Varga, God of Beasts
Varga, God of Beasts, is a War God that embodies primal fury, wild instinct, and an uncompromising territorial nature. He typically appears as a towering, 2.5-meter-tall lionkin, though he can assume any Beastkin form.
Varga has mixed feelings about Humans. He mates with many, but also pities them, considering them weak and disconnected from natural power. He respects the few that have overcome their weaknesses, and resents those that mistreat and enslave Beastkin. He occasionally retaliates by enslaving Humans of his own, whom he uses to fill gaps in labor.
Philosophy
Varga exalts strength and territory, maintaining a deliberately fearsome reputation to discourage casual intrusions into his domain. He embraces his role as the apex predator of his domain, enforcing a worldview that nature is a proving ground: rule if you can hold it, yield if you cannot.
Varga permits challenge by ritual combat because authority must be demonstrated, not inherited. Wound him and you earn voice; defeat him cleanly and he honors the result. Outside his borders he is indifferent, but within them his word is law and the wild comes first. His principles have forged an expanse of tribes that work as a highly effective war machine where the strongest thrive.
Domain and Order
Varga maintains a tribal domain that stretches between the Vargan Territories and the southern Darklands near Sanctum. Large settlements are rare unless they are essential for military strategy. This includes Fang, a city dedicated to multiple warrior tribes fighting against the Dreadspire Infernum. Most remaining settlements are small and tribal, but very common.
There is a disproportionately high number of veteran warriors within Varga's domain. Tribes are governed by Pack Leaders, those who earned their position through strength, with the greatest tribes led by Varga's Alphas. Pack Leaders coordinate raids, hunts, and defense. Varga intervenes when a tribe weakens the whole or violates his law of the wild, but is otherwise content to let the strong command.
Alphas
Alphas are Varga's Anointed, blessed with extraordinary physical abilities that exceed the peak qualities of other Beastkin. As with all Sacraments, Varga is constrained by divine essence, bestowing roughly one Anointment each year. At times, he uses his Sacrament to empower Fey creatures, and occasionally extends the rite to select Fey at Artemis's request.
Alphas grow larger, stronger, faster, tougher, and longer‑lived, with marked regeneration and sharpened predator instinct. The vast majority of Anointments go to Beastkin, though on very rare occasions another race may prove their strength. Varga converts them to a Softclaw Beastkin as part of the rite, which he also considers a distinct upgrade.
Notable Relationships
- Considers Artemis a powerful, worthy, respectable warrior. Is always willing to fight at his side.
- Sylvara, Dragon Goddess of Nature, occasionally builds lairs in Varga's domain, which are often used as tribal settlements.
- Treats Amara, Goddess of Compassion, with respect. When she visits, Varga often permits her to free a handful of slaves that handled their role with dignity.
- Holds Aedron, God of Crafting, in high esteem, though their relationship is almost entirely transactional. Varga values and appreciates the extraordinary weapons and tools that he's been granted for himself and his tribes, especially the commissioned equipment for his Alphas and most elite warriors and beasts.
Rivalry with Kratos
Varga despises Kratos, God of Conquest, and Valkyrie, Goddess of Battle. He believes Valkyrie's interest in combat is single-minded and morally bankrupt, and Kratos is a tyrant undeserving of respect. He openly mocks Kratos's authority and loves to remind everyone that Kratos refused a duel to the death. Fortunately, Varga and Kratos are physically separated by the sea and on opposite ends of Endros, which has been necessary for keeping their tensions quelled.