Mistborn · Character
Governor Varlance
Also known as Governor of Elendel, Governor, Varlance
- Supporting
- First seen · Book 4 · Ch. 2
Governor Varlance is a supporting character in Mistborn (Book 4).
- Gender
- male
- First appears
- Book 4 · Ch. 2
- Books
- 2
Governor Varlance is the image-conscious governor of Elendel during the crisis of The Lost Metal, a man of white face powder, cravats, and carefully arranged medals who courts public favor and champions the controversial Elendel Supremacy Bill. As tensions with the Outer Cities and the threat of a devastating bomb mount, his polished confidence cracks under startling revelations. Yet rather than collapsing, he ultimately recognizes Steris Ladrian's competence and follows her lead in evacuating the city, a disaster ultimately averted by Wayne's sacrifice.
Description
Governor Varlance presents as a distinguished official with ghostly pale skin created by applied white face powder. He wears a cravat and arranges medals on his desk, embodying formal authority. As the day progresses, patches of the makeup may linger on his cheeks while he uses a handkerchief to wipe his brow. Varlance is a male military governor whose face is made ghostly pale by heavy white powder. He wears a neatly adjusted cravat and displays medals with the care of a man conscious of his public image. His bearing is official and self-possessed, though his expressions can open into visible surprise. The text gives no further specifics of his age, hair, eyes, or build.
Connections
Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals
Steris Ladrianadviser
Initially a political ally in crisis management, Steris becomes the de facto leader of the evacuation; despite her exclusion from his council, Varlance listens to her warnings, recognizes her ability, and follows her instructions.
TenSoonadviser
Advises the governor on the threat and agrees, at his request, to fetch the Bands.
Waxillium Ladrianpolitical opponent
A political opponent who fights Varlance's Elendel Supremacy Bill in the Senate.
Wayneindirect benefactor
An indirect benefactor whose sacrifice stops the bomb and saves the city Varlance is evacuating.
- A
Adawathwynvice governor
His vice governor, who sits on the emergency council and proposes using Metalborn or the Bands against the bomb.
- D
Daaldiplomatic counterpart
Malwish diplomatic counterpart who warns that using the Bands would breach the agreement between their peoples.
Reddisuperior
Varlance holds authority over Reddi's commission, but Reddi resists turning constables into soldiers and opposes the governor's draft.
Story so far
BOOK 4The Lost Metal (The Mistborn Saga)
- Appears as a formal official in white face powder, arranging medals on his desk
- Shows signs of strain as his makeup smears and he wipes his brow
- Works with Steris Ladrian to evacuate Elendel and manage the crisis
BOOK 7The Lost Metal
- Prepares medals and tends his appearance while courting public attention, pushing the Elendel Supremacy Bill opposed by Wax in the Senate
- Presides over a tense emergency council with Adawathwyn, Reddi, Admiral Daal, and TenSoon, clashing with Reddi over a proposed draft
- Considers using the Bands against the bomb and asks TenSoon to fetch them despite Daal's warning of a treaty breach
- Heeds Steris's warning that the escalation is a trap and follows her detailed evacuation plans
- Helps carry out the evacuation as Wayne's sacrifice stops the bomb and saves the city
Appearances
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