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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 1, 2018 16:39:03 GMT 1
"Whhhyyyyyy?"
Laena gives a small sigh, as her party of six makes their way to the Castle Sept. "Because we arrived safely, so we should give thanks to the Seven." she responds to her son, Landar, in her arms.
"Whhhyyyyyy?"
"Because our safe arrival means They were looking out for us."
"Whhhyyyyyy?" He asks again, as he starts playing with his mother's hair, her silvery locks ever-fascinating to her dark-haired son.
"No, not the hair. Never the hair." She attempts to juggle moving her son away from her hair without dropping him, but sighs, as almost immediately, he pulls on something which completely collapses the right side of her hairdo, while leaving the left side intact. Giving up with a grunt, she answers. "Because They look out for the just and pious."
"Whhhyyyyyy?"
Laena growls slightly in frustration before answering. "Because They are just, and admire that trait in us.
"Whh-"
"No." Laena cuts him off firmly. There's a tug on her skirts. "Ask 'why?' one more time before we are done with our prayers and out of the Sept, and I will put you up for adoption." She pulls her face in towards her son. "To smallfolk!" Another tug on her skirts. Still, he opens his mouth "Ah!" she juggles him well enough to free her left hand, which she uses to point a finger right at her son's face, which is finally enough to persuade his instincts to not push his mother further.
Another tug on her skirts. She finally takes her attention off her son to snarl down "What?". Her daughter, Sylvina, looks up at her, brown eyes wide. "I love you, mummy."
Laena's severe expression melts in the face of those eyes. "I love you, too, sweetling." She strokes her daughter's hair briefly with her spare hand.
Sylvina grins, and throws her arms up towards Laena. "Mummy, up!"
Laena sighs. "No! You're too big, Sweetling. And you're more than capable of walking on your own."
Sylvina gives her mother a piteous face. Laena stares at it for a few moments before sighing. "Not bad, but I've told you before, you need to quiver your lower lip, and bring your eyes to the edge of tears. I'll spend time with you soon, just us two. For now," she gives a grunt of exertion as she hands her son over to Selsa, the servant assigned to help her with Landar, and turns to Roslyn, Sylvina's equivalent. "Can you fix this?" she asks, pointing at her hair.
Roslyn looks at her hair for a few moments before responding. "Sorry, m'lady, in these conditions, it'll take half the day to sort out properly."
Laena grunts in frustration. "Well, do your best to make it more 'effortlessly stylish', and less 'just had carnal knowledge of a rosebush'. I can't enter the Sept like this."
"Yes, m'lady." Roslyn spends a few moments struggling to undo the left side of her hairdo, to match the right.
"My son managed that in an eyeblink." Laena observed.
"Yes, m'lady."
Still, before too long, Laena's hair was loose and flowing reasonably evenly. Looking around, Laena saw that the last member of their party, Septa Arrei, was keeping Sylvina entertained to stop her from wandering off. "Okay, good." Touching her hair for reassurance that it was presentable, "Landar, stay with Selsa. Sylvina, stay with Roslyn. Both of you, listen to Septa Arrei as she leads you in your prayers. Clear?" On getting nods from all involved (or at least something vaguely like one from Landar), she turns to enter. "Great. Then let's enter." Before anything else goes wrong.
As the rest of the party makes their way towards the statue of the maiden, Laena walks towards the Statue of the Mother to offer her own prayers.
Septon, I leave it up to you how much of that, if any, you saw/heard, and if you want to speak before or after my prayers, and what you're doing at this point. Don't feel obligated to be aware of any of it, I just wanted to introduce my kids in-character, given how often I've talked about them already.
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Post by Septon Abelar on Jul 2, 2018 5:13:02 GMT 1
A handful of worshippers are spread out within the sept, kneeling in prayer or other quiet contemplation. The entrance of Laena and her entourage does not provoke a reaction, save from one man.
Septon Abelar turns from where he stands beneath the statue of the Smith, and looks Laena straight in the eyes. This is clearly no typical septon. Most holy men keep to themselves in such circumstances, waiting for the faithful to approach them for counsel. This man looks at Laena as though he is entitled, by virtue of his accomplishment or station, to her attention. Despite his commanding presence, his clothing is humble, even for a septon: his seven-colored belt is faded and frayed, and he wears neither a crystal 'round his neck nor cloth-of-silver. Only his black cloak, swirling behind him as he turns, speaks to a thirst for the dramatic. It must be hot under all those layers, but the cloak does contrast sweetly with the white of the robes underneath.
