History Characters / KushielsLegacyHouseShahrizai

%%* BrokenAce

%%* EvilVirtues
%%* FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon

* FetishizedAbuser: Her role in the RomanticizedAbuse relationship she has with Phèdre. Melisande loves toying and dominating people and due to Kushiel's Dart, Phèdre is deeply attracted to Melisande for that attitude.
* {{Foil}}: To Phèdre. Phèdre is Kushiel's chosen and an submissive and masochist ''anguisette's'', while Melisande is Kushiel's Scion with domineering and sadistic tendencies. Melisande also frequently wear black to contrast to Phèdre's often white outfits.

%%* LoopholeAbuse: See the Jedi Truth section.

%%* NeverMyFault

%%* AnythingThatMoves

* HeadTurningBeauty: She's described as breathtakingly beautiful even when she's [[SilverFox well into her fifties]].

* LustObject: To Phèdre, who is attracted to her to the point of struggling to keep her computer whenever Melisandre flirts with her. She still shows some attraction to her even ''after'' they become clear enemies, sometimes even having an EroticDream featuring her.

* DepravedBisexual: As a member of House Shahrizai, this is a given. However, Melisande takes this trope UpToEleven, going to such lengths during assignations with Phèdre that Phèdre's other patrons wouldn't dream of. She is the only one to use flechettes on Phèdre. Shortly before selling Phèdre and Joscelin to the Skaldi, she tortures Phèdre in an attempt to find out what Rousse's message to Delaunay was, in such a way that Phèdre is heartsick and numb afterwards.

* BastardGirlfriend: Her ole in the RomanticizedAbuse relationship she has with Phèdre. Melisande loves toying and dominating people and due to Kushiel's Dart, Phèdre is deeply attracted to Melisande for that attitude.

* InTheBlood: It's implied that her father's method of raising her deeply affected her character. As seen above it's a minor excuse.

%%* TheChessmaster

* SexGoddess: She is an exceedingly skilled lover, especially when it comes to BSDM, which makes her a perfect match for Phèdre and Melisande often leave Phèdre quivering from just her kisses or teasing touches. When she actually take her to bed, she manages to drive Phèdre into extreme pleasure even while taking her BSDM kink too far. Her skills are described as being a match against any adept of the Night Court. This is played for {{Fandisservice}} when she rapes Phèdre and still makes her enjoy it, [[NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization much to Phèdre's horror]].

* DeathByFire: She dies in a house-fire caused by Marmion's retainers.

!!Tropes applying to Melisande:

* AbusiveParents: Her father Casimar isn't openly stated to have abused her, but it's probable given his spiteful personality. It is said that Casimar's actions helped mold Melisande into the woman she is in the Phedre and Imriel books, and she'd resolved long ago to not be like him when it came to taking petty revenge on other people and instigating pointless cruelty.

* AffablyEvil: Though she is the main antagonist of the first trilogy and poses a huge danger to Phedre and Terre D'Ange, she is cool and collected and acts cordially to most people (even her ''enemies'') even at the worst of times.

* ArchEnemy: Of Phedre no Delaunay.
* BeautyIsBad: Melisande is considered one of the most beautiful women in Terre D'Ange; she also has one of the coldest hearts in the series.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: She is the most beautiful woman in Terre D'Ange, and is a deadly traitor. Phedre describes her as having "a mind as subtle as Delaunay's, but a far colder heart".
* BlackWidow: Averted. Melisande is rumored to have killed the men she married, but really, she just made a habit of marrying very old men so she could wait and inherit their money when they died.
* BrainsAndBondage: Is very intelligent and very into BDSM.

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Later in the series, Melisande starts claiming that she always keeps her promises. [[ExactWords Like many things she says,]] [[MetaphoricallyTrue this statement should]] [[BlatantLies be taken with a pinch of salt.]]
%%* ConsummateLiar

* DepravedBisexual: As a member of House Shahrizai, this is a given. However, Melisande takes this trope UpToEleven, going to such lengths during assignations with Phedre that Phedre's other patrons wouldn't dream of. She is the only one to use flechettes on Phedre. Shortly before selling Phedre and Joscelin to the Skaldi, she tortures Phedre in an attempt to find out what Rousse's message to Delaunay was, in such a way that Phedre is heartsick and numb afterwards.
* EasilyForgiven: Subverted. While Phedre and Imriel understand her reasons behind committing high treason not once but ''twice'' (and manipulating others into doing the same), the magnitude of her crimes and the effect they've had on her victims even years after the fact makes it impossible to forgive her.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: She won't stoop to blasphemy and claims to always keep her promises (though both statements should be taken with a [[MetaphoricallyTrue grain of salt]] and [[LoopholeAbuse then some]]. Also, she ''[[MamaBear really]]'' [[PetTheDog loves her son.]]
* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: Melisande's traitoress status doesn't stop Phedre [[FoeYay from being attracted to her]]. It doesn't help that she's also a very skilled lover.

