High Priestess Marieka Van der Perssen
Marieka van der Perssen is high priestess of the Grand Temple at Nuln, and one of the most powerful and influential members of the cult. Marieka has been high priestess of the temple for nearly ten years, during which time she has helped forge greater ties between the temple and Countess Emmanuelle, to whom she acted as a tutor in the countess's youth. This friendship has allowed the high priestess to court rather more controversy than might be tolerated elsewhere, such as exhibiting the cult's collection of allegedly heretical books.
Marieka is also a professor of philosophy at the University of Nuln, and is one of the few female members of the faculty there. She possesses a fearsome intellect, and is an expert orator. When not teaching or conducting her religious duties, she can be found debating science and philosophy on the steps of the temple with whoever dares match wits with her.
Despite Marieka's friendship with the Countess, she has many enemies within the city, both from amongst Nuln's criminal fraternity, many of whom have been on the receiving end of Verenan justice, and from the city's more conservative elements, especially amongst the Cult of Sigmar, who fear and despise her dangerous and immoral stance with regard to heresy.
