in Thedas outside of Tevinter. A sequel, named Hard in Hightown 2: Siege Harder, is currently in the making.
** Despite common perceptions, 'Hard in Hightown 3: The Re-Punchening' has not been authored by him, but by a rival dwarf named Worthy.
* Swords & Shields, first published between 9:31-9:37 Dragon, a romance series about a guard-captain that falls in love with a Templar knight-captain. Though Varric considers it the worst of his books, the series still has its fans.Such as Aveline, Cassandra Pentaghast, and Marius. 
* The Tale of the Champion, no publication date given (but likely post 9:37 Dragon), the story about the rise of his close friend Hawke and their involvement in the Kirkwall Rebellion.
* Tales of the Inquisition's Agents, published between 9:41-9:44 Dragon, a story about the adventures of the various agents of the Inquisition.Note: Tales of the Inquisition's Agents: Book I
* All This Shit is Weird, published in 9:44 Dragon, telling the story of the Herald of Andraste and the adventures of the Inquisition.As related by Cassandra during the end credits sequence of Trespasser.
Among the works he has not finished is The Mercenary’s Price, which he wrote during the time his mother was suffering from a liver ailment to read to her at her bed and then burned after she passed away in 9:26. Another is a planned political thriller at the Orlesian court inspired by the peace talks at the Winter Palace and the personality of Vivienne.Dialogue between Vivienne and Varric
== Codex entries ==
== Note texts ==
:
:
:
== Notes ==
* Mary Kirby wrote Varric for Dragon Age II and Dragon Age: Inquisition. He was originally written as a sleazy and untrustworthy character. Later, the writers wanted to add a companion who would stand up for Hawke with all the opposing personalities in the party, and Varric eased into the place.
* Though he is not a romance option, he can be flirted with by a female Hawke and, to a lesser extent, by the Inquisitor. According to David Gaider, they almost did "slip something in there." They talked about having the interrogation end with Varric meeting back up with Hawke and explaining that he'd told them everything, in which case Hawke would say "Everything?" and Varric would respond "Don't worry. I skipped the part about us..."
== Trivia ==
* Hard in Hightown was turned into a real book by Mary Kirby and lists Varric as the first author.Amazon Book listing
* Varric's excessive chest hair has become something of a running joke with developers and fans on the BioWare social forum. It is also something of a running gag in-game, especially with Isabela.
* According to Varric himself, he is a compulsive liar, and cannot swim.He mentions this fact in the Storm Coast and in the Deep Roads (Trespasser) after the location has been submerged.
* Varric's greatest fear is to become like his parents.
* Varric loves sweetsDragon Age: The Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas, p. 159 and pastries in general, one of his favorites being cinnamon rolls.Dragon Age: The Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas, p. 135 Devon, the cookbook narrator, mentions that they met with Varric for a food consultation and described Varric's love for pastries as "that if one were to leave a dish of fresh pastries on a windowsill, he is likely to be found lurking close by."Dragon Age: The Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas, p. 143
* Due to Varric's role in the game's storyline, he is the only companion in Dragon Age II who cannot have crisis points and leave the group. This is also the case in Dragon Age: Inquisition; Varric, Solas, and Cassandra will never leave no matter how low their opinion of the Inquisitor becomes.
* It is subtly revealed that Varric uses his spy network to keep watch and help out the other party members. An early companion quest in Act 2 reveals that he keeps the Darktown thugs from attacking Anders's clinic (Anders will question this in a party banter), and inter-party banter with Merrill shows that he pays off the Lowtown gangs to leave her alone if she walks around Lowtown at night; he also pays the gardeners in Hightown to keep quiet about Merrill picking flowers from the nobles' gardens.
* When asked about the origin of the name of his crossbow, Bianca, Varric will reply, "Mirabelle was taken." This is a reference to the black powder firearm Mirabelle from BioWare's Jade Empire.
* Varric recommends the book "The Pursuit of Knowledge" by Brother Genitivi to Hawke.
* He is described as "The Storyteller" in promotional materials for Dragon Age: Inquisition.
* During the Mark of the Assassin DLC, party banter with Hawke will reveal that he was actually hoping to intercept Hawke and their sibling before they talked to Bartrand.
* Mary Kirby describes him as "beef bourguignon." She also asserts that if he were a Harry Potter character, he would be sorted into Hufflepuff.
* A reference to Varric can be found after completion of Mass Effect: Andromeda, another BioWare game. An email can be read from one "V. Tethras", saying "A great story, Pathfinder. I'm going to write a book about this."
* Mary Kirby has stated that Varric's necklace was inherited from his father.
== Gallery ==
Conceptart001.jpg|Artwork of Varric's interrogation by Cassandra
Varric and bartrand.png|Varric, Bartrand, Carver and Anders in the Deep Roads
Varric InquIsition.jpg|Promotional CG
Varric-profile-260px-new.jpg|Varric's profile on the official Dragon Age: Inquisition website
DAI Varric Square.png|Varric close-up
VarricDAI.jpg|Varric in the Fires Above trailer
VarricTethrasImage.jpg|Varric meets the Inquisitor
Varric image.jpg|Varric in combat
Varric holding Bianca pic.png|Varric holding Bianca in Dragon Age: Inquisition
Swords and Shields book cover.jpg|Swords & Shields book cover
Viscount Varric.png|Promotional image of Viscount Varric in Heroes of Dragon Age
Artificer Varric.png|Promotional image of Artificer Varric in Heroes of Dragon Age
== References ==
== External links ==
* "Dragon Age Faces of Thedas: Varric", interview by Green Ronin with Mary Kirby about Varric, including a character sheet
* Dragon Age Inquisition Character Kits #2
* Varric Tethras Character Guide
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