Editing V'neef Somat (section)

== '''Other Characters:''' ==

'''Allies'''

This is really the "Compassionate Conservative" school, keen on rational government, reciprocal duties and Immaculate Dogma.

'''Mnemon Ai''' - Inspired somewhat by Sir Thomas More and his relationship with both Will Roper and the Duke of Norfolk rolled into one, I'm more than willing to include Mnemon Ai as a friend, albeit one of relatively incompatible viewpoints. He doesn't mind having him in his home, wished he'd repent of his non-hierarchical heresy, but basically considers him a good and decent man. He often uses his skill with words and rhetoric to allay Ai's doubts on several issues, or convince him to step backwards on others, but is aware of Mnemon's close relationship with the Empress and doesn't really fear for his political safety. He considers him, however, a little off-balance.

'''Master Crushing Wave''' - A long-time associate and philosophical adherent, and one of the primary disciples of the Imperialist Revival Movement, Master Crushing Wave is a reliable voice for sanity in the upper echelons of power. The now famous "Reflections Through An Hourglass of Jade: The V'neef Somat - Crushing Wave Letters" detail their earlier friendship, and Somat's take on a number of theological issues which have now become accepted Immaculate Dogma. Somat has since written a ballet based on Crushing Wave's "Unfolding Lily Prana", which in turn was inspired by Somat's "Meditations on Patterns of Sand."

'''Ledaal Cordelia''' - Cordelia and Somat are both of a type, being quiet, contemplative artists, and have formed a fast friendship based on mutual pursuits and ideals. He views her as a sort of surrogate niece, and takes an interest in nourishing her artistic projects outside of the Passionate Rose imprint, including asking her to collaborate on a 6 Part Series entitled "Tears of the Forest Cricket", a series of epic poems involving the lives of forest insects, designed to Parallel Realm Politics during her youth, from the perspective of the artist. Their respective artistic communities benefit from one another's presence, and given their tight degree of conservative overlap, she also forms part of his regularly called upon associates at court.

'''Opponents'''

'''Pelleps Illibe''' - In their early days as Deliberative members, Somat wrote a series of satirical plays garnering Illibe the title of "Mad Dog of the Deliberative", a move, which, whilst he now regrets as an inappropriate degree of sledging, represents something of Somat's views on Illibe. To be fair, Illibe acts within the confines of orthodoxy and propriety, and they agree on a number of day-to-day governance issues. It is on a few select issues that they often reach loggerheads, and given that they between them control the majority of the Deliberative, their debates can tie up resolutions from anywhere from hours to months. Given Somat's unwillingness to stand down on matters of principle, the arguments can become acrimonious, and regularly do. It's widely perceived amongst administrators that if BOTH are to agree on the correctness of an issue, it is said to be sound. Their relationship as members of the conspiracy and their interrelationship with the Empress has become tainted by this arrangement, and varies from logical argument to subtle insults - however, as yet, neither has elected to break the bounds of propriety - regardless of how infuriating they find the other. 

'''Mnemon Daikanis''' - Monster. He might've proven powerful enough to gain access to the court, but Somat suspects him strongly of demon worship, rather than appropriate demon servitude, as well as a host of other ills from the rapacious to the self-indulgent. Somat cannot stomach Daikanis, will balk him at every term when he chooses to become involved, and attempt to limit his influence in court and with his beloved Empress. He often has long discussion with Crashing Wave about the place of the sorcerer, and in the event of a true heresy or betrayal, will see him publicly and justly executed.

'''Brass Wolf''' - Loyal, and useful, but dangerous. He's a machine, built for combat, and thus has developed an unhealthy fascination with strength. Somat sees the point in Brass Wolf, understands his perceived necessity, but harbors reservations about him (except in regards to Anathema, where he perceives they should be put down like dogs). He's exactly how a moral politician would view a tactical nuke, something he hopes never to employ, wishes didn't exist, but doesn't precisely know how to excise without causing everything to fall down around their ears.

'''Others:'''

'''Cynis Magnos''' - Conflicting, conflicting man. Clearly an ambitious slaver, vice peddler and freelance intelligencer, Magnos nevertheless leads an ascetic lifestyle, and is a relative. (How close I'll leave to you - I'll accept anything from exceptionally distant to son, with interesting variations all the way down.) The great tragedy of their relationship is that Somat has a profound capacity to understand Magnos, growing up much in the same manner as he did, a natural ascetic surrounded by libertines - but he's concerned about the darker currents of nihilism and ambition that are dragging Magnos down. He's disappointed in the faction of the Order that indulgences him for increased temporal support, and this flows back upon Magnos for not standing up for what he suspects internally to be the correct principles. He's tried to crack the circle of Immaculate Monks surrounding him, but despite his position with the Church and in the Realm is turned away at the door. This disappointed ambivalence mars their relationships to each other - Somat sees something good in Magnos, but doesn't know how much longer it will last.

'''Sesus Sikandi''' - Somat's known her on and off for years as she loudly blows into court, a whirlwind of battles, lovers and quests. She's a friend, and a good one, but Somat's written her off as something of a political nullity - she's too far out and too obsessed with personal achievement over practical matters to really serve as an able administrator (an opinion he keeps to himself around the blustering heroine). Still, he views her with no small affection, and is pleased to see her Realmside more - he just wishes she'd retire to her estates and dictate her memoirs, or go back out and have more adventures.

'''Ledaal Endar and Nellens Vieu''' - The mysterious spymaster and his crony. As a legalist, Somat sees the need for men like Endar, and takes a better view of Vieu than of Brass Wolf (a fact that might change should he get to know the former better.) Still, like all spymasters, he's hidden, not precisely to be trusted, and far too enigmatic. Despite Somat's formidable intelligence, he doesn't have a handle on Endar, and starts the game with a relatively neutral, if puzzled position.