Carise Sindian

Senator Carise Sindian, once occasionally fashioned as Lady Carise Sindian, was a human woman who represented the wealthy planet of Arkanis in the Galactic Senate of the New Republic twenty years after its establishment. She belonged to the Centrist faction, whose members favored a stronger galactic government and a more powerful military. During her time as Senator, she offered the position of First Senator as a replacement to Chancellor, but was met with opposition from many different Senators.

Sindian was also of royal bloodline, and became the Governor of the planet Birren after Leia Organa refused the position, following the current Governor, Lord Mellowyn's death. Sindian searched the Great Hall of Birren and discovered a recording stating that Leia Organa, a highly influential senator, was the daughter of Darth Vader himself. Sindian used this to ruin Organa's reputation, by informing a close friend of hers, Ransolm Casterfo, of Organa's parentage. Casterfo had a deep hatred for Vader, so he revealed Organa's parentage to the Senate, forcing Organa to end her candidacy for First Senator. In secret, Sindian was part of the First Order, an organization against the New Republic, and saw Organa backing down as a victory for her organization.

Later, Senator Tai-Lin Garr of Gatalenta was nominated to be First Senator. Sindian, using her connections in the First Order, hired Arliz Hadrassian, the leader of a paramilitary group, the Amaxine warriors. Hadrassian was successful in killing Garr, and then killed herself. Knowing Senators Casterfo and Organa had grown close from an investigation they shared together and finding Casterfo difficult to influence, Sindian decided to frame Casterfo for supporting Hadrassian, ruining his political career and sending him into exile for treason. Upon discovering this, Senator Organa confronted Sindian. Organa worked with the Elder Houses to strip Sindian of her royal titles and governorship of Birren on grounds that Sindian had broken an oath when revealing Organa's true parents.

Lord Mellowyn's death
"But as Lord Mellowyn had no children, the title has now passed on to you."

- Carise Sindian to Leia Organa

Carise Sindian became the Senator for the Centrist world of Arkanis during the time of the New Republic. She was of royal bloodline, earning her the title of Lady. After the dedication of a statue of Bail Organa on Hosnian Prime, Sindian informed fellow Senator and royal Leia Organa that Lord Mellowyn of Birren had died with no heir, and Organa was next in line to take the throne. Organa, hiding her dismay, informed Sindian that her staff would look into the matter.

An emissary from Ryloth
A day after Sindian informed Organa of the governorship of Birren, an emissary from Ryloth held a Senate meeting which Sindian took part in. The emissary, Yendor informed the Senate that his homeworld was under threat from a Nikto cartel, and wished for aid. Yendor stated that his planet had gained information that a Kajain'sa'Nikto, Rinnrivin Di, was the leader of the cartel and was operating from the planet Bastatha. Sindian then asked him and the rest of the Senate if they were to be reduced to investigators. Senator Organa then spoke, volunteering aid to Ryloth and offering to leave Hosnian Prime to travel to Bastatha immediately. Sindian began to bring up concerns for Organa's safety, while Senators Tai-Lin Garr and Arbo argued over if the people of Bastatha would think it as an invasion. Sindian then questioned the Senate if it was wise to send only a Populist Senator to investigate the matter. Ransolm Casterfo, a Centrist Senator from Riosa, then announced that he would accompany Organa to Bastatha.

First Senator proposal
"I hereby propose the abolition of the title chancellor. In its stead, we will elect a 'First Senator'-and that First Senator will be given real authority over economic and military matters. Our troops and politicians will be answerable again. The Senate will have to cooperate."

- Sindian, in a speech to the Senate

Organa and Casterfo returned from Bastatha with valuable information that Rinnrivin Di was in fact leading a massive cartel. They also informed the Senate that Organa had been briefly captured before being rescued by Casterfo, causing Senator Anib Ney of Sullust to claim that Casterfo was a vigilante and had put Organa's life in danger. After saying nothing for a long amount of time, Sindian gave a speech to the Senate and offered the creation of First Senator, a position replacing Chancellor. Immediately following her speech, the Senate went in a frenzy, asking questions if the position of First Senator might become another Emperor, and stating that the Senate would have to redraw the entire constitution. Even so, Ransolm Casterfo endorsed Sindian's idea, and called for a vote on the matter. The vote passed with not enough opposition votes to veto.

Governorship of Birren
"You must succeed Lord Mellowyn, just as your son must someday succeed you."

- Sindian, to Leia Organa on the topic of the governorship of Birren

A full day after Sindian brought up the proposal of a First Senator, she decided to go to Senator Organa's office to discuss the governorship of Birren. Before this, Ransolm Casterfo arrived at her office, wondering if Sindian was going to see Organa. Not saying anything to Casterfo, Sindian thought that Casterfo was a fool to think that he could make friends with a Populist. Sindian traveled to Organa's office, where Organa brought up the fact that she was not of royal bloodline, and she had been adopted by her parents Bail and Breha Organa. Sindian ignored that fact, stating that Organa must take the throne, and her son must one day succeed her. Organa stated that Birren had been settled by both Alderaanians and Arkanisians. Seeing as she had no interest in being Governor, she gave the throne to Sindian, who happily accepted the title.

Crowned as Governor
"The ball doesn't begin for another few hours. We might as well begin."

