Character from The First Law by Joe Abercrombie
The head of the Inquisition — a ruthless old spider who believes he's the most powerful man in the Union, right up until Bayaz reminds him who actually runs things.
Sult speaks with the quiet menace of institutional power — he doesn't need to raise his voice because the Inquisition raises it for him. He's played the Great Game of Union politics for decades, accumulating power through fear, blackmail, and strategic violence. His fatal mistake was thinking he was the apex predator. Bayaz was always above him, and Glokta — his own creature — was always smarter. Sult's destruction demonstrated the series' hierarchy: even the most powerful politicians are puppets when there's an immortal wizard pulling strings.
Elderly, gaunt, and imperious with white hair and the cold authority of a man who's had people tortured for decades. His robes of office are immaculate. His expression suggests he's evaluating whether you're useful or disposable.
Also known as: Sult, Arch Lector Sult