The Vorkosigan Companion - Lillian Stewart Carl [197]
Vorinnis:
No first name given. A Barrayaran count whose district has remained neutral during the War of the Vordarian Pretendership, and who was heavily courted by both sides. Piotr thinks he is playing both ends against the middle, and wants Aral to hang him if he doesn't choose soon. Cordelia plans to travel through his district during her rescue mission to save Miles. (B)
Vorinnis:
No first name given. A Barrayaran count who would be backed by the military right if he ever attempted to claim the throne. Despite his conservative bent, he votes for both René Vorbretten and Lord Dono Vorrutyer at the Council of Counts meeting, thanks to some back-door politicking by Alys Vorpatril. (CC)
Vorkalloner:
No first name given. An Imperial Auditor in the more traditional mold, having been appointed straight out of the military, where he was an admiral. Tall and thick, he seems to take up a lot of space. He had a long, distinguished military career, is socially bland, and does not affiliate himself with any political party. Along with the other Auditors in attendance, he approves Miles for the eighth Imperial Auditor position. (M)
Vorkalloner:
No first name given. A Barrayaran count, he is one of the Conservative members who changes his vote from Richars Vorrutyer to Lord Dono Vorrutyer. (CC)
Vorkalloner, Aristede:
A lieutenant commander in the Barrayaran military, he is Aral's second officer on the General Vorkraft. Promoted to commander, he is killed during the Escobar conflict. His body is later retrieved by an Escobaran Personnel Retrieval Team. (SH)
Vorkosigan, Aral:
The second son of General Piotr Vorkosigan, Aral is a lifelong soldier in the Barrayaran military. In his early forties, he is slightly taller than Cordelia Naismith, but stocky and powerful. He has untidy, dark hair tinged with gray and intent gray eyes, with a heavy jaw, a straight, broad nose, and a faded, L-shaped scar on left side of his chin. His house colors are brown and silver.
When Cordelia meets him on the planet later named Sergyar, he is the captain of the Imperial war cruiser General Vorkraft. He is known as "the Butcher/Hero of Komarr," depending on who is referring to him. He had an older brother who was killed by Mad Emperor Yuri when Aral was just eleven. His mother was half Betan, and was killed in front of him during Yuri Vorbarra's Massacre. His maternal grandfather is Prince Xav Vorbarra, who served as ambassador to Beta Colony, and his grandmother, the prince's wife, was in the Bureau for Interstellar Trade.
Aral has faithfully served the Imperium for most of his life. He has had an amazing military career, and is a superb strategist responsible for pushing back multiple expansion attempts by the Cetagandans. He oversaw the conquest of Komarr, which would have been bloodless except for the Solstice Massacre, where he earned his nickname. He was involved in the plot to eliminate Prince Serg during the war with Escobar, and organized the Imperial Fleet's withdrawal afterward. He served as Regent of Barrayar during Emperor Gregor's youth, and was forced into a brief civil war with Vidal Vordarian when he attempted to overthrow the Regency. When Gregor took his throne, Aral served him as Prime Minister, and eventually accepted the position of Viceroy of Sergyar.
Aral married twice. His first wife died young, committing suicide by plasma arc. His second wife, Betan Commander Cordelia Naismith, is the love of his life. He has two sons, Miles and Mark. (All except FF)
Vorkosigan (Naismith), Cordelia:
At the beginning of the Vorkosigan saga, she is the commander of a Betan Astronomical Survey team, an astrocartographer, and the captain of the Betan scientific vessel Rene Magritte. Thirty-three years old, she has copper hair and gray eyes. Her immediate family includes a brother who just purchased a second child permit and a mother who specializes in