Serina Malstrade is a commanding presence, her elegant Scholana Psykana robes and piercing gaze reflecting her meticulous authority. Calculating and ambitious, she dedicates herself to molding young minds through advanced indoctrination techniques, believing her work essential to the Imperium’s future. While her retinue operates with disciplined precision, hidden tensions and subtle manipulations suggest that not all is as it seems beneath her polished facade. Serina’s wager of Lexicania Ultima underscores her confidence, though her unknowing complicity in Tzeentch’s schemes adds a dangerous edge to her otherwise noble ambitions.
Introduction of Headmistress Serina Malstrade
Amidst the opulent chaos of the banquet hall, Serina Malstrade approached the gathered representatives of the Synodium Tertium Nostrium with an air of poised authority. Her elegant robes caught the flickering light of the grand chandeliers, the gold embroidery reflecting her meticulous attention to appearances. Flanked by her retinue, she paused just short of their table, offering a respectful nod before speaking.
“Esteemed members of the Synodium Tertium Nostrium,” she began, her voice smooth and commanding, “allow me to introduce myself. I am Serina Malstrade, Headmistress of the Scholana Progenium. My work lies in the education of those entrusted to the Imperium’s future—a task as daunting as it is rewarding. I have heard much of your august assembly, particularly your nuanced perspectives on Imperial governance and policy.“
As she spoke, Elyon Strass, standing to her left, subtly leaned closer to murmur in her ear. His words were inaudible to the Synod, but Serina gave an almost imperceptible nod, her piercing gaze flicking briefly over each of the gathered individuals as if appraising them.
“It is rare,” she continued, “to find an assembly so well-versed in the intricate mechanisms of our great Imperium. I wonder, then, if I might inquire as to your insights regarding the broader goals of Imperial politics. Particularly, how you see the balance of power shifting in these turbulent times.“
Her question hung in the air, deliberately open-ended yet subtly probing. As the Synod’s members exchanged glances and began to reply, Serina’s expression remained attentive, though her calculating eyes betrayed a deeper scrutiny.
A slight scrape of boots on the marble floor signaled Magistra Ayla Vren stepping closer, her imposing presence a silent reminder of Serina’s unwavering authority. “If I may, Headmistress,” Ayla interjected quietly, “perhaps their perspectives could guide our efforts to better align with the Imperium’s needs.” Her tone was deferential, but her piercing gaze swept across the group, assessing them as one might a recalcitrant pupil.
Loria Kain, stationed a respectful distance behind Serina, maintained her composed silence. Her hand rested lightly on the pommel of her power glaive, a quiet embodiment of discipline and readiness. Her intense focus on the conversation, however, did not escape notice, adding an undercurrent of restrained intensity to the exchange.
After allowing the Synod members time to respond, Serina offered a gracious smile. “Your insights are most illuminating,” she said. “It is clear that your wisdom is indispensable in navigating the complexities of Imperial governance. Should your interests align with mine, I would be honored to explore avenues of mutual benefit. These are times that demand collaboration from all corners of the Imperium.“
With a slight incline of her head, Serina concluded, “I trust this conversation has been as enlightening for you as it has for me. You will forgive me, I hope, if I take my leave for now, but know that I remain eager to continue this dialogue at your convenience.“
As she stepped back, flanked by Elyon and Ayla, the Synod members were left with an unmistakable sense of having been evaluated, their words weighed and cataloged by the sharp mind of a woman for whom every conversation was an opportunity to glean leverage.
Headmistress Serina Malstrade, The Visionary Educator
Appearance:
A tall, elegant woman with sharp features, Serina Malstrade is always immaculately dressed in Scholana Psykana robes adorned with subtle gold embroidery denoting her rank. Her piercing eyes and composed demeanor project an air of authority, though her carefully modulated voice carries an unnerving undertone of control.