He speaks in a deep baritone as he strides toward Laena. "My lady is wise to instill piety at such a young age." He's a tall man with angular features, lined slightly with age. His hair is black, swept-back, and streaked with silver. The fraying belt betrays a thin frame that is otherwise swallowed by his robes. "I hold that every child should learn one hymn or benediction for each of the aspects of the godhead by their seventh year. Seeing the glory of this sept shall put them firmly on that path. This place is as awe-inspiring as any clash of knights. " He comes to a stop before Laena, his dark eyes lingering for a moment on her silvery hair.
Let's say Abelar heard the parts about encouraging prayer, but didn't catch the parts about the hair. Going for the before-prayer plan.
It's up to you as to whether Laena can infer who Abelar is based on this interaction. I'm not sure if Abelar knows who Laena is or not, but he will not miss her Valyrian hair-itage. If you think it should be obvious to Abelar who Laena is, and it would be impolite not to use her name, just go ahead and assume he greeted her by name at the end: "Laena Pyre, welcome to this holy place."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 2, 2018 12:42:36 GMT 1
Nope! Laena is high-status enough that her name is almost certainly known, especially to a Blackbriar, but low-profile enough that her face isn't widely known. Too much time spent in an obscure holdfast, popping out babies. ;)
I deliberately put things in there to both please and incite you, to give you options. Thanks for being kind.
Leana bites back a knee-jerk response, intimidated despite herself by the Septon's intense gaze, but in a moment, she sniffs, and draws herself up, looking the Septon right in the eyes, confident, but not challenging.
"Thank you, Septon." she gives a small nod of the head, without breaking eye contact. "I certainly found this place inspiring as I grew up, though my children are still probably a bit young to truly appreciate how the Seven blessed the workers building it. Just as I was too young back then to understand that - impressive as this place is, and blessed as the workers undoubtedly were - it is ultimately limited by the fact that it was made by mortal hands.
"For a pure miracle, for the Seven's power most clearly made manifest in this world, hold a new-born child in your hands. I firmly believe that every child is a miracle, given directly from the Seven, yet due to how commonplace they are, we overlook this; and instead elevate the works of man, blinding ourselves to just how many blessings the Seven truly bestow upon us."
Aware that her chosen argument could anger this strangely intense Septon as easily as please him, depending on how emotionally attached he was to the building, Laena carefully controls her breathing, and watches his face for signs she needs to make an early departure. Not for no reason had she delayed her introduction.
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Post by Septon Abelar on Jul 2, 2018 23:27:53 GMT 1
Abelar's face lightens as Laena contrasts the beauty of the sept with simple holiness of newborn babes. He's pleased with the response, but he does not quite smile.
"Uncommon virtue blooms from the common child, it is true. I find children delightful in their innocence. And some great structures are built with bricks of ruin joined by the mortar of sin. Harrenhal is one, the Red Keep another." Ignoring the echoing yelps and coos from Laena's children, he continues, challenging her point now. "However, let us not forget that children come from mortals, as well as from the Seven. Blood tells, and the sins of the parents may run to the offspring--who are already born into a world of temptation and vice. Some are not swayed by holy words alone . . . they require mighty symbols to set them on the path to righteousness." He points upwards. "Symbols like this one."
His gaze returns to hers and he lowers his voice so that just the two of them can hear. "But tell me, Lady Dragon, when you look out among the unwashed crowds, do you rest easy, knowing the Seven's will has been made done? Do you retire early, satisfied with their course and their aim?"
"Or do you look out and see only the peril that lies ready to ensnare them, and the promise they will reap if they allow themselves to be led?"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 3, 2018 1:37:03 GMT 1
Emboldened by the Septon engaging with her argument, Laena counters his words, while being acutely aware that she could well be walking into a verbal trap. She keeps her voice low; maybe to avoid disturbing other worshippers, maybe for privacy. "Respectfully, Septon, I believe it to be rare that a sinner is averted from their chosen sin by a building. While I do not claim to be intimately familiar with the thought processes of every sinner about every sin, I do believe that in the majority of cases, they are deterred by the fear of being caught and *punished*.
