Sic transit gloria mundi
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: Expand on Siobhan's retinue.
Image Credit: Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here.
Permissions: N/A.
Links: The Inner Circle, Communion, Aftermath, Tylania, Kaylah Danton.
CREW INFORMATION
Crew Name: The Sublime Gems.
Crew Type: Personal Staff and Companions for House Kerrigan-Alcori.
Base of Operations: Arx Aeternae. The Gems are not always there or even in one group, but this is where they are based.
Crew Size: 9.
Loyalties: Siobhan, House Kerrigan-Alcori, Firemane Industries, Tegaea, Royal.
Description: The Sublime Gems are a mixture of personal staff, bodyguards and, to put it plainly, harem. Captains of industry, politicians and aristocrats inevitably end up with a circle of personal staff members and associated hangers-on who graviate to them. Some are devoted to their boss, others are self-serving. Most are a bit of both. The members of this exclusive group work directly for Siobhan and Tegaea, though they tend to be more associated with one of the two members of Firemane's first couple. They live in the couple's mansion, but also accompany them on business trips, inspections and the like. While their obligations in the bedroom are the most obvious one, every Gem has duties outside of it.
Hunter and Alisa, for instance, act as bodyguards due to their military backgrounds. Indeed, Alisa, a Vashyada warrior, is responsible for the personal security of Tegaea, the little ladies Livia and Adril as well as the servants and secretarial staff. This gives her authority over all the guards at the Kerrigan-Alcori residence. Iuitl, a Xioquo, is also a seamstress and an embroiderer. She also provides advice on Xioquo matters. Meanwhile, Harmony is a nanny and chaperone. Chesna, an enigmatic Eldorai, is a strong mentalist. Depending on the Gems' skill set, other duties may involve translating stuff, singing, giving the Ladies fashion advice and so on.
All members of the group have been carefully vetted by the Truthseekers, a group of Force-Sensitive investigators who specialise in criminal investigation, counterintelligence as well as empathic and telepathic abilities. They are only employed after extensive background checks. Moreover, they must sign non-disclosure agreements. Their contracts are fairly upfront about what their duties will consist of. Once their service has come to an end, they receive generous payouts. Indeed, every Gem is well-paid.
They are always in the midst of Siobhan, Tegaea or their children, so their position is one of trust. This makes it crucial to not only recruit reliable members, but also ensure they have adequate incentives to stay loyal and discreet. Siobhan is also rather generous with gifts. Moreover, the Gems get paid holidays and healthcare. Since their duties include activities in the bedchamber, they are regularly tested for diseases. The Gems have the same rights and legal protection any other Firemane employee. They set their limits and their employers have to abide by them. Furthermore, they are recipients of a comprehensive benefits package.
The Gems are not part of any of Firemane's leadership bodies. However, they are always at the boss' side, so it is only to be expected that influential petitioners might approach them with the request that they bring certain matters to the boss' attention or put in a good word for the petitioner in question. How the Gems respond to this varies. Some are quite willing to do so...in return for a favour. Others remain wholly neutral, will follow the request if they believe it is a good cause or aiding a group they have ties of kinship to. Of course, a Gem who acquires a reputation for being partisan or in the pocket of an outsider risks incurring their boss' disfavour, which may result in being sacked. This makes it a delicate balancing act.
Siobhan values loyalty highly and is quite generous, but also arrogant, moody and mercurial. Loyalty and obedience are key to her. Once her confidence is betrayed she will only most gradually repair it. She has a very maternalistic view of her staff and subordinates, feeling it is her duty to care for them, but also expecting to live up to their collective sides of the bargain. Each Gem has their own way of interacting with her, ranging from being fawning to teasing or professional and business-like. Siobhan is very extroverted and likes having people around. Thus the Gems provide her with companionship.
The Gems answer to Royal, a Chiss female who bears the titles Chief of House and heads Siobhan's personal chancellery. Some call her the Blue Eminence, others Toady-in-Chief, though never to her face. Royal is a remarkably efficient bureaucrat, organiser and bookkeeper. The Chiss is an important, but unobtrusive figure in Firemane's hierarchy. She has authority over the Kerrigan-Alcori family's servants, personal guards, personal assistants and members of the harem.
Royal receives all reports for presentation, maintains Siobhan's daily calendar, prepares her workload, oversees protocol issues, manages her personal life and various gatherings, and oversees her finances. However, she is also a power-hungry sycophant. She is the type of majordomo and ante-chamber dictator that powerful figures in business, religion and politics inevitably attract. Royal takes a direct role in selecting new members for the Kerrigan-Alcori household in general and the Gems in particular. All job applications pass through her hands. The majordomo is, of course, eager to make a good impression on the boss.
One quirk of the group is that each member receives a 'gem' codename, such as Sapphire or Diamond. This has led to the development of a semi-official ranking system. Sometimes the Gems argue over which is which. Chesna, as the head of them, got to pick her first. Petitioners may try to curry favour with the Gem who currently has the most prestigious codename. Each Gem receives a Hold-Out Bolter for personal protection.
CREW MEMBER 1
Name: Chesna Chinue. Her codename is Diamond.
Age: 451.
Species: Eldorai.
Role: Courtesan, cryptic Space Elf, more than occasional lover for the Firemane gang, psychologist, negotiator and mentalist.
Description: On first sight, Chesna is simply another courtesan. Flirty, witty, cheeky, she fits the typical image of a high-class courtesan. This is true, but one side of her. Millennia ago, the Rakata created the Eldorai and their cousins as slave races. The idea was to create a race of near-humans with increased Force sensitivity which could serve as pliable minions and soldiers for the Rakata. To lead them, the megalomaniacal aliens created five Paragons. Chesna was one of them, though she was known as Ardarvia back then. Each Paragon was supposed to be the embodiment of a specific trait.
Ardarvia was the Negotiator, using her mental powers to bend others to her will so that they would serve the Masters; Eyrecae was created to be the perfect warrior using nanotechnology; Mystra was created to embody the power of the Force as much as one could. Ashira was to be the leader, using the Force to inspire and guide…and obey and Tylania was designed to be an assassin. Serving the Rakata was unpleasant to say the least, as they regarded their creations as chattle.
Their creations were freed when the Rakata's own arrogance destroyed them. However, the natives of Tygara were cut off from their kin on Kaeshana. On the homeworld, there was a power struggle between Ardarvia and Ashira. Ardarvia killed the 'mother' and ruled as a despot. She succumbed to madness, and was overthrown. The fallen 'goddess' fell into a coma, losing her memory. She re-emerged centuries later, and eventually pierced what had happened together when she realised she was not aging like the others around her. What she had done caused her a lot of guilt and she tried to atone.
She also vowed never to resort to violence or seek out power. She called herself Chesna. By the time she awple from her coma, the events of the 'War in Heaven' had faded into myth. The Eldorai believed that Ashira was a goddess and the mother of their species and they believed a treasonous daughter called Illyria had fought her, but been cast into hell. Eventually, Chesna ended up working for Siobhan and Tegaea. Though a lot older than the typical life span of an Eldorai, Chesna retains her youth and beauty. This is presumably the result of her being a genetic experiment.
She has zero combat or offensive powers, but is exceptionally good at Force Persuasion, Empathy, Sense Motive and Telepathic Communication. She is also able to project realistic illusions onto another. These can be overcome by the strong willed like all mind tricks. These illusions usually take the form of concealing herself or making herself appear as someone else. She uses these abilities to assist in negotiations, but they also make her a good psychologist and mental healer. For instance, she helped Siobhan remove the memories of Velok the Elder from Mia Monroe's head. However, she is reluctant to reveal her abilities. At the same time, she dislikes it when she is dismissed as a mere courtesan. Due to her past, Chesna is extremely reluctant to get involved in the politics of her people lest she fall back into her old habits, though she has been pushed to help them after they suffered so many calamities.
CREW MEMBER 2
Name: Harmony. The Dahomians have a curious way of naming their children, since around their tenth birthday they choose a descriptive name that embodies their personality and is different from their birth name. Her gem codename is Jet. She would get stroppy if someone else got it.
Age: Late twenties.
Species: Human.
Role: Courtesan, personal assistant, chaperone, translator.
