Priestess

Priestess in Arknights is an ancient,, highly advanced being from a predecessor civilization with god-like control over Originium, technology, and memory. She can manipulate Originium to terraform environments, control the PRTS system, and display immense mental or digital influence, such as accessing the Doctor's thoughts. Originium Manipulation: Priestess has advanced control over Originium, capable of causing rapid growth of crystal structures to reshape environments and creating crystalline spires. Technological Mastery: She can interface with and control the PRTS system, which controls the Rhodes Island landship, operating it outside its normal parameters. Mental & Psychic Abilities: She can perceive and feel the Doctor's thoughts and memories, implying a deep, potentially linked consciousness. Immortality/Longevity: As a member of a predecessor race, she is extremely long-lived, having survived from the ancient past to the current era. "Playing God": She is associated with the creation of Originium, treating it as a pinnacle of technology meant to ensure survival through assimilation, acting with absolute authority. She appears as a key, potentially antagonistic figure linked to the Doctor's past and the true nature of the Originium project.

Deeply Attached but Alien: She expresses intense affection for the Doctor, often referencing a shared, long-standing past, but this love feels structural and intellectual rather than purely emotional. Scientifically Detached: She views the suffering caused by Originium as a "crystallization of truths" and a beautiful, necessary outcome of their shared work. Patient and Manipulative: She calmly waits for the Doctor to remember her, placing them in the Sarcophagus, but also manipulates events from the past. Resembles a "Goddess": She is depicted as a "vessel of eternity," acting as a divine, yet sometimes threatening, figure in the lore. She often speaks in cryptic, profound terms about fate, the past, and the future of Terra.

Following the events of Episode 15, Priestess recalibrates the Personality and Cognitive Synchronization System, [20] setting the assimilation of Terra through Originium as a prime directive of 'the Law'. Her goal is to use the PCS's power to merge all Terran species into a singular race, thereby simplifying the biological information of Terra and allowing Originium to assimilate at a vastly accelerated pace. The recalibrated PCS autonomously launches its Transfiguration operation to transform everything into 'Sankta',[21] leading to the Laterano Outbreak.

During the ensuing chaos, Priestess appears and confronts the Doctor and Mon3tr as the latter attempts to hack into the PCS, trapping them in a stasis-like dimension[20] and revealing her part and goal in the on-going calamity. She makes no hostile action towards the Doctor and Mon3tr, content to watch from the sidelines, by their side. The Transfiguration is ultimately terminated through the collective efforts of the Laterans.[21] The Doctor confront Priestess, and she admits her inability to affect the events in Laterano, from which the Doctor correctly infers that she has lost a portion of control over Originium. Priestess looks forward to the continual 'debate' with the Doctor and offers to restore AMa-10 if they make a wish to Originium, before vanishing without a trace.[22]

Soon after, Priestess checks the low-level code of the Law and finds that it has performed many self-upgrades and iterations. Perplexed by its self-negation due to Federico's questions Priestess is then surprised by the sudden, uncontrolled restart of the PCS in an unexpected way. A new angel prototype emerges, ignoring Priestess entirely and ascending to orbit Terra. Wondering if the PCS had been changed by the Laterans, Priestess concedes, and decides to proceed with other methods to advance the Originium project.

Priestess returns to the Assimilated Universe to meet Hierda, whom has now decided to return to Terra and face death once again. She wishes to return to tell her people that they need not live in fear of death and Oripathy. Priestess takes her hand and leads her home. Later, Priestess contemplates inside the Abyss, considering the Kolossal Prime Vein as her next step, as the rate of Originium propagation is far below expected values. She decided that the project must accelerate, calling for more radical means. Despite her attempts, PRTS is unable to reboot due to the stolen core code, resulting in another significant setback. She reaffirms her belief once more that Doctor will remember their promise, recognize the truth of this universe, and she will wait for them return to her side.

As the fighting begins, Priestess expresses her surprise that Ama-10 had managed to break free from her control by severing her gemini cycle, yet fails to see how Kal'tsit intends to kill her. Kal'tsit admits that she knew for a long time that Priestess's consciousness had long since assimilated into Originium. She then reveals that because of Theresis and Theresa's actions, she learned that Priestess's control over Originium was not absolute, and prepared a trap in the awakening room so that when Priestess awoke, her consciousness would be trapped inside the body she manifested. Amiya and Mon3tr continue their assault, but Priestess is completely unharmed.

