Gradithan was a former Urdo in the army of the Pannion Domin who became a member of the Liberators, an insurgent group who sought to remove the Tiste Andii occupiers of Black Coral.[1] He and his band of a dozen former soldiers and pet priest, Monkrat, saw weakness and opportunity in the Pilgrim camp surrounding the Barrow of the Redeemer.[2][3] Only the Redeemer's High Priestess, Salind, and the former Pannion warrior-priest who called himself Seerdomin stood in his way.
He refused to allow anyone to address him by his old military title, insisting "that rank ain't for nobody no more."[2]
In Toll the Hounds[]
The pilgrim camp was free from rape, robbery, and murder due to Seerdomin's daily vigil. But once Seerdomin learned that he was revered by the pilgrims as "the Benighted" of the Redeemer, he refused to return to the camp.[4] This provided an opening for Gradithan and his thugs to terrorise the pilgrims.[5] Gradithan especially hated Seerdomin for continuing to use his own formal title as if it were his name.[2] The list of his mob's sadistic depravities grew so long that pilgrims began to leave the camp.[6]
When Salind became direly ill, Spinnock Durav brought her to the Temple of Darkness in Black Coral for care. Monkrat observed that the High Priestess was the Redeemer's eyes and ears, and her departure left them free reign in the camp. But Gradithan argued the camp was already theirs to do with as they pleased. He sent a messenger to notify the Liberators in the city.[7]
The use of Saemankelyk, an addictive and corrupting drink linked to the cult of the Dying God, spread through the camp[8] and Gradithan became a heavy imbiber--his lips and mouth became stained brown.[9] Still weakened by fever, Salind secretly slipped away from the Tiste Andii temple and returned to camp, where she was ambushed by Gradithan and Monkrat. Gradithan forced her to drink an entire bottle of Saemankelyk to "see how well she dances".[10] An unsuspecting Seerdomin fared no better when he came to camp looking for the missing High Priestess. Gradithan brutally clubbed him in the face and ordered his body brought to the Sacred Tent where Salind still danced, setting her in a spiritual battle against the Redeemer in his barrow. Seerdomin's spirit would ultimately serve as the new god's defender.[11]
By this time, Gradithan longer cared about Black Coral and its Tiste Andii overlords, and instead talked incessantly of the coming of the Dying God, the death of all things, and the glorious rebirth to follow. He raped the High Priestess in a twisted act of consummation to sacrifice her virginity. Even Monkrat was appalled and prepared to abandon him.[12][13][14] Monkrat's old Bridgeburner comrade, Spindle, was able to convince the priest to help him spirit away Gradithan's other virgin sacrifices from the camp.[15]
At the height of the Dying God's assault on Black Coral, Silanah leapt from the tower atop the New Palace and a gleeful Spindle cheered, "Run, Gradithan. Run all you like! That fiery bitch is hunting you!"[16] Gradithan's fate was not revealed.
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.465
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.310
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.471
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 4, US SFBC p.130
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 6, US SFBC p.214-218
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.306
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.306-311
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.648
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.471
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.470-472
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.484-489
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.486
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.891
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 18, US SFBC p.736
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.895
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.984