The Commander
True Name: Lord-Captain Darius Varn (stripped of title)
Callsigns/Nicknames: The Commander, The Old Man, Iron Butt
(when he's being particularly unyielding)
Rank: Commanding Officer, 13th Necromunda "Rat
Catchers"
Wargear: Master-crafted las pistol, ornate powersword,
customized flak-coat (former parade uniform, refitted for combat)
Background & Fall from Grace
Once the youngest son of House Varn, a lesser noble house in
Necromunda’s labyrinthine political spire-web, Darius was raised more for
ceremony than combat. But Darius had a mind for logistics, a talent for
command, and a dangerously idealistic streak. He gained minor acclaim for
leading PDF units during the Guilder Revolts, where he held Hive Cantoris for
23 days with only a handful of men, cunning supply tricks, and a well-timed
bluff involving a malfunctioning Basilisk.
His house, however, fell to political scandal, possibly orchestrated by rivals or off-world Inquisitorial pressure. Accused of trafficking with outlawed tech cults (and perhaps guilty, or at least complicit), House Varn was stripped of its name, rights, and contracts.
Rather than fade into exile, Darius did something few nobles ever do: he took the survivors and turned them into a fighting force.
Leadership Style & Reputation
Darius is not flashy. He rarely raises his voice. He does
not need to. The Old Man’s quiet command presence, icy stare, and ability to
remember the name of every trooper who’s died under him makes him the moral
anchor of the 13th.
While not the best fighter, he's a strategic genius in low-intensity warfare—urban combat, logistical scavenging, and psychological operations. He sees war as a puzzle to solve, not a matter of glory.
"Iron Butt" Moments
His stubbornness is legendary. He once held a trench for six hours past the fallback order because, quote, “the PDF timetable was wrong, and I refuse to die on someone else’s schedule.”
He has been known to sit through artillery barrages
unmoving, berate officers for “tactically flamboyant” actions, and insists that
every tank be tracked, maintained, and named—partly as morale, partly as
superstition.
“Yes, and if they kill us, I’ll have them court-martialed.
Now find me my damn tea.”
Relationships
The Major: Loyal to the bone. Darius trusts him implicitly,
and while they rarely speak emotionally, there is a deep bond of shared failure
and purpose. He knows Alric would take a bullet for him—but would also stop him
if he ever lost his way.
Mr. Bison: A necessary evil. Darius respects the Commissar’s effectiveness but privately considers him a “sledgehammer in a toolbox.” Their relationship is icy, but functional. Bison has never once heard the Commander raise his voice to him, which somehow makes it worse.
The Troopers: The Commander remembers names, stories, and losses. He eats the same rations as his men. He’ll dress down a squad for disrespect—but then spend hours helping them salvage a wrecked Chimera. They follow him because he never lies to them.
Combat Role & Flavor
Darius isn’t the spearhead—he’s the one orchestrating the
flank three turns before the enemy sees it coming. His command tank,
"Little Willie", has reinforced vox arrays and a relic auspex system tied
into the battalion’s network. He occasionally leads frontal actions—but always
as part of a calculated plan.
Quotes From the 13th
“He’s old. He’s stubborn. He’s smarter than you. And if
you’re lucky, he won’t make you prove that.” – Sergeant Hex
“Iron Butt may never bend, but he don’t break either.” – Goliath Trooper Krug
“He still writes letters to the families. Even when there’s no one left to receive them.” – Sniper Dally
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