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Varis zos Galvus is a non-player character in Final Fantasy XIV. During the events of A Realm Reborn he becomes the new emperor of the Garlean Empire, succeeding his grandfather Solus zos Galvus. Before his ascension, he was Varis yae Galvus, a High Legatus.

He has one known son, Zenos yae Galvus.

Profile

Appearance

Varis is a large Garlean man with beige skin and platinum hair. His face is gaunt and he has pale yellow eyes. Like Cid nan Garlond and Nero tol Scaeva, he bears the signature "third eye" of Garleans with a circlet worn over and outlining it. He wears a massive suit of dark armor with a red cape, similar to his late grandfather's promotional artwork.

Personality

The emperor of Garlemald is militant, cold, and stoic, yet determined and charismatic. Varis believes his actions are just as he is willing to kill all beastmen to remove primals from the realm. He follows a "needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" creed, stating that the condition of Eorzea and its people are of little consequence to the fate of the entire world in the quest to remove or bind eikons.

Varis has little to no love for his family, spitting on the coffin of his uncle after ousting him from the throne. He recognizes his son Zenos for the monster he was and does not mourn his supposed death.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)

Varis resents his grandfather Solus, even more so after learning that he was an Ascian and that the civil war nearly caused by Solus's failure to name a successor on his deathbed was intentional.

Varis has no desire to rule over Eorzea or other continents, and only wishes to destroy the eikons that threaten them. He is willing to ally with his grandfather's enemies to accomplish it. He ultimately believes that man should be the master of his own destiny, despising the Ascians and their penchant for controlling others. He aims to restore the world to what it originally was, freeing the people of their differences to unite them.

During the negotiations with the Eorzean Alliance and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, Varis reveals his true goals are more closely aligned with the Ascians, wishing to invoke the Rejoining to restore mankind as one true perfect race devoid of differences. He believes these differences between races are what sprout feelings of distrust and hate. Varis beseeches the leaders of Eorzea to join him and his empire to accomplish this goal, regardless of the cost it may have on the other reflections of the Source.

Despite his stoic and cold personality, Varis is cunning and manipulative, as he twists the words of the Eorzean Alliance leaders and uses their nations' own histories to sow seeds of doubt.

Spoilers end here.

Story

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

Varis casket

Varis spits on the casket of his uncle.

Varis zos Galvus is revealed as the new emperor of Garlemald during a meeting of the Eorzean Alliance, having settled the succession crisis following the death of Solus zos Galvus. He had been contesting the throne with his uncle, the eldest son of Solus. Being a High Legatus and therefore with military prowess, Varis ousted his rival and crowned himself emperor. Since he was opposed to Project Meteor, the Alliance leaders worry about another Garlean invasion into Eorzea under the new emperor. For reasons unknown, Varis was experimenting with Allagan cloning technology with Solus as the subject.

Varis Zos Galvus

Varis as the new Emperor.

During the Main Scenario quests added in "Dreams of Ice," it is revealed Varis had planted a mole in the Eorzean Alliance back when the Grand Companies were reinstated, known as "the Ivy." The spy is Flame Marshal Eline Roaille, the second-in-command of the Immortal Flames. Uncovering the Ivy's spy network reveals she had been a double agent for other parties, such as Ul'dahn Monetarists and Ishgardian heretics.

Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward

Varis, along with his favored Legatus, Regula van Hydrus of the VIth Imperial Legion, interrogate the Zundu Vanu Vanu of Ok'Gundu in the Sea of Clouds while pursuing Archbishop Thordan VII. Varis acknowledges the Warrior of Light's reputation as a "nuisance," and claims to be seeking a means to stop the primals, albeit with different means as he is willing to kill the Zundu though they had no role in Bismarck's summoning. Lucia goe Junius intervenes with her magitek armor and Varis leaves on his dreadnaught, the Gration, promising the Warrior of Light that they will meet again.

Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood

After the defeat of the Garlean forces in Ala Mhigo, Elidibus offers his condolences regarding the death of Zenos. Varis brushes him off, saying his son was never fit for the throne while adding that there's no place for "shadowless charlatans" teaching savages to summon their false gods. Elidibus assures he won't stop Varis from pursuing the Black Ascians, though Varis remains skeptical of what mortal life will mean after the final Rejoining. Evading his query, the white Ascian reveals he has acquired Zenos's body as his vessel to Varis's shock and outrage.

Varis decides to broker peace with Doma by sending Asahi sas Brutus of the Populares faction as his ambassador to hold a prisoner exchange as a sign of goodwill. Varis is unaware that Elidibus uses his role as "Zenos" to manipulate Asahi into sabotaging the treaty, but Elidibus assures him that everything is going according to plan, stating that it's for the fate of the world. Though the Populares have been driven out, Varis remains hesitant to invade Ala Mhigo despite Elidibus telling him the time is right. Elidibus takes his leave while the Ascian that assumed the identity of Solus zos Galvus appears in one of the cloned bodies and chastises Varis for his indecisiveness, reminding him that the empire was created by the Ascians for causing discord via conquest, all to preserve the state of the world. Varis, furious with the former emperor, shoots him, retorting that man is the master of his own destiny. Solus appears in another clone body, scoffing at his proclamation before walking away, reminding him that he's merely doing his duty, as should he.

After meeting Solus one final time, livid to learn that the succession crisis from his grandfather's death was intentional, Varis parleys with the Eorzean Alliance before the battle of Ala Mhigo can commence. While the parley starts with him criticizing each leader when they chide his conduct, he is impressed after they compose themselves and realize the Garlean invasions are more than they appear. Varis reveals the truth behind his empire's establishment and the true nature of the Rejoining as he requests them to join him in seeing it happen so they can destroy the Ascians, only to be disappointed with the Alliance's lack of vision and resolve. Ultimately finding the negotiations to be a lost cause, Varis departs to ready his army for war.

While Elidibus battles the Eorzean Alliance and the Warrior of Light using his son's body, Varis is forced to return to Garlemald upon hearing rumors about his son being possessed leading to discontent within the Imperial Court, giving the possibility of a second war of succession. The battle in Ala Mhigo reaches a stalemate as Elidibus fails to defeat the Warrior of Light and is forced to retreat, with the Garlean forces following him. Varis argues with Elidibus regarding the battle, but they settle the matter with Varis vowing to do all he can to have Garlemald emerge victorious, warning the Ascian not to underestimate mankind. After Elidibus departs, Varis is approached by one of his engineers, proclaiming that production of Black Rose can now commence. Varis hesitates for a moment before smiling deviously.

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers

During the events of Shadowbringers Varis remains in Garlemeld consorting with Elidibus (In Zenos' body). The two continue their plans with the black rose while Elidibus also informs Varis that the Warrior of Light and the Scions are no longer on the Source, along with Emet-Selch. Before they can plot to use this opportunity a person in a Garlemeld uniform arrives declaring his intent to take on Elibidus for revenge, revealing the figure is the original Zenos (Able to take a new form thanks to his artificial Echo). Elidibus departs Zenos' body before a blow is struck and Zenos reclaims it, however he strikes Varis for daring to interfere with his desire to face the Warrior of Light again. Gaius and Estinien, who had been infiltrating the palace to investigate the rumors of Zenos, burst into the throne room to see Varis with Zenos' blade in his gut. Gaius believes it to be Elidibus but Varis corrects him before cursing his son for his madness, before Zenos cuts him down. Gaius charging at the mad Zenos before the scene cuts to black.

Spoilers end here.

Gallery

Trivia

  • Though Varis was a High Legatus, it is unknown what imperial legion he commanded.
  • Though Varis has been observed in the Imperial Throne Room numerous times, he has never sat on the throne.
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