Hunchbacked septon

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Hunchbacked septon
Image of Hunchbacked septon
The hunchbacked septon, illustrated by Mike S. Miller for the The Mystery Knight graphic novel.

Title Septon
Allegiance Faith of the Seven
Culture Rivermen
Died 212 AC
Stoney Sept
Book The Mystery Knight (appears)

A hunchbacked septon was a septon at Stoney Sept living during the reign of King Aerys I Targaryen.[1]

Appearance

He had a hunchback.[1]

History

In 212 AC, the septon preached in the market square of Stoney Sept against Lord Bloodraven, the Hand of the King and half-uncle of King Aerys I Targaryen, and in favor of the Blackfyre Pretenders. For this treason, he was executed, and his head was displayed on an iron spike above the town gates.[1]

When Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg, were leaving Stoney Sept, they saw the head. Duncan thought the face looked familiar, and Egg reminded him they had seen the hunchbacked septon preaching three days earlier. Dunk recalled that Lord Bloodraven was accused of having various sorcerous animal spies, which he doubted, but it was certain that Bloodraven had informers everywhere. After they were a good distance from the town, Dunk argued it was a bad idea to cut off the head of a holy man, as words were merely words, but Egg pointed out the septon's words were treason and lies. Dunk rebutted that it still set a bad precedent, since fools and liars were everywhere.[1]

Later, when Dunk heard Ser Kyle the Cat blaming Bloodraven for the troubles of the realm and saying that many would welcome the return of Bittersteel, he remembered the hunchbacked septon and warned Kyle that words like that could cost a man his head.[1]

Quotes

The hunchbacked septon's head, on the walls of Stoney Sept after he was executed for treason. Illustrated by Gary Gianni for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

His hands are scarlet with a brother's blood, and the blood of his young nephews too. A shadow came at his command to strangle brave Prince Valarr's sons in their mother's womb. Where is our Young Prince now? Where is his brother, sweet Matarys? Where has Good King Daeron gone, and fearless Baelor Breakspear? The grave has claimed them, every one, yet he endures, this pale bird with bloody beak who perches on King Aerys's shoulder and caws into his ear. The mark of hell is on his face and in his empty eye, and he has brought us drought and pestilence and murder. Rise up, I say, and remember our true king across the water. Seven gods there are, and seven kingdoms, and the Black Dragon sired seven sons! Rise up, my lords and ladies. Rise up, you brave knights and sturdy yeomen, and cast down Bloodraven, that foul sorcerer, lest your children and your children's children be cursed forever-more.[1]

—the hunchbacked septon

Every word was treason. Even so, it was a shock to see him here, with holes where his eyes had been.[1]

—thoughts of Duncan the Tall

Dunk: Bad business, cutting off the heads of septons. All he did was talk. Words are wind.
Egg: Some words are wind, ser. Some are treason.[1]

Egg: He might have been a septon, but he was preaching lies, ser. The drought wasn't Lord Bloodraven's fault, nor the Great Spring Sickness either.
Dunk: Might be that's so, but if we start cutting off the heads of all the fools and liars, half the towns in the Seven Kingdoms will be empty.[1]

References