The new gods

The new gods, the Seven, are the central deities of the Faith that dominates the southern Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, brought by the Andals thousands of years before the events of the book. The pantheon consists of the Father, the Mother, the Maiden, the Crone, the Warrior, the Smith, and the Stranger, each representing a different aspect of divinity and human concern. In A Dance with Dragons, the Faith of the Seven undergoes a dramatic resurgence under the leadership of the High Sparrow, a humble and ascetic septon who rises to become the High Septon. He re-forms the Faith Militant, the military orders of the Warrior's Sons and the Poor Fellows, which had been disbanded for centuries, and uses them to enforce religious law and challenge the authority of the Iron Throne.

The Faith's Political Ascendancy

The High Sparrow's power is most vividly demonstrated through his imprisonment of Queen Regent Cersei Lannister. Accused of adultery, fornication, and high treason, Cersei is held captive in the Great Sept of Baelor. The High Sparrow refuses to release her until she confesses her sins and performs a public walk of atonement. This event, described in the chapter "Cersei," sees the queen stripped naked, shorn of her hair, and forced to walk barefoot through the streets of King's Landing from the Great Sept to the Red Keep, while the crowd jeers and pelts her with refuse. The septas accompanying her chant "Shame" as she endures this humiliation, a stark illustration of the Faith's newfound ability to humble even the most powerful figures in the realm. The High Sparrow also holds Queen Margaery Tyrell and her cousins on similar charges, though their case is weaker, demonstrating his willingness to challenge the great houses of the south.

The Faith's Role in the Realm

The Faith's influence extends beyond the imprisonment of queens. The High Sparrow's authority is acknowledged by the small council, which must negotiate with him for the release of the queens. Ser Kevan Lannister, the Lord Regent, recognizes that defying the High Septon would lead to open conflict in the capital, as the Faith Militant has become a formidable military force. The Faith's power is also felt in the trial by battle that Cersei demands, where her champion, Ser Robert Strong, is presented as a silent, mysterious knight of the Kingsguard, a move that underscores the ongoing tension between the crown and the Faith. The new gods, through their militant and politically savvy leadership, have become a major player in the game of thrones, reshaping the balance of power in King's Landing and the Seven Kingdoms.