Burton Varrish

**Burton Varrish** is a vice commandant at Basgiath War College. He has caused at least three consecutive deaths of prisoners during his interrogations.

## Biography

### **Iron Flame**

Burton Varrish is assigned as Violet's new vice commandant, making sure she will only be given two days of leave once every 14 days to be used only to fly with Tairn directly to and from Sgaely's current duty station or location, and any other absence from classes will be considered as punishable offense. He regularly makes cadets search her bags or demand to take off the flight jacket for further inspection. Additionally, Varrish organizes two assassinations attempts against Violet, which both failed, so the mating bond will take Xaden with it.

Behind closed doors, he orders Nolon to take care of Jack Barlowe, who barely survived after being crushed by the weight of a mountain caused through Violet's signet. After months of bending, Nolon succeeded in healing Jack to the state in which he is able to attend Basgiath War College again.

After Violet is poisoned by Nolon and brought to the interrogation chambers, Varrish personally interrogates her, leaving bruises and dislocated bones on her. He reveals to Violet that his signet allows him to read weaknesses of others, and that her biggest weaknesses are the people she loves. He brings in Dain who is reading Violet's mind against her will, but abruptly gets betrayed by Dain, who slashes him with a dagger. Varrish ends up chained to the interrogation chair by Xaden's shadows, and Violet kills him by shoving the dagger through his chest.

## Personality

Varrish is lawful to the Rider's Codex, but uses it to his advantage in any attempt to punish Violet Sorrengail for the smallest mistakes. His cruel and dark tendencies show when he violently interrogates cadets as a requirement for passing the Rider Survival Course, causing them concussions and broken bones, before they are mended by Nolon to repeat the process until they break and reveal their secret. He is often seen by using Dain's weakness against him to try to get information out of Violet and reading her mind.

The only time he holds himself accountable and apologizes for his actions is when he challenges Tairn's wrath, who ends up threatening to kill Solas if Varrish refuses to apologize to Violet and go on his knees for the inconveniences he has caused them.

## Power and Abilities

### Powers

#### Lesser Magic

* Every rider is capable of using Lesser magic once their dragon begins channeling through them after Threshing.

#### Signet

* *Weakness Detection*
	+ He explains to Violet during her interrogation that his ability is to discern other peoples weaknesses. He used this ability in torturing prisoners during interrogation.

## Relationships

### Solas

Varrish and his dragon share a deep bond together, characterized by both of their aggressive tendencies, as Solas set fire to the squad of bonded riders after Parapet, killing multiple people, and Varrish revealing his barbaric tendencies during his interrogation processes. Even after Varrish's death, Solas seeks out revenge in an attempt to kill Violet among Andarna.

## Quotes

"Fascinating. I'd heard you were too fragile to survive a year in the same quadarant." - Varrish to Violet