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Character guide · first on-page appearance: Golden Son
Who is Ragnar Volarus?
Ragnar Volarus is an Obsidian warrior Darrow meets while capturing the Vanguard. He is a Stained, one of his people’s elite fighters, and introduces himself as Alia Snowsparrow’s firstborn from the Dragon’s Spine. He offers to serve Darrow, who gradually learns how fear and religious conditioning have shaped that obedience.
Current status
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Alive
Deceased
Deceased
Deceased
Deceased
Appearance and personality
Ragnar is enormous, marked by battle and accustomed to speaking in the rituals of service. He is also thoughtful and protective. He comforts Darrow at Eo’s grave and uses mining records to challenge an administrator’s treatment of the workers.
Ragnar has been taught that obedience keeps his people alive. When Darrow releases him from service, he initially feels ashamed and afraid. He has to learn that he is allowed to choose what to do with his own life.[1]
Attributes and abilities
Ragnar is a powerful close-combat fighter and a capable leader of other Obsidians. During the counterboarding battle he takes command rather than merely following a Gold officer. At Agea he accepts a razor despite the Society’s prohibition and uses it against opponents who refuse to recognize an Obsidian’s right to offer terms.
A razor gives Ragnar access to a weapon Golds have kept from his people. He is strong and experienced in battle, but still has to learn its techniques. He also learns to read and can understand the mine’s records, despite the Society’s claim that Obsidians are suited only to fighting.[2]
Ragnar sends emissaries north, using Eo’s song to identify them. He wants to expose the Golds posing as gods and give his people education and a life outside military service. His plans are cut short when Aja defeats him on the ice.[3]
History
Book 2
Golden Son
Ragnar had been the Ash Lord’s property, intended with the Vanguard as a gift to House Julii. During the ship’s seizure he turns against loyalists and offers his service to Darrow, helping secure the vessel and protect the incoming shuttle.
Darrow eventually tells him that he is a Red and releases him from obedience. Ragnar initially fears what this freedom means, then chooses to return. During the Iron Rain, Darrow frees him from a drowned starShell and gives him a razor. Ragnar offers an opponent surrender before killing him when he refuses to yield to an Obsidian.
Ragnar commands independently at the gates and later travels to Lykos with Darrow. When Mustang confronts them, he kneels and tells her what slavery has meant for him. He wants her to understand why he has chosen to follow Darrow.[4]
Book 3
Morning Star
Ragnar helps extract Darrow, Holiday and Victra from Attica. At Tinos, Mickey removes painful Sigils and teaches him to read. He spends time with Darrow’s family and brings the recovering commander into contact with wounded people rather than letting him judge their needs from isolation.
His northern mission seeks to free the Obsidians from the false gods. The journey costs him a foot during the sea escape, yet he continues guiding the group through his homeland. He distinguishes the Eaters from the tribes and describes a childhood shaped by the Allmother’s harsh authority.
The group pursues Aja and Cassius. Aja’s greater skill with a razor lets her fatally wound Ragnar. When Sefi arrives, she offers him a weapon so he can die fighting. He refuses, asking her to change their people’s lives and live beyond the limits imposed on them. He dies there on the ice.[5]
Book 5
Dark Age
Volga is revealed to be Ragnar’s daughter by Wrothga, born through a breeding program. Other people see her parentage as a claim to Obsidian leadership, though she has grown up without him.[6]
Relationships
Darrow
Darrow first relies on Ragnar as a fighter, then tells him he is a Red and releases him from service. Ragnar chooses to remain with him as a friend.[7]
At Tinos, Ragnar brings Darrow out among the wounded and spends time with his family. He helps Darrow see what people need while he is recovering from captivity.[8]
Sefi
Ragnar and Sefi reunite after years apart. As he dies, he refuses the weapon she offers and asks her to lead their people toward a different life.[9]
Volga
Volga did not grow up with Ragnar. Learning that she is his daughter brings political expectations she never asked for.[6]
References
- Golden Son, chapters 21–22, 30, 34–35, 47–50. ↩
- Golden Son, chapters 30, 34–41, 48. ↩
- Morning Star, chapters 9–11, 24–30. ↩
- Golden Son, chapters 21–22, 30, 34–41, 47–50. ↩
- Morning Star, chapters 7–11, 24–30. ↩
- Dark Age, chapters 46, 88. ↩1 ↩2
- Golden Son, chapters 21, 34–35, 40–41. ↩
- Morning Star, chapters 9–11, 30. ↩
- Morning Star, chapters 30. ↩