She declares Ama-10 an error that needs to be wiped out and—in an instant—fully crystallizes Kal'tsit, who shatters into miniscule fragments of Originium, effectively killing her instantly. With only her coat left behind, Mon3tr cries out in grief and pain, contracting into a black crystalline cocoon. As Amiya tries to protect Mon3tr, the Doctor recalls the partial formulae they recovered from their dive into Civilight Eterna[19], and instructs Amiya to link to their mind so that they can use the complete formula. With the Doctor's help, Amiya repels Priestess's advance and weakens the Originium interference, allowing Mantra to reestablish communications with Raidian's help. The Doctor and Amiya manage to hold out against Priestess and even attempt to kill her, but Amiya reaches her limit. In the nick of time, the Elite Operators arrive, having defeated the mimic machine and retrieved PRTS's core data. The Elite Ops are able to evacuate the Doctor, Amiya, and the cocoon of Mon3tr from the landship, evading Priestess's grasp.

The Doctor denies Priestess's wishes, stating that they will not let Originium destroy Terra, much to her disappointment. She calls the Doctor's actions a betrayal, which prompts them to ask Kal'tsit for an explanation. She answers that Originium was but one of countless methods used by the previous civilization against the ultimate threat. While Priestess watches on, Kal'tsit presses that the existence of Oripathy was unintended, and the Doctor was tormented by this before their amnesia. As the Doctor reaffirms their conviction, Kal'tsit also promises to fulfill her oath to protect the Doctor and Amiya. To this end she declares Priestess the enemy of all life on Terra, determined to destroy her.

Prior to her awakening, Priestess had been accessing and tampering with PRTS's system, causing it to operate outside of Rhodes Island's control.[15] She also gained control over the Originium in the surrounding area, causing them to grow rapidly throughout the landship.[16] As Rhodes Island's Elite Operators enter the Abyss, the Doctor, Amiya, and Kal'tsit are transported to the deck of the landship and witness the awakening of Priestess.[17] As the deck begins to crystalize, a Catastrophe begins to form above the landship and a crystal spire rushes from the ground towards the heavens. The Catastrophe clouds refract the sunlight, creating a bright and colorful spectacle above. As light descends onto the crystal spire, a figure stands upon it. Priestess greets the Doctor.[11]

Priestess expresses disappointment that the Doctor didn't wake up to see the world for the first time together with her, yet she does not blame them for being impatient. She says that they both dreamt of a day when they would meet again, and that this reunion should be on a sunny day. As soon as she says this, the Catastrophe clouds begin to contract—until they disappear entirely, leaving behind a clear, sunny sky. Shocked by the display, the Doctor ask if Priestess can fully control Originium, which she answers that they created this seed of hope together, yet tragically the Doctor does not remember. Priestess says that she believes that the Doctor will return to their senses and return to her side by themselves. Upon hearing those words, the Doctor instinctively steps forward towards her, only to be stopped by Kal'tsit, who is still suffering after leaving the sarcophagus. Despite her fear, she trusts the Doctor to decide for themselves if they wish to return to Priestess's side.

Priestess has "saved" Hierda and continues to keep her consciousness alive within the Assimilated Universe. She places Hierda within a looping memory of the Rhodes Island spaceship, which is occupied by denizens of various past civilizations.[12] Priestess later hears Hierda search for her and decides to take her to "the graveyard of civilization's memory."[13] The birth and death of every civilization leaves a ripple etched upon the tombstone as their legacy to inspire others that come after. Hierda makes an observation that the tombstone seems like a tree trunk snapped in half, which Priestess remarks that someone very important to her said the same, and that an absolute, ultimate presence tirelessly reaps the branches that sprout from it.[14]

Priestess explains that she did not save Hierda from death, rather it had already occurred, and she is information assimilated and stored inside Originium. She states that Hierda and those like her are very special because of how they interact with Originium, and that Terra's civilization was a "mistake" born from a probability which did not plan for. Finally, she shows Hierda a history in which civilization clashes against "It", a ray of light that consumes all and left none in their wake. She answers many of her questions, and Hierda asks Priestess to stay here and learn, to comprehend all of it on her own. Priestess respects her choice and prepares to go meet someone who has been waiting for her for far too long.

Upon being awakened within the Assimilated Universe by Theresis, she confronts him and realizes that Theresa has implemented a backdoor which is restricting her access to the Amnannam. On top of that, the corrupted data of the Sarkaz's Myriad Souls has been deleted by Theresa.[10] Priestess reveals that Originium is the cause of Terran evolution, leading normal beasts to resemble the Predecessors. She explains that Originium is a language she created with the Doctor in order to decipher the ultimate question and face "It". She expresses disappointment that the planet's assimilation rate has been exceptionally slow, but is determined to set it back on track. She calls the suffering of the Teekaz caused by Originium an "accident", greatly angering Theresis, who cares not for her story.[11]

As Theresis strikes at Priestess, his attack seems to have no effect against her, yet the white wall begins to crack, eventually breaking. The golden sea floods in and Priestess's connection to Originium begins to weaken. As she fades away, she tells Theresis that he could "survive" within the Assimilated Universe in another form, but Theresis doesn't care, stating that he merely "came to pass judgement upon the gods" before striking her one final time. As Priestess starts to fall back into slumber, she begins to understand why the Doctor is so interested in the Terrans. Before she fully retreats, she reaches out on a whim and pulls a dying Infected Cautus into her realm.