"To bring it to a single sin as an example, one I have personally battled since my adolescence; say there were ... twenty septs, just as grand if not grander than this one, all around Highgarden, but the only 'punishment' a lady faced for indulging her lust outside of marriage was cheers from other ladies, and being asked to rate the skill of her chosen companion, do you not agree that any current blight of licentious behaviour we face would be dwarfed by that which would exist in this hypothetical alternative?
"Love and Fear are the prime motivators. Love of the Seven, and Fear of the punishment. Those who obey through love of the Seven will do their best to obey, building or not, though without guidance, they may unwillingly stray. Those who obey through fear are affected not by buildings, but solely by how harsh the punishment, and how likely they are to be caught." A small sigh. "And there are those who try their best to act with love, but whose spirit may fall to weakness on occasion. It is fortunate that it is during such times that we are most affected by fear, which can keep us from doing things we would regret when our spirit is restored.
"Now, I realise that I am ignoring divine punishment. The Seven see all, after all. And that is quite deliberate, due to a fault in human nature. Say you were to tell me you have a knife, and, depending on my actions, you may stab me, I would certainly be cautious, but I would not be nearly so *frightened* as if I were to see you stab someone standing next to me, then brandish the bloody knife in front of my face. *Seeing* the punishment makes it more impactful, more 'real', for lack of a better word. Many ladies have seen other ladies ostracised and effectively banished for indiscretions, but to the best of my knowledge, none have personally witnessed any burning in the Seven Hells, for all that that is almost certainly their ultimate fate. As such, it is the *mortal* punishments which carry a much greater impact than the *divine* punishments, even if the latter is in fact, both more severe and inescapable.
"Let us return to our previous example: were all Septons to preach that the Seven had changed their mind, and that adultery was no longer a sin, but mortal reactions were unchanged - a lady still faced ostracisation and effective exile - do you believe that we would have an increase in immoral behaviour anywhere near the magnitude of that in the hypothetical where mortal laws were changed, but not divine?
"And given that it is *divine* punishment that symbols like this building remind the people of, I argue that you could have a greater impact on preventing immoral behaviour by taking the money that is used to build and maintain this place, and use it to hire many more sharp-eyed guards to keep watch on the . actions .. of ... the .... people."
Laena trails off from her speech, face steadily turning brighter and brighter red. After a few seconds, she speaks up, not quite so confident. "I'm so sorry, Septon. Septon Forrest enjoys the company, so I get into quite long debates with him. As soon as the subject turned to such a topic, I just fell into old habits, but in a tourney such as this, I imagine your time is precious." The burning reaches her ears.
"Um. So, moving on to your question." She takes a breath to calm herself, and to consider the question. After a few moments, she shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Septon. I cannot see a man or woman's soul simply by looking. I do not rest easy, but not through worry of other people's souls, rather I worry for my own, for I must always remain strong and vigilant against inheriting my father's sins; as sure as the waves against the rocks, but much more erosive.
"Maybe they are all pious folk, who will try to always do the right thing. Maybe they are a handful of words from raising arms against the Seven themselves. The Father will judge them fairly either way; that is beyond me."
Well, crap. Laena gets *seriously* long-winded when entering debate-mode. Sorry for dumping all that on you.
Also, not entirely sure I grasped your meaning in your final question, but figured the confusion (if any) could be IC as well.
