Editing High Sparrow (section)

==Recent Events==
===''A Feast for Crows''===
On the [[Rosby road]], [[Brienne of Tarth]] spots a group of so-called [[sparrows]] who are bringing to [[King's Landing]] a wagon filled with the [[bone]]s of holy men. Their leader, a small, thin [[septon]], urges Brienne's traveling companions, Ser [[Creighton Longbough]] and Ser [[Illifer the Penniless]], to join the sparrows on their journey. Though the [[hedge knight]]s' refusal angers the sparrows, their leader calms his followers and tells them to let the knights pass in peace. Brienne asks the barefoot septon if he has seen [[Sansa Stark|her lost sister]], and though he has not, he asks [[Maiden (the Seven)|the Maiden]] to watch over Brienne and her sister.{{Ref|AFFC|4}}

After the High Septon apparently dies in his sleep, the [[Most Devout]] begin the selection process to determine which one of them will become his successor.{{Ref|AFFC|17}} Numerous sparrows, who have camped in the plaza of the [[Great Sept of Baelor]] with the bones of their martyrs, forcibly take over the selection process. Septon [[Luceon Frey|Luceon]] is nine votes from elevation when sparrows burst through the doors of the Great Sept with axes in hand and their thin leader on their shoulders. In fear, the Most Devout name him the new High Septon. The [[master of whisperers]], [[Qyburn]], relates to Cersei all that had occurred.{{Ref|AFFC|28}}

The new High Septon begins his term by selling all of the [[gold]]en [[crown]]s of the Faith, including his own [[gold]] and [[crystal crown]], as well as their rings, and their robes of [[cloth-of-gold]] and [[cloth-of-silver]]. The money earned from this is used to buy food for the sparrows and the poor. He clads himself in a humble wool robe, and the Most Devout are forced to follow suit. He has the fat Septon [[Torbert]] of the Most Devout confined to a penitent's cell and fed only bread and water, as he feels it is sinful for a man to be so plump when so many people are starving.{{Ref|AFFC|28}} The High Septon takes as his sanctum a small seven-sided audience chamber below the Great Sept.{{ref|AFFC|43}}{{ref|ADWD|54}}

[[File:Melissa Findley Negotiations at the Great Sept.JPG|right|thumb|450px|Queen [[Cersei Lannister]] negotiates with the High Sparrow, by Melissa Findley © Fantasy Flight Games]]
The new High Septon refuses to come to the [[Red Keep]] to bless young King [[Tommen I Baratheon]], so his mother, Queen Cersei, comes to the Great Sept. She arrives to discover that armed sparrows, including knights, are guarding the doors of the building and will not allow the armed [[Kingsguard]] to enter. When Cersei enters, alone, she is appalled to find the new High Septon and the Most Devout on their knees, scrubbing the floors. Cersei is also displeased to learn what had become of the crystal crown that her father, Lord [[Tywin Lannister]], had given the previous High Septon. When Cersei asks why the sparrows have befouled the Great Sept with their encampment, he responds it was first befouled when Lord [[Eddard Stark]] was beheaded on its steps.{{Ref|AFFC|28}}

The High Septon tells Cersei he is still praying for guidance from the Seven to decide if King Tommen is the rightful king, as the [[Iron Throne]] has not protected the men and women of the Faith as King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys the Conciliator]] once promised. Cersei, though angered, concedes to his concerns that the holy brothers and sisters need protection from rape and murder, and he agrees to have Tommen strike down [[King Maegor's laws]] that prohibited holy men from bearing arms. Cersei promises to restore the [[Faith Militant]], for which the High Septon will acknowledge Tommen as king and forgive the near one million [[currency|dragons]] the crown owed to the Faith.{{Ref|AFFC|28}}

The army of sparrows become [[Poor Fellows]], and soon over a hundred knights join the [[Warrior's Sons]]. The new High Septon becomes commonly known as the "High Sparrow" per a jape by the court [[fool]], [[Moon Boy]].{{Ref|AFFC|36}} [[Lancel Lannister]], grieving for the previous High Septon and regretful of his past actions - namely, his role in the death of King [[Robert Baratheon]],{{ref|ACOK|3}} as well as becoming Cersei's lover -{{ref|ACOK|29}} renounces his lordship of [[Darry]] and travels to King's Landing to swear his sword to the new High Septon and join the Warrior's Sons.{{ref|AFFC|30}}{{ref|AFFC|36}}

