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House Livy of Cardia is an old and powerful family that has stayed near the top of the heap for centuries, a position maintained by a great amount of wealth thanks to their lucrative vineyards and a web of connections to House Tullus through generations of marriages and alliances. Yet, they have never been particularly influential in the political arena, lacking ambition for anything other than making money and maintaining their position in Cardian society. At least until Petraea Livy began to distinguish herself as one of the rising stars in Cardian politics as a staunch and rather ambitious member of the Scales faction. Her rise started with winning the position of Tribune with the backing of House Tullus, a militaristic position that few Scales have held in recent memory. From there, she has steadily gained power and influence, enough that she was sent to the wilds of Arvum to deal with the diplomatic mess that Marcus Sulla made. At least, that is what the official line is. More politically savvy minds think she is attempting to take Sulla's spot as Praetor, something that her fellow Scales seem to be watching carefully though the fact that such a move could anger far more than just the Senate means she is supported quietly and cautiously. In Cardia, Petraea Livy's drive and ambition is admired but also feared, even amongst her supporters.

Lady Petraea is a tall, statuesque woman with bronzed skin, dark hair, and hazel eyes that often glitter as if amused at some private joke. Often covered from head to toe in fine silks crafted in the Cardian style of fashion, her expensive clothing and extravagant jewelry tell the tale of a woman who is used to getting what she wants, one way or another. She carries herself with exquisite grace and elegance, every movement calculated to express precisely what she wishes to express and nothing more.

Based on tone of voice alone, Petraea often sounds like she is barely holding back a laugh even when dealing with the most difficult and politically fraught situations. Paired with that humor is a sense of innate confidence that borders on arrogance yet falls just enough shy that she still seems polite and amiable in most cases. Still, despite her persistent air of good humor, something cold and calculating lurks in those eyes, as if she’s always looking for just the right opportunity to exploit.