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Post by Magnate Lucius on May 29, 2020 16:44:57 GMT -5
Great Sept of Baelor Reigning High Septon: High Sparrow The Great Sept of Baelor, also called the Great Sept and Baelor's Sept, is the center of religious worship for the Faith of the Seven and the seat of the High Septon of the Faith. It is located in King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. The building is named after the septon-king, Baelor the Blessed. The Great Sept is rivaled only by the Starry Sept of Oldtown and the castle sept of Highgarden. The Great Sept of Baelor is named after the septon-king Baelor the Blessed. It is located at the top of Visenya's Hill, surrounded by a white marble plaza. It features a statue of Baelor, which stands tall and serene upon his plinth; his face is a study of benevolence. Large gardens, capable of holding hundreds of people, surround the sept. The sept is an impressive marble dome structure with seven crystal towers, each of which has bells. Only on momentous occasions, such as the death of a king, are all of them rung. The lofty dome is made of glass and gold and crystal. Around the doors leading into the building is a raised marble pulpit from which a septon can address a gathering crowd. Past the doors is the entrance hall of the sept, which is known as the Hall of Lamps. Those entering the hall walk beneath suspended globes of colored leaded glass. From the entrance hall, through the double-doors, is the sept-proper, with seven broad aisles which meet beneath the dome. Its floors are made of marble, and great windows of leaded, colored glass, and the seven altars are set about with candles. Different altars are used for different ceremonies, depending on their purpose. For example, marriages are always conducted at the altar between two towering gilded statues of the Father and the Mother. There are several sets of doors leading into the sept-proper; septons use the Father's Doors, septas the Mother's Doors, and silent sisters the Stranger's Steps. Below the sept are tombs where kings are laid to rest, cells for penitents, and vaults that hold costly vestments, rings, crystal crowns, and other treasures of the Faith. Thrice yearly septons from Baelor's Sept create heraldic drawings and illuminations for the White Book of the Kingsguard.
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Post by perry on Jun 3, 2020 17:18:27 GMT -5
The young queen had chosen a trial by faith, and the High Septon was happy to provide her with that. Her willingness to put her faith in the gods gave him pause. After weeks of preparation the trial was prepared, to happen in the Great Sept of Baelor beneath the watchful eyes of the Seven that are One. All was prepared, the High Sparrow stood at the main alter, dressed in a white wool tunic that went down to his ankles. He wore no shoes, his beard messy for lack of trimming. He was waiting, elevated above six of his peers dressed in the same wool tunic that he wore, impartial and pious men chosen by the Septon himself. All was silent, deathly silent. They would judge the young queen, and their judgment would not be influenced by the politics of men. The doors to the Sept were guarded by the Warrior’s Sons, while poor fellows covered the sides of Visenya’s Hill like a plague of locusts clad in wool.
Word went out, Her Grace Margery Baratheon formerly of the house Tyrell was to come, her trial would begin today.
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Post by Royal Joker on Jun 3, 2020 18:11:10 GMT -5
The day had finally come. After being locked up and suffering continuously at the hands of the Faith, the custody of Randyll Tarly had felt like heaven. Now she had to face them again, those who played at piety but who hid cruel hearts beneath their humility. Margaery would make sure her enemies suffered as she had suffered one day. For now though, survival was he only thing she could think of.
The young queen entered the Great Sept of Baelor, dressed in a simple grey wool dress that covered most of her body. Her usual make up had been removed and her long brown locks had been tied into a pony tail. Behind her walked guards of House Tarly, though their duties were soon relieved by members of the Warriors' Sons. Margaery walked forward in silence toward the holy jury of her trial. How she despised this whole charade, these mummers dressing themselves up like the messengers of the Seven. Margaery had been in King's Landing for long enough to notice how the game of thrones was played even in the holiest of places. Nevertheless, she revealed nothing. The young queen stopped before the jury and the High Septon and knelt.
"Your Holiness. I, Queen Margaery Tyrell, stand before you as a faithful servant of the Seven and my husband the king."
Noises could be heard outside the sept. Lord Tyrell's green cloaks and the High Sparrow's poor fellows were no doubt having a stand off and shouting matches. Lord Tyrell had been adamant about holding this trial and had tirelessly asked King Tommen to declare his daughter innocent, to no avail. His voice could also be heard from time to time, calling out to his daughter. Margaery continued on after a moment's pause.