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Post by Septon Abelar on Jul 3, 2018 4:51:57 GMT 1
Emboldened by the Septon engaging with her argument, Laena counters his words, while being acutely aware that she could well be walking into a verbal trap. She keeps her voice low; maybe to avoid disturbing other worshippers, maybe for privacy. "Respectfully, Septon, I believe it to be rare that a sinner is averted from their chosen sin by a building. While I do not claim to be intimately familiar with the thought processes of every sinner about every sin, I do believe that in the majority of cases, they are deterred by the fear of being caught and *punished*. "To bring it to a single sin as an example, one I have personally battled since my adolescence; say there were ... twenty septs, just as grand if not grander than this one, all around Highgarden, but the only 'punishment' a lady faced for indulging her lust outside of marriage was cheers from other ladies, and being asked to rate the skill of her chosen companion, do you not agree that any current blight of licentious behaviour we face would be dwarfed by that which would exist in this hypothetical alternative? "Love and Fear are the prime motivators. Love of the Seven, and Fear of the punishment. Those who obey through love of the Seven will do their best to obey, building or not, though without guidance, they may unwillingly stray. Those who obey through fear are affected not by buildings, but solely by how harsh the punishment, and how likely they are to be caught." A small sigh. "And there are those who try their best to act with love, but whose spirit may fall to weakness on occasion. It is fortunate that it is during such times that we are most affected by fear, which can keep us from doing things we would regret when our spirit is restored. Septon Abelar waits respectfully for Laena to finish her strain of argument. "Perhaps I was not clear enough. I think beautiful buildings are just one example of the sort of man-made, rather than divine, bulwark of faith. Man-made punishment is another of these. As you say, love and fear are powerful motivators. The beauty of the statues here, the thund'rous hymns, the holy oil--these may swell a simple man's heart so that he finds it in himself to love the gods, just as the lash, the crow's cage, and the executioner's block may awaken his fear of hell." He gestures to himself and the septa. "If man-made assistance were useless in matters of faith, we would have no use for us, let alone mighty septs.""Now, I realise that I am ignoring divine punishment. The Seven see all, after all. And that is quite deliberate, due to a fault in human nature. Say you were to tell me you have a knife, and, depending on my actions, you may stab me, I would certainly be cautious, but I would not be nearly so *frightened* as if I were to see you stab someone standing next to me, then brandish the bloody knife in front of my face. *Seeing* the punishment makes it more impactful, more 'real', for lack of a better word. Many ladies have seen other ladies ostracised and effectively banished for indiscretions, but to the best of my knowledge, none have personally witnessed any burning in the Seven Hells, for all that that is almost certainly their ultimate fate. As such, it is the *mortal* punishments which carry a much greater impact than the *divine* punishments, even if the latter is in fact, both more severe and inescapable. He sighs. "There is no man more remorseful than me that the Seven do not immediately open the pit to hell beneath the sinner's feet. It would have a most clarifying effect, though it would complicate the situation of those who would repent with time. A trade-off that I for one, would be happy to take. Alas, all the more reason for mortals to dole out the wages of sin at the tip of the lash.""Let us return to our previous example: were all Septons to preach that the Seven had changed their mind, and that adultery was no longer a sin, but mortal reactions were unchanged - a lady still faced ostracisation and effective exile - do you believe that we would have an increase in immoral behaviour anywhere near the magnitude of that in the hypothetical where mortal laws were changed, but not divine? "And given that it is *divine* punishment that symbols like this building remind the people of, I argue that you could have a greater impact on preventing immoral behaviour by taking the money that is used to build and maintain this place, and use it to hire many more sharp-eyed guards to keep watch on the . actions .. of ... the .... people." Laena trails off from her speech, face steadily turning brighter and brighter red. After a few seconds, she speaks up, not quite so confident. "I'm so sorry, Septon. Septon Forrest enjoys the company, so I get into quite long debates with him. As soon as the subject turned to such a topic, I just fell into old habits, but in a tourney such as this, I imagine your time is precious." The burning reaches her ears. Abelar's face brightens. "I do like the idea of increasing the Faith's funds. As for guards, we are forbidden from arming ourselves and have been for nigh a hundred and fifty years, but I do not mislike the idea. If you believe piety requires punishment, then the Faith should possess powers of enforcement. What sorts of powers would you see devolve to the church?""Um. So, moving on to your question." She takes a breath to calm herself, and to consider the question. After a few moments, she shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Septon. I cannot see a man or woman's soul simply by looking. I do not rest easy, but not through worry of other people's souls, rather I worry for my own, for I must always remain strong and vigilant against inheriting my father's sins; as sure as the waves against the rocks, but much more erosive. "Maybe they are all pious folk, who will try to always do the right thing. Maybe they are a handful of words from raising arms against the Seven themselves. The Father will judge them fairly either way; that is beyond me." Abelar does not miss the reference to her father's sins, but he chooses to press a different point. "Perhaps I muddied my words. Let me put it this way. When King Aegon set out to unite the Seven Kingdoms, he did not merely wait for the petty kings to sort themselves out and do the right thing. He imposed his will through blood and fire, and followed up with treaties and agreements. Man-made artifice to bind his new kingdom together. Expecting men and women to sort out their own faith is no less foolish than Aegon refusing to conquer. They need the sermon and the lash; the towering statues to make them feel small and the hymn's crescendo to make them great."