Description: Harmony is a native of Dahomey, a tropical world on the inner rim. Like many fringe worlds, it regressed during the Dark Age and so she was raised in primitive circumstances. Her tribe lived as hunter and gatherers. Her family was not affluent, but her childhood was happy enough. Her father was a hunter, while her mother was a medicine woman. Ironically, gold was extremely common on Dahomey What was rare was steel and technology. Wars were fought over it. Rapacious merchants and slavers were attracted to Dahomey, seeking riches.
First came the Independent Mining Guild, which sought to exploit Dahomey's gold, but whose officers also profited from the slave trade. Harmony's parents opposed its practices and made the error of not turning on Tempest's clan when its village was bombed by an IMG-backed warlord. As a result, they faced persecution. One of Harmony's brothers died in a fight, gunned down before her eyes. Things did not improve when a new warlord came from the stars, a general named Amherst. Originally hired by the foreign capitalists to 'restore order' so that they could make a profit, he double-crossed both IMG and the warlords, taking control of the planet.
When her village was accused of sheltering rebels and falling behind on mining quotas, many were enslaved as collective punishment. Harmony was one of them. Separated from her family, she was enslaved as a child and being prepared to be sold when she reached an acceptable age. When her owner beat Harmoney, her friend Tempest lashed out and unleashed a terrible blast of Force energy that killed him and his guards. Harmony attempted to flee, but was captured.
Fortunately, both were freed when an Omega Pyre task force led by Siobhan Kerrigan and Tegaea Alcori toppled the foreign conqueror. As Dahomey moved into a new future and became a Protectorate member state, with a democratic government, Harmony attended classes at a local college to receive an education. After working on the staff of a local politician, she was hired by Firemane. There she ended up joining Siobhan's personal household.
Flirtatious, seductive, witty - Harmony embodies the archetypical, high class courtesan, making her an appropriate companion for an aristocrat. She is very understanding, gentle and tactful, making her name an appropriate choice. She values loyalty highly. She has a close friendship with Tempest. Both often converse in their native language. She maintains close contact to other Dahomian employees in Firemane, being part of what is commonly referred to as the 'Dahomian Clique' and often helps fellow coethnics get jobs in the Company.
Moreover, she is devoted to Siobhan Kerrigan and Tegaea Alcori, her bosses and former childhood heroes. However, though more than a little in awe of Siobhan, Harmony is not afraid to speak her mind. Indeed, she can be quite cheeky. She's familiar with her boss' quirks and eccentricities, often coaching new employees and guests on how to approach her. She's also one of the few people who can calm Siobhan down when she's in a bad but not apocalyptic mood.
Much like her boss, Harmony is more than a little vain when it comes to her appearance and always wants to look her best. She plays no role in company policy, but has some influence because she's a constant presence at Siobhan's side, meaning that she has a good idea of her moods and opinions. A good word from her in the boss' ear may advance the career of a fellow Dahomian. It also helps that she's a bit of a gossip queen. Outside of her duties as the couple's 'personal attendant', Harmony also looks after Livia and Adril Kerrigan-Alcori. She gets on well with Elpsis and Tempest.
There's one area where her usually mild-mannered, harmonious nature gives way to a sterner disposition, namely the issue of slavery. Having been a slave and seen so many innocent people mistreated, Harmony cannot abide or tolerate it and is thoroughly lacking in sympathy or mercy for those who indulge in the practice of enslaving sentient beings or profit from it. She is god at organising, filing and has a very good memory. She is an exceptional masseuse, fluent in Eldarai, the Dahomian language and traditional medicine. Unlike Siobhan, she is not squeamish about changing diapers. She can also pilot a shuttle.
CREW MEMBER 3
Name: Alisa. Her gem codename is Emerald.
Age: 91
Species: Vashyada.
Role: Head of security for the Kerrigan-Alcori household, bodyguard, more than occasional lover.
Description: Alisa is a Vashyada warrior, ranger and the head of security of the Kerrigan-Alcori household. This makes her responsible for providing security for all members of the household, especially Tegaea, Adril and Livia. Tegaea will, of course, not openly admit to being in the category of those needing protection. All members of the household staff are expected to follow her instructions when it comes to security, as long as they do not contradict those of the two matriarchs. Chesna is the head of the Gems, but Alisa is in charge during emergencies, followed by Hunter. The Vashyada warrior is very experienced in irregular warfare and used to serve in the Eyes of the Forest, a crack Firemane scouting and commando unit composed of Vashyada and Dahomian rangers.
Alisa is not very experienced with modern tech, especially computers, but has a droid who helps her out. In terms of personality she is quite friendly and approachable, rather than a martinet. However, she is very focused in combat. Moreover, she has impressive physical strength and endurance not only for her own people, but also for a human. In contrast to Eldorai, Vashyada are physically hardy. Tall and muscular, Alisa has the physique and strength of a peak human. Needless to say this is something Siobhan appreciates for more than professional reasons. Alisa is very skilled in close quarter combat, melee and small unit leadership. Moreover, she is a very good gunslinger and archer.
Alisa is a spiritual person. The Vashyada religion is rather multiple choice, so she does not force her faith on others or preach. However, her oath to the Goddess is a genuine one. The Vashyada have many forces of nature and spirits they commune with. In her case she is devoted to Gaia, a mother goddess. She has some tats down her arms and back. The patterns look like leaves and vines. Alisa gets on quite well with Elpsis, who shares her spiritual side and love of nature. The two have struck up a friendship.
Strangely enough, Alisa has a decent working relationship with Royal. This is a bit odd, since many staff members dislike the Chiss. However, Royal made a point of being very welcoming on Alisa's first day and tried to befriend the Vashyada. Her reasons are more than a little self-serving, of course. The Vashyada warrior has also taught young Adril how to use a bow and arrow. She is firm, but gentle with the young girl. Outside of the Kerrigan-Alcori household, Alisa has ties with the Vashyada exodite community. She is still learning herself, but helps her people adapt to life outside of the forests they are used to. However, she loves nature and is used to having animals around her, so she makes a point of spending time in more natural habitats when possible.
CREW MEMBER 4
Name: Hunter. His code name is Amethyst.
Age: Thirties.
Species: Human.
Role: Bodyguard. Minion and harem boy for Siobhan.
Description: Like Harmony, Hunter is from the tropical rim world of Dahomey, though his background is a lot more martial than hers. As his name implies, used to be a hunter hunter on Dahomey. He specialised in hunting predators who terrorised rural settlements. He was also a good animal trainer, with a focus on training Cylix. These are ferocious feline predators that are broadly comparable to lions. He knows a lot about hunting, tracking and Dahomey's wild life. His tribe call themselves the Adegoke. Captain Glory, a Firemane field officer, is a fellow member of the Adegoke. The two know each other somewhat.
Back in the day, his people were led by an ambitious chieftain called Ambition who came close to subjugating the other tribes. Hunter did his part to aid his tribe, but did not have any specific loyalties to tribal leaders. When he was young he used these skills with his father and older brothers to fight the IMC and the warlords. Later he switched to the Omega Protectorate, then Firemane. He still has family back on Dahomey. Fortunately, things have stabilised on his homeworld, which is now a decent place to live.
Hunter served under Tempest as part of her command. Among other things, he participated in the Serenade operation. During this mission, Firemane and the Eldorai Matriarchy dispatched a task force to an island populated by a mix of Eldorai, humans and aliens. The island had gone dark, and it turned out that it had been taken over by intelligent zombies controlled by a hive-mind. The zombies were able to turn the island's defences against the intruders, forcing the task force to engage in fierce combat and knock out the anti-air guns. Ultimately, Firemane was forced to level the settlement to prevent the spread of the zombie virus after evacuating its soldiers. Hunter acquitted himself well in the fight. He is trained as a heavy weapons specialist and particularly good at using a Lance Missile Launcher, as well as more standard weapons such as repeating blasters and rifles.
He eventually caught Siobhan's eye and the boss took a liking to him. His services behind closed doors are limited to Siobhan, as Tegaea is not interested in men. That aside, Hunter is very tough and good in a fight. His attitude towards his boss is professional. He acts a bit like a big brother to Harmony.
CREW MEMBER 5
Name: Varaq'Iuitl. In the Xioquo language, clan name precedes given name. Her gem code name is Opal.
Age: 82. Like their Vashyada cousins, Xioquo age and develop at a slower pace than humans.
Species: Xioquo.
Role: Courtesan, seamstress, embroiderer.
