Bensin Valern

**Rannadril Bibsos Tembin Lesti Bensin Valern** is the salarian representative on the Citadel Council. He spent his career beforehand as one of the chief orators of Clan Bensin.

## Biography

### Rearing

Valern was born to an all-male clutch as part of a breeding contract between Clan Bensin and Clan Jiahe on the salarian colony world of Rannadril. Out of a clutch of 48 eggs, the 43 unfertilized ones which became males would be raised by Clan Bensin, the 5 fertilized to become females went to Clan Jiahe. Alongside his brothers and the children of numerous other breeding contracts, Valern spent the first five years of his life enduring primary education at the Bensin Institute of Tembin, a clan-exclusive school seeking to determine a child's future career attributes.

Excelling above his brothers and his peers in verbal communication skills, Valern was recommended to the Uniting Voice Academy on the homeworld, Sur'Kesh. A prestigious academy for the training of future political leaders within the Salarian Union, his clan eagerly shipped him off-world.

### Academy Training

Entering the Academy at the age of seven, Valern's studies were arduous and focused. His oration skills and mind for political maneuverings put him on track to be selected for work by the Union itself, had his clan not intervened.

By the rules of the Uniting Voice Academy, and many salarian educational institutions, individual students with exceptional marks can be selected by the Union itself for various duties, essentially relinquishing clan rights in all but name. These postings are often seen as a political edge, having people inside the Union is often good leverage to bring others to your side. As such, Union selections are rarely contested. In Valern's case however, clan Bensin denied their request, Dalatrass Bensin Ori seeing something much better in his future.

He continued his education fully aware of being denied the opportunity to work directly for the Union, but was blind to the true purpose of his stifling. Graduating from the Uniting Voice Academy in 2157, Valern returned home to Rannadril.

### Makings of a Councilor

The salarian appointment to the Citadel Council works on a rotational basis, with each Councilor serving a term of four Sur'Kesh years in the post before leaving office. The appointment rotates in a linear order from clan to clan within the Drinum Vada, the ten most influential clans within the Union.

Bensin Ori, the wizened Dalatrass of the Bensin clan, saw in Valern the opportunity to lock their clan into the Drinum Vada for years to come by placing the skilled young politician on the Council when their cycle came up in 2182. With less than two decades to prepare him for the role, Valern was stretched to his limits. He was included in almost every single discussion the Dalatrass had, in negotiations between clan Bensin and the Union, and clan Bensin and other clans. He negotiated breeding contracts, trade agreements and resolved interclan disputes, essentially serving as a personal aide to the Dalatrass up until her final years.

In 2174, the Dalatrass fell into a state of ill health, essentially allowing the command of the clan to fall to Valern in her stead. While the position could not be official due to his gender, the younger man acted as a puppet master, organizing clan events from her side. When she finally succumbed to illness in late 2175, her successor Bensin Konal eagerly took Valern as an aide and continued with the plan to place the man on the Council, gender norms be damned.

### Council Appointment

When his predecessor, Aehann Dosul began preparing for her departure, Valern was already eagerly awaiting the posting. He assumed the role on the 3rd of January, 2182.

## Personality

### I Tell, You Do

While Valern is a very commanding presence, lording over his wide array of aides, attendants, representatives and operatives, he does not typically care for the methods. He is a man of practicality. When he tells you what to do, it is your job to get it done however you see fit.

### Man of Intelligence

Valern, like most salarians, appreciates knowing the details before an event occurs. When pieces are in play that he is already aware of, the man is cool and calculated. When unquantifiable or unknown variables are placed on the table, his level-headed nature can sometimes slip away.