Arrr, VRC.LOL

Arrr, Champion backstory

Varus

th' Arrow o' Retribution

Arrr, Read the backstoryArrr, Abilities and gameplay guide
3Arrr, Story chapters
1Arrr, Story connections
2Arrr, Named place connections

Arrr, The person behind the champion

Arrr, A story to start with

Arrr, One of the ancient darkin, Varus was a deadly killer who loved to torment his foes, driving them almost to insanity before delivering the killing arrow. He was imprisoned at the end of the Great Darkin War, but escaped centuries later in the remade flesh of two Ionian hunters—they had unwittingly released him, cursed to bear the bow containing his bound essence. Varus now seeks out those who trapped him, in order to enact his brutal vengeance, but the mortal souls within still resist him every step of the way.

Arrr, Short biography by Riot Games · Data Dragon 16.20.1

Arrr, What shapes their story?

Arrr, The bow preserves an ancient will while the joined lives of Valmar and Kai resist its complete control. Love and vengeance therefore occupy the same transformed existence, making identity a struggle rather than a settled answer supplied by the weapon.

Arrr, Reading note by VRC.LOL
Arrr, Read Riot's full biography ↗

Arrr, Follow the story

Arrr, Story timeline

Arrr, Follow the main developments in order, then explore their consequences. Use each chapter's links to explore the people, regions and places involved. Artwork shows the character or wider world, not an exact reconstruction of each event; calendar dates are not assigned here.

  1. Living with the LandArrr, Riot Games · Regional world artwork

    Arrr, A Darkin confined within a bow

    Arrr, Varus carries the history of a darkin imprisoned within a bow. The mortal lives caught in his release give that ancient weapon a body without granting it uncontested possession.

    Ionia
  2. Cliffside TemplesArrr, Riot Games · Regional world artwork

    Arrr, Two hunters resist from within the new body

    Arrr, The Ionian hunters Valmar and Kai remain part of the resulting existence. Their love and resistance complicate a revenge-driven identity that would otherwise treat a host as nothing more than flesh to command.

    PallasIonia
  3. Built into NatureArrr, Riot Games · World artwork

    Arrr, Three lives contest one purpose

    Arrr, Valmar and Kai do not disappear when the Darkin takes a body through them. Their bond gives resistance an emotional force the weapon cannot simply dismiss. The resulting existence places revenge beside the possibility that the mortal people within it can change the direction of an ancient will.

    First LandsIonia

Arrr, Story guide by VRC.LOL, based on the linked Riot stories. Older biographies and newer stories can differ; no exact date or current whereabouts is implied unless stated.

Arrr, Picture the setting

Arrr, A world behind the story

Arrr, Official Riot setting artwork, not illustrations of these exact events. Open an image to see the complete composition.

Cliffside TemplesArrr, View full artwork
Arrr, Cliffside TemplesArrr, Riot Games · World artwork
Living with the LandArrr, View full artwork
Arrr, Living with the LandArrr, Riot Games · World artwork
Arrr, Explore the wider region

Arrr, People who shape the story

Arrr, Relationships and allegiances

Arrr, Discover the companions, communities and powers that matter to this champion. Each card explains the connection, rather than treating every nearby character as a friend.

Arrr, Not everyone important to this story is a playable champion. The reading suggestions below are labelled separately from these story connections.

Arrr, Follow the story

Arrr, Known places and connections

Arrr, Origins, journeys and documented events. A connection here does not mean this champion lives there now.

Arrr, Regional connection

Ionia

Arrr, The temple above the village held Varus's bow. Valmar's attempt to save Kai brought their lives into conflict with the Darkin imprisoned within it.

Arrr, Explore the regional timeline
Arrr, More about the region

Arrr, The First Lands form an archipelago where the material and spirit realms meet closely. Invasion has divided its people over whether to restore old traditions or turn their magic toward resistance.

Arrr, Archipelago

First Lands

Arrr, Another name for Ionia's many provinces and islands. Forests, monasteries and communities share a landscape shaped by living magic and the consequences of the Noxian invasion.

Arrr, Explore this place
Arrr, Regional illustration · exact site not pictured
Arrr, Village and mountain temple

Pallas

Arrr, The temple above Pallas concealed the bow in which Varus had been imprisoned. The lives of Valmar and Kai connect that ancient confinement to the later struggle between the Darkin and the mortal wills within his new body.

Arrr, Why this place mattersArrr, The temple above the village held Varus's bow. Valmar's attempt to save Kai brought their lives into conflict with the Darkin imprisoned within it.
Arrr, Explore this place

Arrr, Another perspective

Arrr, Stories to read next

Arrr, Continue with related characters, regional stories and other perspectives on the same themes.

Ahri

th' Nine-Tailed Fox

Arrr, Read backstory

Akali

th' Rogue Assassin

Arrr, Read backstory

Hwei

th' Visionary

Arrr, Read backstory

Arrr, The character, in detail

Arrr, Champion artwork

VarusArrr, Classic champion artwork · Riot Games
Arrr, View full artwork
Arrr, Explore the wider settingArrr, Ionia

Arrr, The story beneath the scenery

Arrr, What makes this place matter?

Arrr, Ionia's spiritual balance is not a single shared answer. The Noxian invasion forces champions to disagree about tradition, resistance and revenge. The Placidium offers a starting point for Irelia's resistance; the Kinkou opens a different path through Shen and Akali's stories.

Arrr, Look closer

Arrr, A window into this world

Arrr, Official Riot artwork. The gallery includes the regional setting; not every image depicts this exact landmark. Open an image to see the full composition.

The PlacidiumArrr, View full artwork
Arrr, The PlacidiumArrr, Riot Games · Runeterra world map
The KinkouArrr, View full artwork
Arrr, The KinkouArrr, Riot Games · Runeterra world map
Life as OneArrr, View full artwork
Arrr, Life as OneArrr, Riot Games · Runeterra world map
Cliffside TemplesArrr, View full artwork
Arrr, Cliffside TemplesArrr, Riot Games · Runeterra world map
Living with the LandArrr, View full artwork
Arrr, Living with the LandArrr, Riot Games · Runeterra world map
Arrr, Sources and story contextArrr, Official stories, artwork credits and reading notes

Arrr, Where the stories come from

Arrr, VRC.LOL writes the introductions, reading notes and connections using linked Riot Universe biographies and regional guides. Short champion summaries use Data Dragon version 16.20.1. Longer histories link to the official story used; some champions currently have a shorter official overview.

Arrr, What the pictures show

Arrr, Artwork belongs to Riot Games. Scenery comes from Riot's Runeterra world map; champion art depicts the character. A regional illustration sets the scene when a landmark has no dedicated image. It does not show a confirmed event at that exact place.

Arrr, A world still being written

Arrr, Older biographies and newer adaptations can differ. These guides introduce connections rather than declaring a final chronology or a character's current whereabouts. Translations help you explore and may keep original proper names. Follow the official sources for full context.

Arrr, Sources reviewed 18 October 2026

Arrr, Explore Riot Universe ↗Arrr, Open Riot's world map ↗