Description: Iuitl used to serve a Xioquo matriarch. Her new duties in the Kerrigan-Alcori household are quite similar, though she is now a free woman instead of an indentured servant. Iuitl is a fashionista with impressive skill as a seamstress and embroiderer. Indeed, she makes dresses, cloaks and robes not only for members of the first family, but also for other individuals who can afford her services. To this end, she has collaborated with fashion boutiques such as The Lady's Haven. Iuitl prefers to do most of her work herself, but has a small staff that assists her. Moreover, she has a good mind for sums.
She is a good hair stylist. In the old days these were important survival skills that made her valuable in Xioquo high society. Xioquo mistresses are trendy dressers after all. They have a fondness for spider silk, gemstones, and impractical hair styles. These talents have put her in good standing with Siobhan, and Iuitl is a frequent companion on shopping trips as well as a fashion advisor. She is very knowledgeable about the arcana of Xioquo high society. This is helpful for when Siobhan has to deal with Xioquo matriarchs.
Vashyada and Xioquo have a long history of animosity. The former often had to defend themselves against Xioquo raids. Nonetheless, Iuitl and Vessa are good friends. Indeed, Iuitl has made the effort to learn Prosabia, the Vashyada language, and has become good at speaking it. Iuitl is involved in the education the couple's children. She is one of the personal tutors of Livia and Adril, teaching them about Xioquo culture and language. The former is particularly eager to learn, whereas her twin gravitates more to soldier types.
Iuitl is a somewhat lax member of the Seekers of the Sky, a Xioquo sect that propagates the teachings of the Light and is supported by Queen Lia. It is a point of contention between her and Karrigan'Xalda, who is a card-carrying Daughter of the Destroyer and a bit jealous of how close the maiden is to her Lady. Iuitl does not have the same awe and reverence for Sio. She respects her, and is even a little star struck, but she is not a Daughter of the Destroyer. Thus she fits in best with the Seekers on purely ideological lines, as they promote a more equitable society. She has spoken out in support of their cause. Iuitl is quite ambitious when it comes to winning awards for her fashion creations.
CREW MEMBER 5
Name: Vessa. Her gem code name is Jade.
Age: 68.
Species: Vashyada.
Role: Courtesan, cultural advisor to Siobhan.
Description:
"Why, I advise Mistress Kerrigan on Vashyada matters and provide intimate attention on delicate matters. I think you know what most of my job is. I'm not ashamed of it, but it's perhaps not what I expected it would be like." - Vessa explaining her job to Calana, a disciples of Lady Tylania.
Vessa of the Redleaf Clan is the cousin of a male Vashyada warrior called Sava, the commander of the Thunderous Ones. He commands a unit of shock cavalry who ride giant owlbears into battle and fight to defend the wood elves from harm. Sava grew up as a spider wrangler and is more attuned to animals than people sometimes.
His cousin is quite different from him. The two do not get along well. Sava regards his cousin as a decadent turncoat, while she sees him as an uncultured brawler. He does not take kindly to others gossiping about her though. Vessa is a very skilled cook. She also sings and plays a bowstring for Siobhan sometimes. Siobhan finds it soothing after a long day at work.
Vessa used to be a servant to a Vashyada chieftain. In contrast to Iuitl, she was a free woman instead of a slave. By her own account, she was not the classical wood elf who excelled at being a healer or a fierce ranger, which put her a bit out of step with the typical image of her people. She was among the first Vash to visit Firemane's trading outpost at the edge of Yarkul and venture into space. Fascinated by what she saw in the stars, she decided to stay and learn about the ways of the 'sky people'.
She caught Siobhan's eye at a banquet. The Firemane leader was mesmerised by her talent as a musician. Vessa advises her boss on Vashyada matters and offers cultural insight into their beliefs and traditions. She also puts her cooking and muscial skills to good use. She knows many Vashyada recipes and has a pleasant singing voice. Despite the history of animosity between their people, she is good friends with Iuitl. As she puts it, those who have moved into the skies have - or should have - left their old grudges behind.
Some of her clan, like Sava, view her as having gone native and lost sight of the traditions of her people by allowing herself to be assimilated by the humans. For her part, Vessa believes it does not have to be one or the other. The Vashyada can preserve their way of life while adapting things from the humans that benefit them, but do not compromise who they are. Nonetheless, some prominent Vashyada lobby her to put in a good word for them with her boss or help smooth things over when there are issues. Vessa does try to get good jobs for members of her family, such as on the ships and stations. This has helped her people, but also been the cause of jealousy.
CREW MEMBER 6
Name: Jenulla Tavi. Her gem name is Sapphire.
Age: Late twenties.
Species: Twi'lek.
Role: Dancer, bodyguard for Tegaea.
Description: On the surface Jenulla is just another harem girl who has been hired to entertain her boss. Except she secretly makes untraceable calls, has senses and skills no normal 'harem girl' would have, and seems to have the Force, but hides it well. The reason for this is that she is also a Force adept who has been hired by a somewhat paranoid Siobhan to keep an eye on her wife and keep her safe from danger.
For some obscure reason, Siobhan did not tell her wife about this. It seemed like an unnecessary detail at the time. Jenulla is very skilled in concealing her Force connection, even from powerful Force-Masters. Moreover, she is gifted in telekinesis, elemental lightning and using the Force to enhance her speed and reflexes as well. In addition, the Twi'lek is talented in lightsabre combat, martial arts and small arms. Furthermore, she has some skill in Force healing and its sub-applications. This is helpful if her boss is injured or poisoned by say an assassin. Jenulla is secretly a member of the Order of Fire, Firemane's Force-using branch. She has the skill level of an experienced Knight.
However, Nyssa Vykaris noticed the Twi'lek's 'suspicious' behaviour, and began to suspect her of shady dealings. So she waited until the 'attendant' was asleep, then slapped a nullifier on her and interrogated her. When Tegaea came in, the two were brawling. She demanded to know what was going on. This led to a very awkward conversation with Siobhan. Jenulla kept her job, however. She had held her own against the Pureblood, which irritated the latter quite a bit.
Jenulla is a former agent who was trained by a criminal syndicate but was freed by an anti-slavery campaign. Recruited into the Order of Fire after the discovery of her Force talents, she was trained as a special operative. Ostensibly she just there as another courtesan and entertainer with some self-defence skills. She has been assigned to Tegaea's staff and accompanies her on business trips and inspections. Unsurprisingly, Jenulla is very good on blending in and putting on a performance to mask her true nature. She is very observant and has investigative skills. It helps that Twi'leks are often crudely stereotyped as eye candy, slaves, dancers and the like. This works to her advantage since others are likely to underestimate a mere Twi'lek harem girl.
CREW MEMBER 7
Name: Firouzeh Jai Anhala. 'Jai Anhala' means ‘from/of liberty/freedom’, a common name for freed Qadiri slaves who do not take the names of their emancipators. Her gem name is Turquoise.
Age: 59.
Species: Qadiri.
Role: Professional courtesan, diplomat, advisor on protocol and etiquette.
Description: Firouzeh is a Qadiri from Amikaron. She has a background as a high class courtesan. Firouzeh was enslaved at an early age and joined the household of a Qadiri Mirza. She was able to eventually save up enough money to buy her freedom. Slavery was a fact of life among the Qadiri, but it was more seen as a necessary institution than something they were intrinsically wedded to. She invested wisely and ended up running her own local escort business that attracted several clients from high society, providing her with a network of wealthy patrons.
Crucially, she did not use any slaves and strictly regulated who could hire 'her girls and boys'. She made an example of a client who hurt an employee. Firouzeh was no abolitionist crusader and refused to support rebellious slaves or hide fugitives, as this would put her and her employees in lethal danger. However, she purchased slaves so that she could manumit them and give them safe jobs where they would not be exploited. She also funded charitable causes, such as a school and a poorhouse.
When the sky people, her business started catering to them. Being an ambitious sort, she quickly expanded her business. Siobhan took a liking to her. Firouzeh eventually agreed to become one of the Gems after negotiating a contract that was very advantageous to herself. Her business became one of the corporation's subsidiares. Employees who wanted to find a new direction in their lives received an education from Firemane. She is an accomplished entertainer and has personally selected several dancers who perform for Siobhan and Tegaea. She speaks several languages, knows her wines and, despite her lack of formal education, has a good grasp of market mechanisms. She is not a warrior, but decent with a pistol, a staff and scimitar. Her body has several tattoos.
