Varkas

Varkas (バルカス, Barukasu) is a supporting character in Suikoden and Suikoden II. Varkas is the leader of the Mt. Seifu Bandits and was named the Captain of the Border Guard.

Suikoden
"Never heard of Varkas of Mt. Seifu?"

- Varkas

Varkas is the leader of the Mt. Seifu Bandits who robbed from Scarlet Moon Empire officials. Varkas drew the ire of Grady, the military commander of Rockland, who accused Varkas and the Mt. Seifu bandits of pillaging local villages and rendering Rockland unable to collect taxes. This, however, was untrue, as Varkas and the Mt. Seifu bandits only stole from Scarlet Moon Empire officials. When Hero (Suikoden) and Kanaan visited Grady to investigate why Rockland had failed to pay their taxes, Grady told the Imperial Guard members that the blame lied squarely on the Mt. Seifu bandits. Under the orders of Kanaan, Tir climbed to the top of Mt. Seifu, where he encountered Varkas. Varkas, noting how unusual it was for them to have visitors, introduced himself as Varkas the Whirlwind Axe and warned them to leave before they got hurt. Varkas' warning was ignored, and he and his second-in-command, Sydonia, were defeated and captured by the Imperial Guard.

Varkas and Sydonia were taken to Rockland after being captured. When Grady denounced them as tax thieves, Varkas loudly protested that it was Grady who was the tax thief. After members of the Imperial Guard left, Varkas and Sydonia were strung up on stakes to starve outside of Grady's mansion. One of the Mt. Seifu bandits travelled to Lenankamp on behalf of Varkas, asking for the Toran Liberation Army to rescue Varkas and Sydonia. Tir McDohl and his party, outraged by Grady's behaviour, agreed to help the Mt. Seifu bandits.

When they reached Varkas and Sydonia, Varkas recognized Tir and wondered if Tir and his party had come to laugh at him. After they explained that there were there to rescue him, Varkas thanked Tir McDohl and his party, and asked them to rescue Sydonia as well. After they were rescued, Varkas and Sydonia encountered a furious Grady. Varkas asked if Grady wanted a fight, noting that Grady was not the only one who bore a grudge. After Grady retreated, Varkas told Tir McDohl that they owed the Toran Liberation Army their lives and to tell Odessa that, should she ever need their help, Varkas and Sydonia would be there in a flash.

After the Toran Liberation Army acquired Toran Castle, Varkas and Sydonia travelled there in order to return the favour they owed by joining the Toran Liberation Army. After Tir consented to Mathiu Silverberg's suggestion that they throw a banquet to welcome Varkas, Sydonia, and other recent recruits, Varkas praised Tir, calling him a fine and understanding leader.

Varkas served in the Toran Liberation Army throughout the Gate Rune War, and prior to the last battle, Varkas encouraged the troops under his command, warning them that they had better fight hard. During the Gate Rune War, Varkas also found he missed the easy-going bandit life he had enjoyed on Mt. Seifu.

Following the end of the Gate Rune War, Varkas was named the Captain of the Border Guard of the newly-formed Toran Republic.