Ellen asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

I’m rereading A Civil Campaign for the millionth time and am wondering about the Vorrutyer family. Where do Byerly, Richars and Dono’ s parents fall in birth order to Ges and his ill-fated sister (was she ever named in the series)? Did Ges have any children? Thinking of Richars as Ges’ nephew (or son?) certainly adds some potency to the references to his behavior by By and Dono from their younger years. Thank you!

Lois McMaster Bujold Right, it's not actually that hard. 5 kids altogether of the Count VR in that generation.

First son and heir was Pierre's and Donna's father. Second son was Ges, who had no legitimate or known offspring. Third child was Aral's ill-fated first wife, who also died without offspring. Fourth-child-third-son was Richars's father, Fifth-child-fourth-and-youngest son was By's father.

By has one sister, Richars has at least two sons and possibly one or more daughters; any sisters for Richars unknown but not impossible. Dono and Olivia will have several children, and By's potential reproduction is unknown. Any miscarriages or children dying very young are not known/invented, though the former is probable and the latter possible especially in the earlier generations, adding gaps to spacing between siblings.

(The name is pronounced vor-RUT-yr, by the way. And the planet is barra-YAR.)

Ta, L.

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