Post by Dr. Jake on Jun 26, 2012 11:03:44 GMT -5
Password: acklay
Character permission Third
Name: Arianna Valen
Race: Human
Age: 26
Height: 5'5"
Weight:130 lbs
Birth place: Gresia City, Corvana
Appearance:
Image
Corvanan ladies are well known for their natural beauty, poise, and elegance. Arianna is no exception. The Congresswoman is always at her best, light brown hair either up in intricate styles, or down and wavy. The hair crowns a slightly rounded face, dotted by two bright green eyes and a smallish nose. She has red, full lips, which open to reveal a row of pearly white teeth.
Arianna has a slender, attractive build with gentle curves that could be considered lovely. Most of her skin is rather fair, tanned slightly by the unrelenting Corvanan sun; the rest of her unblemished hide is a fair white, just shy of pale.
As far as apparel, Arianna is consistently dressed elegantly, almost regally. She wears a variety of dresses, some large and a bit ridiculous, others smaller and far more practical. It really just depends on the situation. For footwear, the young lady wears high heels in public, and soft leather shoes within her residence.
Whenever the formal occasion arises (at least twice a week), she frequently makes use of a fashionable umbrella, for appearances and to form an island of shade in a sea of harsh sun light. When not with an umbrella, Miss Valen frequents a hand fan, which helps her keep cool as well as gossip.
Congresswoman Valen's voice is usually soft and gentle, her Corvanan accent's long and slow pronunciations noticeable. Whenever speaking in Congress, she has a habit of lowering her voice, especially when trying to prove a point.
Personality:
All civilized peoples of Corvana are expected to be polite, proper, and inoffensive. Arianna is never intentionally rude or ugly to anyone. She is polite, and very conscious of the opinions of others. Like so many aspects of Corvanan aristocratic society, emotions are frequently expressed indirectly, and Miss Valen is an adherent to this concept.
Under all the etiquette, Arianna is a sweet woman, often fretting about other people's feelings, and their own approval of her. Besides this, she is very determined and can get things done. Sometimes, etiquette and gentleness have to be ignored, and she realizes this. When the situation calls for it, Arianna will politely step on toes, but this is strictly limited to her political and business dealings.
Sometimes, when she is frustrated or confused, she will bring out the old bow and arrow from her childhood and shoot targets. Arianna finds that it helps with the stress of being a politician and a businesswoman, though she has very little time for such relaxing activities. When angered or offended, Arianna will frown slightly and lifts her chin.
In fact, she is very proud of her heritage, and makes no attempts to hide her wealth. She has no moral objections to using her father's status and prestige to achieve her political goals. However, Arianna refuses to put down on people because of things like class and gender. This being said, she is a believer in The Civility and Equality Act, and by default, regulated slavery.
She is a natural problem solver, making her well cut out for business and politics. Unfortunately, she is one of the only Congresswomen in history, and fights every day to be taken seriously. Sexism is one of the few things Arianna can not tolerate, and usually speaks her mind when regarding that topic. She is an ace debater, and even when she is wrong she makes her point. Consequently, she is good at getting others to see things her way.
Arianna struggles with gossip and judging. She and her friends whisper about other ladies often, something the Congresswoman wishes she would stop. She has gotten better through the years, especially since her election.
Though she is no expert or major collector, Arianna is a Patron of the Arts. She is particularly fond of portraits and dances, as sculptures and poetry simply don't hold her interest. The Corvanan Lady also has a fondness of roses, keeping her penthouse and rooms within the Valen estate decorated with the beautiful flowers of all colors.
Occupation: Aristocrat, Businesswoman, Politician
Rank: Interim Junior Congresswoman of Central Durona, Joint Heir
Skills:
Corvanan Etiquette & Fashion
Business Management
Politics & Law
Violin
Archery
Equipment:
Nova Light Blaster Model 22: Being a member of the elite has it perks, but it has just as many drawbacks. Arianna's father demands that she carry some form of protection. The pistol is with her at all times, save for sessions of Congress.
Mero-11 Droid: This droid was bought brand new by Mr. Valen for his daughter. The droid is a general assistant, serving as a translator, pilot, and other roles when the need arises. It generally travels with the Congresswoman wherever she goes, and helps her stay organized and on-time.
The Viscount: Formerly a Valen Enterprises owned vessel used for business negotiations on faraway systems, The Viscount is a fine vessel made for luxury and speed. Mr. Valen later retired it from corporate use and added it to his estate. When his daughter was elected as Interim Congresswoman, he gifted it to her as a means of travel. Arianna refused any government provided transportation in exchange for a fuel and operation stipend. She uses the ship for both personal and state affairs, often hosting foreign diplomats for dinner. The Viscount is always staffed with a pilot, an engineer or mechanic, and a pair of domestic slaves.
Shu Airspeeder- A gift from her grandparents, this speeder is very luxurious, and very expensive. Arianna uses it to travel to her various destinations. The vehicle is stored within The Viscount's cargo bay.
Attributes:
Physical Strength: 4
Intelligence: 7
Speed: 5
Leadership: 6
Unarmed: 2
Melee Weapons: 1
Ranged Weapons: 4
Bio:
Pre-Birth
Janus Valen was a prominent Corvanan businessman and planter. He had made his fortune with only a small loan from his parents. He invested half the money in the growing CorvaRail Company, and used the other half to purchase a medium freighter and hire an adequate crew. This was a wise investment, as Corvana relied heavily on the shipping business to get their products off planet and to their particular buyers.
With the rail industry growing, Janus began drawing a cozy little profit in the form of dividends. He would use half of these funds to purchase more stock in CorvaRail, which soon became tedious due to rising stock prices. His shipping business was producing a far more modest profit, but it kept itself afloat and generated enough profit for Janus to live comfortably.
It wasn't long before he owned a third of CorvaRail, only the founder himself owning more of the company. His shipping company began to grow as well, expanding to five freighters over the next year.
The young entrepreneur, only in his late twenties, began attending The Governor's Ball and other important events independently rather than with his parents. This was an informal milestone for a male Corvanan aristocrat. It symbolized his own success and that he no longer needed his parents assistance. It was at the Governor's Ball where Janus met his future wife, Morana. The pair hit it off, and after a year or so of courting they were wed.
Several years passed, and Janus had his own estate built. It was a large plantation house, with several dozen acres of open land. Morana Valen made sure the estate was beautiful, sometimes planting gardens herself alongside the slaves.
When the stock prices peaked for the rail industry, Janus, in a stunning move, sold all of his stocks off. He amassed an enormous fortune because of this, becoming one of they youngest billionaires on the planet.
A fraction of the money was used to expand Valen Enterprises, his shipping firm, which had grown exponentially in recent years. However, he spent a sizable portion on his estate, buying slaves, planting sugar, and building a small hanger underground.
Without his duties as an owner in CorvaRail, Janus had more time to spend with his wife. They went on vacations, toured the countryside, and other things rich couple do.
It was soon revealed that Morana was pregnant with twins.
Birth and Early Life
It was a blistering summer day, and Janus was rushing to the hospital from his office. He had received a call from his wife's nurse, and Morana was in labor. The tycoon had immediately boarded his speeder and took off for the Valen Estate, not bothering to wait for his driver or assistant.
The man, still very young, was able to make it for the birth of his children just in time. The first to be born was a boy, and the second a girl. The couple was overwhelmed with happiness. They named the boy Marcus, and the girl they name Arianna, both were named after deceased ancestors.
Two days later, the couple, their parents, and the pair of newborns returned to the Valen Estate, where Morana received some much needed rest. Janus, so enamored by his beautiful children, he took a month off of work to be with them and his wife.
They spent their first years being horribly spoiled by their parents and grandparents, their every whim being served. During these years, both of them learned to speak Corvanan Basic, read and write some of that language, and other basic life skills.
Arianna was found to be clever and inquisitive, organized and particular from the moment she could speak. Marcus, on the other hand, was found to be curious and mischievous, though no less intelligent. Both of the Valen children were attractive, Marcus was tall and fair haired, Arianna petite with brunette hair.
While Marcus was outdoors playing hunter or soldier, Arianna was indoors playing house or having small parties with her stuffed animals. Occasionally they would play with the slaves' children, but their parents were very careful to let them know that the they and the slaves were different.