"May the Father judge this trial justly."
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Post by perry on Jun 3, 2020 19:51:06 GMT -5
There was a screaming match between the Poor Fellows and the Green Cloaks, as the two forces exchanged jeers. The sounds muffled by the thick walls of the Great Sept. But, the leaders attempted to keep the little sparrows in line. Under order of the High Septon, no blood was to be spilled upon the hill. Unless the Tyrells made an attempt to break their way into the sept.
The High Septon looked withered and poor, no man who looked upon him would think he were the Voice of the Seven on Earth. He stepped down from the platform, to walk among his six fellow judges. His eyes a mud brown, short and thin as a pole, to the nobility he appeared as common as the dirt beneath a man’s feet. Gone were the gilded robes and crystal crowns of his predecessors, replaced with the High Sparrow’s now iconic wool vestments. "Brothers.." he began, "this is the trial of Queen Margery Tyrell." The High Septon’s voice was low and the words painfully drawn out, formal as ever. "May the Crone use her lantern to guide us in this judgement, today we serve not the will of a king, or any man, but the will of the Seven that are One." The High Sparrow stated firmly, before making the sign of the Seven with his hands. He was close to the Queen now, she could see the thick calluses that covered his bony fingers. "Queen Margery Tyrell. You have been accused of acts most foul: lewdness, fornication, adultery, and high treason." He let the girl stew in the silence for a moment, before continuing. "How do you plead?"
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Post by Royal Joker on Jun 4, 2020 9:20:10 GMT -5
Margaery looked straight at the thin old man that called himself High Septon. She stood firm, barely moving. If he was trying to intimidate her, it would yield no results.
"Innocent, your Holiness. The accusations against me are vile lies."
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Post by perry on Jun 4, 2020 9:44:27 GMT -5
“So you say.” The High Sparrow replied with a measured nod. “Let us begin.”
Another septon spoke up, a pudgy man, though he seemed to be losing weight fast under the new diet the High Sparrow had forced upon his peers. “Accusations were leveled by Ser Osney Kettleblack, Ser Tallad the Tall, Ser Lambert Turnberry, Hugh Clifton, Ser Mark Mullendore, Ser Bayard Norcross, Hamish the Harper, and the foreigner Jalabhar Xho.”
Another Septon, a wiry fellow with chapped lips, raised his hand. “Yes, but each, under torture, has recanted their statements.”
“Aside from the former Tyrell man, Wat.” The pudgy Septon cut in, again. “More commonly known as Blue Bard, who claims to not only have done the deed. But claims to have watched each incident unfold.”
“Not only did Ser Osney Kettleblack recant his statement,” The High Septon interjected. “Under persuasion and before the eyes of the Seven he admitted to having bed the Queen Regent, Cersei Lannister, not the young Queen and her cousins.” The High Septon pulled on his beard with his long worker’s fingers. “As to Blue Bard, the man had been most cruelly tortured before his arrival.. and has after lost all sense.” He exhaled deeply, in thought. “Is there any light you would shed on this situation or any other in your own defense?” He inquired, his mud brown eyes turning toward the Queen.
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Post by Royal Joker on Jun 4, 2020 10:58:52 GMT -5
She listened closely at the accusations levied against her, each name more preposterous than the last. It was a pretty tale that had been spun, no doubt, yet childish. Sweet Cersei, Margaery thought to herself, you must really underestimate me if you thought me so vain and careless. Margaery stood still as she septons discussed among themselves until the question turned to her.
"I am not sure what more I could bring to light than what has already been said by the jury, your Holiness. The men accused of seducing me have either denied or recanted their statements, and one of them has confessed to another act of adultery. I deny any accusations of committing such acts with these men, and it saddens me to see innocent men suffer because of this."
She took a short pause to breathe.
"I see not how these accusations could be nothing more than baseless rumors or a vile plot. I pray the Blue Bard's soul find peace, your Holiness, but is there any evidence that can corroborate what he says? Can his word be trusted if he has been driven mad as you say? If no other man can confess before the Seven Above that his word is true?"
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Post by perry on Jun 4, 2020 11:10:45 GMT -5
“Your words speak truth, Queen Margery.” The High Septon admits.