Firouzeh is an extremely confident woman. She is a bit full of herself and can be very fastidious about etiquette and protocol. This can make her haughty towards fellow Gems she regards as 'unprofessional'. After all, she is a professional courtesan and licensed guild member, whereas several Gems are, by comparison, amateurs. Firouzeh is very keen to point out that she won her freedom on her own and did not gain it thanks to saviours from the stars. She respects her employers, but is not in awe of them or star struck. They are simply people she works for. For this reason, she favours elves who realise that the sky people are not messianic saviours, but simply normal people who have more advanced tech. Moreover, she is a diplomatic sort who knows the proper protocol for receptions and the like. Her intelligence and social grace allows her to act as one of the couple's advisors.
CREW MEMBER 8
Name: Lharra. Her gem name is Onyx, which is ironic on many levels since there is another Onyx who was a Shard and an omnicidal lunatic.
Age: Late twenties.
Species: Cathar.
Role: Lover for the couple, engineer and consultant.
Description: Lharra is a Cathar female from a martially orientated tribe who joined the Levantine Sanctum and later the Silver Sanctum Coalition, serving in its military. Like her kin, Lharra was a soldier, but she developed a strong interest in engineering and construction. She saw action against many threats, such as pirates, space orcs, Sith cults and the like. Lharra served alongside Firemane forces during the Battle of Ruusan, when the Coalition attacked the Sith Triumvirate.
There she fought in Ruusan's capital. The Sith had jammed communications and the house-to-house fighting was fierce. Lharra distinguished herself in the battle, clearing out Sith fortifications. However, she was badly injured when the Sith launched a massive air strike and bombed the allied troops - along with their own capital. Fortunately for her, she was evacuated from the battlefield and mended back to health.
In the aftermath, the Coalition went through internal changes that saw it transitioning back to the Silver Jedi Order. Disillusioned due to what she perceived as a lack of support from the Jedi for the Ruusan campaign, Lharra accepted a job offer from Firemane. She was a Non-Force-User, so theological debates did not concern her. Lharra served as a trainer and a combat engineer. Lharra saw action during the battles on Kaeshana and Skor II. She received commendations, especially for her skill at breaching enemy strong points and clearing mine fields. However, she eventually retired from active duty after her combat injuries started getting to her.
After she had joined the Firemane army's reserve force, she received a job offer from Siobhan's personal chancellery. It did not take long to figure out what it entailed. The remuneration was quite lucrative. Siobhan had a Cathar friend in her Jedi day and respects their martial skill. Aside from her other duties, Lharra continues to put her engineering talent to good use. In that capacity, she consults on construction projects, inspects buildings and space constructs for structural weaknesses. This is particularly helpful when architects try to convince Siobhan to approve grandiose building plans. Aside from being fluent in Catharese, she speaks Basic with a strong accent, with rolled "r"s and "w"s that sound like "v". She has razor-sharp, retractable claws that can deal heavy damage to unarmoured opponents in combat.
CREW MEMBER 9
Name: Sanak Vul. Her gem name is Topaz.
Age: 28.
Species: Clawdite.
Role: Shapeshifting agent, harem girl and security consultant.
Description: Sanak Vul is a Clawdite, a species of shapeshifters. Sadly, her people are unable to sprout wings, but their shapeshifting is very potent. Clawdites are generally unable to change their body structure or body mass, though some individual Clawdites have accomplished this feat. An example is Zam Wessell. Sanak shares this ability.
Sadly, her abilities brought her to the attention of unsavoury individuals. She was enslaved and forced to use her skills for the benefit of her owner. Her duties included espionage, entertaining and acting as a decoy for her master. Sanak knows Jenulla, who helped her break free. She initially declined a job offer and spent some time finding herself. After some time as a freelancer and a stint with Firemane's intelligence service, she joined the group.
Sanak is the most cynical of all the Gems. She is very independent-minded, but good at hiding her emotions. Her bosses are a better class of people than her former owner since is not maltreated, is recognised as a sentient being instead of a tool and actually gets paid. But she is not the type to get attached. In her view, people are simply out for themselves. She is in it for the money and the security. She gets on best with Jenulla, who can be considered one of her few close friends. Sanak takes the form of a fit, blonde human female, though she is not limited to that guise due to her prowess as a shapeshifter.
Theoretically, Sanak could impersonate Siobhan, though Firemane's leader is too suspicious to make use of this ability. Moreover, she would probably regard it as cowardly since she is a powerful Master of the Force. Sanak takes an active role in training bodyguards. One test consists of a guard being told that there is a dangerous intruder who has come to assassinate their boss, abduct her children or similar. The guard is given a gun and told to lie in wait until the attacker shows themselves. When they do, it is Sanak in the guise of a comrade or loved one. The gun the guard has been issued has blanks. If the guard cannot pull the trigger, they are out. She is also employed to test security at Firemane installations.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The Sublime Gems have their roots in Eldorai myths about how the Great Goddess Ashira had handmaidens who served her while she walked the earth among her children. When the Goddess ascended to heaven, she rewarded her faithful servants by taking them with her. Thus the handmaidens went with her to enjoy their heavenly rewards and serve her eternally in paradise. The Gems are also inspired by the harems of mortal Qadiri and Eldorai rulers. Though she does not wear a crown, Siobhan likes to imagine herself as a queen and certainly has the ego of an autocrat. Moreover, taking other lovers to their bedroom is nothing new for her or her wife. Either way, the Golden Gems are a recent step. The group came into being just before the Arx Aeternae, Firemane's mobile headquarters, was constructed.
The reason for its formation was to increase security and reward the couple's 'harem'. To be inducted into the group was treated as a mark of favour and represented a reward for loyal service. Because the Gems were supposed to be productive in other ways than pillow warfare, each member chosen for the group had skills in other areas, such as combat, negotiation, social protocol and culture. Some Gems had worked with the couple for many years, such as Chesna and Harmony. Others were new recruits such as Firouzeh, Lharra and Alisa. The group was deliberately set up to be multicultural, reflecting the diversity of Firemane's employees. Of course, several of them are elves. This is no coincidence due to Firemane's heavy involvement with various elf races.
Fittingly, each member of the group received a gem code name. This led to an unofficial ranking system among the Gems. However, the actual 'hierarchy' is somewhat in flux, beyond Chesna being the head of the group and Alisa being in charge of security matters. The job advertisement for the group were quite amusing. They contained codes words to let those in the know apply, such as a 'detailed interpersonal skills' being required. Before prospective candidates met Siobhan and Tegaea, they were interviewed by Royal and the Truthseekers carried out extensive background checks. Assuming they made a good impression on the bosses, they were given a probationary period before becoming full members.
Royal was given authority over the Gems since she was in charge of the Kerrigan-Alcori household. The Gems were not part of Firemane's leadership. None of their members who had served in the military possessed a high rank. However, they were part of Siobhan's household and thus personally close to the boss. Firemane has a very top-down hierarchy. This means that who are in daily contact with the boss, such as secretaries, adjutants and harem members, can wield informal power.
Firemane has an articulated and complex administrative apparatus than can function without being micromanaged by the boss. This was proved when Siobhan was forced to temporarily step back from leadership after suffering a stroke. The leadership team was able to run Firemane and its myriad sub-divisions in her absence. The Board of Control has regular meetings chaired by Siobhan. However, access to the boss is obviously an important element. None of the Gems can open or close the portals to her, but they can help widen them a bit or make them a little narrower. Inevitably, powerful figures approached some of the Gems to put in a good word for them, present a petition in a favourable light and so on. How they responded to this varied. Siobhan fired a member she considered disloyal and corrupt.
Kaylah Danton, Firemane's straight-laced Vice President, privately voiced her disdain for 'harem politics'. Of course, it could also have a beneficial effect, such as when the boss was under a lot of stress and needed to be convinced not to do anything rash. Though the Gems work for both Siobhan and Tegaea, inevitably some became more associated with one of the two ladies, depending on their role within the household. Needless to say their existence provided ample fodder for the sensationalist media. Siobhan's own relationship with the press has always been variable, to say the least. Fortunately, she has gotten better at controlling her temper when 'tabloid gadflies' make 'snide insinuations' and 'disingenuous assertions'.
