Varys

Varys
A Song of Ice and Fire character
File:Varys-Conleth Hill.jpg Conleth Hill as Varys
First appearance	Novel: A Game of Thrones (1996) Television: "Lord Snow" (2011)
Created by	George R. R. Martin
Portrayed by	Conleth Hill Game of Thrones
Information
Aliases	The Spider The Eunuch Lord Varys Rugen Varys of Lys
Title	Master of Whisperers
Nationality	Lysene

Varys is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and its television adaptation Game of Thrones.

Introduced in 1996's A Game of Thrones, Varys is from the fictional kingdom of Westeros. He subsequently appeared in Martin's A Clash of Kings (1998), A Storm of Swords (2000) and A Dance with Dragons (2011).

Varys is portrayed by Conleth Hill in the HBO television adaptation.

Character description

Varys, called the Spider, is a eunuch and courtier who serves as Master of Whisperers, the spymaster for the king of the Seven Kingdoms at the royal court in King's Landing. As Master of Whisperers he is on the privy council. He is feared by nobles and common people alike. He is described as bald and fat, and he usually affects a fawning, effeminate manner. He knows all of the secret passages in the royal castle and his spies are found everywhere.

Varys, along with Melisandre, is seemingly the only character in the saga blessed with the power of near-omniscience. However, while Melisandre's knowledge is derived from her religious devotion, Varys seems to gather his information through a complex network of spies and informants, whom he refers to as his "little birds". From his conversation under the Red Keep with Illyrio Mopatis, we learn that these spies are in all likelihood mutes. Having their tongues cut out, they communicate in writing (knowing their letters)

Overview

Varys is not a point of view character in the novels, so his actions are witnessed and interpreted through the eyes of other people, such as Ned Stark and Tyrion Lannister. Varys is mostly a background character in the novels.

Storylines

In the books

While in Pentos, he befriended Illyrio Mopatis and grew skilled in gathering information before earning the position of Master of Whisperers on King Aerys II Targaryen's council. From then on, he claims to work for the good of the realm. He disappears in A Feast for Crows after helping Tyrion Lannister escape and does not reappear until the end of A Dance with Dragons. He kills Kevan Lannister and Grand Maester Pycelle as their competent leadership threatens the success of Aegon Targaryen's invasion of Westeros.

In the show

Varys, sometimes called The Spider, is a major character in the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons. He initially appeared as a recurring character in the first season and debuted in "Lord Snow". He is played by Conleth Hill. Varys is bald and tends towards fat, due to his castration. Varys is a eunuch and the Master of Whisperers on the king's small council. He is the Master of Whisperers, the King's foremost spymaster and intelligence agent. He holds no inherited title, castle or lands in Westeros, but is called "Lord" as a courtesy due to his position on the council, which traditionally is made up of high lords. He is a skilled manipulator and commands a network of informants across two continents. He often puts on the public persona of being nothing more than a pudgy man well suited to the pleasantries of court life; humble, obsequious, fawning, and a little effeminate. This is simply a facade that Varys has developed, which often leads those who do not know him well to underestimate him as a cheerful and vapid flatterer. In reality he is a cunning and ruthless manipulator of court politics, on-par with Master of Coin Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, with whom he frequently spars. Unlike Baelish, Varys insists that his goals are to achieve what he honestly feels is best for the realm, though of course, what he and the current king feel is best might be two separate things.

Varys was born in Lys across the Narrow Sea. He was born a slave, and as a child he traveled with a troupe of actors all around the different Free Cities until a sorcerer in the city of Myr made an offer Varys' master could not refuse. Varys was sold to the sorcerer, who gave him a potion that made him unable to move or speak but did not dull his perceptions or sense of pain, and emasculated him (cutting off his testes and penis both) to use his sexual organs in a magical ritual, burning them in a brazier. Afterward the sorcerer had no use for Varys and threw him in the streets to die. Instead Varys resolved to live no matter what: begging, stealing, and selling the sexual use of what parts remained to him, doing anything to survive. He also became an excellent thief, but soon learned that stolen information was often a far more valuable commodity than any physical goods, and he worked his way up from the slums of Myr. He became a master spy and information trafficker, and his influence and reputation grew so great that he eventually found himself as a member of the small council in the Seven Kingdoms. His experience at the hands of the sorcerer had also left him with a bitter hatred for magic and its practitioners.

Varys's true loyalties remain a mystery, though he claims to serve "the realm", and abhors the suffering and political instability brought by the war.

Season 3

After Littlefinger's confidante Ros is severely beaten by Joffrey's guards and he fails to intervene, Varys takes her into his service as a spy. Littlefinger finds out and has her killed, taunting Varys that he could not protect her. Varys affirms his course as a means to prevent chaos befalling the realm, claiming that Littlefinger "would see the Seven Kingdoms burn, if he could be king over the ashes."

Season 4

Varys informs Tyrion that Cersei has discovered his relationship with Shae. Though he claims he will not lie for him, he implores Tyrion to send Shae away for her own safety. Varys later testifies against Tyrion at his trial for murdering Joffrey, but when Tyrion is convicted, Jaime enlists Varys's help in smuggling Tyrion out of King's Landing to Essos. As Varys prepares to go back, he hears the tolling bells, making him realise that Tyrion's escape has been discovered (along with his murder of Tywin), so he stays on the boat with Tyrion

Season 5

Varys and Tyrion arrive in Pentos, where he convinces Tyrion to travel with him to Meereen and aid Daenerys Targaryen in retaking the Iron Throne. While in Volantis, Tyrion is kidnapped by Daenerys' former advisor Jorah Mormont. Varys journeys on to Meereen, where he arrives to discover Tyrion in control of the city in Daenerys' absence. He offers Tyrion the use of his spy network to maintain order in the city.

Season 6

Varys discovers that the Meereenese insurgency the Sons of the Harpy are funded by the masters of Yunkai and Astapor and the slavers of Volantis, and brokers a meeting between Tyrion and representatives of those cities.

TV adaptation

Varys is played by Northern Irish actor Conleth Hill in the television adaption of the series of books.