Septon Titus' Quarters - The Starry Sept

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

Titus has a luxurious room in the Starry Sept.  His ornate bed is hung with embroidered images of the star symbol of the Faith and a set of seven silver figurines stand on the mantelpiece, representing each of the Seven.  Their eyes are formed of tiny jewels, a different colour for each figurine.  Titus' elaborate silver robes rest in a hardwood chest carved with seven pointed star.  A bookshelf fills one wall.  On one shelf there are half a dozen copies of the Seven Pointed Star, the most famous religious text of the Faith.  One of the copies is old and dog-eared, the other five are bound in dyed leather with jewelled clasps and filled with gorgeous illuminations, gifts from nobles attempting to curry favour with the princely septon.  A pretty Myrish carpet decorates the floor and there are two armchairs and a low table near the door.  Titus' silver crown of office sits on a shelf when he is not wearing it.

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

One afternoon, after a busy morning writing sermons about chastity, temperance and thrift, Titus sent his manservant to deliver an invitation to his dearest friend and close colleague among the Most Devout, inviting the man to dinner. Meanwhile. he opened a bottle of hippocras and settled down to read a large tome on the Ghiscari Empire.

[The Forgotten God]

Septon Urich arrives soon enough, the small man entering quietly and smiling t the dinner prepared. "Seven's blessings, my friend," he greeted. "That wine smells delicious." He takes a seat. "How are you today?"

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

`"I'm well, thank you." Please, take a seat." Titus put aside the book, marking his place with a length of cloth sewn with an elaborate pattern. He indicated the spare seat and began pouring a cup of wine.

"Duty keeps me busy, as well as my other interests. I had thought to make a visit to Highgarden, but I've decided to delay it, due to recent developments. With Grayson and the children going North, there's nobody to stand as buffer between Mern and myself. And I never did like him."

He frowned at the thought of the brother closest to him in age.

"It occurs to me that it is the High Septon's nameday soon enough.  But what can you get the man who has everything he could ever require?"  

[The Forgotten God]

"Prayers," Urich said. "Perhaps a pretty maiden recently flowered." He shrugged. "That wild niece of yours could work. Florys, is it? The one that seduced Ser Galen."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

Titus frowned.  "The girl has too little control over her own actions, it's true, yet I've no desire to see her warming our superior's bed.  I'll serve as no man's pander, birthday gift or no."  Curiously, despite Titus' penchant for taking mistresses, he was famous in Oldtown for his dislike of brothels and similar trades.  "As for prayers, His High Holiness is always in mine.  No, I must think of something else.  I have been too busy to attend upon His Holiness recently.  Tell me how he is.  I must go and beg his forgiveness for my bad manners soon enough, and I would not wish to find His High Holiness in a bad mood."

[The Forgotten God]

Urich shrugged. "He is as ever; garrulous, sanctimonious, judging. A priest," he summed up. "He has been spending overmuch time speaking with foreigners, heathens who do not serve the Seven, but who they are I know not. I've heard Tyroshi." He shook his head. "And another village vanished three days ago, to slavers we believe. Not two days from here. The end times are nigh."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"Damn. We need to do something about that. Send the Faith Militant after them, at least. And Highgarden must needs be informed. I pray that Lady Hightower's people are taking action to protect her smallfolk from further danger."

He paused to take a sip of wine. The servant busied himself laying out the food.

"Perhaps it would be to our advantage to learn why His Holiness is speaking with the Tyroshi."

[The Forgotten God]

"It would, obviously," he agreed. "But only you have the family wealth to do so. They say nothing to anyone else in the city, merely leave when bid." He cut into his food. "The Poor Fellows are setting up watchposts along the coast, but they need more help. They need the Warriors Sons, but the knights are expensive," he said. "Even for Lord Costayne."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"I shall investigate," Titus remarked. "Both matters. I will ask the High Septon to commit the Warriors Sons to help the people. What use is faith if it cannot protect the faithful? I will send word to Highgarden also, and ask for Gardener men. We must wipe out these slavers."

He cut a slice of bread from the loaf of fresh wheaten bread.

"As for the Tyroshi, well, do you know the name of their leader? I would like to meet him."

