Emissary of Peace
Ninth Day of the Ninth Month 293 AC
You take a seat as though unaccustomed to such leisure and faintly uncomfortable with it. "Ah, fortuitous is sadly not what I would call them. I have traveled most of the realm in recent years, from the Iron Isles to the Crownlands, from the North to the Reach, with Dorne and the Stormlands the only places I've yet to set foot. There were many hardships to be endured, many dark moments I bore witness too and far too little hope and brightness in between. But is it not said that its hardships are the Smith's hammer to forge a man's character?"
The words grow stronger in the speaking as though Dywen is gaining confidence from his passion, carefully balancing the image you present. On the one hand it must be earnest enough for the good septon not to feel in any way threatened and yet also skillful enough with words do be worthy of being invited to speak before the Conclave. "Then again, for each and every monster and demon whose vile acts I came across, far too often it was not their dark touch that brought the greatest ruin to the people. It was fear, pure and simple. Fear of the unknown. Fear of the different. Fear that sprung from honest hearts in their confusion, but also fear that was poured like poison by those hungering for power over the hopeless."
"Truly these are dark times," Kyle sighs softly, his eyes growing distant as if seeming to gaze upon some unwelcome memory, such that you might almost think him sincere since were you not armed with insights born of sorcery and elder memory. "I have been mostly blessed to work with those who understand the dangers of the fear you speak, those willing to reach out, rather than strike away the hand offered in friendship. Were this another time I would gladly listen to your tales, bother, for I sense in you a wisdom hard-earned. Alas that we must now concern ourselves with spreading the truth to those who close their eyes against it rather than polishing our own understanding. Tell me, brother, what message would you bring the Conclave?"
"I have no grand goal when I wish to speak at the Conclave, no agenda to argue for and no sermons to preach. All I want is to fight that fear. To have the people remember that it is not the power of a septons frock to make its bearer a saint, and neither that all that is not like ourselves is the work of fiends and damnation," you reply truthfully, even if the way you would achieve it is very different from what Most Devout Kyle would have done. "If I had to name one thing that I learned in my travels then it is this. By the blade and in the poisoned heart, no virtue can grow, and in these strange days, the judgement will be terrible if we forget these lessons."
"Then I fear you will find little in common with Brother Lucan, my friend, for he is very much a man of the sword. That was his calling before he took his vows, you know. Alas that he does not seem to have left it behind." He pauses, more for effect than in genuine thought you would judge. "Tell me, Brother Dywen, have you learned anything of angels in your wanderings?"
You open your mouth to give an answer much as you did Lord Hightower, though of course without the practical demonstration before changing your mind at the last moment. He would trust you more if he felt he had a hand in shaping your beliefs. "I have not learned much of such things beyond the fact that even the most well-meaning spirit cannot truly know the trials and tribulations of mortality. The world has changed since Hugor walked upon the hills of Andalos, and so the Faith must change with it, not walk backwards in our own steps."
"Well said, as far as it goes," the septon offers praise as a teacher upon a student. "Such angelic spirits reflect an aspect of the righteous souls that have come before us, strong in faith and full of insights few among the living possess, but not possessed of the sublime knowledge of the Seven-Who-Are-One, so be not afraid to set your words against them at need."
Because having a barefoot wanderer do so would be ever so much more convenient for you, wouldn't it? you snort inwardly. Aloud you say only, "Thine words are fair as they are wise, Most Devout."
"Excellent," Kyle replies, and that much you believe is the full unvarnished truth.
How could it not be when you have seemed to present him so perfect a pawn? "I am organizing a meeting in three days time with like-minded Godsworn and other allies of our cause, to converse on matters of the Conclave... of strategy if you will, though that has a rather more nefarious edge than it deserves. The voices of reason should stand together, after all."
You simply nod, guessing what is coming next, but not wishing to seem presumptuous.
"If you wish to attend my door is open to you. I am sure your tales will be of great use in formulating our agreements, and if you so wish I know I will be able to find two Elders willing to add their voices to mine so that you may speak at the Conclave. It would do us well to remember that not all those who would support peace and safety for the realm are great lords."
"Thank you, brother, your generosity gladdens my heart," you reply, still playing the part of the awed begging brother with the gift of a silver tongue.
What do you do next?
[] Approach the Lantern Bearers to help them deal with at least the Deep One plot you know of once and for all
-[] Write in
[] Use Archmaester Ryam's invitation to infiltrate the Citadel
-[] Write in
[] Approach one of the other factions
-[] Write in
OOC: This was supposed to be a 2 or even a 3 update conversation, but then you rolled solidly over 15 on all your checks with nat 20 thrown in while Kyle's sense motive (buffed though it was by both magic and circumstance) did not get a single roll over 11 so you just rolled over him. That said, even under the circumstances, he is not willing to guarantee entrance without first showing you to others in his faction because that would seem enormously highhanded. It's very unusual for a begging brother to speak at a Conclave of the Faith, so you still have one more step before being granted access.