The siblings got along well enough, and played together as much as they could stand. They loved each other, but didn't have similar interests. When he had time, Janus did his best to involve himself with his children's lives. Morana was a busy woman as well, attending Ladies of Corvana meetings, maintaining her appearance, and further beautifying the Valen Estate. Despite this, she did her best to instill proper, feminine values for Arianna, something the little girl was amused with. She like to wear pretty dresses and have her hair arranged every which way.
Schooling and Growth
Once the twins were five, both qualified for primary schooling, but their parents decided that it would be in their benefit to mature and enter a preschool of sorts. Arianna was livid. She was looking forward to going to school and meeting other "princesses," not to mention her willingness to learn. Marcus, on the other hand, was ecstatic. The boy hated sitting down and listening to boring lectures, or reading out of boring books.
Arianna was enrolled in Mrs. Vasagne's School for Young Ladies. She would go twice a week to the school to learn manners, correct posture, and more advanced speech. She also learned more about Corvanan history, and what role she would play in society as a sophisticated lady, knowledge that mattered little to her.
Being an innocent child, Arianna didn't realize what the nice instructor lady meant by sophisticated lady. She thought it meant being pretty, smart, and kind; in reality, it meant that she would be married young and have children. She wasn't expected to challenge her masculine counterparts, and definitely wasn't meant to go into business of politics.
Marcus was also put into gentlemen's etiquette classes, but since masculine manners were so much simpler and minimal, he was only made to go weekly.
A year later, the twins were enrolled in 1st grade of the Astin Primary School, a few miles from their estate. Astin was an expensive and prestigious Primary and Secondary school, attended by mostly Planters' and aristocrats' children.
Despite their upper-class background, their education was relatively normal, expensive and top notch, but normal. Arianna was among the top in the class, being very studious and knowledgeable. Marcus probably could have been in the top of his class, but had no care in the world for school or learning.
The twins generally kept away from each other during school, creating their own small groups of mono-gendered friends. Both were well behaved, despite occasional mischief on Marcus's part. Arianna was talkative, but attentive. Around this time it was discovered that she possessed a trait uncommon among Corvanan ladies. Arianna was very opinionated.
Even at such a young age, the little girl could hardly keep her mouth shut. Her etiquette lessons helped out a lot, refining the girl into a young lady. However, that young lady was just had a bit too much will.
Arianna spent most of her elementary years being educated about simple subjects pertaining to Corvanan society, in addition to math, science, history, and the arts. In truth, she was bored by the subjects. They seemed so simple, below her intelligence. As such, the little Human girl had plenty of free time on her hands. She would finish most of her assignments early and in class, leaving her vast windows of time. Common people may have done chores or other such menial tasks, but Arianna had her every whim attended to by a set of domestic slaves.
Morana was not an affectionate mother. She loved her children dearly, but just didn't show it to a great extent. A busy woman, she had little time to play with Arianna or Marcus. One day, she noticed both of them sitting around the plantation house bored. Deciding that she needed to be involved with her children, Morana began teaching the children about her passion. Music.
Marcus was a natural with the violin, and his mother did her best to stimulate this talent. Arianna chose the piano, Morana's specialty, as her instrument of choice, though she had little natural talent in the art. Through long sessions with her mother, the girl's skill grew, as did her relationship with Morana.
Despite her schooling, etiquette lessons, and piano lessons, Arianna still had large slots of time in which she did nothing much. She would chat with the slaves while they were on break or doing minor work, eventually growing fond of the multi-colored Twi'leks. Alas, the idle conversations were not enough to keep the little girl occupied, so she took up yet another hobby, archery.
At first her mother had responded with a flat out no, archery wasn't all that ladylike. Eventually, Morana conceded, seeing the art as a way for her daughter to form a better relationship with her father.
With practice, Arianna grew to be skilled with the bow and arrow. She would spend an hour everyday shooting at the targets her father had set up, seemingly unaffected by the merciless Corvanan sun.
Archery was also another way for the fast-growing Arianna to grow closer to her father. He was usually busy with business, but when he was home Arianna and Marcus both spent as much as their time possible with him.
During the summer school break, Arianna would spend weeks at a time with her grandparents. She and Marcus would visit the aging couple at their estate.
Their grandmother, much like their mother, was a homemaker, and an adept player of the violin. She and Arianna would sit for hours and play anything from child's songs to symphonies. Arianna and Marcus's grandfather, on the other hand, was a prominent politician and statesmen, as well as a planter and land owner. Though the topic bored Marcus, Arianna loved to hear her grandfather speak about politics and public service. Their was a magic to it, or so the soon-to-be debutante thought.
Though she liked the idea of helping people and serving the public, Arianna was enamored by speeches and rallies, particularly those of young Common Party member, Danur Talus.
Continued Schooling and Coming of Age
By the age of 14, Arianna was ready to begin her secondary education. Puberty and adolescence had brought many changes for the young woman, as she had grown to be stunningly beautiful.
Over the years of schooling, Arianna had made many friends, but one in particular, Liliana, was close to her. Liliana was a bit plump, not fat, just a little large. That being said, she was a pretty girl, with dark skin, blue eyes, and dark brown hair. Despite her size, she was renowned within the complex high school social system for her skills in ballroom dancing, as well as her bubbly attitude. Less known, was Liliana's blunt and less-than-prissy demeanor, and she was always willing to be nice to people despite their reputation.
Oddly, the two girls made a great pair, despite their vast differences. When Arianna heard gossip or rumors about her friend, she would do her best to stomp them out.
Despite their endless attempts, boys didn't really play a big part of Ariannas's secondary schooling. She would accept dates for the school's formal dances, and was present at most of the major parties (save for the seedier ones). But, a young lady was not expected to court or date until she was admitted to society.
The date of her Cotillion, or admittance to society, was fast approaching. Actually, it was scheduled just four days after her 16th birthday. Many of the girls in her etiquette class, as well as school were to be introduced as well.
Finally, the day came and the ceremony progressed. Arianna was declared as Miss Arianna Valen. She wore a large, white dress and was escorted, first by her father, then by a younger man through the procession. Finally , she took a sip of Corvanan Champagne, a symbol of adulthood and maturity.
Soon after, Arianna was introduced to her first suitor. He was tall, handsome, and his family was very important. His father's line had a long and proud naval history, as well as a somewhat lesser political history.
She liked him, but simply had no desire to be married off. She wanted to be able to choose a husband, she wanted to choose her own destiny. The relationship lasted until a month before her graduation, when she broke it off and made her feelings clear, something rare in Corvanan high society.
Arianna Valen graduated fourth in her class, and first in Business Fundamentals, something which caught her father's eye. Most girls were sent to University once they finished Secondary school, unless they had some sort of remarkable talent, which Arianna didn't. Daughter and father argued back and forth, the latter wanting his daughter to marry and become a home maker, the former wanting to contribute to society and Valen Enterprises in some way.
Reluctantly, Janus agreed to send his daughter to a prestigious university located on an island just south of the capital city. It was known for educating some of the most brilliant minds in Corvanan history, from businessmen, to lawyers, to doctors; the university was a household name. The Debutante was enrolled as soon as the next semester began, with a Major in Business Administration and Management.
Marcus Valen graduated 17th in the class of 96, earning no specific awards or scholarships. This didn't matter to him, as he had fallen in love with the Commonwealth Defense Forces, and was noted by many as a fierce patriot. He made his intent to enlist in the Sorus Kast Officer Academy apparent to his parents shortly after graduation. They suggested university, but he would hear nothing of it. They argued that it was his duty to take the reigns of Valen Enterprises once he was properly educated and prepared, but he would hear nothing of it. Marcus suggested his sister was far more qualified and motivated for the job than him.
This forced Morana and Janus to confront the issue they had been struggling with for years now. Arianna, while beautiful and sophisticated, was far too ambitious to fall into the typical role of an upper-class woman. Morana only wanted her daughter to be happy, but also wanted her to fit in with mainstream Corvanan society. With pressure from Janus's father, who wanted Arianna to live her dream in politics, and the young lady herself, the Valens agreed to allow Arianna a position within the company.
University
As the first semester began, the twins made an emotional departure from their home to begin their respective schoolings. The pair had never really been parted from one another for over a week, so their separation was hard as well.
