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Salandra's
earliest tutors, servants and slaves whispered nervously
to each other about how anyone could be such a perfect Decados.
To them, Salandra's nature was the culmination of centuries
of Decados decadence, treachery, and madness. Her greatest
pleasure came from hurting others, be they her playmates,
servants, siblings, or parents. By the time she was eight
her parents had had enough, and they secretly shipped her
off to the Supreme Order of Engineers for discipline.
When
Salandra returned seven years later, she no longer went out
of her way to hurt others. At least, she was never caught
doing so - not even when her parents died a month after her
return. She immediately took the reins of her family's planet
(Cadiz), scaring off Duke Silen Decados when he tried to
claim the world. Her rise through the family has been swift
and effective, and no one, not even the Emperor, can claim
to have control over a more effective network of spies and
assassins than she. That she acquiesced so readily to Alexius'
victory suprised many. That she has been so busy ever since
has scared them even more.
Rumors
run rampant about her plans and connections. Whether she
wants power for some unknown purpose, or just for its own
sake, no one knows. That she lusts after power goes without
question, and no one doubts that she would go to extreme
measures for it. Many Decados believe she would sell them
out without a second's thought if it advanced her cause,
and some whisper that despite her family's opposition to
Alexius, she and the Emperor have been occasional lovers.
Such talk sends good Hawkwoods into paroxysms of horror.*
<Back
to Feature Characters> *From
"Fading Suns: Second Edition", Copyright 1999 Holistic
Design
Inc., pp. 264-265 |
