Desra

Desra was a Tiste Andii who formerly lived on the moving island of Drift Avalii before the Tiste Edur invaded in an attempt to claim the Throne of Shadow. She was the daughter or grand-daughter of Anomander Rake. She and her relations (Nimander, Phaed, Skintick, Aranatha, Nenanda, and Kedeviss) were kept safe on the island by their uncle Andarist until the events in House of Chains.
Desra was described as an attractive, ambitious, and ruthless womanToll the Hounds, Chapter 2 She was known for seducing and manipulating men, giving back to them a version of themselves which they lusted for.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 4 Nimander said "she would spread her legs for any man if it could boost her up one more rung on the ladder towards whatever great glory she imagines she deserves."Reaper's Gale, Chapter 16, US HC p.471 Kedeviss noted Desra's judgment was never wrong when it came to self-preservation--her survival was a result of her sharp and profound clarity. Loyalty, however, was not one of her virtues.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 6 She saw power as the way to grant yourself freedom to do as you liked.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 4, US SFBC p.122
She saw the world as divided between the strong and the weak--and the weak disgusted her. Among the strong were bullies--a role she sometimes played herself--and more rarely the quietly strong who did not realise their own potency. She thought Nimander to be among the latter and knew he would never betray her.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.322-323 
Desra and Nenanda had once been lovers.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 4, US SFBC p.122
==In Reaper's Gale==
After joining Adjunct Tavore Paran and the Bonehunters at Malaz City, Desra and the other Tiste Andii remained aboard the Adjunct's flagship, the Froth Wolf, for over a year as it crossed the oceans to Lether. At the start of the Malazan invasion of the Letherii Empire, the Andii were at the Adjunct's headquarters at Second Maiden Fort. The older Sandalath Drukorlat became a surrogate mother to the group, something which the mentally unstable Phaed deeply resented.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 13, US HC p.370-372
Phaed attempted to murder Sandalath in her sleep, but was stopped in the act by Nimander. Sandalath sought mercy for Phaed's act, but when she went to summon help, Withal threw Phaed out a window to her death. He refused to believe his wife would ever be safe while Phaed lived. When Sandalath returned with Lostara Yil and Banaschar, she was followed close behind by an upset Desra and the other Andii. Withal claimed Phaed had committed suicide and Nimander agreed.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 20, US HC p.601-608
The Bonehunters left the island to support the invasion, leaving the Andii behind to build Phaed's tomb.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 20, US HC p.601-608 Clip, the Mortal Sword of the Black-Winged Lord and chosen of Mother Dark, later came to the island to bring Desra and the others to Rake. When Nimander said Rake did not want them, Clip claimed it only mattered what Mother Dark wanted. Nimander wondered whether their exile was finally over.Reaper's Gale, Epilogue, US HC p.824-825
==In Toll the Hounds==
Clip attempted to bring Desra's group of Tiste Andii to Rake at Black Coral via Kurald Galain, but "layers of resistance" forced them to emerge further south on Genabackis. The Mortal Sword thought little of his charges, finding them largely weak and soft. But he saw Desra's beauty, ambition, and ruthlessness as a potentially useful tool.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 2, US SFBC p.72-73 Meanwhile, Skintick and the others noted that she seemed to have her sights set on Clip,Toll the Hounds, Chapter 2, US SFBC p.71 often standing at his side like a wife or clinging to his arm.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 4, US SFBC p.127Toll the Hounds, Chapter 6, US SFBC p.202/204
	
Arriving in Morsko, Clip was intrigued by the town's flourishing cult of the Dying God. He sent Desra and the others to safety while he witnessed the cult's rituals in the local tavern. Nimander and Skintick were nearly overcome by the ritual's call, but were saved by Aranatha's overpowering will. Hearing screams from the tavern, the group found Clip lying catatonic amidst a crowd of worshippers he had slain. Aranatha claimed Clip's insensate state was because the cult had taken something from him--perhaps his soul. Nimander had Clip's body placed in a wagon and organised the others to follow the fleeing priests to the presence of their god in Bastion.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 6, US SFBC p.202-211 It soon became clear their presence at Bastion was welcomed and expected as the cult left supplies for them along the way.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 6, US SFBC p.225-226 
Near Heath they encountered Kallor walking to Darujhistan. Nimander recognised the High King's menace and talked him out of killing them all. Happy for an easy ride to Bastion, Kallor joined Desra and Skintick in the wagon where he momentarily balked at seeing Clip's stricken body. Desra scolded him to mind his own business before offering him a drink of kelyk. Kallor rebuffed the poison.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 6, US SFBC p.226-229