Moving was... difficult for Arianna. She had to slash her wardrobe into a quarter of its normal size, conforming to the university's limited accommodations. Indeed, the spoiled heiress had to make a lot of concessions. She had been used to living in the luxurious Valen Estate, with thousands of square feet of open space. Her closet in the dorm wasn't a tenth of the size of her old closet. Arianna was further dismayed when she was informed that she would be sharing her dorm with another lady.
To her surprise, her roommate was not a Corvanan native, but a Coruscanti immigrant. Celena Rholar was the attractive daughter of a wealthy Coruscanti arms trader and a Fashion and Cultural Arts student. Her father had signed a contract with the Corvanan government, to sell thousands of weapons and open several facilities on the planet. He, as well as most of his family, had moved to the Amerath in order to be closer to business and to learn more about the complex culture of the planet.
At first, Celena was discontent and irritated with the culture, which she considered tacky, and the people of Corvana were just stupid. Over time, Arianna and she grew to be friends. They had few classes together, but spent a lot of their free time talking and attending classy parties.
Liliana had decided to study nursing and patient care, attending a school in Gresia City. Unfortunately, this meant that she and Arianna saw little of each other, but still kept in touch. They would occasionally meet to eat lunch or attend important balls, like the Governor's Ball or the Harvest Masque.
Between studying and socializing, Arianna had plenty of free time. Rather than sitting around or partying, the young woman decided to apply for an internship with he office of Congressman
Danur Talus, a personally idol and political hero. He was from her own Congressional district, so she had the pleasure of voting for him. She had met the middle aged man twice, once at a ball and the second time at the Sugar and Tea Festival. Unfortunately for her, his office wasn't hiring. Instead, she applied for and acquired a part-time job with the Sugar and Tea Lobby, working as a receptionist and a contact between Congressmen and the lobby.
Even with her studies and her new job, Arianna had time still. She filled this gap by becoming an active member of the Ladies of Corvana. It was a social organization that organized parties, balls, and charities for the poor. Near the end of the second semester, she was elected as the organization's treasurer.
Finally, after the burdensome first semester ended, Arianna returned home content with her reasonably good grades. She spent the summer rather typically, catching up with her family and taking semi-regular trips to the capital when the S&T Lobby needed her. She didn't really need the money, so she donated most of what she made at the lobby to various charities. It wasn't really a bad job, but Arianna wasn't really happy there.
Lucky for her, as her second year of college rolled around, Congressman Talus began hiring political aides. She was the first to apply, using her experience with the lobby, her family name, and exceptional academic history to shatter any competition. Danur was impressed by her admiration and ambition, despite the iron gender barriers that had dominated Corvanan society for centuries. She also had several connections within the Congress from her time with the lobby. She was hired on as a personal and political aide of the Congressman and his office.
Arianna began the semester much the same as she had the last year, except this time she had a job that she loved. Often accompanying the Danur into sessions of Congress and delivering important documents. It was then when she began forming alliances and friendships within the Party, becoming an official member at the age of 19. Most of her male colleagues were quietly amused by her feminist and egalitarian views and ambitions, never truly believing she would enter politics successfully.
It seemed that the once-spoiled princess had overextended herself by far too much. She was working almost every waking minute outside of her schooling, and when she wasn't she was handling LoC (Ladies of Corvana) financial situations.
As for free time, when the rare occasion surfaced, Arianna would sleep. The rest of her free schedule was used to study for her increasingly difficult exams. Feeling swamped by the excessive amounts of work, the 19 year old allowed her term as Treasurer to expire.
The rest of her schooling progressed normally, interrupted by summer breaks. She enjoyed her job, despite how stressful and time-consuming it really was. She had made quite a name for herself, as a reliable and honest aide, serving the Office of Dunar Talus and the people of Central Durona.
After the completion of her sixth semester and third year of university, Arianna Valen received a science degree in Business Administration, graduating in the top ten percent of her class. At the ceremony, she was chosen to give a speech on the value of education. This was the beginning of her public speaking career, something she found somewhat difficult.
Business Life and Early Political Career
The summer after her final year of school, Arianna had some well deserved rest. She returned home and spent a few weeks relaxing and catching up with Liliana and Marcus, both of which had also graduated. Marcus had been allowed a month of leave before he was assigned to an infantry unit based out of the Estuine River delta, near Gresia City.
Once she had mostly recovered from the stressful and taxing university years, Arianna began her business career at Valen Enterprises. It was made clear to her that she would not be given any special perks or salary due to her father's status as CEO of the company.
After only a month at home, the heiress was moving out again. She moved into a flat in Gresia City owned by her family in order to be closer to the workplace. There, she was appointed as Assistant Director of the textile shipping office.
Business and politics were entirely different worlds. Arianna soon learned this. Her boss, Cindi Nirano, was an older woman who demanded productivity and competence from her subordinates, accepting no nonsense or foolishness. Arianna grew fond of her, as she was very good at her job.
Assistant director was a tedious and demanding job, leaving little room for leisure or political activism, Arianna barely managing to find time to vote and fill out donation forms, which were required for the more generous contributions.
As her 20th birthday approached, Arianna realized how dependent she was on her parents. This disgusted her, as she was very hardworking and independent, or so she thought. after having her allowance cut in half, despite the protests of her parents, Arianna was forced to reduce the amount of money she gave to charity and politics and use her salary to pay bills and such.
it wasn't long before she began to miss school, so she enrolled in a night school program, working on a basic degree in Political Science. Part of the curriculum involved a public speaking class, greatly improving her skills in the subject.
Textile shipping was one of the largest industries on Corvana, and a busy one at that. Cindi and her staff were responsible for ensuring that the millions of bales of cotton that were shipped by Valen Enterprises made it to spaceport and off the planet and to their respective destinations.
Despite the hustle and bustle of business life, Arianna still found time to attend every major social event. Her mother constantly encouraged her to seek new suitors, but she always politely rejected, wanting to focus on her own career and political ambitions.
Cindi retired a few years later, resulting in Arianna's de facto control over the entire department. She served her father and the Board for an an entire year in that position before she was replaced by a more experienced, qualified individual. Also around that time, she completed her political science degree. It wasn't all that prestigious, but added to her resume nonetheless.
Suddenly, and very unexpectedly, Janus suffered from a heart attack. He was flown to a hospital near by, Marcus and Arianna both arriving a few minutes after he was admitted. For hours, the whole family sat in the waiting room, anticipating the worst. Finally, the tension was relieved when the nurse informed the Valens that Mister Janus was alive and well, but needed his rest for the moment.
The ordeal worried Janus, as he hadn't taken time to write a will in the past years of his life. He had his lawyers draft the document; willing his estate to his children, the company like wise. Janus's fortune was divided between his children, a third going to a spectrum of charities.
Over the next few months, the aging man recovered. He could get around and take care of himself just fine, but suffered from fatigue. It wasn't long before his wife, doctors, and board of directors convinced him to reduce his own involvement in his company. Eventually, his nephew, Antonius, had taken on most of the reigns of CEO. In truth, he was the company's CEO in all but name.
Antonius was ambitious, ruthless, and opportunistic, but he was very qualified and competent; more than capable of corporate leadership. Though he had a limited relationship with his cousin, he recognized Arianna as an asset to the company. She had several years of experience, two degrees, extensive connections, and no one was more knowledgeable in regards to etiquette and ceremony.
Arianna was appointed by her cousin to the position of Chief Corporate Representative, representing Valen Enterprises in the business and political worlds. This new position was demanding, but paid better and left far more free time on Arianna's schedule.
The office also brought sweeping new powers, a condominium in the capital, three floors of office space for the Corporate Relations Department of the company, assistants, and a large office. Also given to her was The Viscount, a yacht purchased by her father years earlier for the purpose of interplanetary travel and entertaining dignitaries.
On the year of Arianna's 22ND birthday, the Central Durona Council race commenced, and she had her eyes set on her district's seat. Her family did its best to convince her that women didn't belong in politics, and after ensuring Antonius and her father that the office wouldn't interfere with her business life, announced her candidacy.
The race was tough, her male opponent was a lawyer, and a slick talker. He would often give fiery speeches about corporate greed and corporate magnates taking over the government, a clear stab at Arianna's intentions.
In response, Arianna launched an advertising campaign emphasizing her strong beliefs in family values, free education, and optimism. She was also attacked because of her age gender, her opponent being a traditionalist chauvinist. This caused for great animosity towards her opponent from the increasingly educated middle and lower-class female vote. Arianna's promises of tax and civil rights reform eventually putting her nominally ahead.
