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One of the most recognizable characters in theDragon Ageseries is Varric. This is because, unlike others, he actually appears in most of the games, as he features in Dragon Age 2, Inquisition, and The Veilguard.
During those appearances, fans have come to learn a lot about the wise-cracking dwarf. He writes books, sometimes wears a fancy jacket, and his preferred weapon is a crossbow that he calls Bianca. When someone has given their weapon such a basic name, it’s only natural for people to be interested in the reasoning behind it. However, that is one of the few things that Varric remains quiet about. Yet, there is enough information out there to figure out the backstory behind the crossbow.
Who Is Bianca?
In Dragon Age 2’s Legacy DLC,Varric claims that a dwarf named Gerav made Bianca, and it was the only one of his repeating crossbows that worked. It turns out that was a lie. Gerav did make repeating crossbows, but none of them worked.
At some point in time, Varricmet a dwarf named Bianca Davri.The two entered into a romantic relationship and seemed very much in love. They were obstacles in their way, though, namely the Dwarven Merchants' Guild. So, the relationship didn’t last.
However, during their time together,Bianca came up with her own design for the repeating crossbow, which actually worked. This is revealed in the Until We Sleep comic.
Not only did Bianca make the crossbow, butshe encouraged Varric to name it,saying that “names have power… give a thing a name, and it’s yours forever.” Heended up naming it after her.
The scene with Varric and Bianca in the Until We Sleep comic is part memory and part illusion, so it’s unclear if everything they say about the crossbow is completely accurate. However, it is confirmed that Varric named the crossbow after Bianca.
Why Does Varric Keep Bianca A Secret?
While it makes sense why Varric would name the weapon after Bianca, you may still be wondering why he keeps that information to himself. After all, Varric loves to tell stories, so why doesn’t he tell that one?
He says it’s because the news of someone being able to make a working repeating crossbow would garner interest from plenty of people, including some unsavory types. He stillcares a lot about her and her safety, so it’s the one story that he never tells.
