12th Month of 286 A.C. Great Sept of Baelor
Septon Maegor
He had spent his whole life in King's Landing exploring the various passageways in and out of the Red Keep, and getting to know the court and the people who operated within it. At first he wondered if this was due to his mother's desire to see him on the throne, or his grandmother's desire to see him on the throne. And then he realise it was because his uncle Aegon did not know what to do with him, not truly at least. He played with Rhaelle before she went off to Storm's End and he played with his cousin Duncan's children, he had even been in love with Duncan's daughter, but she had died at Summerhall and now there was little left of cousin Duncan's family. Eventually he had had to leave the Red Keep when his mother had died, and he had joined the Faith.
For most, his joining the Faith was his uncle's way of removing a potentially difficult nephew, but for him it made the most sense. He would never dream of claiming the throne, and he did not want to marry anyone to cause trouble for his uncle Aegon or his cousins. And so he had joined the Faith at the age of fifteen, becoming a novice training first in Oldtown and then in King's Landing. It was here that he had come to find his true calling. It was interesting for Maegor to see just how hypocritical the Faith truly was, they preached against sin and avarice and greed, and they too indulged in it all. Whilst he had been but a lowly novice he had been sent to the Stoney Sept to serve as the town's Septon for a brief period. It was there that he had seen just how confused and broken the people were, and whilst he had tried to bring their plight to King's Landing, the High Septon dismissed him and his uncle was caught up fighting more wars. From the Stoney Sept he went to Casterly Rock and was amazed at just how greedy and full of sin the court there was, it was shocking, pure and simple. And it began to fuel his desire for change and reform within the Faith. Of course for that he needed power, and to gain power he needed to be on the Most Devout. His chance came when his uncle summoned him to King's Landing two years before Summerhall. And ever since then he had been in King's Landing working his way up the order until he could become High Septon and bring about the changes he wished.
The current High Septon was a man prone to lust and greed, by the gods Maegor knew about his bastards who were being passed off as someone else's. The man was the representation of all that was wrong with the Faith as it was now, corruption and sin were corroding the pure virtues that had brought it to Westeros in the first place. The Seven had become mere symbols for this greed and loss of purpose, and Maegor began wondering if perhaps it was time to change this, to look to the Old Gods and to the Gods of Valyria and see the seven not as one, but as separate deities. Of course the man who was talking such things was a man Maegor knew from his time in the Stoney Sept a very interesting man and someone whom Maegor was going to get in contact with soon enough. Of course, he first had to withstand the barrage that would come from the Most Devout meeting.
The High Septon was a tall man with a big belly, a man who had one been strong and handsome in his youth but had gone to fat in old age. His blond hair was coloured with grey, and his green eyes seemed crinkled. His voice was still strong though. "My brothers and sisters, we are here to discuss some very troubling things that have been threatening the realm and the faith as of late. The first most pressing issue is that of the King and what faith he will be. I have made many overtures to the Lord Regent on this matter, but for so long the man continues to amble up and down about it."
Septon Borros a man from the Westerlands spoke then. "The Lord Regent must be shown the true way. For too long his heathen ways have dominated the court. They are losing their ground and standing. Soon enough they will realise their follies. We must show them the way."
The High Septon nodded. "Aye, the regent must be warned of what his actions will cost the kingdoms if not shown the correct path. All kings since Aegon the Dragon have worshipped the Seven, even that barbarian Maegor, and this king should be no different. No one would want a king who worships trees."
Septon Borros the High Septon's lackey voiced his agreement. "Most definitely Your Holiness. Most definitely. The Lord Regent has erred grievously in doing as he does. The true way is the faith and he must be shown this."
The high septon continued. "The threat of the Faith Militant has done nothing to stir the man from his stupor on the matter, and I do believe that says everything about what we have become. For too long we have allowed ourselves to be the pawns of the Targaryens, no longer I say. We must build up our strength. We must do this and we must show the kingdoms we are a force to be reckoned with."
Septa Uncliff spoke then. "But would that not come into conflict with our message Your Holiness? We all promised to ensure peace and prosperity when the King was crowned, to avoid the abuses under the mad king. Would violence truly be the answer?"
