Berniece Piper

**Berniece Piper**, affectionately called **Bea** by loved ones, was a female Borealan Human from the planet Borealis. She was a member of a minor Borealan House, House Piper, as a vassal to House Turing. She was the daughter of Russell and Georgina Piper and the older sister of Joshua Piper.

Berniece was a close friend of Amber Lafayette, a member of the Borealan noble house, House Lafayette, and a member of the Dawns. Berniece was also a close friend to Jason Rosewood, a member of House Rosewood, which was a vassal to House Stone.

## Biography

### Early Life

In 5928 ASA, Berniece Piper was born in the lower levels of the planet Borealis, a world decorated with castles and deeply rooted in aristocracy. She was born to House Piper, a minor house as a vassal to House Turing (more as a strategic/territorial vassal rather than a vassal that could provide any actual worthwhile support). Bea's family was one of the few commoner families of Borealis to have a surname.

She grew up friends with Jason Rosewood and Amber Lafayette, who would often sneak away from the snobby upper levels of Borealis to hang out with the down-to-earth kids of the lower levels.

Berniece's family was comprised entirely of musicians, known to brighten up the entire neighborhood around them with pleasant song. Their musicality is what led to Amber Lafayette taking an interest in music herself.

When she was around the age of 19, Amber's parents sent her to Berniece's home while an investigation took place at the Lafayette residence in the upper levels. It did not take long for Amber to find out her entire noble house was taken prisoner by House Stone and sent to Hailstorm, a penal colony in the Ice Quartz Sector overseen by House Sauler, who unofficially followed the orders of House Stone. Not thinking herself to be safe on Borealis anymore, Amber said her goodbyes to Berniece and her family before fleeing the planet entirely. The two friends would not be in contact for almost ten years.

### Reuniting with an Old Friend

In 5957 ASA, Berniece viewed an ambassadorial hearing broadcasted to the galaxy, regarding a proclaimed terrorist group known as the Dawns. The Galactic Embassy was visited by a Praeliorian emissary, who condemned the Dawns for crimes against the galaxy. To her surprise, Amber Lafayette was one of the listed individuals as a member of the Dawns. Not believing this for herself, Berniece made it her mission to make contact with Amber again for the first time in years.

She managed to stay in contact with an old friend, Jason Rosewood, who was able to help her make the trip off-world to see Amber. Through research and by pulling some strings, with much help from Jason, Berniece learned that Amber was currently residing at Solitude Plaza, a merchant space station owned by the Morkarian privateer, Tiberius Stede. Berniece managed to make contact with Annesidora and Moon, two leading members of the Dawns, and organized for her arrival onto the station during a party that was going to be held. Ann and Moon themselves did not know the extent of their teammate Amber's relationship with Berniece, and were later surprised to find that the two had not been able to speak to one another for about ten years.

Soon enough, Berniece was able to see her friend Amber once again in a tearful reunion. They managed to catch up with each other's lives, as well as clear up any misunderstandings regarding the ambassadorial hearings that condemned the Dawns as terrorists. As a gift, Berniece gave Amber a new pick for her bass, which Berniece was counting on Amber still possessing (and she was right). The two of them promised to try and stay and touch for the foreseeable future, both happy to be in each other's lives again.

## Personality and Traits

Berniece was a Human woman with lightly-tanned and freckled skin, green eyes, and curly, long, light-brown hair.

As someone who was born and raised in the levels of Borealis beneath the shining castles of the aristocracy, Bea knew from an early age the nature of economic disparity between the common people of Borealis and the wealthy aristocratic minority. A passionate and determined woman, Bea was someone who was not afraid to let her voice be heard, despite the dangers. She loved and cared for her family deeply and had a strong connection to her community as one of the few citizens in the lower levels to serve as vassals to the aristocracy. Bea had a confident, iron-willed heart that gave her the strength to speak for her community and to take action into her own hands whenever necessary.

Despite having lived most of her life on the planet Borealis, Bea was well-acquainted with the wider galaxy enough to hold a rather perceptive opinion on the cosmos at large. She recognized how the galaxy was "full of jerks wanting to put people down to their size", yet also knew that there were good people out in space fighting for the right reasons. Even though she know how many corrupt forces threatened the disenfranchised of the galaxy, Bea always held onto the hope that change was possible.

## Skills and Abilities

As a member of House Piper, Berniece had a degree of skill in the musical arts. She also learned how to defend herself in combat, to a certain degree.