Well, crap. Laena gets *seriously* long-winded when entering debate-mode. Sorry for dumping all that on you.
Also, not entirely sure I grasped your meaning in your final question, but figured the confusion (if any) could be IC as well.No worries on length.
The final question was deliberately written to have two meanings.
In literal terms, Abelar was asking Laena whether she thinks the masses should be left to their own devices as to matters of virtue and piety, or whether they need to be guided through man-made efforts like religious icons. However, the subtext of the question is a challenge to Laena as to whether she sees herself as a leader with an affirmative vision for the world, or in the alternative, someone who is content to let the chits fall where they may.
The idea Abelar is pushing is that if people need strong leadership and man-made structure in matters of politics, then they likewise need it in matters of piety. To get there, he's putting her Targaryen identity under threat ("Tell me, Lady Dragon . . . ") in order to get her to endorse the idea of forceful political leadership. If she does so, then his riposte will be to argue that men wander in matters of faith at least as much as in politics, and therefore require the forceful hand of the Faith to keep them in line.
Does that help? |
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 3, 2018 12:56:28 GMT 1
Septon Abelar waits respectfully for Laena to finish her strain of argument. "Perhaps I was not clear enough. I think beautiful buildings are just one example of the sort of man-made, rather than divine, bulwark of faith. Man-made punishment is another of these. As you say, love and fear are powerful motivators. The beauty of the statues here, the thund'rous hymns, the holy oil--these may swell a simple man's heart so that he finds it in himself to love the gods, just as the lash, the crow's cage, and the executioner's block may awaken his fear of hell." He gestures to himself and the septa. "If man-made assistance were useless in matters of faith, we would have no use for us, let alone mighty septs."Laena simply nods, willing to concede the point of services swelling a simple man's heart, and unwilling to touch a position where she may accidentally argue against the utility of the people of the faith. He sighs. "There is no man more remorseful than me that the Seven do not immediately open the pit to hell beneath the sinner's feet. It would have a most clarifying effect, though it would complicate the situation of those who would repent with time. A trade-off that I for one, would be happy to take. Alas, all the more reason for mortals to dole out the wages of sin at the tip of the lash.""I do believe in the value of, and am thankful for, the possibility of redemption. I feel that alone tells us a lot about the character of the Seven - while I posited that love and fear are the two great motivators, it seems clear that the Seven wish for us to act predominantly out of love. They let us know of the Seven Hells so as to not be dishonest, but they do not wield the threat as a cudgel, effective as it would be. Rather, they let us act in a seeming void, allowing us to expose our true natures. Sad to say that weakness of spirit happens to many at times in their lives. While I have remarked that fear of punishment is great at such a time for keeping a person on the right path, should an otherwise-pious individual fall off the righteous path while walking through the darkest night of their soul, it feels right to me that, should they be able to stand up and find their way back to their path, they should be allowed back on, once suitable penance has been paid. I firmly believe that the Seven find joy in every soul that reaches the heavens, and mourn every soul lost to the hells." Abelar's face brightens. "I do like the idea of increasing the Faith's funds. As for guards, we are forbidden from arming ourselves and have been for nigh a hundred and fifty years, but I do not mislike the idea. If you believe piety requires punishment, then the Faith should possess powers of enforcement. What sorts of powers would you see devolve to the church?"Laena gives an apologetic grimace. "Apologies, Septon. Poor phrasing appears to have gotten your hopes up. I do not support reviving the Faith Militant. Our society works by ensuring each person save the king has but a single mortal lord, so that there are no conflicting orders. In far too many instances, that situation has not ended well, however well-intentioned. "The guards I referred to were ordinary guards of the local lord. Hopefully pious men, certainly, but not holy men. I believe that many sins are committed as moments of weakness on the spur of the moment. By increasing the chance of such sins being spotted, you make such improvised sins take more time and effort to commit, hopefully giving time for reason and piety to take over their thinking. This also serves the double purpose of helping ensure the populace obeys their mortal lord's laws, as well." "And I do believe in punishment, but also believe that at