When election day finally dawned, Arianna won 53% of the vote, defeating her opponent by a mere 6 points. She took office a few months later, taking on the small salary, as well as the minimalistic burdens of the office. Her service in the Central Duronan Council would last a total of two years.
Continued Professional Career
Arianna was actually enjoying her life at this point. She had plenty of money, a secure job, and held an agreeable political position. Her social life had not faded through all this progression, and she still dressed in elegant dresses and styled her hair in complex arrangements.
Marcus had been serving the Commonwealth Army with obedience and compassion, earning him a string of promotions. He had advanced to the rank of Captain, commanding a squad of infantry stationed in Northern Taeros.
Part of her duties as Chief Corporate Representative was traveling to other worlds to negotiate business deals and trade agreements. During this time, she visited many Core Worlds, namely Coruscant, Corellia, and Alderaan.
As the years passed, Arianna served both the company and the Central Durona Council. She authored and co-authored 19 pieces of legislation, 12 of which passed the Council and the Governor's Office. She also became rather popular in her home region, many people realizing that she was capable of holding the office, even if she was a woman.
Near the end of her term, another round of presidential elections enveloped the planet. Her longtime mentor, Dunar Talus, was chosen as Vice-President in the new administration, vacating his seat in the Corvanan Congress.
Dunar, despite opposition from his advisers and staff, encouraged Arianna to make a bid for the seat. As the registration date closed, Arianna reluctantly agreed to announce her interim candidacy for the 2ND Central Durona Congressional Seat.
She was immediately endorsed by VP Talus, adding to her already popular image. Unfortunately for her, her opponent was older, more experienced, and had a foothold with the traditionalist movement.
The race was a close one, even with Arianna being recognized as the "reform candidate," several key endorsements, and an energetic, young voter base. Most analysts and polls predicted a 5 point victory by Arianna's opponent.
For the second time in her career, she and her supporters gathered and waited for the election results. They were initially disappointed when the count revealed a defeat by a mere 2,000 votes. However, they were electrified when a recount revealed a nominal victory of 227 votes.
Shocked by the close victory, Arianna gave a victory speech thanking her supporters and promising to fulfill her campaign goals.
A few months later, after her 25th birthday, she took the office of Congresswoman. Her term would be a short, fulfilling the last year of her predecessor's term.
When she entered the Congress Building for the first time as a Congresswoman, she expected to be treated as an equal and to be respected as a member of Congress.
She couldn't have been more wrong. She was met with an air of quiet, polite hostility. She was treated more like a spoiled teenager than a Lady, considering most of her colleagues were males twice her age.
Arianna, polite as ever, would often have arguments with members of her own Party over small things. At one point, she considered resigning, as she had to deal with crippling abuse from her colleagues. However, she was encouraged by her few allies, namely Verona Agular who was the only other Female Congresswoman, to stay strong. She now meets the opposition with polite defiance, refusing to sit idly by and be demanded of.
The office of Congresswoman was far more time consuming and demanding than he previous office. As a result, she had less time to devote to Valen Enterprises. Antonius was livid, furious with his cousin for "abandoning her father." Arianna just ignored the his rants. She delegated most of her duties to her most trusted administrative aides and subordinates. She would still handle major decisions and situations, but much more rarely than before.
A few weeks into the office, the Secretary of Galactic Affairs, Jaxar Krinar, appointed her to the Congressional Committee on Diplomacy and Consular Relations. Despite her age and gender, she was very qualified for the position, given her past experience and education.
As busy as ever, Arianna is always rushing around Corvana, whether it be for Congressional sessions, business meetings, or Ladies of Corvana assemblies, she has little time for herself. Luckily for her, many of the popular social events are state sponsored, so she may choose to attend as a Congresswoman, or as a regular aristocrat.
Soon, her term will expire as Interim Representative, and Arianna will be forced to choose between her business and political lives.
RP Sample:
A single bead of sweat was caught by a white handkerchief as Arianna Valen tried her best to pat away the sweat that was quickly overtaking her feminine features. It was a futile attempt, for as soon as she wiped one drop away, two more seemed to appear.
Many of her colleagues were in a similar condition, trying to keep their composure as the heat ate away at their nerves.
The air conditioning for the Congress Building was broken. Instead of comfortably awaiting the Chairman to begin the session, they had sat there for what seemed like hours, unshielded from the merciless Corvanan heat. Eventually, the session began and proceeded without event, the Chairman eager to end it quickly in order to escape to his more comfortable, cool office.
Arianna didn't say much through the session, voting for or against on the dozen or so unimportant tidbits of legislation that made their way to the Congressional floor. She just sat their looking indifferent or smiling politely, posture always perfect. But, soon the heat began to take its toll. The sweat and constant patting of the handkerchief were beginning to rub off her makeup. Her hair, usually perfectly styled, was now damp with sweat, stray hairs freeing themselves from the intricate hairdo.
The Corvanan lady perked up whenever her bill, The Raw Materials Tariff Reduction Act, was brought up by the Chairman for debate.
"The first round of debate on Congressional Resolution 7856 has begun. This Congress now recognizes the bill's author, The Honorable Representative of Central Durona."
Arianna stood, and advanced to the podium in the center of the room. She quickly looked over the other Congressmen and Congresswoman. Pulling the speech amplifier closer to her mouth, she began.
"Thank you, Chairman." She paused and looked down at her papers. "It has come to my attention, as well as other members of the Congress, that a tariff is in place on imported Raw Materials such as Carvanium, Carbon, and other crucial minerals. Nothing is more crippling or devastating to the construction industry and the infrastructure of our great Commonwealth. If passed, this Resolution will cut tariffs on all imported raw materials, thus reducing prices for Corvanan consumers. Thank you." Arianna curtsied and sat in the nearby seat provided for debaters.
The Chairman stood and spoke up again.
"The Congress now recognizes the opposition, The Honorable Representative of Sorus Kast."
An older man, probably in his late fifties, stood and proceeded to the podium. Arianna remembered the face well, Dorian Askrin. He had been the strongest opponent of tax reform, and her arch-rival in the legislature. It was no surprise to anyone that he chose to oppose the bill.
"Thank you Chairman." The tall, slim man said before slicking back his silvery hair. "Honorable Representatives of the Commonwealth, this bill is nothing but a petty attempt by Corporate lobbyists to control inter-galactic trade."
He looked Arianna in the eye as he stressed the word Corporate. It had been a weapon that he had used against her from the beginning of her term, her corporate ties.
He rambled on, almost shouting, "It would be my intent, nay, my duty to defend the Commonwealth from such greed and treachery. I ask the members of this body to join me in stiff opposition to this monstrosity of a resolution."
The man sat and thanked the Chairman.
Arianna stood once more and spoke.
"Would the Honorable Representative from Sorus Kast note that the intent of this bill is to provide essential materials to citizens of the Commonw-"
Askrin cut her off, something rarely observed in the polite atmosphere of the Congress.
Would the Little Lady from Durona please note to refrain from speaking in such a manner to her elder!
A Lady was expected to maintain complete composure and elegance, no matter the circumstances. Usually, Arianna would have smiled politely and took the criticism with a grain of salt. The Congress was not so lucky today.
With the frustration, heat, and stress all building up, the Congresswoman could no longer contain herself. She stood up, her cheeks flaring red as if they contained a burning fire of anger and frustration. Her words flared with hostility and anger, reflecting what she had received from Askrin for months.
"Would the Chairman please educate The Representative from Sorus Kast about proper titles, or is he too bigoted to understand such concepts?"
The Chairman, a man in his sixties, was by now frustrated with the temperature and the bickering of his fellow Congressmen. Banging his gavel loudly he boomed,
"Order! Debate on Congressional Resolution 7856 will resume in the next session. According to the Charter and the Congressional Bylaws, I now choose to enact the Chairman's Power of Recess to declare this session as adjourned."
The man banged his gavel again, not hearing the many sighs of relief as the Congressmen and women left the building as fast as possible, eager to return to their respective offices and air conditioning.
Arianna quickly gathered up her belongings, including her hand fan (which she desperately needed at this point), and briskly left the Chamber. She walked with composure and elegance, despite recent events. She smiled politely whenever she made eye contact with someone, even though she knew many of them were giving her odd looks and whispering.
