A Realm's future discussed: Meeting between the High Septon and the King (closed rp)

[Oznerol]

Baelor waited the High Septon quietly, in his chambers. The Black Knight and Ser Devan Westerling stand behind his carved seat. Inner Guard Goldcloacks are guarding the King also.

Baelor waits Lefford and the malevolent Septon, eager to know what that dangerous fanatic has to say.

[Jokern]

The High Septon enters Baelor's chambers with dignity in his composure. His long, white hair hangs like a tail down his back, his lilac eyes piercing as their gaze flows through the room. With his purple cassock and white gloves, he radiates respect only a man of the Gods could carry. He bows a little for the King.

"King Baelor, it is an honor to meet you again. I hope that you have fared well since last time. When was it? Your sister's wedding, or the discussion of your penance?"

[Oznerol]

The High Septon enters Baelor's chambers with dignity in his composure. His long, white hair hangs like a tail down his back, his lilac eyes piercing as their gaze flows through the room. With his purple cassock and white gloves, he radiates respect only a man of the Gods could carry. He bows a little for the King.

"King Baelor, it is an honor to meet you again. I hope that you have fared well since last time. When was it? Your sister's wedding, or the discussion of your penance?"

"A pleasure for me too, your Holiness, such a long time is most unfortunate, we should see eachother more often"

Baelor points a chair before him. Both seats were before the fireplace. A small table between both.

"Sit, please your Holiness, I hope you will forgive me how I brought you here. I was afraid of the smallfolk reaction, or the plotting of the Crown's enemies"

A servant offers the High Septon a drink

"We have to discuss some of my actions, as the new Laws. I think you have misunderstood them; I wished the Faith to be mainly removed of earthly affairs, so she may focus on what is far more important, the heavenly ones, praying to save this Realm's souls. I don't think it's proper for you, your Holiness, to be disturbed by insignificant squables or crimes, when you could focus on theology and proselitism"

[Jokern]

The High Septon sits down in the chair at the fireplace, eagerly listening to what the King has to say. He receives the cup from the servant, smells it, before putting it down on the table next to him. He would need a clear mind for this meeting, and who knew what the King was planning? For such an unstable man, poison would be quite a sensible solution.

"Yes, maybe I have misunderstood your intentions... or maybe you have misunderstood the Faith's purpose in this mortal realm? You see, your Grace, the Gods blessed Hugor of the Hill, the Crowned Star of Andalos, with six gifts and one purpose; to show the world the light and punish the heathens who pray to false gods. Sadly, Hugor never lived to see the wondrous accomplishments that his people would perform later. Now, the true light shines over most of Westeros. In these times, the Faith must strive even more to reach its goal; to spread the light of the Seven to all men who walk this mortal realm. This means that we cannot look away from earthly matters. Are we to let the sinners and heathens do as they wish? No, your Grace, that we cannot do. We, the servants of the Gods, have a moral responsibility to pass the judgement of the Father."

He took out a parchment from his cassock. It was the laws that Baelor had sent out to the Realm.

"I have made a list of the most grave offences of these new laws as I see it: the High Septon, Most Devout or Septons are servants of the Gods and are therefore entitled to leave the Realm as they see fit so as to spread the light of the Seven onto the heathens across the seas. No one is exempted from an excommunication, which is the Seven's judgement of men that have sinned so great, that they are no longer welcome among the faithful. Only the Most Devout or the High Septons, the servants closest to the Gods, may absolve an excommunication. When the High Septon, Most Devout or the Septon of a sept have lost their office through one way or another, the income of their possession shall go directly to the Faith, for all possessions of holy men belong to the Faith and therefore the Gods. The election of a new High Septon will take place in the Great Sept of Baelor, behind closed doors, and will be handled by the Most Devout, just as they handle the ascent of new members to the Most Devout. This is because they are the closest to the Gods and must not be disturbed by laymen in the election. The High Septon, Most Devout or any Septon or Septar, owe any allegiance to the King or their liege lord, as they only serve the Gods. This is done however, as a sign that the Seven sees the King or lord as the rightful ruler, but they do not owe allegiance to anyone but the Gods."

