WOrlD Of ArOkA

Var-Yn

The Scaled Phantoms

Even into modernity, not much is known of the Var-Yn. The first confirmed reports of them date back to the early years of the Age of Reclamation as a people that seemed to already have been established along with the Dryn and Scourge by the time the world had thawed enough for the Arokans to wander its surface. Since then, encounters have been few and far between with the majority being lone Var-Yn encountered in the wilderness or, on incredibly rare occasions, approaching an Arokan population. Such encounters are rarely hazardous and the Var-Yn remain for only as long as it takes to get what they were seeking.

An analysis of these accounts often leads to more questions than answers. Many say that the Var-Yn would have been mistaken for some variant of Scalefolk if not for some tell-tale signs or that the individual announced themselves to be a Var-Yn upon introduction. These signs include what appears to be forced breathing, words that don’t quite match mouth movements, unusually long gaps between blinks if they blink at all, unusual body proportions, a seeming imperviousness to extreme heat or, in obvious cases, possessing horns or wings that no known Scalefolk would have. Those that have dedicated themselves to seeking out and studying Var-Yn report barely-noticeable distortions around their forms, like a mirage in the desert, though not enough instances have been reported to determine how common this is if it occurs at all, which many scholars doubt.

The only other thing that is known of the Var-Yn is their interest in Shard. Var-Yn are almost always encountered near Shard deposits, traveling towards one, or asking about the location of one. This has also led many to believe there is a connection with the monsters that also seem to be drawn to Shard, which are also often some deformity of known scaled creature. Many speculate that this may indicate a relationship between all three as they all were first reported during the early years of the Age of Reclamation, though there are rare and unverified reports of such events towards the end of the Age of Ice.