In Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean Series, the venin and their menacing wyverns emerge as formidable antagonists, posing a significant threat to the overarching narrative. Known as dark wielders, the venin are individuals who have undergone irreversible transformation by choosing to harness forbidden magic. With the climactic events of Iron Flame showcasing the onset of conflict with these antagonistic forces, readers can anticipate even deeper revelations about the venin in the upcoming installment of the Fourth Wing series.
For much of the storyline, the venin, along with their dragon-like counterparts, the wyvern, were dismissed as mere folklore—tales passed around as bedtime stories. However, the finale of Fourth Wing shatters this illusion, confirming the existence of the dark wielders. As Iron Flame unfolds, characters grapple with the implications of this newfound reality, suggesting that the venin and their wyvrens will play an increasingly critical role in the forthcoming Onyx Storm.
How Venin Are Created
The Process of Transformation
To transform into a venin, one must consciously tap into the earth’s magical essence, a dire choice that taints the soul. This transformation is irrevocable and initiated solely by the individual wielding the power. This direct connection to power distorts the venin, altering physical features to exhibit vibrant red eyes and grotesquely swollen veins, rendering them almost unrecognizable as human. Their visage is marked by a gaunt appearance, angular cheekbones, and thin lips, contributing to a disfigured countenance.
Initially, the change is less dramatic, characterized by various stages of progression within the venin hierarchy. Individuals begin as initiates and can ascend to ranks such as asim, sage, or maven, with each rank bringing distinct traits, increasing corruption, and escalating power. The temptation to acquire more power fuels this transformation, embodying the adage that “absolute power corrupts absolutely,”a sentiment echoed in Yarros’ work.
Motivations of the Venin
An Unquenchable Thirst for Power
The venin’s primary pursuit is an insatiable quest for more power. This power—once seized—acts like a drug, perpetuating a cyclical craving. They seek to draw energy from various sources, particularly Basgiath’s vale, renowned for its abundance of magical energy and as the site of dragon hatching grounds.
In addition to this voracious appetite for power, the venin exhibit a peculiar fixation on Violet Sorrengail. As a prominent dragon rider with a powerful bond to Tairn, Violet is referred to by the venin as “the one who wields the sky.”This fascination may stem from her unique ability to control dragons who possess their own potent magic, making her a significant threat to the venin’s ambitions.
The Powers of the Venin
A Diverse Array of Abilities
The powers of the venin are extensive and are likely to be further explored in Onyx Storm. For instance, during a sparring scene in Fourth Wing, it becomes evident that venin have the ability to project pain, a skill initially misattributed to a different character. In Iron Flame, they also manipulate gravitational forces, forcing adversaries to experience a perilous ascent or a crushing descent. Not only are they magically adept, but they display remarkable agility in adapting to various combat styles.
Known Venin in the Empyrean Series
A Limited Cast of Named Characters
Among the various characters, a notable unnamed venin sage plays a critical role in influencing the journey of both Violet and Xaden. This enigmatic figure haunts their dreams, suggesting that one of them will inevitably surrender to the darkness of being a venin. Ultimately, it is Xaden who undergoes this transformation at the conclusion of Iron Flame, making a desperate decision to wield power from the source to save Violet, unknowingly sealing his own fate.
The Creation of Wyvern
Runic Life-Infusion
Wyverns are conjured through a venin’s magical power, intended to rival the riders’ dragons. This creation involves runes through which the venin channels energy. In Iron Flame, Yarros elucidates that runes consist of magical strands drawn from a power source, meticulously designed for specific functions, including the resurrection of wyverns.
Importantly, wyverns lack power in warded territories, such as Aretia’s and Navarre’s defenses. An interesting detail emerges in chapter fifty-seven of Iron Flame, where Violet and Mira discover that a wyvern carcass is filled with onyx stones etched with intricate runes.
Comparative Power: Wyvern vs. Dragons
Similar Yet Distinct
Throughout both Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, wyverns are depicted as larger and more powerful counterparts to typical dragons. Their sheer size provides them with an advantage over smaller dragons, while their distinct features include gray skin, poisonous barbed tails, and the ability to exhale multiple fire colors—including blue, green, and cherry red—which each provide varying capacities.
Unlike dragons, wyverns possess only two legs, utilizing their wings for maneuverability during flight. A notable advantage is that the fire breathed by wyverns can inflict damage on a dragon’s rider—a capability that dragons lack regarding the venin. Additionally, while dragons can engage in telepathic communication, wyverns operate within a collective hive mind, sharing information instantaneously, granting them significant strategic advantages in combat.
Eliminating Venin and Wyvern
Limited Methods of Defeat
The venin’s formidable nature is amplified by their resistance to conventional lethality. They are immune to dragon fire and standard weaponry, but they can be dispatched with specialized daggers crafted with a rider’s power. However, as glimpsed in excerpts from Onyx Storm, wielding such weapons may drain the wielder’s power. Fortunately, when a venin meets their end, the wyvern they conjured also perishes, providing one of the few means to eliminate these creatures—aside from overpowering them with a significantly larger dragon.
Additionally, Violet’s unique lightning signet can effectively target and eliminate a venin in critical scenarios, a tactic referenced in the climactic battle of Iron Flame. Furthermore, Andarna, with her dragon fire, also proves capable of slaying a venin, despite their typical immunity to dragon flames. This intriguing aspect may evolve into a key theme in future installments of the Empyrean Series, offering riders new strategies to combat the venin threat.
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