He breathed out and looked at the King.

"That would be the laws that are the worst towards the Faith. If you have any objections towards what I've said, then please tell me. Enlighten me how I have misunderstood your meaning."

[Oznerol]

The High Septon sits down in the chair at the fireplace, eagerly listening to what the King has to say. He receives the cup from the servant, smells it, before putting it down on the table next to him. He would need a clear mind for this meeting, and who knew what the King was planning? For such an unstable man, poison would be quite a sensible solution.

"Yes, maybe I have misunderstood your intentions... or maybe you have misunderstood the Faith's purpose in this mortal realm? You see, your Grace, the Gods blessed Hugor of the Hill, the Crowned Star of Andalos, with six gifts and one purpose; to show the world the light and punish the heathens who pray to false gods. Sadly, Hugor never lived to see the wondrous accomplishments that his people would perform later. Now, the true light shines over most of Westeros. In these times, the Faith must strive even more to reach its goal; to spread the light of the Seven to all men who walk this mortal realm. This means that we cannot look away from earthly matters. Are we to let the sinners and heathens do as they wish? No, your Grace, that we cannot do. We, the servants of the Gods, have a moral responsibility to pass the judgement of the Father."

He took out a parchment from his cassock. It was the laws that Baelor had sent out to the Realm.

"I have made a list of the most grave offences of these new laws as I see it: the High Septon, Most Devout or Septons are servants of the Gods and are therefore entitled to leave the Realm as they see fit so as to spread the light of the Seven onto the heathens across the seas. No one is exempted from an excommunication, which is the Seven's judgement of men that have sinned so great, that they are no longer welcome among the faithful. Only the Most Devout or the High Septons, the servants closest to the Gods, may absolve an excommunication. When the High Septon, Most Devout or the Septon of a sept have lost their office through one way or another, the income of their possession shall go directly to the Faith, for all possessions of holy men belong to the Faith and therefore the Gods. The election of a new High Septon will take place in the Great Sept of Baelor, behind closed doors, and will be handled by the Most Devout, just as they handle the ascent of new members to the Most Devout. This is because they are the closest to the Gods and must not be disturbed by laymen in the election. The High Septon, Most Devout or any Septon or Septar, owe any allegiance to the King or their liege lord, as they only serve the Gods. This is done however, as a sign that the Seven sees the King or lord as the rightful ruler, but they do not owe allegiance to anyone but the Gods."

He breathed out and looked at the King.

"That would be the laws that are the worst towards the Faith. If you have any objections towards what I've said, then please tell me. Enlighten me how I have misunderstood your meaning."

"We may be able to reach an agreement, your Holiness"

"I didn't stole your right to judge the heathens and heretics, as it's your rightful task, chosen by Gods themselves to do so. My laws only imply that if a sept does a lay crime, be a murdered or a robber, he would have to answer before our Justice, but if he turns to the Red Faith or is negligent in his labour as priest he would have to answer before your holy Justice. Even more, if you need to hunt dangerous sinners I will grant you the right to request help from the Goldcloacks"

"To that purpose, proselitism, and to spread the blessed Light of Gods, they are allowed to leave this Realm whenever they want to, even, with Royal Writs, if the task is of great importance. If chosen by Gods themselves they won't have bounds to leave this lands, for the Faith's sake"

"However if the one to be excomunicated is from one of the great Houses it would be needed to tell the King the reasons behind your Holiness decision, and I will try to solve the problem, before we need such an extreme action. However the reason to excomunicate a King should be taken with the consent of all the Most Devouts, in a closed, holy, place so they shall not be disturbed by laymen, in a trial"

"The most fitting concerning the priests' inheritance would be to donate at least half of it to the poorest, the rest to the Faith, if so I would renounce to every income from it"

"Even more, about the election, that should not only be far from the layman's view, but also there should be predetermined number of Most Devouts, because sometimes few are named to unbalance the election in favour of a candidate, who is supported by a layman, be a Lord of the King"

