Monday, February 9, 2009

Let's Discuss: The High Priestess Saro

UPDATE 2024: The books are now numbered in chronological order with Five the Power Rising as #1 and will end with the final book, Ties that Bind. 

Sacrifice of Souls is no longer Book Four, but #9.


Saro: High Priestess serving in the Temple of the Unknown God

Part of what entrances the bloodthirsty Sogoians is that Saro is different - including her clothing - which is shockingly modest compared to Dana Cline's, the woman that serves as the High Priestess serving at the Temple of Veesh.

High Priestess Saro is a powerful manipulative woman with her own agenda. It is well known in Sogo that she has Commander Tasut's protection and is therefore safe from the usual danger that slinks through the streets. No one in Sogo wants to annoy Tasut. Those that do, die.

She has a handful of women that serve her as handmaidens in the rebuilt Temple of the Unknown God. They live with her in the large and beautifully appointed villa that is close enough to the Temple she can walk to work every day.  Inside the villa, she hatches her plans; carefully spinning her web of deceit, casting diverse bread crumbs of disinformation among the depraved population, and all of it - including Tasut - are a means to an end.

People who have read the book(s) generally lump Saro into the same emotion-free category as Tasut. After all, she stands like an ice sculpture while innocents are sacrificed to the fires of the Unknown God. 

Saro is one of the most complicated (and fun) characters I've written for the series.  One of the reasons she was fun to write is the fact she isn't for the bad guys but, she isn't necessarily for the good guys either. 

Know this: Saro has her own agenda. There is little she will not do to achieve her goal and no one, not even Tasut, better stand in her way! 

2 comments:

Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen said...

Michelle,
It's interesting to me that you're introducing us to your book and characters, because I've been toying with the idea of doing that on my website. Also, this is the first time I really realized how much of a fantasy your books is. Is this the one that won 2nd place at the Storymakers conference?

T. Erickson said...

Yes, Sis. H. It is! :D