The Human's last thoughts before leaving the chamber were something along the lines of: Oh my, this will probably make the news.
Character permission Third
Name: Arianna Valen
Race: Human
Age: 26
Height: 5'5"
Weight:130 lbs
Birth place: Gresia City, Corvana
Appearance:
Image
Corvanan ladies are well known for their natural beauty, poise, and elegance. Arianna is no exception. The Congresswoman is always at her best, light brown hair either up in intricate styles, or down and wavy. The hair crowns a slightly rounded face, dotted by two bright green eyes and a smallish nose. She has red, full lips, which open to reveal a row of pearly white teeth.
Arianna has a slender, attractive build with gentle curves that could be considered lovely. Most of her skin is rather fair, tanned slightly by the unrelenting Corvanan sun; the rest of her unblemished hide is a fair white, just shy of pale.
As far as apparel, Arianna is consistently dressed elegantly, almost regally. She wears a variety of dresses, some large and a bit ridiculous, others smaller and far more practical. It really just depends on the situation. For footwear, the young lady wears high heels in public, and soft leather shoes within her residence.
Whenever the formal occasion arises (at least twice a week), she frequently makes use of a fashionable umbrella, for appearances and to form an island of shade in a sea of harsh sun light. When not with an umbrella, Miss Valen frequents a hand fan, which helps her keep cool as well as gossip.
Congresswoman Valen's voice is usually soft and gentle, her Corvanan accent's long and slow pronunciations noticeable. Whenever speaking in Congress, she has a habit of lowering her voice, especially when trying to prove a point.
Personality:
All civilized peoples of Corvana are expected to be polite, proper, and inoffensive. Arianna is never intentionally rude or ugly to anyone. She is polite, and very conscious of the opinions of others. Like so many aspects of Corvanan aristocratic society, emotions are frequently expressed indirectly, and Miss Valen is an adherent to this concept.
Under all the etiquette, Arianna is a sweet woman, often fretting about other people's feelings, and their own approval of her. Besides this, she is very determined and can get things done. Sometimes, etiquette and gentleness have to be ignored, and she realizes this. When the situation calls for it, Arianna will politely step on toes, but this is strictly limited to her political and business dealings.
Sometimes, when she is frustrated or confused, she will bring out the old bow and arrow from her childhood and shoot targets. Arianna finds that it helps with the stress of being a politician and a businesswoman, though she has very little time for such relaxing activities. When angered or offended, Arianna will frown slightly and lifts her chin.
In fact, she is very proud of her heritage, and makes no attempts to hide her wealth. She has no moral objections to using her father's status and prestige to achieve her political goals. However, Arianna refuses to put down on people because of things like class and gender. This being said, she is a believer in The Civility and Equality Act, and by default, regulated slavery.
She is a natural problem solver, making her well cut out for business and politics. Unfortunately, she is one of the only Congresswomen in history, and fights every day to be taken seriously. Sexism is one of the few things Arianna can not tolerate, and usually speaks her mind when regarding that topic. She is an ace debater, and even when she is wrong she makes her point. Consequently, she is good at getting others to see things her way.
Arianna struggles with gossip and judging. She and her friends whisper about other ladies often, something the Congresswoman wishes she would stop. She has gotten better through the years, especially since her election.
Though she is no expert or major collector, Arianna is a Patron of the Arts. She is particularly fond of portraits and dances, as sculptures and poetry simply don't hold her interest. The Corvanan Lady also has a fondness of roses, keeping her penthouse and rooms within the Valen estate decorated with the beautiful flowers of all colors.
Occupation: Aristocrat, Businesswoman, Politician
Rank: Interim Junior Congresswoman of Central Durona, Joint Heir
Skills:
Corvanan Etiquette & Fashion
Business Management
Politics & Law
Violin
Archery
Equipment:
Nova Light Blaster Model 22: Being a member of the elite has it perks, but it has just as many drawbacks. Arianna's father demands that she carry some form of protection. The pistol is with her at all times, save for sessions of Congress.
Mero-11 Droid: This droid was bought brand new by Mr. Valen for his daughter. The droid is a general assistant, serving as a translator, pilot, and other roles when the need arises. It generally travels with the Congresswoman wherever she goes, and helps her stay organized and on-time.
The Viscount: Formerly a Valen Enterprises owned vessel used for business negotiations on faraway systems, The Viscount is a fine vessel made for luxury and speed. Mr. Valen later retired it from corporate use and added it to his estate. When his daughter was elected as Interim Congresswoman, he gifted it to her as a means of travel. Arianna refused any government provided transportation in exchange for a fuel and operation stipend. She uses the ship for both personal and state affairs, often hosting foreign diplomats for dinner. The Viscount is always staffed with a pilot, an engineer or mechanic, and a pair of domestic slaves.
Shu Airspeeder- A gift from her grandparents, this speeder is very luxurious, and very expensive. Arianna uses it to travel to her various destinations. The vehicle is stored within The Viscount's cargo bay.
Attributes:
Physical Strength: 4
Intelligence: 7
Speed: 5
Leadership: 6
Unarmed: 2
Melee Weapons: 1
Ranged Weapons: 4
Bio:
Pre-Birth
Janus Valen was a prominent Corvanan businessman and planter. He had made his fortune with only a small loan from his parents. He invested half the money in the growing CorvaRail Company, and used the other half to purchase a medium freighter and hire an adequate crew. This was a wise investment, as Corvana relied heavily on the shipping business to get their products off planet and to their particular buyers.
With the rail industry growing, Janus began drawing a cozy little profit in the form of dividends. He would use half of these funds to purchase more stock in CorvaRail, which soon became tedious due to rising stock prices. His shipping business was producing a far more modest profit, but it kept itself afloat and generated enough profit for Janus to live comfortably.
It wasn't long before he owned a third of CorvaRail, only the founder himself owning more of the company. His shipping company began to grow as well, expanding to five freighters over the next year.
The young entrepreneur, only in his late twenties, began attending The Governor's Ball and other important events independently rather than with his parents. This was an informal milestone for a male Corvanan aristocrat. It symbolized his own success and that he no longer needed his parents assistance. It was at the Governor's Ball where Janus met his future wife, Morana. The pair hit it off, and after a year or so of courting they were wed.
Several years passed, and Janus had his own estate built. It was a large plantation house, with several dozen acres of open land. Morana Valen made sure the estate was beautiful, sometimes planting gardens herself alongside the slaves.
When the stock prices peaked for the rail industry, Janus, in a stunning move, sold all of his stocks off. He amassed an enormous fortune because of this, becoming one of they youngest billionaires on the planet.
A fraction of the money was used to expand Valen Enterprises, his shipping firm, which had grown exponentially in recent years. However, he spent a sizable portion on his estate, buying slaves, planting sugar, and building a small hanger underground.
Without his duties as an owner in CorvaRail, Janus had more time to spend with his wife. They went on vacations, toured the countryside, and other things rich couple do.
It was soon revealed that Morana was pregnant with twins.
Birth and Early Life
It was a blistering summer day, and Janus was rushing to the hospital from his office. He had received a call from his wife's nurse, and Morana was in labor. The tycoon had immediately boarded his speeder and took off for the Valen Estate, not bothering to wait for his driver or assistant.
The man, still very young, was able to make it for the birth of his children just in time. The first to be born was a boy, and the second a girl. The couple was overwhelmed with happiness. They named the boy Marcus, and the girl they name Arianna, both were named after deceased ancestors.
Two days later, the couple, their parents, and the pair of newborns returned to the Valen Estate, where Morana received some much needed rest. Janus, so enamored by his beautiful children, he took a month off of work to be with them and his wife.
They spent their first years being horribly spoiled by their parents and grandparents, their every whim being served. During these years, both of them learned to speak Corvanan Basic, read and write some of that language, and other basic life skills.
Arianna was found to be clever and inquisitive, organized and particular from the moment she could speak. Marcus, on the other hand, was found to be curious and mischievous, though no less intelligent. Both of the Valen children were attractive, Marcus was tall and fair haired, Arianna petite with brunette hair.
While Marcus was outdoors playing hunter or soldier, Arianna was indoors playing house or having small parties with her stuffed animals. Occasionally they would play with the slaves' children, but their parents were very careful to let them know that the they and the slaves were different.
