Varius

Varius was an American Assassin active in New York City during the American Civil War. Like his father before him, Varius was the only Assassin operating in the city, the Mentor having decided that a lone undercover agent was the more efficient way to thwart the Templars' plans.

In 1863, as tensions were on the rise, Varius was instructed to steal a Dagger of Eden hidden in the Aztec Club and deliver it to General Ulysses S. Grant. At first, Varius successfully recovered the Piece of Eden, but was later hunted by Cudgel Cormac, who seriously injured him and nearly got hold of the artifact. However, thanks to Varius' new recruit, the gifted Eliza, the dagger managed to reach General Grant.

Varius was an ancestor of Owen Meyers, a 21st-century teenager who became involved in the Assassin-Templar War.

Biography

Early life

Varius was trained by his father to become an Assassin and safeguard the freedom of the human race. He was taught the history of the Assassin Brotherhood and their age-old conflict with the Templar Order.

American Civil War

Varius was an active Assassin during the American Civil War and the only Assassin stationed in New York City. In July 1863, as tensions in the city rose due to Templar influence over the city's gangs, a planned riot was set to break out. The chaos would cause widespread destruction, granting the Templars the opportunity to rebuild the city in their image. As there was nothing he could do to prevent the riot, the Assassin Mentor instructed Varius to focus on obtaining a Piece of Eden stored inside the Aztec Club House and delivering it to General Ulysses S. Grant.

After equipping his Assassin gear, Varius made his way to the Club House, traveling across the city's rooftops. Out of precaution, he scanned the building with his Eagle Vision, detecting a faint vibration of the Piece of Eden. Upon seeing the Piece, he wrapped the dagger-shaped artifact in a blanket to take it safely outside with him. However, he was intercepted by the Templar Cudgel Cormac, who stunned him using his rifle and let him live with the shame of being defeated.

Varius was later found by Eliza, a servant girl working for William M. Tweed, who brought him to safety. She revealed that she was somewhat aware of his identity after discovering and reading a letter discussing the riots and Cudgel's involvement. She also mentioned that she had been able to find Varius by following a "golden glow", a skill she had possessed since childhood. Varius recognized this and correctly deduced that she had Eagle Vision. Seeing her potential, he decided to take her under his wing while continuing his search for Cudgel.

Later that same day, Varius encountered Cudgel again. During their fight, Cudgel used the Piece of Eden, disorienting Varius and paralyzing him before stabbing him. As Cudgel walked away, leaving the Assassin for dead, Eliza took his rifle and shot him, stunning him and knocking him to the ground. She blamed Cudgel for her father's death and put a dagger to his throat but ultimately decided against killing him. Instead, she vowed to join the Assassin Order, stating that their fight was not over yet.

Varius was later taken to a hospital, where doctors treated him alongside the many wounded and refugees from the draft riots.

Legacy

Thanks to Varius' recruitment of Eliza into the Assassin Brotherhood and his continuous opposition to Cudgel Cormac, the Templars were unable to obtain the Piece of Eden from the Aztec Club. This ensured that the artifact ended up in the hands of Ulysses S. Grant, who would later deliver a decisive blow against the Confederacy.

Varius fathered at least one child during his life, and his lineage extended to the 21st century teenager Owen Meyers, who relived Varius' memories in late 2016. Through his ancestor's memories, Owen learned about the devastation of the New York draft riots and gained a closer look at the Assassin-Templar War. Eventually, due to the Bleeding Effect, Owen gained some of Varius' abilities, primarily Eagle Vision. When confronted by the Assassin Griffin, who was searching for the same Piece of Eden that had appeared in the simulation, Owen chose to trust him after using Eagle Vision to deduce Griffin's intentions. When his friend Javier Mondragón questioned whether that was wise, Owen responded that he believed in the Assassins' Creed, which Javier recognized as a sign of the Bleeding Effect.

Weeks later, even though Varius' presence in Owen's mind gradually faded, being around Grace Collins, a descendant of Eliza, triggered a mild Bleeding Effect between them due to their ancestors' connection and shared training. When Owen and Grace were captured in Mongolia, they managed to overpower their guard. When her brother David asked where the plan had come from, Owen explained that it was a result of the bond between Varius and Eliza, making the idea come to them naturally.

Personality and traits

Varius was a devoted member of the Assassin Brotherhood, firmly believing in their cause and judgment. He opposed the unnecessary violence caused by the draft riots in New York City and blamed Cudgel Cormac and his Order for instigating the chaos, which led to civilian casualties among both black and white residents. He also sought to honor his father's Assassin legacy by continuing his work in protecting New York from Templar influence.

Varius was well-versed in the Assassins' history, particularly the purge of the Colonial Brotherhood caused by Shay Cormac, a former Assassin who had defected to the Templars. When he realized he was fighting a potential descendant of the Cormac bloodline, he hesitated to confront Cudgel directly, questioning whether he was skilled enough to take on the Assassin Hunter.

Varius possessed strong deductive skills and carefully assessed his mission objectives to anticipate possible dangers. While traveling across the rooftops to reach the Aztec Club, he used his Eagle Vision to locate the artifact. During the retrieval, he noticed someone outside the building and correctly deduced that they were also after the artifact. He then carefully planned his escape from the clubhouse accordingly.

During a conversation with Eliza about how she had found him, he correctly inferred that she possessed Eagle Vision. After getting to know her better, he invited her to join the Brotherhood and personally trained her in freerunning, helping her refine her abilities that same day.

Skills and equipment

Varius was a highly skilled freerunner and parkour practitioner, effortlessly navigating the rooftops of New York City while simultaneously mentoring Eliza. He was also a master of stealth, as demonstrated by his ability to eliminate an informant of William M. Tweed undetected, with the body only being discovered the next morning.

He wielded his Hidden Blade with precision and was proficient in using a revolver and throwing knives. Additionally, his Eagle Vision allowed him to locate Pieces of Eden when they were nearby.

Gallery

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  Concept art by Studio Lounak
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  Concept art by Studio Lounak

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods (indirect mention only)