"Your Holiness is above loyalties, I agree, but the minor septons shall swear to not disturb the King's Peace at least"

[Jokern]

"We may be able to reach an agreement, your Holiness"

"I didn't stole your right to judge the heathens and heretics, as it's your rightful task, chosen by Gods themselves to do so. My laws only imply that if a sept does a lay crime, be a murdered or a robber, he would have to answer before our Justice, but if he turns to the Red Faith or is negligent in his labour as priest he would have to answer before your holy Justice. Even more, if you need to hunt dangerous sinners I will grant you the right to request help from the Goldcloacks"

"To that purpose, proselitism, and to spread the blessed Light of Gods, they are allowed to leave this Realm whenever they want to, even, with Royal Writs, if the task is of great importance. If chosen by Gods themselves they won't have bounds to leave this lands, for the Faith's sake"

"However if the one to be excomunicated is from one of the great Houses it would be needed to tell the King the reasons behind your Holiness decision, and I will try to solve the problem, before we need such an extreme action. However the reason to excomunicate a King should be taken with the consent of all the Most Devouts, in a closed, holy, place so they shall not be disturbed by laymen, in a trial"

"The most fitting concerning the priests' inheritance would be to donate at least half of it to the poorest, the rest to the Faith, if so I would renounce to every income from it"

"Even more, about the election, that should not only be far from the layman's view, but also there should be predetermined number of Most Devouts, because sometimes few are named to unbalance the election in favour of a candidate, who is supported by a layman, be a Lord of the King"

"Your Holiness is above loyalties, I agree, but the minor septons shall swear to not disturb the King's Peace at least"

"I can agree with this, but a Septon that is accused must also be judged by a trial of seven Septons. He has sworn an oath to the Gods and must also be judged by the Gods. I am sure that we could work out an agreement here. Might I suggest that if a Septon is accused of a crime, a trial by your Justice with seven Septons serving as advisors? Then the man woud be judged by both your laws and the Gods' laws. For the hunt of sinners, I don't think that using the Goldcloaks would be sufficient. I have another suggestion; the Faith Militant. I understand that the uprising after Aegon's death has lead to a bad taste of the word, but please hear me out. I envision a new Order of the Warrior's Sons, with only 700 knights allowed to enter. 100 knights would serve in each of the seven regions where the majority of the people follow the Seven, which would exclude the Iron Islands and the North. Of course, this would be the only Faith Militant allowed, as the Poor Fellows was always an unruly lot. The laws of the Realm would be followed and their only goal would be to hunt down sinners and bring them to justice."

"A Septon's task is always of great importance, especially when it comes to proselytism. The law makes that work more difficult as it would have to go through bureaucracy. To let Septons go outside the Realm for the sake of spreading the light of the Seven should, in my humble opinion, be as easy as possible."

"If a member of a great House is excommunicated, it will of course be listed what has lead to this decision. However, it is not your place to do something about this beforehand. I would of course be delighted if we could work together to solve the issue afterwards. And any excommunication is dealt and have always been dealt behind closed doors, together with the Most Devout. The law forbids excommunication of certain members of the Realm, which is impossible."

"That I can agree with. Half to the poor, half to the Faith."

"The election has always been handled by the whole Most Devout behind closed doors. You are being a hypocrite now, my King. The law states: And, when it comes to providing for the Faith, the lord king should summon the more important persons of the Faith, and, in the lord king's own Sept, the election ought to take place with the assent of the lord king and with the counsel of the persons of the kingdom whom he had called for this purpose. And there, before he is consecrated, the person elected shall do homage and fealty to the lord king as to his liege lord, for his life and his members and his earthly honours, saving his order. This does says that you, the King, will hold the election in your personal sept, where the elected must pledge fealty to you. This goes against what you just said, for you too are a layman."

"Of course, as the servants of the Gods, we must of course help the faithful that needs our guidance. We are a part of this Realm too, to make a pledge to not disturb the King's Peace would be obligatory. But do you really fear peaceful Septons?"