The siblings got along well enough, and played together as much as they could stand. They loved each other, but didn't have similar interests. When he had time, Janus did his best to involve himself with his children's lives. Morana was a busy woman as well, attending Ladies of Corvana meetings, maintaining her appearance, and further beautifying the Valen Estate. Despite this, she did her best to instill proper, feminine values for Arianna, something the little girl was amused with. She like to wear pretty dresses and have her hair arranged every which way.
Schooling and Growth
Once the twins were five, both qualified for primary schooling, but their parents decided that it would be in their benefit to mature and enter a preschool of sorts. Arianna was livid. She was looking forward to going to school and meeting other "princesses," not to mention her willingness to learn. Marcus, on the other hand, was ecstatic. The boy hated sitting down and listening to boring lectures, or reading out of boring books.
Arianna was enrolled in Mrs. Vasagne's School for Young Ladies. She would go twice a week to the school to learn manners, correct posture, and more advanced speech. She also learned more about Corvanan history, and what role she would play in society as a sophisticated lady, knowledge that mattered little to her.
Being an innocent child, Arianna didn't realize what the nice instructor lady meant by sophisticated lady. She thought it meant being pretty, smart, and kind; in reality, it meant that she would be married young and have children. She wasn't expected to challenge her masculine counterparts, and definitely wasn't meant to go into business of politics.
Marcus was also put into gentlemen's etiquette classes, but since masculine manners were so much simpler and minimal, he was only made to go weekly.
A year later, the twins were enrolled in 1st grade of the Astin Primary School, a few miles from their estate. Astin was an expensive and prestigious Primary and Secondary school, attended by mostly Planters' and aristocrats' children.
Despite their upper-class background, their education was relatively normal, expensive and top notch, but normal. Arianna was among the top in the class, being very studious and knowledgeable. Marcus probably could have been in the top of his class, but had no care in the world for school or learning.
The twins generally kept away from each other during school, creating their own small groups of mono-gendered friends. Both were well behaved, despite occasional mischief on Marcus's part. Arianna was talkative, but attentive. Around this time it was discovered that she possessed a trait uncommon among Corvanan ladies. Arianna was very opinionated.
Even at such a young age, the little girl could hardly keep her mouth shut. Her etiquette lessons helped out a lot, refining the girl into a young lady. However, that young lady was just had a bit too much will.
Arianna spent most of her elementary years being educated about simple subjects pertaining to Corvanan society, in addition to math, science, history, and the arts. In truth, she was bored by the subjects. They seemed so simple, below her intelligence. As such, the little Human girl had plenty of free time on her hands. She would finish most of her assignments early and in class, leaving her vast windows of time. Common people may have done chores or other such menial tasks, but Arianna had her every whim attended to by a set of domestic slaves.
Morana was not an affectionate mother. She loved her children dearly, but just didn't show it to a great extent. A busy woman, she had little time to play with Arianna or Marcus. One day, she noticed both of them sitting around the plantation house bored. Deciding that she needed to be involved with her children, Morana began teaching the children about her passion. Music.
Marcus was a natural with the violin, and his mother did her best to stimulate this talent. Arianna chose the piano, Morana's specialty, as her instrument of choice, though she had little natural talent in the art. Through long sessions with her mother, the girl's skill grew, as did her relationship with Morana.
Despite her schooling, etiquette lessons, and piano lessons, Arianna still had large slots of time in which she did nothing much. She would chat with the slaves while they were on break or doing minor work, eventually growing fond of the multi-colored Twi'leks. Alas, the idle conversations were not enough to keep the little girl occupied, so she took up yet another hobby, archery.
At first her mother had responded with a flat out no, archery wasn't all that ladylike. Eventually, Morana conceded, seeing the art as a way for her daughter to form a better relationship with her father.
With practice, Arianna grew to be skilled with the bow and arrow. She would spend an hour everyday shooting at the targets her father had set up, seemingly unaffected by the merciless Corvanan sun.
Archery was also another way for the fast-growing Arianna to grow closer to her father. He was usually busy with business, but when he was home Arianna and Marcus both spent as much as their time possible with him.
During the summer school break, Arianna would spend weeks at a time with her grandparents. She and Marcus would visit the aging couple at their estate.
Their grandmother, much like their mother, was a homemaker, and an adept player of the violin. She and Arianna would sit for hours and play anything from child's songs to symphonies. Arianna and Marcus's grandfather, on the other hand, was a prominent politician and statesmen, as well as a planter and land owner. Though the topic bored Marcus, Arianna loved to hear her grandfather speak about politics and public service. Their was a magic to it, or so the soon-to-be debutante thought.
Though she liked the idea of helping people and serving the public, Arianna was enamored by speeches and rallies, particularly those of young Common Party member, Danur Talus.
Continued Schooling and Coming of Age
By the age of 14, Arianna was ready to begin her secondary education. Puberty and adolescence had brought many changes for the young woman, as she had grown to be stunningly beautiful.
Over the years of schooling, Arianna had made many friends, but one in particular, Liliana, was close to her. Liliana was a bit plump, not fat, just a little large. That being said, she was a pretty girl, with dark skin, blue eyes, and dark brown hair. Despite her size, she was renowned within the complex high school social system for her skills in ballroom dancing, as well as her bubbly attitude. Less known, was Liliana's blunt and less-than-prissy demeanor, and she was always willing to be nice to people despite their reputation.
Oddly, the two girls made a great pair, despite their vast differences. When Arianna heard gossip or rumors about her friend, she would do her best to stomp them out.
Despite their endless attempts, boys didn't really play a big part of Ariannas's secondary schooling. She would accept dates for the school's formal dances, and was present at most of the major parties (save for the seedier ones). But, a young lady was not expected to court or date until she was admitted to society.
The date of her Cotillion, or admittance to society, was fast approaching. Actually, it was scheduled just four days after her 16th birthday. Many of the girls in her etiquette class, as well as school were to be introduced as well.
Finally, the day came and the ceremony progressed. Arianna was declared as Miss Arianna Valen. She wore a large, white dress and was escorted, first by her father, then by a younger man through the procession. Finally , she took a sip of Corvanan Champagne, a symbol of adulthood and maturity.
Soon after, Arianna was introduced to her first suitor. He was tall, handsome, and his family was very important. His father's line had a long and proud naval history, as well as a somewhat lesser political history.
She liked him, but simply had no desire to be married off. She wanted to be able to choose a husband, she wanted to choose her own destiny. The relationship lasted until a month before her graduation, when she broke it off and made her feelings clear, something rare in Corvanan high society.
Arianna Valen graduated fourth in her class, and first in Business Fundamentals, something which caught her father's eye. Most girls were sent to University once they finished Secondary school, unless they had some sort of remarkable talent, which Arianna didn't. Daughter and father argued back and forth, the latter wanting his daughter to marry and become a home maker, the former wanting to contribute to society and Valen Enterprises in some way.
Reluctantly, Janus agreed to send his daughter to a prestigious university located on an island just south of the capital city. It was known for educating some of the most brilliant minds in Corvanan history, from businessmen, to lawyers, to doctors; the university was a household name. The Debutante was enrolled as soon as the next semester began, with a Major in Business Administration and Management.
Marcus Valen graduated 17th in the class of 96, earning no specific awards or scholarships. This didn't matter to him, as he had fallen in love with the Commonwealth Defense Forces, and was noted by many as a fierce patriot. He made his intent to enlist in the Sorus Kast Officer Academy apparent to his parents shortly after graduation. They suggested university, but he would hear nothing of it. They argued that it was his duty to take the reigns of Valen Enterprises once he was properly educated and prepared, but he would hear nothing of it. Marcus suggested his sister was far more qualified and motivated for the job than him.
This forced Morana and Janus to confront the issue they had been struggling with for years now. Arianna, while beautiful and sophisticated, was far too ambitious to fall into the typical role of an upper-class woman. Morana only wanted her daughter to be happy, but also wanted her to fit in with mainstream Corvanan society. With pressure from Janus's father, who wanted Arianna to live her dream in politics, and the young lady herself, the Valens agreed to allow Arianna a position within the company.
University
As the first semester began, the twins made an emotional departure from their home to begin their respective schoolings. The pair had never really been parted from one another for over a week, so their separation was hard as well.
Moving was... difficult for Arianna. She had to slash her wardrobe into a quarter of its normal size, conforming to the university's limited accommodations. Indeed, the spoiled heiress had to make a lot of concessions. She had been used to living in the luxurious Valen Estate, with thousands of square feet of open space. Her closet in the dorm wasn't a tenth of the size of her old closet. Arianna was further dismayed when she was informed that she would be sharing her dorm with another lady.
