Nersei Proyas is the Crown Prince of Conriya.
Appearance[]
As a Conriyan, Proyas has a dark complexion. He is not tall, but has a noble, impressive bearing nonetheless. Female characters call him "the handsome prince".
Personality[]
Proyas is a man desperate for faith, zealous in his Inrithi beliefs. This puts a strain on the relationship between him and his old mentor and father-figure, Achamian.
Story[]
What Came Before[]
Proyas was a student of Drusas Achamian in his youth. The two shared a close bond, and Achamian loved him, but Proyas turned away from Achamian after becoming a devout follower of Inrithism. Xinemus was his swordsmanship tutor.
The Darkness That Comes Before[]
Proyas is a devoted follower of Maithanet, and he is present beside Maithanet as the Shriah announces the target of the Holy War.
He recognizes Achamian when the Mandate sorcerer is crowd-surfed to Maithanet's side. He is outraged by the blasphemy in spite of his former devotion to Achamian. Afterwards, Maithanet brings him to witness the Tusk for the first time.
Proyas joins the Holy War as one of its Great Names. leading his contingent of Conriyans. Upon first meeting Ikurei Conphas, the two men develop an instant rivalry and hatred for each other.
The Warrior-Prophet[]
Proyas marches with the Holy War leading his Conriyans. When Kellhus convinces Coithus Saubon to separate from the rest of the Holy War and take his Galeoth host to attack Gedea , Proyas angrily confronts Kellhus at Xinemus's fire. Onlookers are shocked by Proyas's disrespectful treatment of Kellhus. Before leaving in a huff, Proyas accuses Kellhus of dooming the Holy War.
The Thousandfold Thought[]
The Judging Eye[]
Proyas is King of Conriya and one of the Exalt-Generals of the Great Ordeal.
The Great Ordeal[]
He is deeply hurt and puzzled when Kellhus confesses he is not a true prophet but is just a mad man. While he is experiencing emotional turmoil from this revelation, Kellhus drugs both their wine with chanv and has brutal sex with Proyas.
Later he seeks out Coithus Saubon and in tears confesses the forced sodomy and shares Kellhus's confession. Proyas realizes his buggering may be a test as much for Saubon as for himself. Saubon convinces him that Kellhus is testing them but states they must continue to act even in they lose faith as Kellhus will lead them to victory at Golgotterath. [1]
At Dagliash, his heart is battered by the proportion of the slaughter of Sranc. He wonders why he doesn't share in the joy of the others.[2]
After the explosion of the mountain, Kellhus comes to Proyas and takes him to a mountain top and explains the great and tragic victory that has polluted the land. Kellhus explains that Saubon is dead and as lone Exalt General Proyas must rally the remaining Ordeal host and go North. He charged him with keeping everyone away from the polluted land and he must cull the sick suffering from seeming radiation poisoning. Kellhus prepares him that he is the only one who can lead and make decisions that no Believer can saying "Something must eaten."[3]
The Unholy Consult[]
Proyas tries to rein in the savagery of the Ordealmen caused by the Sranc meat, but to no avail. As hunger and madness consumes them on the Field Appalling, Proyas succumbs to the madness and leads them to assault the Scalded, survivors of the horrors of Dagliash. Unimaginable carnage ensues, where the Ordealmen give into their basest instincts and succumb to cannibalism and necrophilia, consuming the Scalded.
When Kellhus returns, he finds Proyas in nominal control of the Ordeal, but senses something is wrong. He questions Proyas and finds out their horrific actions, condemning Proyas to death, seemingly for collaborating with the Consult. This, however, seems to have always been the Aspect-Emperor's plan. By making Proyas bear the shame for all the sins committed by the Men of the Ordeal, they would be men reborn, revitalized for the final battle against Golgotterath after their lowest point.
Proyas is left to hang, dying slowly as the Ordeal departs. Achamian later finds him and takes him down and they have their final conversation. He is later found by Moënghus, who finally ends his suffering.
Notes[]
Notes and References[]
- ↑ The Great Ordeal, Chapter 4
- ↑ The Great Ordeal, Chapter 13
- ↑ The Great Ordeal, Chapter 15