Varkos Headsplitter Lore: Official Story
‘They thought they could creep into our Lords’ forest like some parasite. Ignorant, deluded fools. The breaking of a single thread of web, or crackling of a single autumn leaf is akin to the loudest warning chime to my Lords. The Sylvan’s hubris requires punishment, so it has been decreed by my just masters. The honor falls to me to deliver it. It is high time the mighty Insect Lords of Durham assert their dominance over the Mistwood.’
Varkos’ dominant, aggressive, bullying personality is matched only by his imposing physique. He enjoys pushing around those smaller and weaker than him, gladly blaming them for their circumstances. In turn Varkos takes – almost – full credit for his own success.
The only force Varkos has any regard for are the Insect Lords. He claims they came to him in his childhood, admiring his great potential, and ever since he has been their loyal servant. His favored weapon is a two-handed axe, to demonstrate his might as well as the power of the Insect Lords.
A figure of immense brawn he may be, but Varkos is not lacking in brains. He is as much a devious schemer as any Dark Elf, wearing a short, punching blade at the back of his waist to brazenly show his willingness to stab someone in the back. Winning is all that matters to him, and if he can rub that in his enemy’s face, he will.
All this makes Varkos a useful tool of the Insect Lords. The one who made Haggibah’s own cranium its nest knew his vessel would need a protector. It chose Varkos, appearing to him in a feverish, hours-long dream, speaking in a voice that sounded like a billion ants marching to war over the forest floor.
Upon waking, Varkos made for Durham’s boundary that instant, thrilled to be chosen to spread the Insect Lords’ power to the Mistwood, thousands of miles away. Oh how it needed the great webs and the gnashing of fangs, he thought.
Varkos waited six days and six nights for the Nestmaid to arrive. Without a word, they departed together.
Soon after they reached the Mistwood, they witnessed the Corruption for the first time. Rage and hate inflamed Varkos’ heart at the sight. He cut down many monstrous beasts and insane, crimson-veined Sylvan before they saw Talenna Soulseer battling the Corrupted alongside Sylvan allies.
Like almost all Dark Elves, Varkos harbored a deep hatred of High Elves. He wanted Talenna dead. When Haggibah ordered her slain, he eagerly attacked the Aravian. He easily outmatched her, and was poised to cut her in twain, head to groin, when he was blasted aside by an Undead being he could not know was Vallaryn the Equalizer. Varkos was furious. But he and Haggibah were forced to withdraw.
Haggibah had a new plan. Varkos was still to kill the High Elf – and now the Undead as well – while she went about completing their mission and birthing the Insect Lord she bore.