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 Benerro by mustamirri © | ||||
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| Titles | ||||
| Allegiance | R'hllor | |||
| Culture | Volantis | |||
| Book | A Dance with Dragons (appears) | |||
Benerro is the High Priest at the Temple of the Lord of Light in the Free City of Volantis. His right hand is the red priest Moqorro.[1]
Appearance and Character
Benerro is a tall and thin man with a gaunt face and a lipless mouth. His skin is white as milk. Red flame tattoos cover his cheeks, chin, and shaven head. His high voice carries well.[2]
The High Priest preaches from a red stone pillar which connects to a lofty terrace of the Temple of the Lord of Light by slender stone bridge.[2] Benerro can make flames leap from his fingers, and can trace fire in the air to form Valyrian glyphs.[2] He also claims to be able to see the future in his flames.[2]
Moqorro considers Benerro to be a righteous slave.[3] The ruling triarchs of Volantis live in great fear of Benerro.[2]
History
Benerro was bought by the red temple while enslaved as a child.[2]
Recent Events
A Dance with Dragons
At the Temple of the Lord of Light in Volantis, Benerro preaches that Daenerys Targaryen is Azor Ahai reborn, and he encourages many to support her. He says that Volantis will burn if the triarchs take up arms against Daenerys, and that they have "turned away from the light". Thousands of slaves and freedmen crowd the temple plaza to hear Benerro preach every night.[4]
In Selhorys, outside a red temple, Tyrion Lannister and Haldon overhear a red priest relating Benerro's word of Daenerys to a throng of people, mostly slaves. Haldon thinks they may be able to use Benerro's preachings to advance the cause of Prince Aegon Targaryen, and goes to find more information from Qavo Nogarys. The customs officer tells them that Benerro's "rantings" have instigated fighting between the followers of R'hllor and those who worship other gods. He says that Benerro and the other red priests should be quiet, or there will be retaliation.[4]
Benerro's preaching unnerves the triarchs, because four out of every five inhabitants of Volantis are slaves, and they fear an uprising. However, the triarchs are powerless to stop him, because half of the city guard, the tiger cloaks, worship R'hllor. Triarch Malaquo attempts to hire the Golden Company to kill Benerro and purge the temple of his followers, but the sellswords refuse.[2]
Not long after the arrival of Tyrion and Ser Jorah Mormont in Volantis, they make their way to the Long Bridge, and pass the red temple as Benerro is preaching. The crowd is packed solid, and they watch the priest address his followers. When Benerro's voice rises to a crescendo, Tyrion recognizes Doom and Darkness among the Valyrian glyphs of flame which leap from his fingers. Benerro points at the Black Wall and preaches that Daenerys is in danger, and he riles up the crowd. The mood of the crowd unnerves Tyrion, reminding him of the day of the riot of King's Landing. He thinks it is a very bad idea for Aegon to try to ally with Benerro, and hopes that Jon Connington has better sense than Haldon.[2]
Benerro secretly sends his right hand, Moqorro, as an emissary to Daenerys in Meereen.[2][3] Moqorro and soldiers of the Fiery Hand travel on the ship Selaesori Qhoran,[3] even though the ship's destination is Qarth, because Benerro sees in the flames that the ship will never reach that city.[2] The trading cog is eventually ruined by a storm in the Gulf of Grief, and Moqorro is lost overboard.[5] Moqorro is rescued from the sea by a longship of Victarion Greyjoy's Iron Fleet that is traveling to Meereen.[6]
Quotes
Benerro has sent forth the word from Volantis. Her coming is the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. From smoke and salt was she born to make the world anew. She is Azor Ahai returned... and her triumph over darkness will bring a summer that will never end... death itself will bend its knee, and all those who die fighting in her cause shall be reborn...[4]
Give me priests who are fat and corrupt and cynical, the sort who like to sit on soft satin cushions, nibble sweetmeats, and diddle little boys. It's the ones who believe in gods who make the trouble.[4]
—Tyrion Lannister, to Haldon
Qavo: Benerro's rantings will only serve to bring a savage wrath down upon his head.
Tyrion: What rantings?
Qavo: In Volantis, thousands of slaves and freedmen crowd the temple plaza every night to hear Benerro shriek of bleeding stars and a sword of fire that will cleanse the world. He has been preaching that Volantis will surely burn if the triarchs take up arms against the silver queen.[4]
Flames had been tattooed across his cheeks and chin and shaven head to make a bright red mask that crackled about his eyes and coiled down and around his lipless mouth.[2]
—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
When his voice rose in a crescendo, flames leapt from his fingers with a sudden whoosh and made the crowd gasp. The priest could trace fiery letters in the air as well. Valyrian glyphs. Tyrion recognized perhaps two in ten; one was Doom, the other Darkness.[2]
—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
Shouts erupted from the crowd. Women were weeping and men were shaking their fists. I have a bad feeling about this. The dwarf was reminded of the day Myrcella sailed for Dorne and the riot that boiled up as they made their way back to the Red Keep. Haldon Halfmaester had spoken of using the red priest to Young Griff's advantage, Tyrion recalled. Now that he had seen and heard the man himself, that struck him as a very bad idea. He hoped that Griff had better sense. Some allies are more dangerous than enemies.[2]
—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion: What is he saying?
Jorah: That Daenerys stands in peril. The dark eye has fallen upon her, and the minions of night are plotting her destruction, praying to their false gods in temples of deceit... conspiring at betrayal with godless outlanders...[2]
Prince Aegon will find no friend here. The red priest spoke of ancient prophecy, a prophecy that foretold the coming of a hero to deliver the world from darkness. One hero. Not two. Daenerys has dragons, Aegon does not. The dwarf did not need to be a prophet himself to foresee how Benerro and his followers might react to a second Targaryen.[2]
—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
Benerro can see the morrow in his flames. Triarch Malaquo tried to hire the Golden Company, did you know? He meant to clean out the red temple and put Benerro to the sword. He dare not use tiger cloaks. Half of them worship the Lord of Light as well. Oh, these are dire days in Old Volantis, even for wrinkled old widows.[2]
Lord of Light, bless your slave Moqorro, and light his way in the dark places of the world. And defend your righteous slave Benerro. Grant him courage. Grant him wisdom. Fill his heart with fire.[3]
—prayers of Moqorro
References
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Appendix.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 27, Tyrion VII.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 33, Tyrion VIII.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 22, Tyrion VI.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 40, Tyrion IX.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 56, The Iron Suitor.