Genshin Varka: The Northwind Wolf Character Analysis

"How many times must a blade of common iron be tempered before it is fit for a knight on the field of battle?"

"How many winters and summers must a simple wine age before the return of an errant knight?"

"How far must a mortal journey to unlock a new chapter of destiny?"

Truly a warrior from the city of wind and pastoral songs. In just three lines, poetic and rich as wine, he conveys the knight's untrammeled spirit, nostalgia, and romance. From the officially released character artwork, one can see that the Grand Master is deeply and intricately connected to the totem of the "wolf." This is further reflected in many other details. Let's analyze this together next.

1. Genshin Varka - Name

The name "Varka" originates from Old Persian, meaning "wolf." His Constellation is called "Lupus Majoris," which literally translates to "Greater Wolf" in Latin.

As the current "Knight of Boreas," he shares a profound historical connection with wolves.

Those familiar with Mondstadt's history know the story of the bond between the first Knight of Boreas, "Ravenwood," and the Wolf of the North. The weapon "Wolf's Gravestone" is the greatsword once wielded by Ravenwood. After the passing of his wolf companion, Ravenwood used this sword as a tombstone to bury the wolf. He then bid farewell to Mondstadt, carrying the wolf's spirit of freedom as he wandered with the wind. The undying spirit of the wolf continues to watch over the verdant lands the knight once protected, becoming the "Guardian of Boreas."

In the prelude PV "Moonlit Ballad of the Night" for the "Song of the Welkin Moon", the greatsword wielded by Varka is precisely Wolf's Gravestone, symbolizing the legacy of the Knight of Boreas.

2. Genshin Varka - "Lupus Boreas" Andrius

Both the Guardian of the North Wind and the Dominator of Wolves are, in fact, incarnations of the spirit of "Lupus Boreas" Andrius, one of the ancient gods of old Mondstadt. "Boreas" is his true name.

The World Quest "Echoes of a Forsaken Song" in Luna IV reveals the origins of this god, whom we have known since the beginning of the game.

Boreas was originally just a nameless wild wolf from the north. He followed a song and stumbled into the Royal Court of the Seelie (present-day Lake Amsvartnir in Nod-Krai). This was the place where the first angels, who served as the guides for the "Golden City" Hyperborea, were exiled after their rebellion against the Heavenly Principles failed. The hall here was a sanctuary built for the archangel by her lover, the interstellar traveler.

Though her memories of Hyperborea had been erased as punishment, the Archangel Koitar subconsciously named the only beast that could accompany her "Boreas" (meaning "North Wind").

Constantly exposed to Koitar's presence, the wolf gradually gained sentience, transforming from a simple, ignorant beast into a being capable of human speech. The wolf addressed the Archangel as "Mother." One day, Boreas expressed a desire to go south (to ancient Mondstadt) to help the suffering people there. With permission granted, the King Wolf and its kin departed, leading to the legends of Mondstadt's wolf god.

After bidding farewell to the King Wolf, Koitar's sealed memories began to loosen and recover. She denounced the Heavenly Principles as a "brutal usurper, neither omniscient nor omnipotent," and resolved to leave the sanctuary her lover had prepared for her. She decided to return to her own nation (Hyperborea) to await the reunion promised by her beloved, vowing to wait however many years it took for the "star bound beyond the stars" to finally attain its freedom. As for the subsequent story, we will have to wait until the Golden City ruins are implemented in the game to find out.

3. Genshin Varka - Map Easter Eggs

Additionally, there are two pre-prepared easter egg storylines on the Luna IV new map that require the Grand Master to trigger. The first is at the Local Legend "The Homesick Lone Wolf," where there is a sword embedded in stone that requires "the breath of the north wind" to interact with, clearly indicating special dialogue related to Boreas.

The second finally provides a follow-up to the "White Knight / Bloodstained Knight" Roland, who was hinted at since the game's launch. Several world texts are given, recounting Roland's activities in Nod-Krai from the perspective of the knights who followed his expedition. Judging from the description of the achievement "The Lone Wolf's Memory" given at the end, Roland ultimately "walked away from the world of men..."

Roland was once the "White Knight." His master was Rostam, the Deputy Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius five hundred years ago and the creator of Favonius Bladework, also known as the "Wolf Pup." Rostam was the lover of Rosalyne (La Signora).

During the great Cataclysm, Rostam tragically fell in battle against Durin. Deeply affected, Roland swore to slay all monsters and embarked on the path of "Bloodstained Chivalry." He walked further and further down this path of carnage, becoming stained with blood and filth, transforming into the feared "Bloodstained Black Knight." Yet, he still followed the path of justice he believed in.

Legend says Roland once journeyed to the source of the Abyssal outbreak, the deepest depths of the earth (Khaenri'ah), in search of the truth. When he ultimately discovered that the injustices of the heavens contradicted his own chivalric code, he chose to walk a different path.

Roland's master's wife, Rosalyne, exhausted her tears and songs after her lover's death. Consumed by obsession and hatred, she was recruited by the Jester to become the Fatui Harbinger "The Fair Lady."

In the upcoming version, with the release of Grand Master Varka, we may delve deeper into the stories of the Knight of Boreas, Boreas, Rostam, and Roland. So don’t forget to keep an eye out for new articles and site merchandise. See you next time!