High Priestess of Darkness (Black Coral)

The High Priestess of Darkness, a Tiste Andii, was the High Priestess of the Temple of Darkness in the New Andiian Palace of Black Coral. She had midnight-black hair cut short to the point of boyishness, a smooth, round, attractive face with an open expression, long fingers, and a sleek figure of soft curves.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 4, US TPB p.112-113Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US TPB p.248Toll the Hounds, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.649 She wore the priestly robes that denoted her station.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 4, US SFBC p.137
The High Priestess was responsible for the administration, religious life, and the duties and welfare of the Priestesses, Priests, and Acolytes of the Temple, as well as being available to anyone--Tiste Andii or not--who sought her advice or moral support.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 6, US TPB p.175/179Toll the Hounds, Chapter 16, US TPB p.530-533Toll the Hounds, Chapter 18, US TPB p.603-605Toll the Hounds, Chapter 24, US TPB p.782/803/806/811Toll the Hounds, Epilogue, US TPB p.826-827 The most important duty of the Priestesses, and of especially the High Priestess herself, was participation in the 'Rituals of Opening' which involved their having sexual intercourse with the Priests of Darkness, or other male Tiste Andii, in order to achieve sexual climax. It was during that moment of ecstasy that the religious women of the Temple were able to have direct access to Kurald Galain, the Tiste Andii Warren of Darkness.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 4, US TPB p.112-113Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US TPB p.248 
This ritual was responsible for the High Priestess and her Priestesses having had their personal names "scoured away" over the millennia, so as to make of their "ever-open legs" an impersonal act, and to make of their bodies holy vessels and nothing more.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US TPB p.248 These 'Rituals of Opening' were necessary because Mother Dark had "turned her back" on the Tiste Andii back in the time of ancient Kharkanas, thus limiting the Andii to the accessing of Kurald Galain and not to being able to access Mother Dark, herself.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 4, US TPB p.108/109/111 
The High Priestess frequently took Spinnock Durav as her lover during these rituals, finding him a more enjoyable partner than the lifeless and perfunctory Andii priests, who were overcome by ennui.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 4, US SFBC p.137
==In Toll the Hounds==
The High Priestess was aware of the ever worsening state of Tiste Andii affairs and she knew they were beset in several places inside and outside of Black Coral.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 20, US TPB p.665-667 Since Anomander Rake (the Lord of the Tiste Andii) and Spinnock Durav (their greatest warrior) were absent dealing with other crises, the High Priestess and High Mage Endest Silann were the only ones left able to deal with the imminent arrival of the Dying God. The greatest threat to the Tiste Andii of Black Coral, the Dying God sought to claim the Tiste Andii and corrupt Kurald Galain so that it would feed his mad hunger for power.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.976
While Rake and Spinnock were in Darujhistan, the Dying God came to Black Coral possessing Clip's body. Light shone down on the city tearing away its protective cloak of darkness and Kelyk fell as rain.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.951/973 The best the High Priestess could do was lend Endest Silann the moral support of her physical presence when the Dying God arrived at the Temple of Shadow. But she feared Rake had fatally misjudged their strength. Endest, incorrectly convinced of his uselessness magically for some time,Toll the Hounds, Chapter 18, US TPB p.605 knew that he would have to dig deep to find the necessary power and the personal conviction that he needed to hold off the threat of the Dying God for "just long enough". Surprising both the High Priestess and especially himself, Endest Silann did exactly that. The old mage held the Dying God at bay long enough for Rake to restore the Gate of Darkness to Black Coral and bring Mother Dark back to her people. A proud Endest died with the High Priestess at his side.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 24, US TPB p.806/809/811
Later when Nimander Golit took his father's place as Lord of the Tiste Andii, Skintick observed that the smiling High Priestess watched him "like a mother, both proud and indulgent". She approved of Nimander's decision to command Spinnock to seek his own happiness with Salind and met with the new lord to tell him all the things he needed to know.Toll the Hounds, Epilogue, US SFBC p.1003-1005
==Notes and references==
Category:Females
Category:Priests and acolytes
Category:Tiste Andii