Words over Steel
Twenty Ninth Day of the First Month 294 AC
To tell the truth there is nothing Norvos could give you that you would have need for. There is a point to be made about restitution for those their 'bandits' harmed, but beyond symbolism there is no reason why your own coffers cannot do the same. "I merely wish for you to use this incident as an opportunity. There are clearly forces within your clergy who wish to engender hostilities between Norvos and the Imperium." At this point there is no reason to be coy, you motion towards the First Axe... to rather more immediate results than you had hoped for.
"Heathen. blood guzzling witch!" In the moment it takes you to realize he is not accusing you of being secretly female but a magician who traffics with dark powers, the priest snatches out his axe, quickly followed by three of his fellows and about a third of the Hearthguard. "You come here speaking of peace and seek to sow discord in the bosom of the God's hallowed temple."
Oathkeeper hisses faintly, the sound of steel scraping drake leather, the sound of fire crackling in the air, but Ser Richard does not draw it. Sandor follows suit and for a moment no one speaks, though even upon her diminutive silvered features you can see Dany would very much wish to hurl an arcane curse.
"I do not care how you do it," you continue coolly, still addressing the Voice as though you had not been interrupted. "Now that you are aware of the issue, holy one, it is your responsibility to address it, unless of course you would like to claim these bloody deeds as more than the doing of rogue priests."
"The internal politics of Norvos are of no concern of you and yours," Mikaelos Erdent replies, his voice only a touch shaken on the first few syllables, but recovering thereafter. "You can, however, rest assured that the matter will be dealt with." Suddenly addressing the First Axe, he commands, "
Sit down, Steafanos. This is not yet a battlefield, nor a trial ground..." as an amulet hidden under this rawhide vestments flashes and for a moment almost too fleeting to catch he is...
more.
This is not the flaming display of R'hllor in Lys but you will remember it just the same. The First Axe and those with him certainly will, and not charitably from the looks they give the Voice under knotted brows.
"Good," you nod. "Know that my patience in this matter is already spent. Should another such incident occur there will be
consequences for Norvos." You are almost tempted to add the faith to the threat, but you realize it might push the Voice into a corner of having to defend his god even at the cost of rash action. You are trying to threaten not goad, after all, though the line can be quite thin at times.
"Should you deal with the matter well, perhaps there might be discussions into more profitable matters in the future," Garin interjects, playing the part of the greedy Braavosi magnate that they would expect, but also leaving a door open that you could not afford to.
The Voice does not scoff, you notice, though many of his fellows do. One or two look interested. You mark their names and faces well, as Garin does no doubt. It is always good to give the inquisition as much of a head start in a new place as you can. With that you part ways, hopefully not to meet again anytime soon. You have other matters to see to, though you are not yet done in Qohor.
***
The Fountain of the Dancing Goat is obviously some sculptor's attempt to mock the black boat of Qohor, showing an inebriated goat dancing on its hind legs and in the process of tripping over a rock as water gushes from its nostrils as well as the amphorae at its side, but you are not here to critique ancient art.
"She's good," Tyene mutters, pointing out an old woman taking her ease in the heat upon one of the worn stone benches. "No magic just a really good disguise. That is probably how she slips by the priests. Magicians expect to find magic at the root of all their troubles, but skill alone can be a dangerous thing."
"Skill undirected can be all the more so," Dany murmurs at your other side. "I hope she isn't too wed to the notion of you being and instrument of her god."
How do you address the R'hllorite rebel?
[] As a friend of the faith
[] As one concerned with the freeing of slaves
[] Write in
OOC: You guys failed the spellcraft roll to figure out what class the high priest is unfortunately, but other than that things went well.
