Ragnar Volarus

The Obsidian who broke his chains and became the Shield of Tinos.

Ragnar Volarus, called the "Shield of Tinos", is an Obsidian in Pierce Brown's Red Rising series. In Golden Son he is a Stained Obsidian who rebels and pledges himself to Darrow; Darrow later emancipates him and gives him a razor and a position of leadership. He becomes Darrow's lieutenant and one of the Howlers.

Lore & Background

Ragnar grew up among the Obsidians and was recruited as a slave warrior into the Society; he has made several fruitless attempts to enlighten the other Obsidians, and his voice is unusually loud for one of them. In Morning Star he travels with Darrow to the southern pole of Mars to recruit Obsidians, where Aja au Grimmus fatally wounds him. Refusing to die in the traditional Obsidian way, he urges Darrow to kill his mother, Alia Snowsparrow, reunites with his sister Sefi, and is euthanized by Darrow.

Reader's Guide

His family runs through the later books: his sister Sefi the Quiet becomes Queen of the Obsidians, his daughter Volga Fjorgan is revealed in Dark Age, and Volsung Fa declares himself the father of Ragnar and Sefi.