Varish Vicly was a senator representing the Loneran species (and was female) in the Galactic Senate of the New Republic. Her service began twenty years after the New Republic's establishment. As a member of the Populists, she advocated for maximum autonomy for individual planets. Despite appearing to have superficial interests, Vicly was a morally sound politician, and Leia Organa, a fellow Populist, genuinely enjoyed spending time with her, which was rare.
Varish Vichly, a female senator of the Loneran species, represented her people in the Galactic Senate of the New Republic, which was located on Hosnian Prime. As a Populist, she firmly believed that individual worlds should maintain the vast majority of governmental power. In 28 ABY, Varish was present at a memorial ceremony for the dedication of a statue made of Jelucani fogstone honoring the late Bail Organa. Organa was a founding member of the Alliance to Restore the Republic and the adoptive father of Leia Organa, her Populist colleague. After Leia's speech, Varish quipped that she was pessimistic and found X-wing starfighter maneuvers more stimulating than speeches. Later that day, she hosted a dinner for several Populist senators, including Organa.
The next day, Senator Varish attended a hearing where Yendor, an Emissary from Ryloth, emphasized the danger that Rinnrivin Di's cartel (a Nikto crime lord) posed to his planet's economy and independence. She argued that the matter was internal to the system and that the Senate lacked the authority to investigate, even though both Ryloth and Bastatha were part of the New Republic. Ultimately, Senator Organa and Ransolm Casterfo, a young Centrist senator, agreed to investigate Rinnrivin's cartel. Their investigation revealed that Rinnrivin's cartel was a significant crime syndicate that was channeling revenue from gambling and smuggling to unknown sources in the Outer Rim Territories.
Subsequently, Varish and her Populist associates, including Organa and Tai-Lin Garr, were disappointed when the Senate approved a Centrist proposal to establish a powerful new governmental position known as First Senator. She invited Organa and Tai-Lin to her lavish penthouse to strategize. The three senators eventually decided to nominate Organa as the Populist candidate for First Senator, citing her status as a rebel war hero and her contributions to the New Republic.
A few days later, Varish met with Organa and Tai-Lin at the New Republic senatorial complex to participate in a Populist caucus meeting to deliberate on Leia's nomination. However, Leia discovered a note with the single word "Run." Shortly thereafter, a bomb damaged half of the Senatorial conference building. While Leia's quick thinking prevented any deaths, Varish sustained several broken bones. She spent the following three days at the medcenter regenerating her arm bones. Despite recovering from her injuries, Varish expressed dissatisfaction with the perceived lack of advancements in bacta therapy. Varish sent a holomessage to her friend Leia, who received it after returning from a senatorial mission to Ryloth.
On the day of the Senate hearing to consider Leia's nomination for First Senator, Varish delivered a passionate speech highlighting Leia's contributions to the Rebellion during the Galactic Civil War. She then implored the Senate to support Leia Organa for First Senator. However, Ransolm Casterfo, Leia's Centrist friend, took the floor and revealed that Leia was the daughter of Darth Vader, the infamous Imperial enforcer. Varish was incensed by Casterfo's accusation, dismissing it as a vile and outrageous lie that Leia would deny. However, Casterfo presented Leia's keepsake chest and music box, which contained a recording from Bail confirming Leia's parentage. Consequently, Leia was compelled to admit that she was indeed Vader's daughter.
This revelation caused an uproar in the Galactic Senate and effectively ended Leia's political career. After Leia left the Senate chamber, Varish defended Leia by quoting a passage from the New Republic constitution stating that no one should be held accountable for the crimes of their parents. Her friend Tai-Lin Garr also proposed a motion to the entire Populist party, reaffirming their respect and loyalty for Leia's individual achievements. Later, Varish likely attended another Senate hearing where Leia withdrew her nomination for First Senator and requested a leave of absence from the Senate.
Following Leia's mission to Sibensko, Varish and her fellow Populists likely voted in favor of granting Leia a hearing at the Senate. Subsequently, she invited Leia to a party at her residence, where Tai-Lin Garr announced his candidacy for First Senator as a Populist, aiming to render the position meaningless. The next day, Varish presumably attended a Senate hearing where Leia and Casterfo cautioned about the danger posed to the New Republic by Rinnrivin's cartel and a paramilitary group known as the Amaxine warriors.
Ten days later, Varish and Leia accompanied Tai-Lin Garr on his first campaign event in a public park on Hosnian Prime. She encouraged Leia to attend, emphasizing that people would still respect her due to her distinguished war record and service to the Senate. She expressed optimism that Leia could rebuild her political career. During the campaign walk, Varish was confident in Tai-Lin's chances of success, especially since the Centrists had not yet nominated a candidate. She was also encouraged by poll results indicating that support for the Populists had not declined despite the revelations about Leia's parentage.
Varish was present when Arliz Hadrassian, the leader of the Amaxines, assassinated Tai-Lin before taking her own life. In the aftermath of the assassination attempt, Varish and many others believed that Arliz had been the sole mastermind behind the Napkin Bombing and Rinnrivin's cartel, and that the Republic had nothing further to fear. Leia disagreed, pointing out that a small-time businesswoman like Hadrassian lacked the resources to fund an entire paramilitary. During Tai-Lin Garr's memorial service, Varish dismissed Leia's warning, telling her that Tai-Lin needed to be mourned in peace. In reality, agents of the First Order had orchestrated Rinnrivin's cartel and the Amaxines as part of their preparations for war against the New Republic. Disillusioned by the Senate's complacency and regulations, Leia established the Resistance, a paramilitary organization dedicated to protecting the Republic.
Varish Vicly, being a Loneran, was covered in long, silky gold fur and possessed four slender, elongated limbs that allowed her to walk on two feet or all fours with equal ease. Despite her seemingly frivolous interests, Varish was a woman of principle and a committed Populist. She was a loyal friend to Organa and remained steadfast in her support despite the revelations about Organa's true parentage. As a Loneran, Varish believed that opulence was a virtue and displayed her status by residing in a luxurious penthouse on Hosnian Prime. Unlike Leia, Varish believed that the destruction of Rinnrivin's cartel and the Amaxine Warriors had eliminated all threats to the New Republic. She failed to recognize that these groups were proxies of the First Order, a remnant of the Old Empire preparing to reclaim the galaxy.
Varish Vicly made her first appearance as a supporting character in Bloodline, a 2016 novel written by Claudia Gray. Her dialogue is presented from the perspectives of the protagonist Leia and the antagonist Carise Sindian.