Varushka children

For a people to whom family is everything, few things are more important than children. It is for their children that the Varushkans toil and fight and sacrifice. It is they who must endure if Varushka is to endure.

Many folk tales and stories are intended for children, warning them about the dangers they might face in Varushka. Children are taught to stay close to adults who can protect them from the dangers of Varushkan life. They are expected from an early age to help with chores such as cooking and cleaning. It is impossible to keep them in sight at all times however, and it is assumed that a child who is not being watched is getting up to mischief.

Children are often dressed in very bright clothing to make it easier to spot them against the dark wood of the Varushkan forests. Innocence is a powerful protection in Varushka. While monsters may seek to carry children away, they are more likely to take them as servants than to eat them. Varushkan children are taught a powerful warding, that draws on its owner’s innocence and fear. By presenting the talisman boldly in front of them a young child can turn dark creatures aside, keeping them safe. Sadly the power of the talisman wanes as a child ages and most children find them useless long before they reach their majority, so children are taught to be resourceful and only use the talisman if they are scared, to avoid becoming dependent on its protection.