6th Month of 288 A.C. The Riverlands
Septon Maegor
Maegor had been in the riverlands for a fair few moons now observing the people of the Riverlands and how they responded to this Causter fellow, and he had to be completely honest with himself the reactions are somewhat different to what he had expected. There was none of the zealotry that he had feared would attach itself to the man, instead his followers seemed to be of the more patient and intellectual type, willing to debate and ask questions about what he said. Giving the man and his disciples a chance to answer for themselves instead of relying on force of arms to intimidate people. He had to admit he was thoroughly impressed and he knew the High Septon would be alarmed.
The man himself remained much a mystery to Maegor now as he had done when he had first arrived. He was rarely seen unless preaching or speaking with the smallfolk. It seemed he wished to retain the image he had slowly cultivated of being the people's champion, and that was something Maegor was determined to find out why, why was he so determined to be seen as such, and did this man have any ulterior motive. For so long the faith had been clouded with corruption and men and women trying to do things to further themselves and their families instead of the Faith that it was only a matter of time before something new arose to challenge them. Hence, Maegor felt he was justified in being surprised by the invitation that had come to him from the man, asking if Maegor would be willing to dine with him tonight. Maegor curious as always had accepted the invitation and now dressed in his white robes had come to meet the man in the meagre house he lived in.
Causter, if that was truly his name was a tall man with short cropped brown hair and grey eyes as well as a greying beard. He had a long face and was lean of build. Maegor briefly wondered at his origin before the man spoke. "Thank you for coming Septon Maegor, I was unsure of whether or not you would receive the invitation kindly or not. Considering the line the High Septon has taken."
Causter's voice is oddly soft for a man of his size. Maegor merely nods and says. "I was curious I admit. To meet the man behind the legend. There are many rumours about you, and I wished to distinguish between the legend and the truth."
Causter smiled. "An admirable goal Septon, and one that is quite different from what your other sworn brothers and sisters of the faith have adopted to me and mine."
"And have you given them cause to?" Maegor asks genuinely curious.
"I believe that I may have done so unintentionally. All I have ever wanted is for the corruption in the Faith to be dealt with in a fashion that is suitable and justifiable. For too long the High Septon and the Most Devout have covered up the wrong doings of themselves and their brothers and sisters. I wish to change that." Causter responds.
"And how do you wish to bring about that change? For I too have attempted to bring change to the Faith to little or no avail." Maegor says.
"You, if you will forgive me the bluntness, have not been quick enough nor blunt enough in your attempts to bring about any true change or improvement in the faith." The man replies. Maegor bristles slightly but is also more intrigued by what he has to say. "The Faith as seen by the High Septon and the Most Devout and most of the septons and the septas of Westeros is a very archaic thing. It is not that much changed from how the Andals originally saw their faith upon arriving in Westeros. They see themselves as the struggle between the good and the bad. But they do not realise that in doing this they have become that which they have wished to fight. No longer is the faith as pure as it once was. To bring about change, one must be willing to push boundaries and test limits." Causter responds.
"Is that why you have begun with the idea of the seven truly being separate deities instead of seven who make one?" Maegor asks. "That seems to be a very old style of thinking, something the Andals who made it north adopted."
"Indeed it is. The northerners who follow the faith, I believe have the right idea. The Seven as one, is a mistake that has been created over the centuries as the followers here in the south have begun to try to distance themselves from the true path and true identity of their faith. The Old Gods are the forefathers of the Seven, bringing light to world where before there was only darkness. The Seven are the children left to guide us through this new age. Each one is a separate deity, meant to bring peace and safety to those who worship." The man says.
"And how do you intend to spread your version of the Faith? After all, without the backing of the lords there will be little support for you or your disciples." Maegor asks.
"The arms and voices of the smallfolk have already carried the message further than any lord could. We have presence here in the Riverlands and in the Westerlands as well. Already we are gaining notice and influence. More and more people are following the true way and coming away from the edge of despair. It will not be long until all who follow the faith are following its true version." Causter says an edge of determination in his voice.
"And when the High Septon calls for the armies of the Faith to stand up and fight? What will you do then? Who will defend you?" Maegor asks.