“However there is the matter of the maidenhead, broken according to the testimony of Septa Moelle.” The same pudgy Septon calls out, to a few nods among his peers.
The High Septon raised a hand bringing them to silence, as he turned to address the other septons. “Yes, there is the matter of the maidenhead, however many girls lose it by Margery’s age: from riding or labor if they are common folk.” His fellow judges had no retort, a few simply nodding.
The High Septon once again turned toward Margery, stepping over the fine marble floors with his gnarled and black-stained feet. “I believe you have been a lady of faith Margery.“ He says, matter of factly. “Will you and your cousins pray with us before we pronounce judgment to the crowd?” He raises one of his bushy eyebrows.
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Post by Royal Joker on Jun 4, 2020 12:32:53 GMT -5
Margaery eyed the High Sparrow suspiciously. This all seemed too simple. After everything she had endured and what she had heard of Cersei's walk of shame, would the new leadership of the Faith let her off just like that? She cautiously nodded in agreement.
"Of course, your Holiness, we would be honored. May the Seven bless this day."
There was no need to say more than necessary. The sooner she was freed, the better.
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Post by perry on Jun 4, 2020 12:47:21 GMT -5
He left for a moment, as the other Septons spoke among themselves. He returned with a number of poor fellows carrying buckets and brushes. “We will pray today by scrubbing every inch of the main sept, Queen Margery.” He said simply, a bucket in one hand and a horse hair brush in the other.
The pudgy septon spoke again. “Let the girls clean, I do not wish to soil myself.” He protested. The High Septon shook his head dramatically. “We will all clean, Most Devout. Labor is a form of prayer that pleases the Smith. Only with prayer can we achieve clarity in this.” Poor fellows approached the girls, offering the tools. As the High Septon kneeled and began cleaning. He looked at home in the work, pleased.
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Post by Royal Joker on Jun 4, 2020 15:48:21 GMT -5
Of course, she thought. The old fool was obsessed with physical labor, she should have expected nothing less. She looked over at her cousins Elinor and Megga, the two clearly distraught at the thought of working like maids. The young queen did not cherish the prospect of scrubbing floors, she knew her current position. Prove her piety and clean, or not and be at the mercy of the mad septon. She smiled and grabbed a bucket and a brush. At least it would endear her to the thousands of zealots in the capital.
"All faithful have a duty to take care of the houses of worship. Through the work of our bodies, the darkness in our souls are washed away to clearly feel the presence of the Seven."
With this, she knelt down and began scrubbing, with her cousins reluctantly following suit. Margaery felt her body aching not soon after beginning, unused to this type of work. However, she would have cleaned all of King's Landing with her dress if it meant freedom. It was at least preferable to what Cersei had to endure. The thought of the Queen Mother's walk of shame filled her with a new found strength and she kept on scrubbing with the rest of the septons and the poor fellows.
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Post by perry on Jun 4, 2020 16:37:49 GMT -5
The scrubbing took many hours, the pudgy Most Devout nearly keeled over through the efforts. By the end the man was gasping like a fish on the deck of a ship. For his part the High Sparrow seemed to never tired, cleaning the floors inch by inch. He rose to his gnarled black feet when their work was done. “I have my answer now.” He stated simply, the Septons nodded in agreement, all but the pudgy Most Devout still trying to catch his breath. “Follow me, your Grace. I will pronounce the verdict on the steps of this sept.” With that the bare footed man began to walk toward the hall of lanterns, Warrior’s Sons falling in to stand beside him, as they passed beneath the colored glass globes of the lanterns. They walked in a triangular shape, the Septons on the outside the girls in the middle, and the Warriors’ Sons at the back. He lowered his voice as he turned toward Margery, even as the walked along these hallowed halls. “Tell me child. Who do you think brought these charges to my attention?” He asked, his eyes studying her facial expression.
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Post by Royal Joker on Jun 5, 2020 12:12:23 GMT -5
Margaery was dirty, sweaty and every bone in her body was aching. Her beautiful hair was in tatters, while simple dress had even changed color after crawling on the floor for so long. Yet she had prevailed, and this punishment was far more preferable to walking through King's Landing naked. Once she got back to the Red Keep she would enter her bath and not leave for a month.