* ForTheEvulz: When Phèdre asks her why she did it, she replies, "Because I could." It's a little bit more complicated than that though. Melisande describes herself as being incapable of caring about the pieces in her games, while simultaneously loving the games she plays. Why does she play? She's D'Angeline.
* FreudianExcuse: It's a minor excuse, but in the second trilogy she appears to have some remorse for her actions and its suggested-that the reason she is the way she is-is because of her father Casimar.
* FromNobodyToNightmare: While not exactly a nobody, Melisande is not generally considered a major player during ''Dart.'' Delaunay is one of very few people who identifies her as a major player and a threat, well before the extent of her plotting and treachery becomes widely known.
%%* GracefulLoser
* [[spoiler:HeelFaceTurn: Debatable, but she does appear to have some remorse for her actions later on in the series. And she does help save Terre d'Ange in ''Mercy.'']]

* HotConsort/[[UglyGuyHotWife Ugly Guy, Hot Consort]]: To Ptolemy Solon. When asked why she would stay with such an ugly man, Melisande explains that it's his mind that holds the attraction for her.
* InTheBlood: It's implied that her father's method of raising her deeply affected her character. As seen above its a minor excuse.

* LoopholeAbuse: See the Jedi Truth section.
* MamaBear: Do not attempt to harm her son. There will be serious consequences if you do.
* [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bitch]]: She is very skilled at manipulating people to serve her ends.

%%* NotSoStoic
* PetTheDog: She loves her son more than anything else. Imriel later sees that he is her main weakness, and that her enemies would be able to hurt her by hurting him.

* TheQuisling: She collaborated with Waldemar Selig to orchestrate the Skaldi invasion. If it had succeeded, she would've married Selig and ruled as Queen over a united Terre d'Ange/Skaldia.
* RavenHairIvorySkin: Like all Shahrizai.

* {{Sadist}}: Naturally. She revels in Phedre's humiliation and pain during their assignation on the Longest Night, and finds pleasure in watching Suriah squirming in Baudoin's arms during Baudoin's party in Cereus House. However, even she has lines she would never cross.

* SexIsViolence: That's how she likes it.

* WorldsMostBeautifulWoman: Not explicitly described as such, but she's described as being extremely beautiful, even for someone from [[InhumanlyBeautifulRace Terre D'Ange]].

!!Tropes applying to Marmion:

!!Tropes applying to Mavros:

* [[TokenEvilTeammate Token Depraved Teammate]]: Is, easily, the kinkiest member of Imriel's immediate circle of friends at court. He rather delights in this.

!!Tropes applying to Balthasar:

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Later in the series, Melisande starts claiming that she always keeps her promises. [[ExactWords Like many things she says,]] [[FromACertainPointOfView this statement should]] [[BlatantLies be taken with a pinch of salt.]]

* EvenEvilHasStandards: She won't stoop to blasphemy and claims to always keep her promises (though both statements should be taken with a [[FromACertainPointOfView grain of salt]] and [[LoopholeAbuse then some]]. Also, she ''[[MamaBear really]]'' [[PetTheDog loves her son.]]

* JediTruth: Melisande claims she'd never commit blasphemy personally, but [[spoiler: looks the other way when Marie-Celeste corrupts the Serenissiman priestesses. She's also forbidden by Kushieline doctrine to kill the bearer of Kushiel's Dart, but has no problem sending Phèdre into dangerous situations where she'd be indirectly responsible for her death.]]

* ForTheEvulz: When Phèdre asks her why she did it, she replies, "Because I could."
** It's a little bit more complicated than that. Melisande describes herself as being incapable of caring about the pieces in her games, while simultaneously loving the games she plays. Why does she play? She's D'Angeline.

* [[YuriGenre Girls Love]]: With Phèdre.

* HotConsort/[[UglyGuyHotWife Ugly Guy, Hot Consort]]: To Ptolemy Solon. When asked why she would stay with such an ugly man Melisande explains that it's his mind that holds the attraction for her.

* LackOfEmpathy: Has a distinct lack of empathy, which she's begun to take notice of during the time she's spent in Cythera.

* MayDecemberRomance: Had a habit of marrying very old men so she could wait for them to die & then inherit their money. She also marries the significantly-older Prince Benedicte.

* TheQuisling: Collaborated with Waldemar Selig to orchestrate the Skaldi invasion. If it had succeeded, she would've married Selig and ruled as Queen over a united Terre d'Ange/Skaldia.

