Variel, also known as "Variel the Flayer," was the Apothecary Secundus of the Astral Claws Chapter and later of the Red Corsairs Chaos Space Marine warband who had been the favoured apprentice of the Corpsemaster Garreon.

Variel ultimately betrayed the Red Corsairs to join the Night Lords 1st Claw warband commanded by Talos Valcoran, and after Valcoran's death Variel served his successor Decimus.

Variel was dubbed "the Flayer" due to his habit of skinning his victims' faces and wearing them.