Saret Neferti
Saret Neferti, of House Saret, is the first wife of emperor Saret Ilius
| Full Name | Saret Neferti |
|---|---|
| Titles | First Empress Consort of Veolia |
| Species | Hemet Veolian |
| Gender Pronoun | Feminine |
| Age | 939 |
| Affiliations | Veolian Commonwealth, House Saret |
| (Forum avatar: character | representative) | |
| (PC leader played by Brend) [ D, T ] | |
[ Characters ]
Saret Neferti is the first wife of the Emperor of the Veolian Commonwealth, she was not born into House Saret but married into it. As such the first wife of the emperor, she receives most of his off-world visits for him. She is an albino, a very rare genetic defect in hemet veolians. She is accompanied by four handmaidens at all times.
On Mirda she is known for two things. She is an accomplished sword master, rivalling even the emperor. And secondly, she is sterile. A quality that, in Veolian law, can be formal grounds for a divorce. Since the emperor did not divorce her, and her marriage has lasted the better part of a millennium, the population assumes that she has other qualities that keep her close to the emperor.
Saret Neferti is the daughter of Kamatar Samudree, count of Shrakhala, second son of Kamatar Sabas. Her mother is Maaranevaala, first daughter of Rashasi, fourth daughter of Atma.
The empress is a frequent user of the Naukā-lon-dorne. When not interested in the crowded capital city, she usually retreats to Sisira Palace.
Retinue
As the first wife of the emperor, Saret Neferti is attended to by a large retinue of handmaidens, ladies-in-waiting, advisers, assistants, servants and slaves. The empress' retinue differs in size depending on the venue. In the capital city her retinue consists of 4 handmaidens, 25 ladies-in-waiting, 10 advisers, 110 assistants, 610 servants and 9 slaves.
Handmaidens
The four handmaidens will always travel with the empress, regardless of venue or official status of the trip. They are tasked with the protection of the empress, and are among the best trained operatives the Veolian Commonwealth has to offer. A handmaiden's loyalty is to her charge, and to her charge alone. She can not be commanded or ordered by anyone, except her charge.
The position of handmaiden has existed since the advent of nobility, but the duties and status associated with the position have changed considerably since their first written record.
The handmaidens are always recruited from the highest-ranking female hemet veolians enrolled in the Crimson Academy. Accepting a position as handmaiden requires that one gives up her name and breaks all family ties. Only when this is done will the actual training begin. Each prospective handmaiden goes through a forty-eight year programme of intense physical and mental exercise. During the twentieth year, the candidate is offered the option to continue her training or to join the imperial shadows (the covert branch of the imperial army). If the candidate opts to continue her training, she must permanently sacrifice the ability to become pregnant; This is done through an arduous ritual, guided by two fully trained handmaidens.
Immediately after the ritual, the candidate is enhanced with genetic augmentations, boosting her already considerable physical and psychic prowess. She is also implanted with several cybernetic devices. Among these is a neural communication interface, vision assistance and augmentation and an injection of nano-bots that will attach themselves to the nervous system and primary muscle groups. After this radical change of her being, the candidate is allowed a year's leave of absence to find her balance of body and mind, and to fully realize the potential of her new abilities.
The final twenty-seven years are spent training in more esoteric forms of attack and defence. Next to this, the last twenty years are partly spent near the handmaiden's prospective charge, to allow them to form a bond with their charge through a form of psychic imprinting. Exact details on the final twenty-seven years of training are vague, and are deemed state secrets.
The names of her imperial majesty's handmaidens are: Pahalē, Dūsarā, Trtīya and Cauthā.
Ladies-in-waiting
The ladies-in-waiting are all noble ladies, most from the great houses. Every lady-in-waiting is expected to be proficient in the etiquettes, languages, and dances prevalent at court; to perform secretarial tasks; to read and write correspondence on behalf of her mistress; to know embroidery, painting, horseback riding, music making (vocal and/or instrumental) and participate in other empressly pastimes; and to keep her mistress abreast of activities and personages at court, and discreetly relay messages upon command.
There are official titles for ladies-in-waiting with increased duties. These are:
- Mistress of the Robes (currently held by Lady Dewa Misaki), the duties of the mistress of the robes includes wardrobe care and the supervision of servants,
- Lady of the Bedchamber (currently held by Lady Shebi Vassa), the duties of the lady of the bedchamber includes massage, bathing ceremonies, medicine, xeno-medicine and other health related proficiencies,
- Mistress of the Belongings (currently held by Lady Khaw Azufiel), the duties of the mistress of the belongings additionally include supervision of servants and the supervision, care and excercise for her mistress' belongings,
- Mistress of the Hunt, the duties of the mistress of the hunt additionally include supervision of her mistress' riding animals and weapons.
Slaves
The empress owns several slaves. Most notable among them are:
