Starfield:House Va'ruun

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House Va'ruun
Headquarters
The hidden city of Dazra on Va'ruun'kai
Systems
Serpentis
Locations
Starstation UCN-48 Armistice Archives (New Atlantis) House Va'ruun Embassy (New Atlantis)
Notable Members
Tomisar Ka'dic Andreja Ambassador Qasrik Bal'mor Si'ah Mavan Deran Ma'leen

House Va'ruun is the third interstellar government to have formed in the Settled Systems. It is an isolationist theocracy that worships a deity called the Great Serpent.

House Va'ruun was founded by the passengers of a colony ship that departed New Atlantis and disappeared in 2190. During the colony ship's voyage, one of the passengers, Jinan Va'ruun, claimed to have communed with a celestial being known as the Great Serpent during a grav jump, and was told to prepare for the eventual encircling or "Shrouding" of the universe by the Serpent. What exactly happened after that is unclear, but in 2230, House Va'ruun emerged as a fully-formed government and culture with Jinan serving as its leader and prophet, and it made contact with the United Colonies and Freestar Collective. At first, it appeared that House Va'ruun's only interest was to peacefully spread its religion, but in 2240 it abruptly launched an all-out war on all other inhabitants of the Settled Systems, the Serpent's Crusade. After years of conflict and the slaughter of thousands of UC, Freestar, and independent colonists, Jinan died in 2263 and was succeeded by his son, Jarek Va'ruun, who sued for peace with the other factions. House Va'ruun subsequently built an embassy in New Atlantis and attempted to rehabilitate its reputation among the Settled Systems' other peoples, but distrust remained. In 2311, after the Colony War between the UC and Freestar was concluded with the Armistice, House Va'ruun ratified the Armistice as a third, neutral signatory and then withdrew to its home territory, starting a period of seclusion. The only remaining members of House Va'ruun still in the Settled Systems as of 2330 are various spies keeping tabs on the other factions, and numerous disavowed heretics known as Va'ruun Zealots.

The extent of House Va'ruun's territory is a closely-guarded secret. While it is known that the capital Dazra lies on a planet named Va'ruun'kai, the star system where Va'ruun'kai is located is unknown. The Serpentis System contains a guaranteed encounter with House Va'ruun Zealots, suggesting it may be part of their claimed territory.

To learn more of House Va'ruun and their history, see the lore article.

Government and Politics

House Va'ruun is a theocratic monarchy, ruled by the descendants of Jinan Va'ruun and the cult of the Great Serpent. House Va'ruun agents report to a body known as the High Council. One of the highest ranks in the priesthood is that of Gravid.

House Va'ruun has gone through three phases of foreign policy. Under Jinan, it was belligerent, ultimately resulting in the Serpent's Crusade. Under Jinan's heir Jarek, House Va'ruun became more diplomatic, openly attempting to build bridges with the UC and Freestar Collective, in spite of considerable opposition and mistrust. Ultimately, these efforts at diplomacy failed, and shortly after the signing of the Armistice, House Va'ruun recalled all of its agents and diplomats to Va'ruun'kai. Ever since, it has remained in extreme isolation, interacting with the rest of the Settled Systems only through espionage. House Va'ruun keeps the location of Va'ruun'kai a closely guarded secret - only a handful of pilots know the coordinates. Even Va'ruun spies are unaware of their homeworld's location - their only contact with the High Council is through their handlers.

Related Missions

• Friends Like These: Get the remaining Archive Codes from the Freestar Collective and House Va'ruun.
• Divided Loyalties: Help Andreja investigate the fate of two friends.

Trivia

• Emil Pagliarulo has the logo of House Va'ruun tattooed on his wrist.
• Datamined files from the game indicate Va'ruun'kai is the planet Serpentis IV in the Serpentis system. In the current version of the game, Serpentis IV does not bear any trace of the city of Dazra, or any other indication that it is the Va'ruun homeworld.
  • An unused, but blank, map marker for Dazra also exists in the game's files. The filename indicates the location as one of the major cities in the game.
• Datamined files from the game indicate that the current leader of House Va'ruun is Anasko Va'ruun
  • It is possible that the change that happened during the ratification of the armistice is a change of rulership from Jarek to Anasko

Cut Dialogue

There are cut conversations between Zealots in the game files, giving a small look into the Zealots positions.

Zealot 1: "I saw him... he came to me in a vision."

Zealot 2: "What was his message? What truth did he reveal?"

Zealot 1: "He spoke no words I could comprehend. He hissed a deafening song into my ears and my body, steeling me for the challenges to come."

Zealot 2: "What an honor it must be, to see the Serpent in all of his divine glory!"

Zealot 1: "I sense that you are troubled. Speak."

Zealot 2: "*Sigh* My brother, home on Dazra... he refuses to spread the truth as I do. He is not Promised as I am."

Zealot 1: "And so he will be made dust like the rest."

Zealot 2: "I know it must be done, for the Great Serpent decrees it. But I feel... sadness."

Zealot 1: "Waste no time feeling pity for heretics. Pray to the Serpent for guidance and courage, make all who defy him Penitent. It is our duty :Zealot 2: "as Promised."

Zealot 1: "Yes, you are right, of course. Thank you... I shall pray."

Zealot 1: "Ugh... the Koza. I indulged in too much yestereve."

Zealot 2: "Your debauchery is problematic. You must maintain a strong body and mind to fulfill your duties as Promised."

Zealot 1: "I AM of strong body and mind!"

Zealot 2: "No... No, I think not."

Zealot 1: "You have been screaming and sobbing during slumber this week. What ails you?"

Zealot 2: "Nothing ails me. The screams you hear are screams of joy. For I see the Serpent as I slumber."

Zealot 1: "Ah, yes. A terrifyingly beautiful presence, the Great Serpent is."

Zealot 2: "Indeed. The mind cannot fathom his attendance, for he is everything and anything..."

Zealot 1: "May the Great Serpent guide you as Promised."

Zealot 2: "And to you. May he bless us both with strength as we make all heretics Penitent."

Zealot 1: "In time we shall take our place beside him. Our life for the Serpent!"

Zealot 1: "I seem to have lost count of how many accursed I have made Penitent."

Zealot 2: "The Serpent is sure to be pleased with you!"

Zealot 1: "I suppose, but what if it isn't enough? What if he demands more from me?"

Zealot 2: "Oh, he shall always demand more. It is inevitable. As long as your determination never wavers, and judgement is delivered to all accursed you encounter, he will be pleased with you as Promised."