Tough Traveling: High Priest

“Tough Traveling” is a weekly Thursday feature created by Nathan at Review Barn where participants make a new list each week based on The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones. This hilarious little book cheerfully pokes fun at the most prevalent tropes in fantasy. All are welcome to take part, and there is a link up over at his site. Join in any time!

This week’s trope is HIGH PRIEST:

HIGH PRIEST is nearly always evil, either on his own account or on behalf of the dark lord.

Why is it that High Priests are so often evil? Must be that whole power thing. I managed to sneak some good guys in there though!

High Priestess Viviane – The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley Gender swap! The High Priestess Viviane is also known as the Lady of the Lake, which is the title given to the high priestess, an exclusively female position. She’s clever and cunning, and manipulates her daughter into seducing Arthur…which you know ends poorly if you’re familiar with Arthurian legend. There’s a lot of controversy surrounding MZB with the accusations of sexual abuse that have emerged over the last year, especially disturbing given the sexual violence in her novels. Here’s some sources of information on that if you’re interested (TW for sexual abuse).

Lord Prelan Tevidian – Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson Tevidian is the High Priest of the Canton of Orthodoxy, which is the corrupt religious institution of the Lord Ruler. He’s also one of the Lord Ruler’s lackeys, so he’s definitely not a priest for the good guys.

Mithran Priests – Alanna the Lioness (and all Tortall Universe series) by Tamora Pierce Gods and goddesses are an essential component of Tortallan culture, and no god is more powerful or revered than Mithros. Students of Mithros either become regular ol’ priests or priest-mages who fight in service of the sun god and for the kingdom. The Mithran Priests are an exclusively male clergy.

High Septon – A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin The High Septon is basically the Westerosi equivalent of the Pope, the ultimate spiritual leader in the kingdom. Typicall the Septons in ASOIAF have been baddies and are subject to rather untimely deaths (just like every other character in the series).