To her surprise, her roommate was not a Corvanan native, but a Coruscanti immigrant. Celena Rholar was the attractive daughter of a wealthy Coruscanti arms trader and a Fashion and Cultural Arts student. Her father had signed a contract with the Corvanan government, to sell thousands of weapons and open several facilities on the planet. He, as well as most of his family, had moved to the Amerath in order to be closer to business and to learn more about the complex culture of the planet.
At first, Celena was discontent and irritated with the culture, which she considered tacky, and the people of Corvana were just stupid. Over time, Arianna and she grew to be friends. They had few classes together, but spent a lot of their free time talking and attending classy parties.
Liliana had decided to study nursing and patient care, attending a school in Gresia City. Unfortunately, this meant that she and Arianna saw little of each other, but still kept in touch. They would occasionally meet to eat lunch or attend important balls, like the Governor's Ball or the Harvest Masque.
Between studying and socializing, Arianna had plenty of free time. Rather than sitting around or partying, the young woman decided to apply for an internship with he office of Congressman
Danur Talus, a personally idol and political hero. He was from her own Congressional district, so she had the pleasure of voting for him. She had met the middle aged man twice, once at a ball and the second time at the Sugar and Tea Festival. Unfortunately for her, his office wasn't hiring. Instead, she applied for and acquired a part-time job with the Sugar and Tea Lobby, working as a receptionist and a contact between Congressmen and the lobby.
Even with her studies and her new job, Arianna had time still. She filled this gap by becoming an active member of the Ladies of Corvana. It was a social organization that organized parties, balls, and charities for the poor. Near the end of the second semester, she was elected as the organization's treasurer.
Finally, after the burdensome first semester ended, Arianna returned home content with her reasonably good grades. She spent the summer rather typically, catching up with her family and taking semi-regular trips to the capital when the S&T Lobby needed her. She didn't really need the money, so she donated most of what she made at the lobby to various charities. It wasn't really a bad job, but Arianna wasn't really happy there.
Lucky for her, as her second year of college rolled around, Congressman Talus began hiring political aides. She was the first to apply, using her experience with the lobby, her family name, and exceptional academic history to shatter any competition. Danur was impressed by her admiration and ambition, despite the iron gender barriers that had dominated Corvanan society for centuries. She also had several connections within the Congress from her time with the lobby. She was hired on as a personal and political aide of the Congressman and his office.
Arianna began the semester much the same as she had the last year, except this time she had a job that she loved. Often accompanying the Danur into sessions of Congress and delivering important documents. It was then when she began forming alliances and friendships within the Party, becoming an official member at the age of 19. Most of her male colleagues were quietly amused by her feminist and egalitarian views and ambitions, never truly believing she would enter politics successfully.
It seemed that the once-spoiled princess had overextended herself by far too much. She was working almost every waking minute outside of her schooling, and when she wasn't she was handling LoC (Ladies of Corvana) financial situations.
As for free time, when the rare occasion surfaced, Arianna would sleep. The rest of her free schedule was used to study for her increasingly difficult exams. Feeling swamped by the excessive amounts of work, the 19 year old allowed her term as Treasurer to expire.
The rest of her schooling progressed normally, interrupted by summer breaks. She enjoyed her job, despite how stressful and time-consuming it really was. She had made quite a name for herself, as a reliable and honest aide, serving the Office of Dunar Talus and the people of Central Durona.
After the completion of her sixth semester and third year of university, Arianna Valen received a science degree in Business Administration, graduating in the top ten percent of her class. At the ceremony, she was chosen to give a speech on the value of education. This was the beginning of her public speaking career, something she found somewhat difficult.
Business Life and Early Political Career
The summer after her final year of school, Arianna had some well deserved rest. She returned home and spent a few weeks relaxing and catching up with Liliana and Marcus, both of which had also graduated. Marcus had been allowed a month of leave before he was assigned to an infantry unit based out of the Estuine River delta, near Gresia City.
Once she had mostly recovered from the stressful and taxing university years, Arianna began her business career at Valen Enterprises. It was made clear to her that she would not be given any special perks or salary due to her father's status as CEO of the company.
After only a month at home, the heiress was moving out again. She moved into a flat in Gresia City owned by her family in order to be closer to the workplace. There, she was appointed as Assistant Director of the textile shipping office.
Business and politics were entirely different worlds. Arianna soon learned this. Her boss, Cindi Nirano, was an older woman who demanded productivity and competence from her subordinates, accepting no nonsense or foolishness. Arianna grew fond of her, as she was very good at her job.
Assistant director was a tedious and demanding job, leaving little room for leisure or political activism, Arianna barely managing to find time to vote and fill out donation forms, which were required for the more generous contributions.
As her 20th birthday approached, Arianna realized how dependent she was on her parents. This disgusted her, as she was very hardworking and independent, or so she thought. after having her allowance cut in half, despite the protests of her parents, Arianna was forced to reduce the amount of money she gave to charity and politics and use her salary to pay bills and such.
it wasn't long before she began to miss school, so she enrolled in a night school program, working on a basic degree in Political Science. Part of the curriculum involved a public speaking class, greatly improving her skills in the subject.
Textile shipping was one of the largest industries on Corvana, and a busy one at that. Cindi and her staff were responsible for ensuring that the millions of bales of cotton that were shipped by Valen Enterprises made it to spaceport and off the planet and to their respective destinations.
Despite the hustle and bustle of business life, Arianna still found time to attend every major social event. Her mother constantly encouraged her to seek new suitors, but she always politely rejected, wanting to focus on her own career and political ambitions.
Cindi retired a few years later, resulting in Arianna's de facto control over the entire department. She served her father and the Board for an an entire year in that position before she was replaced by a more experienced, qualified individual. Also around that time, she completed her political science degree. It wasn't all that prestigious, but added to her resume nonetheless.
Suddenly, and very unexpectedly, Janus suffered from a heart attack. He was flown to a hospital near by, Marcus and Arianna both arriving a few minutes after he was admitted. For hours, the whole family sat in the waiting room, anticipating the worst. Finally, the tension was relieved when the nurse informed the Valens that Mister Janus was alive and well, but needed his rest for the moment.
The ordeal worried Janus, as he hadn't taken time to write a will in the past years of his life. He had his lawyers draft the document; willing his estate to his children, the company like wise. Janus's fortune was divided between his children, a third going to a spectrum of charities.
Over the next few months, the aging man recovered. He could get around and take care of himself just fine, but suffered from fatigue. It wasn't long before his wife, doctors, and board of directors convinced him to reduce his own involvement in his company. Eventually, his nephew, Antonius, had taken on most of the reigns of CEO. In truth, he was the company's CEO in all but name.
Antonius was ambitious, ruthless, and opportunistic, but he was very qualified and competent; more than capable of corporate leadership. Though he had a limited relationship with his cousin, he recognized Arianna as an asset to the company. She had several years of experience, two degrees, extensive connections, and no one was more knowledgeable in regards to etiquette and ceremony.
Arianna was appointed by her cousin to the position of Chief Corporate Representative, representing Valen Enterprises in the business and political worlds. This new position was demanding, but paid better and left far more free time on Arianna's schedule.
The office also brought sweeping new powers, a condominium in the capital, three floors of office space for the Corporate Relations Department of the company, assistants, and a large office. Also given to her was The Viscount, a yacht purchased by her father years earlier for the purpose of interplanetary travel and entertaining dignitaries.
On the year of Arianna's 22ND birthday, the Central Durona Council race commenced, and she had her eyes set on her district's seat. Her family did its best to convince her that women didn't belong in politics, and after ensuring Antonius and her father that the office wouldn't interfere with her business life, announced her candidacy.
The race was tough, her male opponent was a lawyer, and a slick talker. He would often give fiery speeches about corporate greed and corporate magnates taking over the government, a clear stab at Arianna's intentions.
In response, Arianna launched an advertising campaign emphasizing her strong beliefs in family values, free education, and optimism. She was also attacked because of her age gender, her opponent being a traditionalist chauvinist. This caused for great animosity towards her opponent from the increasingly educated middle and lower-class female vote. Arianna's promises of tax and civil rights reform eventually putting her nominally ahead.
