Editing V'neef Somat (section)

== '''The Four Questions:''' ==

1) Why are you more loyal to the Empress and/or the Realm than the average Dynast?

Somat is loyal to both the Realm and the Empress as he is an idealist, and believes that the Realm is the best expression of those ideals. This is partly due to adherence to a strong belief in place and role, as he believes in rational orthodoxy. Institutions and orders need to be preserved to maintain the quality of life all citizens deserve. Unusually, for a Dynast, and in as far as it as possible for an ascended superbeing to be so, Somat is humble. Not in that he feels he is not part of a privileged class, but amongst Dynasts, that he is a 'simple artist and lawmaker', and that his personal desires and ambitions are of less relevance than the ongoing wellbeing of the Realm.

2) Who do you serve, apart from the Empress? Who else constitutes a superior?

Again, it's a quesiton of principles. The moot nature of the Deliberative aside, Somat believes strongly in his obligations there. He believes in holding himself accountable to his superiors, but also to his lessers, albeit in the fashion that he is accountable to rule them wisely and well, but rule them nonetheless. He believes he has, to coin a phrase, "great powers married to great responsibility", and that the mandate implicit in his aptitude

3) What did you openly achieve in the past century that makes you a worthy subject for historians of the next Age to investigate thoroughly?

Aside from extremely competent governance, Somat retains pride of place due to his artistic and intellectual achievements. His theory is married to practice in a notable way, but given how far his aesthetic and polemic works have infiltrated society through various artistic media, to avoid his influence would be impossible.

4) What weaknesses do you possess that aren't just personal failings, but could be exploited by your enemies to cost you the Game of Thrones? What are the fields of engagement where you can't just apply Game Theory analysis, but instead will act against your interests?
Idealism and stubborness. Somat is patently not stupid, and is aware that others will be manipulative, ambitious and base - but he will not seek personal revenge or personal glory. Position, he will, because he's aware of his abilities as an administrator, but not glory. Likewise, once he has properly evaluated something and deemed it part of his principles he will not step back from those principles, even where damaging to himself - though he will advise others to distance themselves from him if he can see a potentially damaging effect.