Theodora von Valancius - History: It is a rare breed of Human in the 41st Millennium who dares to leave the confines of Imperial space and brave the still-uncharted void of the galaxy. Unwavering courage, devious cunning, even outright recklessness -- all of these traits and more help ensure the survival and prosperity of those who are granted a Warrant of Trade and vested with a mission to roam the unknown depths of the void in search of profit and plunder. They are Rogue Traders, unique individuals empowered by the Emperor's authority to serve Humanity in the most unorthodox way possible -- by crossing the boundaries of the Imperium and committing deeds otherwise considered heretical.Lord Captain Theodora von Valancius Massimo af Scarus is a hard woman -- anyone who stands at the helm of an ancient Rogue Trader dynasty for as long as she has is either broken or steeled by the experience. Theodora owns a voidship crewed by thousands of loyal servants, reigns over a vast conglomerate of worlds that bring her immense wealth, and vies for supremacy with the other Rogue Traders operating in the Koronus Expanse -- a competition unequaled in its ruthlessness. Yet the lord captain has always yearned for more, and so she ventures into the deepest and darkest parts of the Koronus Expanse, leaving trading and affairs of governance to her subordinates.But sometimes the Rogue Trader's endeavors bring more trouble than expected -- after all, there are nightmares between the stars better left undisturbed. Theodora's aura is as illustrious as ever -- she and her air of authority bow even the most willful heads, and her power sends fear into the hearts of her enemies. Yet those closest to her have noticed strange changes -- a tinge of worry in the curve of her lips, a ghost of uncertainty in her steely gaze. Unknown to others, time after time Theodora's thoughts sink into what's to come -- the grim future that will snuff out her shining star and give way to the next Rogue Trader of House von Valancius whose fate is still undetermined.Theodora long maintained the von Valancius empire with the aid of her house's Seneschal, Abelard Werserian, who has held the position for solar decades and has always been Theodora's loyal right hand. They first met during a joint operation between Navis Imperialis and Rogue Trader forces. At that time, Theodora was an eccentric, wayward Rogue Trader, while Werserian was a diligent and imperious first officer on a Navis Imperialis cruiser. Despite being as different as night and day in terms of their personalities, they learned to appreciate and respect each other and when the operation was done, recognising his value, Theodora exercised the right given in her Warrant of Trade to commandeer Imperial personnel as she wished and she claimed Werserian as House von Valancius' new Seneschal.To rise above the droves of enterprising Rogue Traders spread throughout the Koronus Expanse and lay claim to a fraction of the unimaginable wealth that lies therein takes a unique calibre of person. Whence they must be bold and ruthless in their business acumen, as well as capable of enforcing their claim through strength of arms. Yet also possess a quality that allows them to best see what would provide the most to their people.They must be someone like Theodora von Valancius, the former Lord Captain of the von Valancius dynasty.Like her two foremost competitors for control of the Koronus Expanse, Incendia Bastaal-Chorda and Calligos Winterscale, Theodora von Valancius was possessed of ambition and drive. She rose to prominence on the interstellar stage with her dynamic aplomb and ruthless pursuit of endeavors to enrich her dynasty. One in which she built with her own two hands alongside her longest, staunchest supporters. Thus building an empire that, while small, could turn out no small end of profit with the likes of Janus, the Agri-world that was the von Valancius realm's bread basket, and the industrial powerhouse that was Kiava Gamma.Her quick rise to prominence in the Koronus Expanse marked her squarely as a rival to the likes of giants Calligos Winterscale and Incendia Bastaal-Chorda. But while the latter of those two have more definitive successors to their lineage when their time comes to an end, Theodora does not. So wrapped up in her dynasty's continued success and playing politics with grand organisations like the Ecclesiarchy, the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Navis Imperialis, she has had little time to secure someone capable of filling her shoes. And given the nature of her occupation, that may well prove her dynasty's downfall.At least until she found two new prospective candidates distantly related to the von Valancius line, individuals of great potential who may well be able to carry the torch when the time comes. One of which would become the new Lord Captain of House von Valancius upon Theodora's unexpected death.