When election day finally dawned, Arianna won 53% of the vote, defeating her opponent by a mere 6 points. She took office a few months later, taking on the small salary, as well as the minimalistic burdens of the office. Her service in the Central Duronan Council would last a total of two years.
Continued Professional Career
Arianna was actually enjoying her life at this point. She had plenty of money, a secure job, and held an agreeable political position. Her social life had not faded through all this progression, and she still dressed in elegant dresses and styled her hair in complex arrangements.
Marcus had been serving the Commonwealth Army with obedience and compassion, earning him a string of promotions. He had advanced to the rank of Captain, commanding a squad of infantry stationed in Northern Taeros.
Part of her duties as Chief Corporate Representative was traveling to other worlds to negotiate business deals and trade agreements. During this time, she visited many Core Worlds, namely Coruscant, Corellia, and Alderaan.
As the years passed, Arianna served both the company and the Central Durona Council. She authored and co-authored 19 pieces of legislation, 12 of which passed the Council and the Governor's Office. She also became rather popular in her home region, many people realizing that she was capable of holding the office, even if she was a woman.
Near the end of her term, another round of presidential elections enveloped the planet. Her longtime mentor, Dunar Talus, was chosen as Vice-President in the new administration, vacating his seat in the Corvanan Congress.
Dunar, despite opposition from his advisers and staff, encouraged Arianna to make a bid for the seat. As the registration date closed, Arianna reluctantly agreed to announce her interim candidacy for the 2ND Central Durona Congressional Seat.
She was immediately endorsed by VP Talus, adding to her already popular image. Unfortunately for her, her opponent was older, more experienced, and had a foothold with the traditionalist movement.
The race was a close one, even with Arianna being recognized as the "reform candidate," several key endorsements, and an energetic, young voter base. Most analysts and polls predicted a 5 point victory by Arianna's opponent.
For the second time in her career, she and her supporters gathered and waited for the election results. They were initially disappointed when the count revealed a defeat by a mere 2,000 votes. However, they were electrified when a recount revealed a nominal victory of 227 votes.
Shocked by the close victory, Arianna gave a victory speech thanking her supporters and promising to fulfill her campaign goals.
A few months later, after her 25th birthday, she took the office of Congresswoman. Her term would be a short, fulfilling the last year of her predecessor's term.
When she entered the Congress Building for the first time as a Congresswoman, she expected to be treated as an equal and to be respected as a member of Congress.
She couldn't have been more wrong. She was met with an air of quiet, polite hostility. She was treated more like a spoiled teenager than a Lady, considering most of her colleagues were males twice her age.
Arianna, polite as ever, would often have arguments with members of her own Party over small things. At one point, she considered resigning, as she had to deal with crippling abuse from her colleagues. However, she was encouraged by her few allies, namely Verona Agular who was the only other Female Congresswoman, to stay strong. She now meets the opposition with polite defiance, refusing to sit idly by and be demanded of.
The office of Congresswoman was far more time consuming and demanding than he previous office. As a result, she had less time to devote to Valen Enterprises. Antonius was livid, furious with his cousin for "abandoning her father." Arianna just ignored the his rants. She delegated most of her duties to her most trusted administrative aides and subordinates. She would still handle major decisions and situations, but much more rarely than before.
A few weeks into the office, the Secretary of Galactic Affairs, Jaxar Krinar, appointed her to the Congressional Committee on Diplomacy and Consular Relations. Despite her age and gender, she was very qualified for the position, given her past experience and education.
As busy as ever, Arianna is always rushing around Corvana, whether it be for Congressional sessions, business meetings, or Ladies of Corvana assemblies, she has little time for herself. Luckily for her, many of the popular social events are state sponsored, so she may choose to attend as a Congresswoman, or as a regular aristocrat.
Soon, her term will expire as Interim Representative, and Arianna will be forced to choose between her business and political lives.
RP Sample:
A single bead of sweat was caught by a white handkerchief as Arianna Valen tried her best to pat away the sweat that was quickly overtaking her feminine features. It was a futile attempt, for as soon as she wiped one drop away, two more seemed to appear.
Many of her colleagues were in a similar condition, trying to keep their composure as the heat ate away at their nerves.
The air conditioning for the Congress Building was broken. Instead of comfortably awaiting the Chairman to begin the session, they had sat there for what seemed like hours, unshielded from the merciless Corvanan heat. Eventually, the session began and proceeded without event, the Chairman eager to end it quickly in order to escape to his more comfortable, cool office.
Arianna didn't say much through the session, voting for or against on the dozen or so unimportant tidbits of legislation that made their way to the Congressional floor. She just sat their looking indifferent or smiling politely, posture always perfect. But, soon the heat began to take its toll. The sweat and constant patting of the handkerchief were beginning to rub off her makeup. Her hair, usually perfectly styled, was now damp with sweat, stray hairs freeing themselves from the intricate hairdo.
The Corvanan lady perked up whenever her bill, The Raw Materials Tariff Reduction Act, was brought up by the Chairman for debate.
"The first round of debate on Congressional Resolution 7856 has begun. This Congress now recognizes the bill's author, The Honorable Representative of Central Durona."
Arianna stood, and advanced to the podium in the center of the room. She quickly looked over the other Congressmen and Congresswoman. Pulling the speech amplifier closer to her mouth, she began.
"Thank you, Chairman." She paused and looked down at her papers. "It has come to my attention, as well as other members of the Congress, that a tariff is in place on imported Raw Materials such as Carvanium, Carbon, and other crucial minerals. Nothing is more crippling or devastating to the construction industry and the infrastructure of our great Commonwealth. If passed, this Resolution will cut tariffs on all imported raw materials, thus reducing prices for Corvanan consumers. Thank you." Arianna curtsied and sat in the nearby seat provided for debaters.
The Chairman stood and spoke up again.
"The Congress now recognizes the opposition, The Honorable Representative of Sorus Kast."
An older man, probably in his late fifties, stood and proceeded to the podium. Arianna remembered the face well, Dorian Askrin. He had been the strongest opponent of tax reform, and her arch-rival in the legislature. It was no surprise to anyone that he chose to oppose the bill.
"Thank you Chairman." The tall, slim man said before slicking back his silvery hair. "Honorable Representatives of the Commonwealth, this bill is nothing but a petty attempt by Corporate lobbyists to control inter-galactic trade."
He looked Arianna in the eye as he stressed the word Corporate. It had been a weapon that he had used against her from the beginning of her term, her corporate ties.
He rambled on, almost shouting, "It would be my intent, nay, my duty to defend the Commonwealth from such greed and treachery. I ask the members of this body to join me in stiff opposition to this monstrosity of a resolution."
The man sat and thanked the Chairman.
Arianna stood once more and spoke.
"Would the Honorable Representative from Sorus Kast note that the intent of this bill is to provide essential materials to citizens of the Commonw-"
Askrin cut her off, something rarely observed in the polite atmosphere of the Congress.
Would the Little Lady from Durona please note to refrain from speaking in such a manner to her elder!
A Lady was expected to maintain complete composure and elegance, no matter the circumstances. Usually, Arianna would have smiled politely and took the criticism with a grain of salt. The Congress was not so lucky today.
With the frustration, heat, and stress all building up, the Congresswoman could no longer contain herself. She stood up, her cheeks flaring red as if they contained a burning fire of anger and frustration. Her words flared with hostility and anger, reflecting what she had received from Askrin for months.
"Would the Chairman please educate The Representative from Sorus Kast about proper titles, or is he too bigoted to understand such concepts?"
The Chairman, a man in his sixties, was by now frustrated with the temperature and the bickering of his fellow Congressmen. Banging his gavel loudly he boomed,
"Order! Debate on Congressional Resolution 7856 will resume in the next session. According to the Charter and the Congressional Bylaws, I now choose to enact the Chairman's Power of Recess to declare this session as adjourned."
The man banged his gavel again, not hearing the many sighs of relief as the Congressmen and women left the building as fast as possible, eager to return to their respective offices and air conditioning.
Arianna quickly gathered up her belongings, including her hand fan (which she desperately needed at this point), and briskly left the Chamber. She walked with composure and elegance, despite recent events. She smiled politely whenever she made eye contact with someone, even though she knew many of them were giving her odd looks and whispering.
The Human's last thoughts before leaving the chamber were something along the lines of: Oh my, this will probably make the news.
