Kareen Vorbarra was the mother of Gregor Vorbarra, the future Emperor of the planet Barrayar and the interstellar Barrayaran Imperium, as well as the wife of Crown Prince Serg Vorbarra and daughter-in-law of the ruling Emperor Ezar Vorbarra. Her usual role in Barrayaran politics centered on public relations; she did these with "great flair". She was killed during Vordarian's Pretendership by one of Vidal Vordarian's armsmen after she tried to shoot Vidal with a nerve disruptor.