Dragon Age: Inquisition's tarot cards tell fans a lot about the characters they meet and befriend. They also show how characters are not stagnant, as their cards can change spending on what happens in the story. One character can have up to four different cards that give insight into their strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and inner struggles.
Varric is an old face from Dragon Age 2, but players get to see more angles of his character in Dragon Age: Inquisition. He has three tarot cards: one default, one for after "Here Lies the Abyss," and another for the completion of his companion quests. These cards are the Lovers, the Page of Coins, and the Sun.
Varric's Default Card
At the beginning of the game, Varric's default tarot card is the Lovers. It is a major arcana card that can symbolize choices, partnerships, commitment, or falling in love. In Varric's case, his card may deal more with his relationship with the Inquisition. While Cassandra did drag him out in the first place, Varric chooses to stay. He decides that the Inquisition is a story he wants to see first-hand.
Varric is also a liar but sometimes lies for the people he loves; Hawke is one such person, who he wishes to keep away from Cassandra, since she may take advantage of them. The Lovers card can symbolize Varric's commitment to Hawke as well, in that he is willing to keep their location secret for so long.
Varric's Card After "Here Lies the Abyss"
"Here Lies the Abyss" is a quest special to Varric, as his friend Hawke is involved. The player can even abandon Hawke in the Fade, which puts Varric in a state of great grief. An important detail to the tarot cards is that Hawke is symbolized by the Knight of Coins, so Varric's card after Here Lies the Abyss also being part of the Coins suit is quite telling. He is the Page of Coins. Hawke and their adventures together are on his mind. Coins are a suit connected to the physical world, often relating to health, career, and wealth. Some of these things are what connected Hawke and Varric to each other in the first place.
The card is less about Varric in the present and more about his past in Dragon Age 2. The Page of Coins can mean financial opportunity and skill development, and these happen to be symbols that bound him and Hawke together. Whether Hawke is left in the Fade or not, Varric's mind dwells on them.
Varric's Companion Quest Completion Card
Varric's card changes to the Sun after his companion quest is completed. It is a card symbolic of enlightenment, joy, and success. This can symbolize Varric becoming the new Viscount of Kirkwall. This particular card may have less to do with his inner world and more with the effect Varric has on others. He is the sort to share the wealth, not hoard it. He is a leader that Kirkwall can benefit greatly from after its turmoil.
The card can also reflect Varric's personality, as he has always been one of the more stable characters in the series. He is not driven by things that can be used against him like power, fear, or even ambition. He is often empathetic of others and has down-to-earth wisdom that is often in short supply in Thedas. The Sun may also point to Varric's future, a sign that he will meet his next adventure with great enthusiasm and positive energy.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is in development.