The Great Sept of Baelor

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

"High Septon," Tomas kneels as he enters the room, his friend and mentor had not aged well in the Capital.

[The Smith]

"You are a fool Tomas." The High Septon replied, "Welcome to Great Sept."

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

"As much a fool as any Septon who has remained quiet during these troubling times," he said rising, "and I think it better to be thought a fool then to allow our faith to be trampled."

[The Smith]

"What did you think you were going to accomplish?" The High Septon asked wearily, "Or were you guided by visions?"

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

"I was guided by my heart and my love for the Seven," Tomas said. "The people have been in almost constant strife as one Lord turns on the other. They fight knowing not what they do while we stay in our Septs and cower behind our fancy walls," Tomas motioned towards the empty seat across from the High Septon.

"I had often prayed that the Seven would use these wars to turn men's hearts to our faith, but with each devastating war, the Lords fall into greater and greater depravity." Tomas shook his head in disgust, "though who should blame them since none will hold them accountable."

[The Smith]

"You have studied your history. How has it gone for the Faithful when we fight the Lords?" The High Septon asked, "Only one of the faces is the warrior, that is not our way."

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

"You are right of course, the other faces stand for justice, mercy, courage, purity,renewal and wisdom and only when all seven act as one is our faith truly represented, yet now we stand for nothing."

Tomas brushed his hair back, "we were so afraid of the King that we could not even grant Lord Royce a fitting ceremony in the Great Sept, to honor his Father. In the centuries passed the Faith has had no influence since we were but six of the seven aspects."

[The Smith]

"He was a prisoner for fifteen years for assaulting the King. What kind of service did he deserve?" The high septon replied, "I have seen your holy warriors, and they repesent the other aspects far more then the warrior's face. I see many crones, fathers and mothers, smiths and maidens. And if you continue on your path we will see the Stranger with a great deal to do."

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

"High Septon, can you not see our faith is dieing? There have been nine major wars in the past forty years, kin slaying has become as common as going to the market, the King is an open adulterer with his own brothel a stone's throw away from the Great Sept. Do you think these tragedies are an accident?" Tomas paused.

"Its because the Faith has become impotent, when Septon's should be standing and preaching justice and demanding accountability we hide our light behind thick walls of marble. The people cry out for direction from our faith and when hearing none they turn to the forked tongues of cultists and preachers of foreign gods." Tomas turned away for a second.

"The Lords fight without honor, poisoning thousands, burning down cities, killing women and children," Tomas rises to his fee. "The men and women who follow me are not an army, High Septon, most could barely carry their old bones to this Sept. They march not to slay their enemies but to lift up their faith, to be a shining light to show all the path to the seven."

"You may call me a fool and a fanatic but I would rather die then see my faith reduced to a silly mummer's show for the Lord's fancy parties."

[The Smith]

"You must show your faith, Tomas. You feel the need to prove it to the world." The High Septon shook his head, "A man's faith is not a torch to any one but that man himself. We are teachers, and advisers. We our not meant to blind men into agreeing with us, but by leading lives by the tenants and having faith that they will follow."

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

"And look what good your teaching and advising has done, thousands of men are dead, countless more women raped and children orphaned because the Faith is too weak to rise up and say that this course of action is wrong."

"We are as guilty as any lord if not more so because we knew what the consequences would be, but choose to do and say nothing because we didn't want to provoke our Masters hand."

"The people that follow me do so out of love not fear, High Septon, they love the Seven as you used to when you served with me in the Starry Sept. You were not afraid to stand then."

"If the Faith was stronger you could stand up and say, 'this war is unjust brothers should not be fighting brothers', order the conflicted parties to sit down and oversee the Trial by combat to ensure the Father's justice is accounted for."

[The Smith]

"I love the people as much as they love me, and that is why I do not wish to see them hurt by those debauched lords." he replied, "Do you think Rodrick or any of his ilk would hesitate for one second before killing off your army. If they were not so busy with one another, your men, women and children would be dead. And to no avail."

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

"No, High Septon I do not think that the King would hesitate, he would kill the innocent as quickly as his cousin that rode north with him, however, I have faith that there are good and devout lords still among us who would see such an action and would in that time of tragedy finally say enough is enough," Tomas coughed and raised his head.

"High Septon, the hardest part of any jorney is taking that first step, I have begun the walk and now have 20,000 men who walk with me. With your support every devout follower would rise up to defend the faith."

"High Septon, I am not asking you to march with my followers, I am asking you to stand with them," Tomas stood and moved closer to the old man.

"The rebels wanted Justice, well at least before the West and North got involved. We have an opportunity here to reassert our faith with little risk." Tomas kneeled down in front of the High Septon.

"Order all the faithful to throw down their weapons. Assert that the Father Above will decide the guilt or innocence of both parties. Each side will name Seven Champions, if the King wins then his cause is just, and the losers traitors. Should the King's side fall then the rebels cause is Just and the King must abdicate and the rebels be absolved. If a side cannot name Seven Champions then they are obviously wrong in the Father's eyes and will be judged guilty."

"In either case, we have reasserted the Faith's dominance over the Lords and increased our position with whoever wins. Better yet, our people are saved from more pointless suffering and death."

[The Smith]

"I do not know how much Hightower is paying you, but it is not enough." The High Septon, "I think you have recruited a large army to die pointless deaths on the blades of the Lords you think will save them."

He breathed deeply, "However, I will go along with your plan. I will do my best to try and save these poor souls you have recruited."

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

Tomas scowls at the comment as he rises, "It is sad to see that you have become so jaded here, that you see only political ambition instead of the promise of our faith. . . Lord Hightower, scoffed at my idea quicker then you did," Tomas waved his hand to dismiss the charge, "regardless I thank you for your consideration, may the Crone Light your way High Septon," Tomas said as he turned to leave.