Venin

Venin (a.k.a. Dark Wielders) are a species of Humans in the Known World that take power from "the source" (i.e. the land).

## History

Most Navarrian citizens presume that Venin only existed in fables alongside Wyverns. Folklore tells a tale of three brothers: one who bonded with dragons, one who bonded with gryphons, and the third brother who became so jealous that he “drew [magic] directly from the source, losing his soul and waging war on the other two.” Channeling magic from the source, without the use of a dragon or gryphon, corrupts that person’s soul beyond salvation.

Venin reside in The Barrens, which is a lifeless region due to the land being drained of all its magic. It is mentioned within Violet's dream that at least one Venin is centuries old.

It was presumed that Venin cannot draw power from the source while within the wards' reach, which is why Navarre has not seen a Venin attack in 600 years. However, Jack confirms that it is possible to turn Venin within the wards and that they do not block *all* power. Venin are still able to channel from the ground and channel enough to survive. He also confirms that it's possible for Venin to control their dragons and do not die if their bonded dragon dies.

## Physical Description

Venin are seen in various clothes; wearing blue or purple floor-length robes and holding a long misshapen cane - as well as in red fighting leathers. They are characterized by the “rivers of red veins fanning in every direction” around their red soulless eyes.

Depending on their rank their appearance can vary.

* **Initiates**: reddish rings to their eyes that come and go depending on how often they drain others.
* **Asims**': the eyes fluctuate in varying degrees of red and the veins distend when riled.
* **Sages**: their eyes are permanently red and their veins perpetually distended toward their temples and expanding with age.
* **Mavens**: no information has ever been recorded about their appearance

## **Hierarchy**

Venin are ranked based on their age and experience.

### Initiate

This is the lowest level of Venin. Their eyes may have reddish rings depending on how often they drain others.

### Asim

Their eyes fluctuate in varying degrees of red and the veins distend when riled.

### Sage

Sages are those responsible for initiates. Their eyes are permanently red and their veins perpetually distended toward their temples and expanding with age.

### Maven

Mavens are the equivalent of Generals in Venin hierarchy. A Maven has never been captured or studied.

## Abilities

Venin handle a staff to use their magic, appearing in balls of blue flames. They are immune to dragon fire and channel their power from the ground.

### Pain Projection

* the ability to force power into an enemy, originally thought to be Jack Barlowe's signet, but confirmed to be a venin ability.

### Gravity Manipulation

* using a staff they have the ability to lift opponents off the ground or force them down onto their hands and knees.

### Fighting Adaptation

* Venin can quickly adapt to whichever fighting style a person uses against them.

## Weakness

### Fatal

* Venin can be killed with the metal alloy that powers Navarre's wards. This material is forged into weapons and also powers the wards, which inhibit their ability to draw power from the source.
* Venin can also be killed from being struck by pure power (i.e. Violet's lightning wielding).
* When a venin dies, so do the wyverns they created.

### Inhibiting

* The runes placed on the Rybestad chest cause items held within the chest to be suspended in midair, effectively immobilizing Venins from channeling their powers from the ground.
* When confined within material that has already been drained of its magic (e.g. stones mined from East of the Dunness River), their ability to drain life from the land is limited to that confinement.
* Basgiath has a serum that is used on Venin to block them from channeling power from the source.

## Confirmed Venin

* Jack Barlowe
* Xaden Riorson
* Wynn (deceased)

## Trivia

* Q: "What is the name of the forbidden book given to Violet by her father which contains stories of venin?" A: The Fables of the Barren

## Citations

1. ↑ Fourth Wing, Page 444
2. ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 22
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Iron Flame, Chapter 60
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Iron Flame, Chapter 62
5. ↑ Fourth Wing, Page 459
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Iron Flame, Chapter 47
7. ↑ Rebecca Yarros, Entertainment Weekly Interview, Pub. Nov 22nd, 2023. https://ew.com/rebecca-yarros-empyrean-series-book-three-8405856
8. ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 66
9. ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 42