The High Priestess of the Empire's Shallyan cult, Anja Gustavson, has presided over the cult in the Empire for fifty years. Now a woman so old and frail that a strong wind might render her to dust, it is widely assumed that a new High Priestess will be named soon. The Empire's High Priestess not only sits on the central Shallyan council in Couronne but also is usually called to personally tend to the health of the Emperor.[1a]
Because Anja Gustovson is so old, she has not been able to perform this duty for years and several secular physicians tend to the Emperor instead. When she dies and is replaced, this is likely to change. Rumour has it that the physicians, jealous of the wealth their positions bring, have been attending to Anja Gustavson, doing everything they can to keep her alive.[1a][1b]