# Lu-don — Tarzan the Terrible character guide

> Lu-don in Tarzan the Terrible by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the high priest

**First appearance:** 0007-viii-a-lur

## Snapshot

The high priest who sees through Tarzan's divinity at a glance and stages a trial of blood to destroy him.

## Who they are

Lu-don presides over altars where an adult dies at sunset and a newborn babe at dawn, and he knows better than any Ho-don that the faith he preaches is a machine he operates. When Tarzan claims to be the son of Jad-ben-Otho, Lu-don alone shows no terror, because he recognizes a rival rather than a god. His cold, theatrical prosecution—complete with a Waz-don witness and a floating corpse—forces Tarzan to fight for his life with words instead of steel.

## In the story

### [IX: Bloodstained Altars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/ix-bloodstained-altars)

High priest of A-lur; suspicious of Tarzan's claims but restrained by fear of divine retribution.

### [X: The Forbidden Garden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/x-the-forbidden-garden)

High priest, he is confronted by Tarzan over the sacrifice and later receives a report from a Waz-don slave about Tarzan's identity.

### [The Sentence of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xi-the-sentence-of-death)

High priest who condemns Tarzan to death; refuses to invoke divine lightning; is struck by a thrown priest but survives.

### [The Masquerader](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xiii-the-masquerader)

Referenced as the high priest who wants the mysterious she for a priestess; Tarzan fears his wrath.

### [XIV: The Temple of the Gryf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xiv-the-temple-of-the-gryf)

The high priest, desires Jane and attempts to claim her; uses a partition and trapdoor to separate Tarzan from Jane and send him into a pit.

### [The King Is Dead!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xv-the-king-is-dead)

High priest; plots revenge against Ja-don and Ko-tan, secretly supporting Mo-sar to gain power.

### [XVI: The Secret Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xvi-the-secret-way)

High priest plotting to seize the palace and make Mo-sar king; overheard by Tarzan.

### [The Lion Pit of Tu-lur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xviii-the-lion-pit-of-tu-lur)

High priest of A-lur, whose priests counsel Mo-sar to capture Tarzan alive for Lu-don.

### [Silently in the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xx-silently-in-the-night)

The high priest at A-lur who wants Tarzan sacrificed publicly to bolster his waning authority; sends Pan-sat to Tu-lur with a treacherous plan.

### [XXIII: Taken Alive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xxiii-taken-alive)

Hastens to the palace to direct his forces after the temple gong sounds, leaving Pan-sat to guard Jane.

### [XXIV: The Messenger of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xxiv-the-messenger-of-death)

High priest who orchestrates the sacrifice and presents Obergatz as Jad-ben-Otho; is shot by the Messenger of Death.

### [Glossary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/glossary)

Mentioned in glossary entry for 'Lu-don'.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/characters/lu_don
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/characters