Intent: Expand on Siobhan's retinue.
Image Credit: Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here.
Permissions: N/A.
Links: The Inner Circle, Communion, Aftermath, Tylania, Kaylah Danton.
CREW INFORMATION
Crew Name: The Sublime Gems.
Crew Type: Personal Staff and Companions for House Kerrigan-Alcori.
Base of Operations: Arx Aeternae. The Gems are not always there or even in one group, but this is where they are based.
Crew Size: 9.
Loyalties: Siobhan, House Kerrigan-Alcori, Firemane Industries, Tegaea, Royal.
Description: The Sublime Gems are a mixture of personal staff, bodyguards and, to put it plainly, harem. Captains of industry, politicians and aristocrats inevitably end up with a circle of personal staff members and associated hangers-on who graviate to them. Some are devoted to their boss, others are self-serving. Most are a bit of both. The members of this exclusive group work directly for Siobhan and Tegaea, though they tend to be more associated with one of the two members of Firemane's first couple. They live in the couple's mansion, but also accompany them on business trips, inspections and the like. While their obligations in the bedroom are the most obvious one, every Gem has duties outside of it.
Hunter and Alisa, for instance, act as bodyguards due to their military backgrounds. Indeed, Alisa, a Vashyada warrior, is responsible for the personal security of Tegaea, the little ladies Livia and Adril as well as the servants and secretarial staff. This gives her authority over all the guards at the Kerrigan-Alcori residence. Iuitl, a Xioquo, is also a seamstress and an embroiderer. She also provides advice on Xioquo matters. Meanwhile, Harmony is a nanny and chaperone. Chesna, an enigmatic Eldorai, is a strong mentalist. Depending on the Gems' skill set, other duties may involve translating stuff, singing, giving the Ladies fashion advice and so on.
All members of the group have been carefully vetted by the Truthseekers, a group of Force-Sensitive investigators who specialise in criminal investigation, counterintelligence as well as empathic and telepathic abilities. They are only employed after extensive background checks. Moreover, they must sign non-disclosure agreements. Their contracts are fairly upfront about what their duties will consist of. Once their service has come to an end, they receive generous payouts. Indeed, every Gem is well-paid.
They are always in the midst of Siobhan, Tegaea or their children, so their position is one of trust. This makes it crucial to not only recruit reliable members, but also ensure they have adequate incentives to stay loyal and discreet. Siobhan is also rather generous with gifts. Moreover, the Gems get paid holidays and healthcare. Since their duties include activities in the bedchamber, they are regularly tested for diseases. The Gems have the same rights and legal protection any other Firemane employee. They set their limits and their employers have to abide by them. Furthermore, they are recipients of a comprehensive benefits package.
The Gems are not part of any of Firemane's leadership bodies. However, they are always at the boss' side, so it is only to be expected that influential petitioners might approach them with the request that they bring certain matters to the boss' attention or put in a good word for the petitioner in question. How the Gems respond to this varies. Some are quite willing to do so...in return for a favour. Others remain wholly neutral, will follow the request if they believe it is a good cause or aiding a group they have ties of kinship to. Of course, a Gem who acquires a reputation for being partisan or in the pocket of an outsider risks incurring their boss' disfavour, which may result in being sacked. This makes it a delicate balancing act.
Siobhan values loyalty highly and is quite generous, but also arrogant, moody and mercurial. Loyalty and obedience are key to her. Once her confidence is betrayed she will only most gradually repair it. She has a very maternalistic view of her staff and subordinates, feeling it is her duty to care for them, but also expecting to live up to their collective sides of the bargain. Each Gem has their own way of interacting with her, ranging from being fawning to teasing or professional and business-like. Siobhan is very extroverted and likes having people around. Thus the Gems provide her with companionship.
The Gems answer to Royal, a Chiss female who bears the titles Chief of House and heads Siobhan's personal chancellery. Some call her the Blue Eminence, others Toady-in-Chief, though never to her face. Royal is a remarkably efficient bureaucrat, organiser and bookkeeper. The Chiss is an important, but unobtrusive figure in Firemane's hierarchy. She has authority over the Kerrigan-Alcori family's servants, personal guards, personal assistants and members of the harem.
Royal receives all reports for presentation, maintains Siobhan's daily calendar, prepares her workload, oversees protocol issues, manages her personal life and various gatherings, and oversees her finances. However, she is also a power-hungry sycophant. She is the type of majordomo and ante-chamber dictator that powerful figures in business, religion and politics inevitably attract. Royal takes a direct role in selecting new members for the Kerrigan-Alcori household in general and the Gems in particular. All job applications pass through her hands. The majordomo is, of course, eager to make a good impression on the boss.
One quirk of the group is that each member receives a 'gem' codename, such as Sapphire or Diamond. This has led to the development of a semi-official ranking system. Sometimes the Gems argue over which is which. Chesna, as the head of them, got to pick her first. Petitioners may try to curry favour with the Gem who currently has the most prestigious codename. Each Gem receives a Hold-Out Bolter for personal protection.
CREW MEMBER 1
Name: Chesna Chinue. Her codename is Diamond.
Age: 451.
Species: Eldorai.
Role: Courtesan, cryptic Space Elf, more than occasional lover for the Firemane gang, psychologist, negotiator and mentalist.
Description: On first sight, Chesna is simply another courtesan. Flirty, witty, cheeky, she fits the typical image of a high-class courtesan. This is true, but one side of her. Millennia ago, the Rakata created the Eldorai and their cousins as slave races. The idea was to create a race of near-humans with increased Force sensitivity which could serve as pliable minions and soldiers for the Rakata. To lead them, the megalomaniacal aliens created five Paragons. Chesna was one of them, though she was known as Ardarvia back then. Each Paragon was supposed to be the embodiment of a specific trait.
Ardarvia was the Negotiator, using her mental powers to bend others to her will so that they would serve the Masters; Eyrecae was created to be the perfect warrior using nanotechnology; Mystra was created to embody the power of the Force as much as one could. Ashira was to be the leader, using the Force to inspire and guide…and obey and Tylania was designed to be an assassin. Serving the Rakata was unpleasant to say the least, as they regarded their creations as chattle.
Their creations were freed when the Rakata's own arrogance destroyed them. However, the natives of Tygara were cut off from their kin on Kaeshana. On the homeworld, there was a power struggle between Ardarvia and Ashira. Ardarvia killed the 'mother' and ruled as a despot. She succumbed to madness, and was overthrown. The fallen 'goddess' fell into a coma, losing her memory. She re-emerged centuries later, and eventually pierced what had happened together when she realised she was not aging like the others around her. What she had done caused her a lot of guilt and she tried to atone.
She also vowed never to resort to violence or seek out power. She called herself Chesna. By the time she awple from her coma, the events of the 'War in Heaven' had faded into myth. The Eldorai believed that Ashira was a goddess and the mother of their species and they believed a treasonous daughter called Illyria had fought her, but been cast into hell. Eventually, Chesna ended up working for Siobhan and Tegaea. Though a lot older than the typical life span of an Eldorai, Chesna retains her youth and beauty. This is presumably the result of her being a genetic experiment.
She has zero combat or offensive powers, but is exceptionally good at Force Persuasion, Empathy, Sense Motive and Telepathic Communication. She is also able to project realistic illusions onto another. These can be overcome by the strong willed like all mind tricks. These illusions usually take the form of concealing herself or making herself appear as someone else. She uses these abilities to assist in negotiations, but they also make her a good psychologist and mental healer. For instance, she helped Siobhan remove the memories of Velok the Elder from Mia Monroe's head. However, she is reluctant to reveal her abilities. At the same time, she dislikes it when she is dismissed as a mere courtesan. Due to her past, Chesna is extremely reluctant to get involved in the politics of her people lest she fall back into her old habits, though she has been pushed to help them after they suffered so many calamities.
CREW MEMBER 2
Name: Harmony. The Dahomians have a curious way of naming their children, since around their tenth birthday they choose a descriptive name that embodies their personality and is different from their birth name. Her gem codename is Jet. She would get stroppy if someone else got it.
Age: Late twenties.
Species: Human.
Role: Courtesan, personal assistant, chaperone, translator.