"We shall defend ourselves if necessary. But as the Father does stand and protect his children, I shall take the blows that come our way. For we are a peaceful people and shall not be drawn into unnecessary fighting." The man responds.
"And if that does not protect you?" Maegor presses. "What will you do then?"
"We shall take heard from the Warrior and fight to defend our right to believe what we wish. The High Septon has become a godless man as have many of the Most Devout. It is time that changed." Causter says his voice even.
"How do you propose to do that? The High Septon is considering rearming the faith militant simply to combat what you are and what you stand for. Sooner or later, something will break." Maegor asks.
The man looks at him for a long time, in silence, and Maegor begins to feel that there is something going on here that he has not quite picked up on. Eventually the man breaks the silence and in that deep timber of his says. "That is where you come in Father Maegor. You are a member of the most devout, and have deep rooted connections within the Faith. You are a man who desperately wants the Faith to reform, and yet we both know it will never change into what you wish it to be unless there are changes from within the inside. If you wish for the changes to be made, you must make them."
"What are you proposing?" Maegor asks, not entirely sure he likes where this is going.
"The High Septon must be removed, and he must be removed soon. The Faith is tearing itself apart over many issues, when the true source of the problem lies at its very centre. For the Faith to ever truly evolve, the people in charge must change. And you can lead that change. You are of the blood royal Septon Maegor, you have the strength and the connections to do so. Do not hesitate now. Do not allow the devils of the past influence you." The man says.
Maegor is silent as he considers what the man has said. He will not lie to himself he has considered doing just as this man is suggesting for many years now, ever since his great nephew went mad, he has considered doing something. But he has always held himself in check, not wishing to become like his cousins, or even worse like his own father. But now, now when the world hangs in the balance, perhaps…. "What would you gain from such a move? It is all well and good saying that I would be doing the faith a great service by doing this, but what would you be gaining?"
"A chance to remove the stain that has infected the Faith. A chance to ensure we are all safe for when the day of judgement comes. That is all I shall gain from this."
Maegor looks at the man sceptically. "I have learnt many things during my time in the Faith. And the most important lesson I learnt was that a man who claims he will gain little from an action as grand as this is either a fool or a liar. And I do not believe you a fool Causter. So tell me, and tell me true, what is it you hope to gain from this."
The man smiles and this time his smile is almost feral. "A chance for the light to come back from the darkness. A chance to show that we are not backwards. A chance for revenge, and a chance for justice."
Another long silence follows the man's speech, and in that silence Maegor considers everything he can do. His options are limited either he deals with this man here and now and risk never making it back to King's Landing, or he agrees to this man's suggestion and begins planning for the greatest risk of his life. This is something that has only been achieved once, and even then the man who did it was caught and killed, but not before revealing whom he worked for. To have it be him, a member of the Most Devout would be a sin and a crime greater than the Blackfyres. But then he remembers the High Septon had once been and the man he had become with that crown on his head, and Maegor wonders what it would be like. The witch had said something once about him wearing a crown of rubies, and madness engulfing the realm. That is something that has haunted him for many years, and now he wonders if perhaps this is a chance he gets to determine the fate of Westeros.
He looks at the man who has remained silent throughout his internal deliberations and then he says. "Very well, what would you have of me? And be specific I do not like vagueness."
Causter looks at him with a fixed gaze, those grey eyes looking startlingly familiar, and then his voice is deep. "A simple plan would be put in place for you to deal with the main obstacles in our way, and then when the time comes this plan would be carried out. You would have support of course, in the same way the last such man who carried out a similar plot did. This time there will be no getting caught. The people necessary shall die and then when all is said and done you shall be the hero."
Maegor digests this and then asks. "And it must be me? I must be the one to do it?"
The man nods. "Yes Septon, you have known that it would be you for a very long time. Without you, we cannot bring change to the Faith, and it shall be riven by corruption and greed for the rest of its days. The king is but a babe, there is time yet for us to have influence. Now is the time to make the move. Remove those who must go and we shall not be lost."
Maegor nods and then says with as much determination as he has felt in many a year. "I shall do it. I shall remove the High Septon."