When Kallor, Nimander, and Skintick entered a ruined tower they discovered near the side of the road, Desra remained outside with the others. The High King returned alone in an agitated state and Desra demanded to know what happened to her kin. Kallor revealed that the Jaghut inhabiting the tower had decided to use them to their misfortune. Desra raced into the tower where she found Gothos standing over a weeping Skintick and Nimander nowhere in sight. The Jaghut admitted that Nimander had passed through a gate of Omtose Phellack into another realm and there was no way to bring him back. So Desra reached into the gate and pulled him to safety.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.316-335
They found Bastion seemingly abandoned, its streets empty and its walls and buildings marred by sigils and glyphs. Only the distant sound of singing and the feeling of watching eyes gave indication that anyone remained. Aranatha warned that the entire city was now sanctified as the Abject Temple of the Dying God, so they found a closed up inn to rest. Nimander, Skintick, and Kallor left to search out the Dying God's temple while Desra remained behind with the others to prepare their armour and weapons and guard Clip. Finding a mob of naked and armed worshippers surrounding the temple, Nimander and Skintick retreated as Kallor ventured through the crowd to the temple and did not return. Back at the inn, the Tiste Andii made plans to return to the temple with Clip once the element of darkness was in their favour.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 10, US SFBC p.407-417 
At nightfall the group approached the temple and Desra was flushed with excitement. They were soon hemmed in by more than a thousand armed fanatics, but the Andii were not hampered by the same darkness that nearly blinded their opponents. Desra, Nimander, and Skintick slew the score of priests in the temple's front chamber, while Kedeviss and Nenanda formed a rearguard against the mob. Aranatha calmly led the way to the altar as Nimander dragged Clip. Nimander confronted the Dying God and Aranatha startled them both by revealing the God was Bellurdan before seizing the puppet that served as the God's body. Once it was under her control, Clip awoke. Desra killed the High Priest protecting the sewn together corpse that was the God's intended body. Kedeviss reported their enemies outside had all been killed or fled.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.479-484/490-496
The revived Clip led the group into the Godswalk Mountains bringing them ever closer to Black Coral. But not all the Tiste Andii believed the Dying God had been bested. Kedeviss confronted Clip alone, and after he revealed the Dying God resided within him, he killed her and made it appear she had fallen to her death. Desra and the others were not fooled by the Dying God's ruse, but Nimander warned the god was too powerful and they would have to play the fools until they brought him to Rake to deal with.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 18, US SFBC p.756-759Toll the Hounds, Chapter 20, US SFBC p.800-805
Just before reaching Black Coral, Clip opened a Gate into Kurald Galain that he said would take them the rest of the way. Nenanda pushed ahead of Nimander and was cut down by Clip's dagger in Nimander's stead, while the others were left trapped in darkness.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.888-889 Mother Dark rescued Nimander through Aranatha and brought them both to Black Coral to help defeat Clip and the Dying God.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.978/985 Afterwards, Nimander took his father's place on the throne of the Tiste Andii and it was revealed that Nenanda had survived his wound.Toll the Hounds, Epilogue, US SFBC p.1004
==In The Crippled God==
(Information needed)
==History==
Desra and scores of other progeny of Anomander Rake spent their childhoods in a snowswept keep in a remote mountain range. Rake lived among them in godlike indifference, but their daily needs were tended to by Endest Silann, a priest and ancient companion of Rake. The priest looked upon the children with dismay, knowing what kind of future awaited them. Consequently, he withheld his warmth and treated them like an ogre, although he never did them harm. The children endlessly tormented the old man, mocking and tripping him.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.311-312
Eventually, Rake's brother Andarist arrived and the two argued bitterly for days. When it was over, Rake told the children Andarist was taking them away to an island. Freed from his duty, Endest wept as the children passed through a warren to Drift Avalii. Andarist proved a stern teacher, ending any insolence with a cuff to the head. The children eagerly took up arms and Andarist made them soldiers.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.312-313
Although each of the children bore the blood of the Eleint, a bitter Andarist commanded they suppress it, trying to make them more his own children than Rake's.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.890
==Notes and references==
Category:Females
Category:Soletaken
Category:Tiste Andii
es:Desra