Description: Harmony is a native of Dahomey, a tropical world on the inner rim. Like many fringe worlds, it regressed during the Dark Age and so she was raised in primitive circumstances. Her tribe lived as hunter and gatherers. Her family was not affluent, but her childhood was happy enough. Her father was a hunter, while her mother was a medicine woman. Ironically, gold was extremely common on Dahomey What was rare was steel and technology. Wars were fought over it. Rapacious merchants and slavers were attracted to Dahomey, seeking riches.
First came the Independent Mining Guild, which sought to exploit Dahomey's gold, but whose officers also profited from the slave trade. Harmony's parents opposed its practices and made the error of not turning on Tempest's clan when its village was bombed by an IMG-backed warlord. As a result, they faced persecution. One of Harmony's brothers died in a fight, gunned down before her eyes. Things did not improve when a new warlord came from the stars, a general named Amherst. Originally hired by the foreign capitalists to 'restore order' so that they could make a profit, he double-crossed both IMG and the warlords, taking control of the planet.
When her village was accused of sheltering rebels and falling behind on mining quotas, many were enslaved as collective punishment. Harmony was one of them. Separated from her family, she was enslaved as a child and being prepared to be sold when she reached an acceptable age. When her owner beat Harmoney, her friend Tempest lashed out and unleashed a terrible blast of Force energy that killed him and his guards. Harmony attempted to flee, but was captured.
Fortunately, both were freed when an Omega Pyre task force led by Siobhan Kerrigan and Tegaea Alcori toppled the foreign conqueror. As Dahomey moved into a new future and became a Protectorate member state, with a democratic government, Harmony attended classes at a local college to receive an education. After working on the staff of a local politician, she was hired by Firemane. There she ended up joining Siobhan's personal household.
Flirtatious, seductive, witty - Harmony embodies the archetypical, high class courtesan, making her an appropriate companion for an aristocrat. She is very understanding, gentle and tactful, making her name an appropriate choice. She values loyalty highly. She has a close friendship with Tempest. Both often converse in their native language. She maintains close contact to other Dahomian employees in Firemane, being part of what is commonly referred to as the 'Dahomian Clique' and often helps fellow coethnics get jobs in the Company.
Moreover, she is devoted to Siobhan Kerrigan and Tegaea Alcori, her bosses and former childhood heroes. However, though more than a little in awe of Siobhan, Harmony is not afraid to speak her mind. Indeed, she can be quite cheeky. She's familiar with her boss' quirks and eccentricities, often coaching new employees and guests on how to approach her. She's also one of the few people who can calm Siobhan down when she's in a bad but not apocalyptic mood.
Much like her boss, Harmony is more than a little vain when it comes to her appearance and always wants to look her best. She plays no role in company policy, but has some influence because she's a constant presence at Siobhan's side, meaning that she has a good idea of her moods and opinions. A good word from her in the boss' ear may advance the career of a fellow Dahomian. It also helps that she's a bit of a gossip queen. Outside of her duties as the couple's 'personal attendant', Harmony also looks after Livia and Adril Kerrigan-Alcori. She gets on well with Elpsis and Tempest.
There's one area where her usually mild-mannered, harmonious nature gives way to a sterner disposition, namely the issue of slavery. Having been a slave and seen so many innocent people mistreated, Harmony cannot abide or tolerate it and is thoroughly lacking in sympathy or mercy for those who indulge in the practice of enslaving sentient beings or profit from it. She is god at organising, filing and has a very good memory. She is an exceptional masseuse, fluent in Eldarai, the Dahomian language and traditional medicine. Unlike Siobhan, she is not squeamish about changing diapers. She can also pilot a shuttle.
CREW MEMBER 3
Name: Alisa. Her gem codename is Emerald.
Age: 91
Species: Vashyada.
Role: Head of security for the Kerrigan-Alcori household, bodyguard, more than occasional lover.
Description: Alisa is a Vashyada warrior, ranger and the head of security of the Kerrigan-Alcori household. This makes her responsible for providing security for all members of the household, especially Tegaea, Adril and Livia. Tegaea will, of course, not openly admit to being in the category of those needing protection. All members of the household staff are expected to follow her instructions when it comes to security, as long as they do not contradict those of the two matriarchs. Chesna is the head of the Gems, but Alisa is in charge during emergencies, followed by Hunter. The Vashyada warrior is very experienced in irregular warfare and used to serve in the Eyes of the Forest, a crack Firemane scouting and commando unit composed of Vashyada and Dahomian rangers.
Alisa is not very experienced with modern tech, especially computers, but has a droid who helps her out. In terms of personality she is quite friendly and approachable, rather than a martinet. However, she is very focused in combat. Moreover, she has impressive physical strength and endurance not only for her own people, but also for a human. In contrast to Eldorai, Vashyada are physically hardy. Tall and muscular, Alisa has the physique and strength of a peak human. Needless to say this is something Siobhan appreciates for more than professional reasons. Alisa is very skilled in close quarter combat, melee and small unit leadership. Moreover, she is a very good gunslinger and archer.
Alisa is a spiritual person. The Vashyada religion is rather multiple choice, so she does not force her faith on others or preach. However, her oath to the Goddess is a genuine one. The Vashyada have many forces of nature and spirits they commune with. In her case she is devoted to Gaia, a mother goddess. She has some tats down her arms and back. The patterns look like leaves and vines. Alisa gets on quite well with Elpsis, who shares her spiritual side and love of nature. The two have struck up a friendship.
Strangely enough, Alisa has a decent working relationship with Royal. This is a bit odd, since many staff members dislike the Chiss. However, Royal made a point of being very welcoming on Alisa's first day and tried to befriend the Vashyada. Her reasons are more than a little self-serving, of course. The Vashyada warrior has also taught young Adril how to use a bow and arrow. She is firm, but gentle with the young girl. Outside of the Kerrigan-Alcori household, Alisa has ties with the Vashyada exodite community. She is still learning herself, but helps her people adapt to life outside of the forests they are used to. However, she loves nature and is used to having animals around her, so she makes a point of spending time in more natural habitats when possible.
CREW MEMBER 4
Name: Hunter. His code name is Amethyst.
Age: Thirties.
Species: Human.
Role: Bodyguard. Minion and harem boy for Siobhan.
Description: Like Harmony, Hunter is from the tropical rim world of Dahomey, though his background is a lot more martial than hers. As his name implies, used to be a hunter hunter on Dahomey. He specialised in hunting predators who terrorised rural settlements. He was also a good animal trainer, with a focus on training Cylix. These are ferocious feline predators that are broadly comparable to lions. He knows a lot about hunting, tracking and Dahomey's wild life. His tribe call themselves the Adegoke. Captain Glory, a Firemane field officer, is a fellow member of the Adegoke. The two know each other somewhat.
Back in the day, his people were led by an ambitious chieftain called Ambition who came close to subjugating the other tribes. Hunter did his part to aid his tribe, but did not have any specific loyalties to tribal leaders. When he was young he used these skills with his father and older brothers to fight the IMC and the warlords. Later he switched to the Omega Protectorate, then Firemane. He still has family back on Dahomey. Fortunately, things have stabilised on his homeworld, which is now a decent place to live.
Hunter served under Tempest as part of her command. Among other things, he participated in the Serenade operation. During this mission, Firemane and the Eldorai Matriarchy dispatched a task force to an island populated by a mix of Eldorai, humans and aliens. The island had gone dark, and it turned out that it had been taken over by intelligent zombies controlled by a hive-mind. The zombies were able to turn the island's defences against the intruders, forcing the task force to engage in fierce combat and knock out the anti-air guns. Ultimately, Firemane was forced to level the settlement to prevent the spread of the zombie virus after evacuating its soldiers. Hunter acquitted himself well in the fight. He is trained as a heavy weapons specialist and particularly good at using a Lance Missile Launcher, as well as more standard weapons such as repeating blasters and rifles.
He eventually caught Siobhan's eye and the boss took a liking to him. His services behind closed doors are limited to Siobhan, as Tegaea is not interested in men. That aside, Hunter is very tough and good in a fight. His attitude towards his boss is professional. He acts a bit like a big brother to Harmony.
CREW MEMBER 5
Name: Varaq'Iuitl. In the Xioquo language, clan name precedes given name. Her gem code name is Opal.
Age: 82. Like their Vashyada cousins, Xioquo age and develop at a slower pace than humans.
Species: Xioquo.