least most impiety already carries punishment. A lady who knows a man before marriage may not face a flogging, but she certainly faces significantly reduced options, her chances of a good marriage reducing to near nil. Just because it may not be a formal crime does not mean that there is no punishment." Abelar does not miss the reference to her father's sins, but he chooses to press a different point. "Perhaps I muddied my words. Let me put it this way. When King Aegon set out to unite the Seven Kingdoms, he did not merely wait for the petty kings to sort themselves out and do the right thing. He imposed his will through blood and fire, and followed up with treaties and agreements. Man-made artifice to bind his new kingdom together. Expecting men and women to sort out their own faith is no less foolish than Aegon refusing to conquer. They need the sermon and the lash; the towering statues to make them feel small and the hymn's crescendo to make them great."Laena considers the Septon's point for a good few seconds, eyes flicking about as she considers possible counter-arguments, before she finally slumps her shoulders slightly, looks down, and waves a hand in surrender. "I concede. To be clear, I was not advocating for any reduction in the *members* of the Faith, merely questioning the utility of its buildings. But by contextualizing them as you do, I can see their purpose. Like many things in society, viewed in isolation, a thing may be seen as of limited utility, for it is only when seen as part of a greater whole that its purpose becomes clear." She shakes her head. "*Every* time." she mutters, almost to herself. "I'm supposed to be smart. Yet I still try and debate Septons and Septas in matters of faith. Hubris is a sin, too." She seems to come out of herself, shakes her head clear, then focuses back on the Septon, giving him a small curtsey. "Thank you for your time and wisdom, Septon." |
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Post by Septon Abelar on Jul 5, 2018 3:21:00 GMT 1
"I do believe in the value of, and am thankful for, the possibility of redemption. I feel that alone tells us a lot about the character of the Seven - while I posited that love and fear are the two great motivators, it seems clear that the Seven wish for us to act predominantly out of love. They let us know of the Seven Hells so as to not be dishonest, but they do not wield the threat as a cudgel, effective as it would be. Rather, they let us act in a seeming void, allowing us to expose our true natures. Sad to say that weakness of spirit happens to many at times in their lives. While I have remarked that fear of punishment is great at such a time for keeping a person on the right path, should an otherwise-pious individual fall off the righteous path while walking through the darkest night of their soul, it feels right to me that, should they be able to stand up and find their way back to their path, they should be allowed back on, once suitable penance has been paid. I firmly believe that the Seven find joy in every soul that reaches the heavens, and mourn every soul lost to the hells." Laena gives an apologetic grimace. "Apologies, Septon. Poor phrasing appears to have gotten your hopes up. I do not support reviving the Faith Militant. Our society works by ensuring each person save the king has but a single mortal lord, so that there are no conflicting orders. In far too many instances, that situation has not ended well, however well-intentioned. "The guards I referred to were ordinary guards of the local lord. Hopefully pious men, certainly, but not holy men. I believe that many sins are committed as moments of weakness on the spur of the moment. By increasing the chance of such sins being spotted, you make such improvised sins take more time and effort to commit, hopefully giving time for reason and piety to take over their thinking. This also serves the double purpose of helping ensure the populace obeys their mortal lord's laws, as well." "And I do believe in punishment, but also believe that at least most impiety already carries punishment. A lady who knows a man before marriage may not face a flogging, but she certainly faces significantly reduced options, her chances of a good marriage reducing to near nil. Just because it may not be a formal crime does not mean that there is no punishment." Abelar looks a bit crestfallen as he realizes Laena was not advocating the creation of a religious guard. “Matters of law and justice have ever been rooted in the faith as much as in the crown. It is the High Septon who anoints the King, blessing mortal rule as the vicar of the Seven in Westeros. Septons preside over marriages, and, on behalf of lords, trials. Many septons have held high office as well—Barth and Murmison each served as Hand of the King.” He gets a wistful look as he thinks about it. “The first High Septon ruled Oldtown for twenty years as House Hightower’s regent. Those days were different. Of course, we must give the disbandment of the Faith Militant all the respect it is due—King Jaehaerys was wise and just