"Imagine cold winters, princes in sable-rimmed cloaks, opulent halls where sinister old men practice vile magics or seduce their masters' wives. Think of Rasputin. Think of orthodox patriarchs and bizarre sect- like movements of religious fanatics living in hiding. Imagine the monsters, heroes and bogatyrs of Russian fairy tales….

Vanarus is the predecessor of Bogarus. It is a nation of ruling Vanir that have subjugated and intermingled themselves with the previous rulers of the land. Kievan Rus' is one of the sources here, but I've also used the Chuds, a people that appears in the myths of various peoples from the eastern Baltic seaboard. I haven't found very much on the Chuds, so they are mostly my creation. The "Pine of Skulls," shape-shifting and shamanic bear cult practices fit the nation. These features, as well as the Thunder Priests mentioned in the descriptions of the nation appear in Rus, the early version of the nation. I wanted the national troops of the nation to reflect the change from the earlier era to the late Bogarus. Versatile Vanarusian sages are slowly replacing the mighty Vanir and will eventually develop into the Starets and mages of the late era." - Illwinter

Rus is a land of harsh winters and short summers. When the Vanir arrived the land was inhabited by humans and Chudes, an exalted race of great strength and beauty. The Chudes and the humans had intermingled and neither race dominated the other. The Vanir came as explorers and traders, but conflict over a sacred site led to war. The Vanir were victorious and founded the city of Novgård at the ancient site. The Chudes and the humans of Rus joined causes and tried to drive the Vanir out, but the humans were weak and easily tricked by the illusions and magic of the Vanir. Soon the Chudes found themselves at war with Vanir as well as their former human allies. Then arrived the Black Knights of Ulm. The former conflict between Vanir and Chudes ended as the three peoples of Rus rallied under Novgård to defend their land. When the Ulmic threat was averted, a kingdom had formed under the rulership of the Vanir. Humans comprise most of the Vanarusian population. A large portion are Chudes and a precious few are Vanir. Most of the Vanarusian armies are human infantry. The elites of the kingdom are mighty Chudes and Vanir. The peoples of Vanarus prefer a cold climate.

If you are considering picking this nation to play, what should you know?

Magic Access	Alt. Access	Unit Summary	Core Abilities	Buildings
3 (rare 4) 2 2 2 (rare 3) 2 2 (rare 3) 2 (rare 3) 1 2	Heroes: 3132 (one, turn 20+) 4131 (one, turn 5+) 2121 (one) Summons: Many summons, getting up to 3, 2, 2, 4, 3	Human Medium Infantry Chud Hirdmen Chud Skinshifters Sacred Van Infantry	Cold Resistance (5) Snow Move Berserker Shapechanger/Wounded Form	Standard Forts

Capitol Gems: 11111
Cold limit: + 1

Prefers Cold Scale + 2

Blood Sacrifice: May blood sacrifice to increase dominion. This ability is not transferred to disciple nations. Disciple nations with this ability can still use it. These nations do not have dying dominion.

: Cold Resistance (5), Snow Move

• 2 Vyedun (Non-fort Forest Only), 1 Vanarusian Sage (1 in 4)
• 3 Vanabog (Capital Only) (1 in 5), 2 Vanarusian Sage (1 in 4)
• 2 Vyedma (Non-fort Forest Only) (1 in 4)
• 1 Vyedma and Vyedun (both Non-fort Forest Only)

• No Astral magic.
• 2 Vanabog (Capital Only) (1 in 5), 1 Vanarusian Sage (1 in 3)
• 2 Vyedma and Vyedun (both Non-fort Forest Only) (1 in 4), 1 Vanarusian Sage (1 in 4)
• 2 Vanabog (Capital Only) (1 in 5), 1 Vanarusian Sage (1 in 3)

• 2 Vanabog (Capital Only) (1 in 5), 1 Vanarusian Sage (1 in 3)
• 2 Vanabog (Capital Only), 1 Vanarusian Gode and Chud Jarl

See Magic Access. These guides supplement the summaries at the top.

Blood allows for summoning powerful mages with a variety of paths, but no Water. 5 for Bind Heliophagus and 8 for Bind Demon Lord.

Max without boosting or uniques: 3 2 Vyedun is the strongest Fire mage available but a 1 Vanabog can make a Skull of Fire.

Max without boosting or uniques: 3 3 Vanabog (1 in 5) is the strongest Air mage. Can't get any higher without empowerment.

Three of the summons have Air and Astral and so can attempt the unique Tome of High Power.

Max without boosting or uniques: 5 2 Vyedma (1 in 4) is the strongest Water mage available.

2 can Send Vodyanoy for 3. 31 can Contact Beregina for 3.

Max without boosting or uniques: 3 1 Vyedma and Vyedun are the most reliable Earth mages available. A 11 Vanarusian Sage (1 in 12) with a Glamour booster can Summon Bluecap.

6 can Contact Leshiy for 2, (when in a Forest) and can attempt the unique The Tome of Gaia.

No National Access 4 for Contact Cloud Vila for 1.

4 can Contact Mountain Vila for 1.

31 can cast Hidden in Sand for a 1 in 3 chance of 2. It can also cast Hidden Underneath for a 3 in 4 chance of at least 1.

Max without boosting or uniques: 3 2 Vanabog (1 in 5) is the strongest Blood mage available. With a Blood booster, it can attempt the unique The Black Book of Secrets.

33 can attempt the unique The Silver Arms, which allows holding multiple of the two-handed Death boosters. 13 can make The Copper Arms, useful if you get the unique Sceptre of Dark Regency.

3 can Summon Spectre for a 7 in 16 chance of at least 1.

Max without boosting or uniques: 6 2 Vyedma and Vyedun (both 1 in 4) are the strongest Nature mages available. With an Earth booster, they can attempt the unique The Tome of Gaia. 13, from a 12 Vyedma with a Water

13 can make The Copper Arms, 33 can attempt the unique The Silver Arms, useful for holding multiple Nature boosters.

Max without boosting or uniques: 2 2 Vanabog (1 in 5) is the strongest Glamour mage available. It doesn't have useful crosspaths.

Max without boosting or uniques: 2 2 Vanabog (1 in 5) is the strongest Blood mage available. Either the unique The Black Book of Secrets or empowerment is needed to climb higher.

How to win as the nation. Feel free to use the following sections, or delete them, or change them.

Different expansion options.

Early game options.

Mid game options.

Late game options.

What are the nation's weaknesses?

Add links to guides or other overviews for this nation here.

Nations
Early Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Ulm • Pyrène, • Marverni • Sauromatia • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Mictlan • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Agartha • Tir na n'Og • Fomoria • Vanheim • Helheim • Niefelheim • Muspelheim • Rus • Kailasa • Lanka • Yomi • Hinnom • Ur • Berytos • Xibalba • Mekone • Ubar • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Therodos
Middle Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Sceleria • Pythium • Man • Eriu • Ulm • Pyrène • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Asphodel • Vanheim • Jotunheim • Nidavangr • Vanarus • Bandar Log • Shinuyama • Ashdod • Uruk • Nazca • Xibalba • Phlegra • Phaeacia • Ind • Na'ba • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Ys
Late Ages	Arcoscephale • Pythium • Lemuria • Man • Ulm • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Jomon • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Midgård • Utgård • Bogarus • Patala • Gath • Ragha • Xibalba • Phlegra • Vaettiheim • Feminie • Piconye • Andramania • Pyrène • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Erytheia