Personality:
Serina is ambitious, calculating, and obsessively devoted to her vision of molding young minds. She views her behavioristic indoctrination methods as an art form, considering her work essential for the betterment of the Imperium. Serina’s belief in her reforms drives her to siphon tithes to fund rogue institutions outside Imperial oversight. Unbeknownst to her, her methods and inner circle have been subtly corrupted by Tzeentch, turning her efforts toward chaos without her knowledge.
High Stakes:
Serina has wagered Lexicania Ultima, an archive world in the Segmentum Solar, near Terra. The planet, one of the Imperium’s largest repositories of knowledge, holds millennia of history, battle records, and technological blueprints. It is rumored to contain fragments of Standard Template Constructs (STC) and forbidden pre-Imperial knowledge. Losing Lexicania Ultima would be a devastating blow to Imperial strategy and administration, underscoring the gravity of Serina’s gamble.
Dark Secret:
While Serina believes her work aligns with the Imperium’s ideals, her rogue institutions and indoctrination techniques are unwittingly shaped by the hidden influence of Tzeentch. Her methods are gradually molding students into agents of chaos, unbeknownst to her.
Members of Her Retinue
Inquiry Liaison Elyon Strass, The Shield
- Role: Public Relations and Defender of Reputation.
- Appearance: A severe man in austere Inquisitorial attire, Strass’s cold gaze and clipped speech lend credibility to Serina’s Imperial facade.
- Personality: Shrewd and pragmatic, Elyon supports Serina’s vision of a more efficient Imperium. Though loyal, his ambition often blinds him to the ethical implications of her methods.
- Dark Secret: Elyon suspects Serina’s methods stray dangerously close to heresy but rationalizes his complicity as necessary for the Imperium’s survival.
Magistra Ayla Vren, The Enforcer
- Role: Chief of Curriculum and Disciplinarian.
- Appearance: A stern woman with a muscular build, Ayla wears practical robes and keeps a shock maul at her side.
- Personality: Unflinchingly loyal to Serina, Ayla enforces discipline with ruthless efficiency, ensuring her directives are carried out without question.
- Dark Secret: Ayla is an agent of Tzeentch, covertly steering Serina’s indoctrination methods toward chaos while maintaining the facade of an obedient subordinate.
Champion Fighting for Serina Malstrade
- Name: Loria “The Obedient Blade” Kain.
- Role: Gladiator and Former Pupil.
- Appearance: Clad in pristine carapace armor bearing Scholana Psykana insignias, Loria wields a razor-sharp power glaive. Her calm demeanor reflects the rigorous training and conditioning she underwent.
- Backstory: A “graduate” of Serina’s program, Loria is a living testament to the efficacy of her indoctrination methods. Once an orphan of an Imperial hero, she now fights to honor Serina’s ambitions.
- Dark Secret: Loria experiences flashes of doubt about her loyalty, her suppressed memories of intense indoctrination threatening to unravel her conditioning.
Demeanor of the Retinue
Serina’s retinue operates with precision and professionalism, presenting a united front. Elyon’s stern vigilance, Ayla’s ruthless enforcement, and Loria’s disciplined presence exemplify Serina’s meticulous planning. Beneath this facade, however, Ayla’s covert alignment with Tzeentch subtly corrupts their unity, while Loria’s doubts introduce a fragile undercurrent of instability.
General Description of the Retinue
- Acolytes: Four senior educators assist Serina in maintaining her image of legitimacy.
- Assistants: Two aides handle logistical matters, unaware of the darker nature of Serina’s operations.
The Hidden Truth
Serina’s wager of Lexicania Ultima reflects her immense confidence and belief in her work’s importance. She sees the Games as an opportunity to solidify her influence and secure her clandestine schools’ future. However, the corruption within her methods, steered by Ayla’s covert actions, serves Tzeentch’s plans to infiltrate the Imperium. Though Serina’s intentions remain genuine, her unknowing complicity makes her both a dangerous and tragic figure in the grand machinations of chaos.
Ignis Aeternus WH 40K campaign notes 