Poor Varis, to be told i hate your body by your grandfather is just crushing to hear and very much explains why he hates Solus as much as he did from spitting at his coffin to just shooting him (a fair bit of venting might even be why he choose to clone Solus specifically either revenge or wanting acceptance). Now obviously does not excuse what Varis does but it does start to show why Varis was so gunho about being the perfect race, he just wanted to be accepted by his grandfather but this need grew distorted over time to malicious uncaring thought for anything even his own son, this singular desire could be the reason Varis had Zenos be experimented on in the 1st place to try and make that perfect body for his grandsire.

It is interesting to know Hades was the last to be apart of the convocation of the fourteen, meaning our original self already held a prominent position within Amaurotian society before Emet-Selch seat was filled, wonder what we were in charge of and what our seat name was too.

Crazy theory time, i wonder if the soul of that Phoenix was the start of the cry/voice that started making everything go foobar, fear of death is a very powerful fear and for near immortal beings with creation magics could be spread fast from a singular point creating untold destruction. It would be also add another layer of sadness to Hades's tale if he inadvertently caused the original calamity by forcing this soul back into the underworld.