Role: Courtesan, seamstress, embroiderer.
Description: Iuitl used to serve a Xioquo matriarch. Her new duties in the Kerrigan-Alcori household are quite similar, though she is now a free woman instead of an indentured servant. Iuitl is a fashionista with impressive skill as a seamstress and embroiderer. Indeed, she makes dresses, cloaks and robes not only for members of the first family, but also for other individuals who can afford her services. To this end, she has collaborated with fashion boutiques such as The Lady's Haven. Iuitl prefers to do most of her work herself, but has a small staff that assists her. Moreover, she has a good mind for sums.
She is a good hair stylist. In the old days these were important survival skills that made her valuable in Xioquo high society. Xioquo mistresses are trendy dressers after all. They have a fondness for spider silk, gemstones, and impractical hair styles. These talents have put her in good standing with Siobhan, and Iuitl is a frequent companion on shopping trips as well as a fashion advisor. She is very knowledgeable about the arcana of Xioquo high society. This is helpful for when Siobhan has to deal with Xioquo matriarchs.
Vashyada and Xioquo have a long history of animosity. The former often had to defend themselves against Xioquo raids. Nonetheless, Iuitl and Vessa are good friends. Indeed, Iuitl has made the effort to learn Prosabia, the Vashyada language, and has become good at speaking it. Iuitl is involved in the education the couple's children. She is one of the personal tutors of Livia and Adril, teaching them about Xioquo culture and language. The former is particularly eager to learn, whereas her twin gravitates more to soldier types.
Iuitl is a somewhat lax member of the Seekers of the Sky, a Xioquo sect that propagates the teachings of the Light and is supported by Queen Lia. It is a point of contention between her and Karrigan'Xalda, who is a card-carrying Daughter of the Destroyer and a bit jealous of how close the maiden is to her Lady. Iuitl does not have the same awe and reverence for Sio. She respects her, and is even a little star struck, but she is not a Daughter of the Destroyer. Thus she fits in best with the Seekers on purely ideological lines, as they promote a more equitable society. She has spoken out in support of their cause. Iuitl is quite ambitious when it comes to winning awards for her fashion creations.
CREW MEMBER 5
Name: Vessa. Her gem code name is Jade.
Age: 68.
Species: Vashyada.
Role: Courtesan, cultural advisor to Siobhan.
Description:
"Why, I advise Mistress Kerrigan on Vashyada matters and provide intimate attention on delicate matters. I think you know what most of my job is. I'm not ashamed of it, but it's perhaps not what I expected it would be like." - Vessa explaining her job to Calana, a disciples of Lady Tylania.
Vessa of the Redleaf Clan is the cousin of a male Vashyada warrior called Sava, the commander of the Thunderous Ones. He commands a unit of shock cavalry who ride giant owlbears into battle and fight to defend the wood elves from harm. Sava grew up as a spider wrangler and is more attuned to animals than people sometimes.
His cousin is quite different from him. The two do not get along well. Sava regards his cousin as a decadent turncoat, while she sees him as an uncultured brawler. He does not take kindly to others gossiping about her though. Vessa is a very skilled cook. She also sings and plays a bowstring for Siobhan sometimes. Siobhan finds it soothing after a long day at work.
Vessa used to be a servant to a Vashyada chieftain. In contrast to Iuitl, she was a free woman instead of a slave. By her own account, she was not the classical wood elf who excelled at being a healer or a fierce ranger, which put her a bit out of step with the typical image of her people. She was among the first Vash to visit Firemane's trading outpost at the edge of Yarkul and venture into space. Fascinated by what she saw in the stars, she decided to stay and learn about the ways of the 'sky people'.
She caught Siobhan's eye at a banquet. The Firemane leader was mesmerised by her talent as a musician. Vessa advises her boss on Vashyada matters and offers cultural insight into their beliefs and traditions. She also puts her cooking and muscial skills to good use. She knows many Vashyada recipes and has a pleasant singing voice. Despite the history of animosity between their people, she is good friends with Iuitl. As she puts it, those who have moved into the skies have - or should have - left their old grudges behind.
Some of her clan, like Sava, view her as having gone native and lost sight of the traditions of her people by allowing herself to be assimilated by the humans. For her part, Vessa believes it does not have to be one or the other. The Vashyada can preserve their way of life while adapting things from the humans that benefit them, but do not compromise who they are. Nonetheless, some prominent Vashyada lobby her to put in a good word for them with her boss or help smooth things over when there are issues. Vessa does try to get good jobs for members of her family, such as on the ships and stations. This has helped her people, but also been the cause of jealousy.
CREW MEMBER 6
Name: Jenulla Tavi. Her gem name is Sapphire.
Age: Late twenties.
Species: Twi'lek.
Role: Dancer, bodyguard for Tegaea.
Description: On the surface Jenulla is just another harem girl who has been hired to entertain her boss. Except she secretly makes untraceable calls, has senses and skills no normal 'harem girl' would have, and seems to have the Force, but hides it well. The reason for this is that she is also a Force adept who has been hired by a somewhat paranoid Siobhan to keep an eye on her wife and keep her safe from danger.
For some obscure reason, Siobhan did not tell her wife about this. It seemed like an unnecessary detail at the time. Jenulla is very skilled in concealing her Force connection, even from powerful Force-Masters. Moreover, she is gifted in telekinesis, elemental lightning and using the Force to enhance her speed and reflexes as well. In addition, the Twi'lek is talented in lightsabre combat, martial arts and small arms. Furthermore, she has some skill in Force healing and its sub-applications. This is helpful if her boss is injured or poisoned by say an assassin. Jenulla is secretly a member of the Order of Fire, Firemane's Force-using branch. She has the skill level of an experienced Knight.
However, Nyssa Vykaris noticed the Twi'lek's 'suspicious' behaviour, and began to suspect her of shady dealings. So she waited until the 'attendant' was asleep, then slapped a nullifier on her and interrogated her. When Tegaea came in, the two were brawling. She demanded to know what was going on. This led to a very awkward conversation with Siobhan. Jenulla kept her job, however. She had held her own against the Pureblood, which irritated the latter quite a bit.
Jenulla is a former agent who was trained by a criminal syndicate but was freed by an anti-slavery campaign. Recruited into the Order of Fire after the discovery of her Force talents, she was trained as a special operative. Ostensibly she just there as another courtesan and entertainer with some self-defence skills. She has been assigned to Tegaea's staff and accompanies her on business trips and inspections. Unsurprisingly, Jenulla is very good on blending in and putting on a performance to mask her true nature. She is very observant and has investigative skills. It helps that Twi'leks are often crudely stereotyped as eye candy, slaves, dancers and the like. This works to her advantage since others are likely to underestimate a mere Twi'lek harem girl.
CREW MEMBER 7
Name: Firouzeh Jai Anhala. 'Jai Anhala' means ‘from/of liberty/freedom’, a common name for freed Qadiri slaves who do not take the names of their emancipators. Her gem name is Turquoise.
Age: 59.
Species: Qadiri.
Role: Professional courtesan, diplomat, advisor on protocol and etiquette.
Description: Firouzeh is a Qadiri from Amikaron. She has a background as a high class courtesan. Firouzeh was enslaved at an early age and joined the household of a Qadiri Mirza. She was able to eventually save up enough money to buy her freedom. Slavery was a fact of life among the Qadiri, but it was more seen as a necessary institution than something they were intrinsically wedded to. She invested wisely and ended up running her own local escort business that attracted several clients from high society, providing her with a network of wealthy patrons.
Crucially, she did not use any slaves and strictly regulated who could hire 'her girls and boys'. She made an example of a client who hurt an employee. Firouzeh was no abolitionist crusader and refused to support rebellious slaves or hide fugitives, as this would put her and her employees in lethal danger. However, she purchased slaves so that she could manumit them and give them safe jobs where they would not be exploited. She also funded charitable causes, such as a school and a poorhouse.
When the sky people, her business started catering to them. Being an ambitious sort, she quickly expanded her business. Siobhan took a liking to her. Firouzeh eventually agreed to become one of the Gems after negotiating a contract that was very advantageous to herself. Her business became one of the corporation's subsidiares. Employees who wanted to find a new direction in their lives received an education from Firemane. She is an accomplished entertainer and has personally selected several dancers who perform for Siobhan and Tegaea. She speaks several languages, knows her wines and, despite her lack of formal education, has a good grasp of market mechanisms. She is not a warrior, but decent with a pistol, a staff and scimitar. Her body has several tattoos.