[The Forgotten God]

"Some unpronounceable blur," he said, "Askanti or some nonsense." He chewed and seemed to ponder. "Their ships are near the sixth pier, you really cannot miss them. The most garish things Ive ever seen float."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

That made Titus laugh. "Well, what do you expect? No ships can match the Redwyne or Hightower fleets for streamlined beauty, and the Tyroshi are well known for their love of bright colours. It's only natural it would extend to their ships as well."

[The Forgotten God]

"You sound like your mistress is a boat," Urich said with a laugh. "Their sails are dyed bloody purple," he laughed. "It not only must be ruinously expensive, but it looks damned stupid. I always thought that longships were streamlined and elegant," he joked.

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

Ships were hardly Titus' area of expertise - he simply asked that they got him from one point to another and did not sink on the way - so he merely shrugged and took a bite of his bread, chewing in silence for a moment.

"I will not pretend to comprehend the Tyroshi mind.  I hope you will have the sense not to tell Talia that she resembles a ship, the next time she invites you to dine with us at her manse," he replied, smiling. "Do you think it possible these visitors have some involvement in this business with slavers?  I did not believe the Tyroshi practiced the slave trade, but it seems to me that a Tyroshi guise might serve as concealment for a slave ship.  After all, trade with Tyrosh flourishes, and the port officials would not suspect such men of foul deeds."

[The Forgotten God]

"Ser Lyle of the watch searched their ships and saw neither slaves nor the equipment or supplies to keep them alive," Urich said. "A very odd business, and there's a dark heart at its center, of that I'm sure. It could be Pyke, it could be lustful sellswords, but the Faith will help root it out," he said again. "How is Talia, then? And the children?"

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"Talia is well. We're to have another child, and my sweet lady is blessed with good health so far." Titus spoke with pride and obvious affection for his mistress. "Little Zhoe's not too pleased, though. Jealous, I suspect. She won't want to share her mother." He sighed. "The older children are fine. They each have their duties. Desmond is my particular pride and joy, though. He'll follow in my footsteps for sure. He's already vowing to become High Septon one day."

[The Forgotten God]

"I trust you've told him that telling the gods your plans only serves to make them laugh?" Urich said. "It is good he seeks to find a path to the Seven as his father did. This wine is exquisite, your sister in laws family is truly blessed," he said.

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"So they are. I won't deny that I enjoy the benefits of my brother's marriage to a Redwyne. I wonder that they don't all become drunkards. Mayhaps they drink so much wine they develop a high tolerance for it in youth?" His grin widened.

[The Forgotten God]

"Perhaps," he allowed, "but the poor can drink as much as the wealthy, that is something any holy man can attest to," he laughed. "Speaking of, the widow Matilda of the spicer's guild tithed less than expected. You may wish to inquire about why."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"I will." Titus racked his brains, trying to remember infornation about the woman. "Do you recall if she's fallen behind before?"

[The Forgotten God]

"Not late, no," he said with some concern, "and her piety is without question. I believe something else is amiss. No one is better situated than you to find out what."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"I will find out," Titus vowed.  "You are determined to keep me busy, aren't you, my friend?"  He smiled and poured more wine.  "But truly, I cannot abide idleness."  He glanced at his pen.  "I believe I shall write a sermon about the evils of idleness when I've a moment to spare."

[The Forgotten God]

"A wise idea," he said. "I have to deal with the bloody Dornish contingent," he said. "So I'd take the tender comforts of the widows any day." He rose. "Speaking of, I must be away to meet the one who leads them, Lord Jordayne is known as an impatient man."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"Ah yes. The Dornish are known to be hot-blooded. Best not offend their leader if we wish to avoid hot words, or worse. I'll wish you good luck, my friend. If you've Dornish red, it would be a good thing to offer Jordayne a cup, as a reminder of home. Not a patch on Redwyne vintages, of course, but no wine is."

Titus swirled the wine in his glass, thoughtful. He did not envy Urich his task.

[The Forgotten God]

Urich nodded. "I'll keep that in mind. Why someone lists for home when being away only a month confuses me but such is the way of man,@ he said. "I thank you again for your hospitality and bid you adieu."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"Good day to you." Titus stood to open the door for his friend,

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

//////

Titus leaves Oldtown for Starfall, accompanied by his entourage. (Predates the Gardeners arriving in Oldtown as Titus was not allowed to leave until time was officially moving).