in many ways, and the new order that he forged is now old and familiar. I can only pray that it is adequate to withstand the waves of sin that crash upon our rocks.” Laena considers the Septon's point for a good few seconds, eyes flicking about as she considers possible counter-arguments, before she finally slumps her shoulders slightly, looks down, and waves a hand in surrender. "I concede. To be clear, I was not advocating for any reduction in the *members* of the Faith, merely questioning the utility of its buildings. But by contextualizing them as you do, I can see their purpose. Like many things in society, viewed in isolation, a thing may be seen as of limited utility, for it is only when seen as part of a greater whole that its purpose becomes clear." She shakes her head. "*Every* time." she mutters, almost to herself. "I'm supposed to be smart. Yet I still try and debate Septons and Septas in matters of faith. Hubris is a sin, too." She seems to come out of herself, shakes her head clear, then focuses back on the Septon, giving him a small curtsey. "Thank you for your time and wisdom, Septon." Sensing that their conversation is at an end, the septon clasps his hands in a pious pose and bows to Laena. “May the Mother bless your children.” |
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 5, 2018 4:13:52 GMT 1
Laena smiles. "Thank you, Septon." She begins turning towards the statue of the mother, then halts her movement, and returns her focus to the Septon. "Before I go, might I have your name?"
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Post by Septon Abelar on Jul 5, 2018 4:23:04 GMT 1
"I am Abelar, septon to House Blackbriar. And your name, my lady?"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 5, 2018 4:45:01 GMT 1
Note: Chronologically, I see this happening before the Bread and Salt ceremony, since that is scheduled for the evening.
Laena stares at the Septon for a couple of moments. "Of *course* you are." she mutters dryly. "Next time I will make sure to introduce myself properly *before* engaging in conversation with an unknown person." Focusing on the Septon again, she lowers her head slightly. "My apologies, Septon. I did not mean to imply with my arguing that a woman of my tender years could possibly understand matters of the faith anywhere near as well as a well-published scholar such as yourself.
"As for my name, well," she tucks her hair behind her ear, "This is doubly awkward, now." She takes a deep breath. "I am Laena Pyre, distant cousin to the Starkwoods."
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Post by Septon Abelar on Jul 5, 2018 23:37:27 GMT 1
"No need for apologies my lady. I am always pleased to chance upon a member of House Starkwood in a sept, especially one with such lively opinions." It's a backhanded sort of thing to say; a clear allusion to the Starkwoods' reputation for lax piety. But at the same time, she did choose to come here soon after arriving. "You are widowed are you not? Will you be seeking a new husband? If not, your interest in the faith would make you an excellent septa." He says it truthfully, but both of them know that those with the blood of the dragon are not destined to a life of cloth, quiet, and prayer.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 5, 2018 23:54:47 GMT 1
She nods. "Widowed, and recently out of mourning." A flash of ... something crosses her face when he mentions her joining the faith, but it passes so quickly it could have been just a tic. "I take your suggestion as a compliment, but I feel I'd be ill-suited to such a life. So, yes, I am hunting for a new husband." Her choice of words seems entirely unconscious.
"So, that is my objective for this tourney laid bare, how about you, Septon? Aside from ensuring that none of the Blackbriar delegation fall prey to the many temptations of Highgarden, what goals do you wish to accomplish during your time here?"
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Post by Septon Abelar on Jul 6, 2018 0:17:08 GMT 1
"If I satisfied my druthers, the many temptations of Highgarden would be hanging from crow's cages all around the castle. Alas." It's possible this is a jest, though the septon delivers it with the same self-assured zeal that has accompanied all his comments. "And the Blackbriar delegation will lead by example. I am not here to wet-nurse them. I advise Lord Jon on matters of faith. He is here, so I am here."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 6, 2018 0:58:45 GMT 1
"'Matters of Faith'?" She asks. "That could carry any number of meanings. Faith isn't something you do, it's who you are. It's a question of how close to your heart you keep the Seven when determining your path forwards. As such, you could justifiably claim that *every* matter is a matter of faith.
"Is that how you define it, Septon Abelar? Specifically, do you advise Lord Jon on matters of politics, such as relationships with other houses? Or do you define it more narrowly, for example, to more purely spiritual matters?"
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