At the behest of the High Sparrow, she joined him as he moved toward the doors to the sept. When he whispered to her, Margaery raised an eyebrow. She knew, of course, which greedy lioness was behind her imprisonment. She whispered back her response, playing hesitant.
"I think I do, your Holiness. But... I fear the answer will wound me greatly. Was it... my good mother, Queen Cersei?"
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Post by perry on Jun 5, 2020 13:14:43 GMT -5
The High Septon gave a nod. "She wished to take possession of the accusers, if she had the Faith never may have never discovered the duplicity." He replied simply. As the group continued to move forward. "I thought you deserved to know as much, there are many snakes assembled in the Red Keep."
They passed beneath the great doors to the sept and out into the glaring sun. What was it the Starks said 'Winter is Coming', but it still felt like summer here for the time being. The pudgy Most Devout began to sweat as soon as the sun touched his skin. Outside the Poor Fellows and Green Cloaks were having a stand off, jeers and shouts could be heard coming from both sides A vast throng of small folk were assembled beyond the green and gold of the Tyrell line that encircled the hill. The arrival of the High Septon silenced the hoard of Poor Fellows. As the old man raised a hand for silence, attempting to calm the tension as he descended halfway down the great stairs, they kept the same triangular formation, though more Warriors' Sons had joined from behind. The sea of Poor Fellows with their wool vestments and blood red stars parted in his wake, quickly returning to fill in the space left behind as the group descended.
Eventually the High Septon's black feet stopped moving, rooted to the steps like a small tree. "There is a rot in this city, my flock, a rot that has festered here for too long! Not unlike the rot that festers within a wound. A rot that sends out tendrils and consumes the land!" He said, for such a small and shriveled man he had a commanding voice when the need arose. "It poisons the hearts of men, once it festered even within the walls of the Sept itself! But, together we.. the people, have cleansed the Faith, scrubbed clean of vanity and discontent!" The Poor Fellows howled their approval, theirs was a High Septon of the small folk of the people. "And together we will do more, we will cleanse the rest of this rot, much like a wound gone bad we must burn the foul humors from the body of these Seven Kingdoms that are one!" The bellowing of the Poor Fellows grew louder, and the High Septon had to call for them to lower their voices. "I have come before you today to pronounce the verdict in the case against Margery Tyrell! Claims had been levied, charges most foul." He said, solemnly and straight of face. "The Seven have shown the truth of this matter to me and my fellow Septons, while serving penance for the sins of all." He added. "Queen Margery is here by pronounced.." He let a silence hand over the crowd for a moment, a heavy and long moment. "Innocent! On all charges!" The small folk beyond the Tyrell line cheered, many loved Margery and the High Septon both, and rather not have to choose between the two. He gave time for the crowd to express their joy. "Her cousins too are found innocent on all charges, it is clear those who brought charges before me were duplicious and corrupt men, working at the behest of the rot that has plague this city.. OUR CITY!" He let the crowd ponder his words, as the Septons stood aside releasing Margery and her cousins from the triangle they had made with their bodies. The High Sparrow extended his hand to Margery, offering her a place beside him before the crowd, his voice was low again, not the commanding booming thing Margery had just heard. "Come the people have missed you."
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Post by Royal Joker on Jun 5, 2020 14:32:17 GMT -5
Margaery could feel the wave of jubilations wash over her as the smallfolk celebrated her innocence. How it rejuvenated her soul to be beloved by the masses. She stepped forth and raised her hands after the High Sparrow had spoken. The Tyrell soldiers and her lord father, celebrating but still unsure, focused their gazes on her. An idea was forming in her head.
"People of King's Landing, fellow faithful! Today we join hands in celebration of justice prevailing! For too long the Faith has been beholden to lesser, greedy men, uninterested in the well-being of the realm and the needs of the people! Even now, as war still plagues the Seven Kingdoms, they turn their backs on you! We will not accept this! House Tyrell and the Reach stand with the Faith and their holy warriors in cleansing the realm of corruption! May the Seven Above watch over our holy cause!"
She turned to the High Sparrow and whispered her response.
"I hope that I can return to you in the future, your Holiness, to further discuss the needs of the faithful? I think my lord father would appreciate your sermons as well."
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