* TheUnfettered: She will do almost anything to bring her long-term plans into frutition, even betraying former friends and her own country into the hands of the Skaldi. The only thing she won't stoop to is blasphemy and spite.

* VillainWithGoodPublicity: In the beginning of the series, she is in good graces with her peers and at Court, is so popular that songs have been written about her beauty, and is the adored lover of Baudoin. No one except Delaunay and his allies suspects that she may be involved in any political machinations, and even they don't realise how deep her treachery runs until it is too late.

* HotConsort/[[UglyGuyHotWife UglyGuyHotConsort]]: To Ptolemy Solon. When asked why she would stay with such an ugly man Melisande explains that it's his mind that holds the attraction for her.

%%* [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bitch]]

%%* {{Romanticized Abuse}}

[[folder: Duc Paragon Shahrizai]]

Imriel is her son.

%%* BrainsAndBondage

%%* CrazyPrepared

%%* FromNobodyToNightmare

%%* PragmaticVillainy

Brother of Persia,

Imriel's ''other'' foil, Mavros is a Shahrizai, and is utterly unapologetic of this fact, and the ramifications and desires that come with it. While Imriel's [[BreakTheCutie past experiences]] initially cause difficulties with their relationship, as he becomes more comfortable with his sexuality, they bond. Mavros eventually fills a roll somewhere between Imriel's at-home Lancer, and a big brother figure, providing advice and support about both politics and relations. He has a rather one-sided infatuation with Sidonie's lady-in-waiting.

%%* BrainsAndBondage: Natch.

%%* ReallyGetsAround

* BiTheWay: Like most D'Angelines, Mavros is seen to be attracted to men as well as women. Being a Shahrizai, he doesn't try to hide it.

* WorldsMostBeautifulWoman: Not explicitly described as such, but she's described as being extremely beautiful, even for someone from [[TheBeautifulElite Terre D'Ange]].

* BeautyIsBad: Melisande is the most beautiful woman in Terre D'Ange; she also has one of the coldest hearts in the series.

* WorldsMostBeautifulWoman: Not explicitly described as such, but her beauty is constantly commented on in a nation full of beautiful people.

* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: Melisande's traitoress status doesn't stop Phedre from being attracted to her. It doesn't help that she's also a very skilled lover.

JustBetweenYouAndMe: Explored with her. For Melisande, it's really all about the scheming, manipulation, and {{Magnificent Bastard}}ry. She does it '''very''' well, and she wants someone to see and appreciate that. Delaunay was a similarly-skilled schemer, if rather more heroic. He and Phèdre are the only people Melisande believes might fully appreciate her plots. To her, the game is more important than the outcome, and playing well is more important than winning. And so for this reason, she sometimes divulges small portions of information regarding to her schemes to Delaunay, and later Phèdre.
-->'''Phèdre''': ''[to Delaunay]'' Every artist craves an audience, my lord, and she has chosen you. Whatever is to occur, it is her desire that you know she is its architect.

* WomanInBlack: Wears black when she attends the Midwinter Masque with Phèdre.

* BeautyIsBad: Melisande is exceptionally beautiful, even among D'Angelines. There have been a lot of poems and songs written about her.

* HotGirlsAreBitches: Melisande is the most beautiful woman in Terre D'Ange; she also has one of the coldest hearts in the series.

%%* AbusiveParents

%%* BenevolentBoss

%%* BreakTheHaughty

%%* EasilyForgiven
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Imriel.

%%* EvenTheGirlsWantHer

%%* HotGirlsAreBitches

%%* LackOfEmpathy

%%* NervesOfSteel

%%* TheUnfettered
%%* VillainHasAPoint
%%* VillainWithGoodPublicity

* FreudianExcuse: Its a minor excuse, but in the second trilogy she appears to have some remorse for her actions and its suggested-that the reason she is the way she is-is because of her father Casimar.

* LackOfEmpathy

* [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bitch]]

!! Persia and Marmion Shahrizai
Brother and sister pair who help to bring Melisande to trial for treason at the end of Dart.

* AnythingThatMoves
* BiTheWay
* BrainsAndBondage: Natch.
* TheCasanova

* TheHedonist
* LovableSexManiac
* ReallyGetsAround

* HiddenHeartOfGold

* SarcasticDevotee

* TookALevelInBadass
* UndyingLoyalty

* BeautyIsBad: Melisande is exceptionally beautiful, even among D'Angelines. There have beden a lot of poems and songs written about her.
* BigBad: Of the first two books of the first trilogy.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Balthasar Shahrizai]]
!! Balthasar Shahrizai

A close friend of Prince Thierry. He declines to join Thierry on his first expedition to Terra Nova, but insists on going with Moirin to find him when he learns that Thierry's alive. Moirin is initially wary of him, though she eventually comes to like and respect him after their experiences in Terra Nova.