"It's all fun and games until there's metal involved: doesn't matter whether it's steel or silver - I treat neither one lightly. Nothing reveals a man's true nature faster, neither."

Varence is a talker, with a cheerful grin and smiling eyes. He is quick to laugh, even at himself, and he always seems to have a story or a joke to share.

At just under five and a half feet tall, Varence is tall for a Hannan, lean and wiry, with broad shoulders and a sturdy build. He is seldom still, always in motion. And he is fast, whether on his feet, or with his with long, nimble fingers. If he is not moving, he's fidgeting, keeping his hands busy - cards, knives, dice - doesn't matter. In a fight he's the same: dancing in and out, moving from foe to foe, looking for just the right opening.

He became a soldier because it was what he knew, because it was a way of looking out for others. He grew up around barracks and camps: his mother was cook and midwife; his father a soldier killed before Varence could form any memories of him. His mother looked after everyone, so Varence did, too. He was always standing up to bullies, even those older, bigger, and stronger than he. He learned early that they can't hurt you if they can't catch you - and he was faster than almost anyone.

Varence is uncomfortable when he feels stuck or trapped. He would rather fight in the open than defend a wall. (...more to come...)