Cersei plots against Tommen's wife, Queen [[Margaery Tyrell]], and sends her [[sworn shield]], Ser [[Osney Kettleblack]], to the High Sparrow to falsely confess to bedding Margaery and two of her cousins, [[Megga Tyrell|Megga]] and [[Elinor Tyrell]].{{ref|AFFC|39}} When Margaery and her cousins attend the Great Sept on [[Maiden's Day]], they are arrested by the Faith, emboldened by its new power. However, the High Sparrow is suspicious of Osney's confession, as he had never heard a confession from a man so pleased to be guilty, and he has Osney scourged. Under [[torture]], Osney confesses the actual truth: that Cersei had him lie, that she was the queen he had bedded, and that he killed the previous [[High Septon (Tyrion's)|High Septon]] under her orders. After Cersei visits Margaery's cell at the Great Sept, she meets with the High Septon in his sanctum. The High Septon shows her Osney in chains and has Cersei imprisoned when she tries to flee, planning to have a sacred court of seven godsworn judges both queens.{{Ref|AFFC|43}}

===''A Dance with Dragons''===
[[File:Marc Fishman High Sparrow.jpg|right|thumb|350px|The High Sparrow by Marc Fishman, for the Subterranean Press illustrated ''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'']]
[[Doran Martell]], [[Prince of Dorne]], tasks [[Tyene Sand]] with accompany her sister [[Nymeria Sand|Nymeria]] to [[King's Landing]] and befriending the High Sparrow.{{Ref|ADWD|38}}

Since the evidence against Margaery and her cousins is quite weak, the High Septon releases them into the custody of Lord [[Randyll Tarly]]. The High Septon requires Randyll to swear a holy oath to return them for trial.{{Ref|ADWD|54}}

The High Septon disapproves of King [[Stannis Baratheon]], believing that Stannis has turned from the truth of the Seven to worship a [[R'hllor|red demon]], and that his false faith has no place in the [[Seven Kingdoms]].{{Ref|ADWD|54}}

Lancel is one of the accusers against his cousin, Cersei. After days of solitary confinement, Cersei tells her guardian [[septa]]s that she wishes to confess, and she is brought before the High Sparrow. To try and gain access to visitors, Cersei confesses that after the death of her husband, King [[Robert I Baratheon]], she had sexual relations with Lancel and all three [[House Kettleblack|Kettleblacks]] (although she is lying about having slept with Osney's brothers, [[Osmund Kettleblack|Osmund]] and [[Osfryd Kettleblack|Osfryd]]). She knows such admissions would not earn her an execution, but denies the sins that would result in a death sentence. Cersei denies having ordered Osney to kill the previous High Septon, denies any involvement in Robert's death, and denies having [[incest]]uous relations with her brother, Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] of the [[Kingsguard]]. The High Septon agrees to allow her one visitor a day.{{Ref|ADWD|54}}

Ser [[Kevan Lannister]], the [[Lord Regent]], informs his niece that he has spoken with the High Sparrow, who has agreed to free Cersei on the condition that she perform a public [[walk of atonement]] through King's Landing. Cersei reluctantly agrees, and she walks naked from the Great Sept to the Red Keep.{{Ref|ADWD|54}}{{Ref|ADWD|65}}

Cersei and Margaery are still to be put on trial for the accusations they deny to be true and that the accusers have not recanted. Cersei chooses [[trial by combat]], with Ser [[Robert Strong]] as her champion. Margaery chooses trial by the Faith.{{Ref|ADWD|Epilogue}} While Cersei waits for her trial date, Kevan places her under house arrest in the Red Keep. Cersei is attended by a septa and three novices selected by the High Septon, rather than her usual [[ladies-in-waiting]]. The High Septon insists that no girl spend more than seven days with Cersei, lest she be corrupted.{{Ref|ADWD|Epilogue}}

Kevan, Randyll, and [[Mace Tyrell]], the new [[Hand of the King]], are frustrated by having to give in to the demands of the "High Sparrow". However, with so many rebellious subjects in the Seven Kingdoms, they dare not be seen to go against the Faith, lest it drive the pious into the arms of another claimant to the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|ADWD|Epilogue}}