Berenice of Summer's Abode

Glorious curls sprout in a thick, shoulder dusting length of deepest night's black from this woman's head. A lightning bolt jagged wrinkle has formed between her constantly thought furrowing eyebrows but is the only physical aspect that gives away the fact that she is no longer in the younger decades of her life. Her lips are full, and often enhanced in hue by cosmetics, and sit beneath a button nose and eyes the color of a mirror in the rain under a grey sky.

Berenice is a commoner, from a well-to-do family of scholars resident in Summer's Abode. Perhaps she might have followed in their footsteps had her father not been engaged by the Anaduns to tutor young Irreth Anadun. Berenice and Irreth met then, and struck up a friendship which has persisted for years. When Irreth inherited the position of sufet, her very first step was to appoint Berenice her chief minister.

Berenice has spent some years now doing her best to steer the domain of House Anadun through troubled waters. Her best is, in fact, rather good; she is sharp-witted and a smooth political operator. While any Anadun could simply overrule her - such is the right of Hadashi nobility when commoners are in office - none have, to date, risked the dispute with Irreth that would ensue.

While Berenice's attachment to Irreth is one of genuine friendship, Berenice is deeply ambitious. She is almost at the pinnacle of positions that a Hadashi commoner might achieve. To go higher still would require her friend and patron to also go higher. Happily for her, there does not seem to be any shortage of opportunity whatsoever for Irreth to elevate herself, in small ways or large. Berenice is a committed administrator and overseer; even the incremental steps that are made in day-to-day administration continue to push her upwards.

She is sharp-witted and smooth. She conducts herself with a measure of care around imperial nobility, conscious that she herself is still common, however lofty her position. Her ambition is founded on the search for long-term gains, not for short-term recognition.

Berenice is a capable political operator, an able administrator, and has good social graces.