Starfield: House Va’ruun explained

It goes without saying that the universe of Starfield has … a lot of information. In fact, there’s so much information to take in and process, that it would make perfect sense for you to hear a term mentioned in the first quarter of the game only to forget it by the third or fourth.

In this case, we’re talking about House Va’ruun. It sounds like the noise we often attribute to a racecar or vacuum, but in Starfield … that couldn’t be further from the truth. 

No — in Starfield, House Va’ruun is actually a theocratic faction. But, let’s dive even deeper as we seek to uncover the secrets behind House Va’ruun and its place in the wider universe. 

What’s the deal with House Va’ruun?

In Starfield, House Va’ruun is a fringe religious cult that worships the Great Serpent. Rumor has it that the sect was founded when, during a grav jump, a colonist claimed to have received a terrifying ultimatum from the Great Serpent: worship it, or be devoured. But, in-universe, the true formation of House Va’ruun is shrouded in fog.

Supposedly, the greater universe became aware of House Va’ruun’s existence in 2230, when its leader, Jinan Va’ruun, deemed it appropriate. While the sect was largely peaceful for a time, it declared war on humanity a decade later in a bloody conflict known as the Serpent’s Crusade. Jinan died in 2263, and he was succeeded by his son, Jarek, who ended the Serpent’s Crusade and sought to establish peace. 

By the time the game begins in 2330 — a hundred years after the sect’s public revelation — all that remains of House Va’ruun are the Va’ruun Zealots who continue to haunt the stars. These zealots are a bloody reminder of the Serpent’s Crusade, and the horrible atrocities committed.

Can you join House Va’ruun?

If, for some reason, you’d like to join House Va’ruun in Starfield, you most certainly can! To do so, you just need to make sure you select the “Serpent’s Embrace” trait when you are building your character. It’s worth remembering, however, that selecting this — or any — religious trait will lock you out from selecting the others, so be very cautious when selecting your traits!