The High Septon looked at the lady and then said. "Sometimes, one must look at the conditions one is in and then decide whether to stick to vows made to a monarch who has not upheld their own vows. The faith is under attack now and it must be defended."
Septa Uncliff is silent but Septon Dontos takes up the thread. "This man Causter and his followers have begun causing all kinds of trouble in the Riverlands, speaking of this thing and then another. Diverting from the Seven Pointed Star and speaking heresy to suit their own needs. The Lord Regent continues to allow the man to live, and the faith suffers for it."
Maegor speaks then his voice questioning. "And how does the Faith suffer for it? I have heard no reports of people leaving in great numbers to join this man and his teachings. There are no disciples and no one seems convinced of what he is saying amongst the nobility. They are the true worries we should have. If they convert others will follow." He knew what he was saying, laying a false trail for the other white sheep in this room.
The High Septon spoke then his tone condescending. "Much and more has changed since you served in the Stoney Sept brother Maegor. The people of the riverlands have been torn by war and are now looking for a way to salvage what little is left of their lives. They do not turn to the Faith, but to this man and his heresy, because of some dire need of association with individualism. It must be stopped, we must not lose the Riverlands."
"And you think the best way of preventing them from leaving us and joining this new man, is to militarise and renew an organisation that nearly ended us the last time they were in existence? That is the most complete rubbish I have heard in all my years on this great planet." Maegor counters.
The High Septon looks at him then, and Maegor can briefly see the man he once was, the great warrior and the commander. "The Riverlands were one of the first regions that were converted to the Faith when the Andals came. They are one of the main power bases that we have to counter act the Old Gods. They must not fall, and they must not convert to this new heresy. It is time for us to do what the Seven have asked us to do, and that is defend the true Faith."
Maegor looks at the man and says. "You would bring more blood and death to the realm simply to settle an issue that could be settled with negotiation with the Lord Regent."
Septon Borros speaks then his tone thunderous. "The Lord Regent has been offered many chances to change his ways. That he has not done so to this point shows just how unwilling he is to make an effort of reaching an accord. We cannot wait around for the man to come to his senses."
"And how many will die this time, because of the lust of two Septons. One of whom is supposed to be the leader of the faithful. This will only drive more and more away from the Faith and into the arms of the Old Gods or the Drowned God or even this new faith that this man Causter is spreading. We cannot afford that, if our position is as bad as you say. Doing something as rash and impulsive as fighting the Regent would bring us more doom than anything the Targaryens ever brought when they had dragons." Maegor counters.
Septon Derry a man who rarely speaks and has been in the Most Devout for some sixty years speaks then. "We are charged with defending the Faith and ensuring that the Targaryens live up to their promise. The Lord Regent has failed to do so, we are under attack. Something must be done to prevent the decline that seems imminent at this moment in time. If it means fighting then that is what must be done."
Septa Unella speaks then her voice soft. "War for war's sake must be avoided. And so far it does seem as if this is all it is. You are all talking as if the faith is under threat, I do not agree with that assumption. This Causter man has not once spoken out against us, he is merely saying the things that we ourselves were preaching during the reigns of the mad king, his father and grandfather. It is time we remembered them and brought ourselves back to the true nature of the Faith."
"You would have us agree with a man who speaks of the Old Gods as the founding race? A man who claims that humans come from beasts? I cannot allow nor abide by that. This man must die and he must pay for the crimes he has committed. Septon Maegor, you knew the riverlands well once upon a time. The Septonry of the kingdom has been vacant since Septon Dorros died. It is time for you to leave King's Landing and take up that Septonry. Find out what you can about this man Causter and do as you will to remove him and the threat. Peacefully. If you cannot do it, then the faith will re arm." The High Septon says.
Maegor nods and then the meeting comes to an end, as they walk out of the chambers, Septa Unella pulls him to the side and says. "Be careful brother. This could well be a trap the High Septon and Borros have arranged. They know of your leanings."
"I assure you, they might believe themselves as clever as they wish, but I have allies and friends as well. There are those who would know if I died, unlike Septon Dorros." Maegor responds.
Septa Unella nods and then before they go their separate ways says. "When you leave, look for the hanged man brother. There you will find the man whom the High Septon wants gone. It is the only way to spare us this man's folly."