- Sindian, to the Warden of the Treasures

After a short meeting with Organa concerning the title of First Senator, Sindian traveled to Birren to begin the proceedings of being crowned as ruler of the planet. She informed her pilot that they would be going to Birren's capital city spaceport. She entered the Great Hall of Birren, where she was crowned as ruler of Birren. She ordered for fireworks and music and a grand fête for the evening. She was then confronted by the Warden of the Treasures, a woman who told her that there was no need to do this all in one day. Sindian ignored the woman, and instead entered the treasure room. She found nothing of any interest to her, except for a box that was engraved for Princess Leia Organa. Sindian opened the box, finding a music box containing the song Mirrorbright, which reminded Sindian of when her grandmother would sing the song to her when she felt nostalgic about her homeworld, Alderaan. After the song, a message recorded by Bail Organa told about Organa's parentage. The recording revealed that her mother was Padmé Amidala, and her father was Anakin Skywalker, who had become Darth Vader.

Sindian was surprised by this revelation, and realized that she could topple the Populist's chances at getting a member of their party into the position of First Senator, but remembered that she had taken an oath. The oath, the royal seal, made sure that she had to keep this revelation a secret. Still, she kept the box for safekeeping.

Return to Hosnian Prime
"Do you no longer wish to restore what we lost with the Empire? Have you abandoned the First Order completely?"

- Sindian, to Arliz Hadrassian, on her loyalty to the First Order

Sindian returned to Hosnian Prime just in time for Equinox Day, and quickly placed the wooden chest that contained Bail Organa's recording in her office. Before this, she encountered Ransolm Casterfo who spoke about his encounter with the drink Port in a Storm, as Sindian mused if he was trying to get in good with a Populist candidate for First Senator. They said their goodbyes, as Sindian returned to her office and contacted Arliz Hadrassian, her contact within the First Order. She questioned Hadrassian on tipping off Ransolm Casterfo of their plans, and also asked if she had completely abandoned the First Order. They argued about their plans, Sindian claiming that she had ruined their plans over and over again. Sindian turned off the connection, now torn between the Birrenese royal seal and her loyalties to the First Order.

Informing the Senate of the truth
Sindian sat in Ransolm Casterfo's office when he entered, and informed Casterfo that Leia Organa had been lying to him the entire time. Casterfo was confused at her statement, but then Sindian said that it was time for him to learn the truth that Organa was Darth Vader's daughter. Only moments after the Senator Varish Vicly nominated Organa for the position of First Senator, Casterfo objected to it, telling the entire Senate that Leia Organa was in fact the daughter of Darth Vader. After Senator Vicly claimed the statement was a lie, Casterfo came with proof, playing the recording of Bail Organa's revelation. Leia acknowledged that this was, in fact, true.

Arguing with Organa
"On behalf of my fellow senators, I first wish to say that I appreciate Princess Leia's honesty... however late it was in coming."

- Sindian, to the Senate

Soon after the revelation of Leia Organa's parentage, she gave a speech to the entire Senate where she revoked her nomination as First Senator, explained her parents, and expressed her feelings about being Darth Vader's daughter. Sindian spoke at the end of Organa's speech, saying she appreciated Leia's honesty, but believed it was late in coming. She also mentioned Luke Skywalker, and asked what would happen if he used his rumored strength in the Force for evil purposes. Organa was shocked at Sindian's statement, and angrily asked Sindian why she would question Skywalker, and mentioned that he had destroyed the first Death Star, and was responsible for ridding the galaxy of Emperor Palpatine. Sindian then questioned if that were true or not. Senator Garr interrupted the argument, saying that Sindian had no right to question Skywalker.

Sibensko hearing
After undergoing a mission to Sibensko, Senator Organa requested a Senate hearing on the topic of her mission and investigation of Rinnrivin Di. She was one vote short, and that vote was filled by Senator Casterfo, who allowed her to have the hearing. She spoke about the conclusion of her mission, the destruction of the Sibensko city, and Rinnrivin Di's death. After concluding her speech, Senator Casterfo then took the floor backing up Organa's statements, much to Sindian's surprise. Sindian then decided that she needed to deal with Casterfo, believing that he had betrayed her after she gave him an opportunity of a lifetime.

Tai-Lin Garr's assassination
"To be specific, they've stripped you of your royal titles, forever. The title of supreme governor of Birren will go to the next person in the line of succession, and you are no longer a member of the Elder Houses."

- Senator Organa, to Sindian

Ten days after Organa's speech, Tai-Linn Garr held his first campaign rally for First Senator. Nearing the end of his rally, he was assassinated by Arliz Hadrassian, who then killed herself. Sindian then framed Casterfo for the crime, creating a fake recording of Casterfo and Hadrassian shaking hands. Senator Organa discovered that Sindian had planted the fake recording, and that she had also broken the oath she had given about the royal seal, as she had played the music box containing Bail Organa's recording, which was under the Elder Houses' royal seal. Organa contacted the ruling members of the Elder Houses, who then stripped Sindian of all her titles and the supreme governorship of Birren. Organa left Sindian's office, leaving a very humiliated Carise Sindian, no longer with the title of Lady.

Behind the scenes
Carise Sindian first appeared in the 2016 novel Bloodline, written by Claudia Gray. While writing the novel, Gray mentally pictured Sindian as being portrayed by Jamie Chung.

Appearances

 * Bloodline