Firouzeh is an extremely confident woman. She is a bit full of herself and can be very fastidious about etiquette and protocol. This can make her haughty towards fellow Gems she regards as 'unprofessional'. After all, she is a professional courtesan and licensed guild member, whereas several Gems are, by comparison, amateurs. Firouzeh is very keen to point out that she won her freedom on her own and did not gain it thanks to saviours from the stars. She respects her employers, but is not in awe of them or star struck. They are simply people she works for. For this reason, she favours elves who realise that the sky people are not messianic saviours, but simply normal people who have more advanced tech. Moreover, she is a diplomatic sort who knows the proper protocol for receptions and the like. Her intelligence and social grace allows her to act as one of the couple's advisors.
CREW MEMBER 8
Name: Lharra. Her gem name is Onyx, which is ironic on many levels since there is another Onyx who was a Shard and an omnicidal lunatic.
Age: Late twenties.
Species: Cathar.
Role: Lover for the couple, engineer and consultant.
Description: Lharra is a Cathar female from a martially orientated tribe who joined the Levantine Sanctum and later the Silver Sanctum Coalition, serving in its military. Like her kin, Lharra was a soldier, but she developed a strong interest in engineering and construction. She saw action against many threats, such as pirates, space orcs, Sith cults and the like. Lharra served alongside Firemane forces during the Battle of Ruusan, when the Coalition attacked the Sith Triumvirate.
There she fought in Ruusan's capital. The Sith had jammed communications and the house-to-house fighting was fierce. Lharra distinguished herself in the battle, clearing out Sith fortifications. However, she was badly injured when the Sith launched a massive air strike and bombed the allied troops - along with their own capital. Fortunately for her, she was evacuated from the battlefield and mended back to health.
In the aftermath, the Coalition went through internal changes that saw it transitioning back to the Silver Jedi Order. Disillusioned due to what she perceived as a lack of support from the Jedi for the Ruusan campaign, Lharra accepted a job offer from Firemane. She was a Non-Force-User, so theological debates did not concern her. Lharra served as a trainer and a combat engineer. Lharra saw action during the battles on Kaeshana and Skor II. She received commendations, especially for her skill at breaching enemy strong points and clearing mine fields. However, she eventually retired from active duty after her combat injuries started getting to her.
After she had joined the Firemane army's reserve force, she received a job offer from Siobhan's personal chancellery. It did not take long to figure out what it entailed. The remuneration was quite lucrative. Siobhan had a Cathar friend in her Jedi day and respects their martial skill. Aside from her other duties, Lharra continues to put her engineering talent to good use. In that capacity, she consults on construction projects, inspects buildings and space constructs for structural weaknesses. This is particularly helpful when architects try to convince Siobhan to approve grandiose building plans. Aside from being fluent in Catharese, she speaks Basic with a strong accent, with rolled "r"s and "w"s that sound like "v". She has razor-sharp, retractable claws that can deal heavy damage to unarmoured opponents in combat.
CREW MEMBER 9
Age: 28.
Species: Clawdite.
Role: Shapeshifting agent, harem girl and security consultant.
Description: Sanak Vul is a Clawdite, a species of shapeshifters. Sadly, her people are unable to sprout wings, but their shapeshifting is very potent. Clawdites are generally unable to change their body structure or body mass, though some individual Clawdites have accomplished this feat. An example is Zam Wessell. Sanak shares this ability.
Sadly, her abilities brought her to the attention of unsavoury individuals. She was enslaved and forced to use her skills for the benefit of her owner. Her duties included espionage, entertaining and acting as a decoy for her master. Sanak knows Jenulla, who helped her break free. She initially declined a job offer and spent some time finding herself. After some time as a freelancer and a stint with Firemane's intelligence service, she joined the group.
Sanak is the most cynical of all the Gems. She is very independent-minded, but good at hiding her emotions. Her bosses are a better class of people than her former owner since is not maltreated, is recognised as a sentient being instead of a tool and actually gets paid. But she is not the type to get attached. In her view, people are simply out for themselves. She is in it for the money and the security. She gets on best with Jenulla, who can be considered one of her few close friends. Sanak takes the form of a fit, blonde human female, though she is not limited to that guise due to her prowess as a shapeshifter.
Theoretically, Sanak could impersonate Siobhan, though Firemane's leader is too suspicious to make use of this ability. Moreover, she would probably regard it as cowardly since she is a powerful Master of the Force. Sanak takes an active role in training bodyguards. One test consists of a guard being told that there is a dangerous intruder who has come to assassinate their boss, abduct her children or similar. The guard is given a gun and told to lie in wait until the attacker shows themselves. When they do, it is Sanak in the guise of a comrade or loved one. The gun the guard has been issued has blanks. If the guard cannot pull the trigger, they are out. She is also employed to test security at Firemane installations.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The Sublime Gems have their roots in Eldorai myths about how the Great Goddess Ashira had handmaidens who served her while she walked the earth among her children. When the Goddess ascended to heaven, she rewarded her faithful servants by taking them with her. Thus the handmaidens went with her to enjoy their heavenly rewards and serve her eternally in paradise. The Gems are also inspired by the harems of mortal Qadiri and Eldorai rulers. Though she does not wear a crown, Siobhan likes to imagine herself as a queen and certainly has the ego of an autocrat. Moreover, taking other lovers to their bedroom is nothing new for her or her wife. Either way, the Golden Gems are a recent step. The group came into being just before the Arx Aeternae, Firemane's mobile headquarters, was constructed.
The reason for its formation was to increase security and reward the couple's 'harem'. To be inducted into the group was treated as a mark of favour and represented a reward for loyal service. Because the Gems were supposed to be productive in other ways than pillow warfare, each member chosen for the group had skills in other areas, such as combat, negotiation, social protocol and culture. Some Gems had worked with the couple for many years, such as Chesna and Harmony. Others were new recruits such as Firouzeh, Lharra and Alisa. The group was deliberately set up to be multicultural, reflecting the diversity of Firemane's employees. Of course, several of them are elves. This is no coincidence due to Firemane's heavy involvement with various elf races.
Fittingly, each member of the group received a gem code name. This led to an unofficial ranking system among the Gems. However, the actual 'hierarchy' is somewhat in flux, beyond Chesna being the head of the group and Alisa being in charge of security matters. The job advertisement for the group were quite amusing. They contained codes words to let those in the know apply, such as a 'detailed interpersonal skills' being required. Before prospective candidates met Siobhan and Tegaea, they were interviewed by Royal and the Truthseekers carried out extensive background checks. Assuming they made a good impression on the bosses, they were given a probationary period before becoming full members.
Royal was given authority over the Gems since she was in charge of the Kerrigan-Alcori household. The Gems were not part of Firemane's leadership. None of their members who had served in the military possessed a high rank. However, they were part of Siobhan's household and thus personally close to the boss. Firemane has a very top-down hierarchy. This means that who are in daily contact with the boss, such as secretaries, adjutants and harem members, can wield informal power.
Firemane has an articulated and complex administrative apparatus than can function without being micromanaged by the boss. This was proved when Siobhan was forced to temporarily step back from leadership after suffering a stroke. The leadership team was able to run Firemane and its myriad sub-divisions in her absence. The Board of Control has regular meetings chaired by Siobhan. However, access to the boss is obviously an important element. None of the Gems can open or close the portals to her, but they can help widen them a bit or make them a little narrower. Inevitably, powerful figures approached some of the Gems to put in a good word for them, present a petition in a favourable light and so on. How they responded to this varied. Siobhan fired a member she considered disloyal and corrupt.
Kaylah Danton, Firemane's straight-laced Vice President, privately voiced her disdain for 'harem politics'. Of course, it could also have a beneficial effect, such as when the boss was under a lot of stress and needed to be convinced not to do anything rash. Though the Gems work for both Siobhan and Tegaea, inevitably some became more associated with one of the two ladies, depending on their role within the household. Needless to say their existence provided ample fodder for the sensationalist media. Siobhan's own relationship with the press has always been variable, to say the least. Fortunately, she has gotten better at controlling her temper when 'tabloid gadflies' make 'snide insinuations' and 'disingenuous assertions'.
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