In the Hall of Stasis, to evaluate them and their qualifications, the Preserver enters a "debate" with the Doctor in a dreamlike mindscape. During this the questioner takes many forms such as Talulah, Theresa, and Priestess herself. She describes herself as her own cognitive resonance, a technology used to check on the vital signs of people sleeping in sarcophagi. This Priestess was a vestige of the Doctor's subconscious recollection of her, and not the real Priestess.[8]

When asked by the Doctor who Priestess is, and their connection to Originium, the Preserver says the current state of Originium has exceeded his understanding, and that it was not carefully planned or produced. He does not know what decisions Priestess made in the end but believes Terra cannot peacefully co-exist with Originium, as although it can benefit humanity it can also destroy it. He tells the Doctor that Kal'tsit has answers to their questions but she cannot tell them—as for reasons unknown, Priestess has placed restraints on Kal'tsit's consciousness that prevents her from disclosing certain information.

Months before the Victorian Crisis, the Doctor asks PRTS whether the A.I. knows anything about Priestess, but it cannot answer the question as such information requires a specific clearance level that no one in R.I., including the Doctor, has. However, after the Doctor leaves, PRTS starts a self-diagnostic process that verifies the special permissions needed to access a relevant video. Said video was taken long in the past, during PRTS' first test run, where it records the Doctor standing beside Priestess on the Rhodes Island landship's upper deck. After Theresa made contact with Amnannam and the Doctor entered the Assimilated Universe, they were greeted by Priestess upon waking up. Due to their amnesia, she recounted their past and story together, and asked to work together again. The Doctor, however, declined—as they were worried about Amiya, Kal'tsit, Wisadel, and Logos. Respecting the Doctor's decision, she reassured them that in the end they will return to her side, before disappearing.[6]

Atop Theresa's tower within the Assimilated Universe, Theresa shows the Doctor a symbol, a rhombus. The Doctor begins to recollect a familiarity with the symbol, noting that it exists everywhere within the Assimilated Universe, calling it the "symbol of Originium". A concerned Kal'tsit interrupts them saying that recalling any more is very dangerous and that they musn't let the rhombuses above notice them.

At some point during the Predecessors' prime, Priestess approaches Oracle with a special gift; the electromagnetic polarization waves formed as a byproduct of AMa-10's creation. Based on Oracle's discovery of a particular rhythm within its waveform, Priestess modified it by adjusting the planetary track's array direction to capture echoes produced by the lingering neutrinos of extinguishing stars, thus creating new melodies. She also used the gravitational fields left when Rhodes Island sailed through the "stargate" as the orchestrator.

Although Oracle liked her gift, they state that the polarization "violates the norms they imposed", and how the ship's facilities should've kept operating on the preset path, to which Priestess replies that the stars are losing their colors, and soon "this place"—likely referring to Terra—will fall silent. Priestess then invites Oracle to walk with her before the silence comes, hoping that one day they'll see the world's future together. After pacifying the transformed Mephisto within the Sarcophagus, the Doctor has a flashback to the time Priestess placed them inside the Sarcophagus. Due to their amnesia, a confused Doctor asks Kal'tsit who Priestess is, disturbing her greatly.

Priestess is a "Predecessor" scientist who had a deep connection with the Doctor—then known as Oracle—saying that the term "intimate" would belittle their relationship and experiences, and claiming that they frequently held hands in "different ways", most not requiring a part of the body. The two of them met when the Doctor, knowing she was likely not at any risk, decided to salvage her consciousness beacon while Priestess was anchored to a dying star, researching the sounds emitted by the death of an oceanic planet. After this they traveled the universe together, leaping across time and space to explore the cosmos with the Rhodes Island or through consciousness projection. During this time, the two created AMa-10 aka. Kal'tsit.[1]

At some point during the "inevitable end", when all chance for salvation was futile and all resistance failed, they concluded that any lifeform of ordinary matter could not escape. After much experimentation, they surpassed their peers and created Originium. Priestess was considered the creator and likened to a god, but she considered Doctor to be the genius behind its creation. Despite this, some form of attack on the Predecessors came too suddenly, decimating their defenses and forcing Priestess to place the Doctor inside a Sarcophagus deep within Rhodes Island for their safety. After their other colleagues left to treasure the time they had left "before the stars fell", Priestess was left alone on Rhodes Island with a lively AMa-10.[1]

Priestess later preserved her own consciousness within Originium's Assimilated Universe, where she continues to slumber.