The Lord of Light
The Lord of Light, whose true name is R'hllor, is a deity of fire, light, and life, locked in an eternal struggle against a being of darkness, cold, and death, known as the Great Other. This dualistic theology posits a cosmic war in which every human soul is a battlefield. The faith's central tenet is that only through fire and sacrifice can the darkness be held at bay, a belief that drives its most extreme rituals and its followers' often ruthless pragmatism.
Worship and Rituals
The worship of R'hllor is conducted by red priests, so named for the crimson robes they wear. Their ceremonies are centered on fire, which they believe is the god's holy manifestation. In Pentos, Daenerys Targaryen hears the singing of the red priests as they light their night fires, a daily ritual of prayer and supplication. The priests often carry flaming swords, a symbol of their god's power, and the most zealous among them, like Thoros of Myr, are known to fight with blades wreathed in fire. The faith also practices divination through flames, seeking visions of the future in the shifting patterns of a fire. The red priests promise that the Lord of Light's power can hold city walls against a million Dothraki, a claim made by Illyrio Mopatis to explain the Free Cities' policy of appeasing the horselords.
Political Influence and Agents
The red priests are not merely spiritual figures; they are active political agents. Illyrio Mopatis, a powerful Pentoshi magister, is closely associated with the faith, and his household guards include Unsullied, eunuch soldiers who serve him. The most prominent red priest in the narrative is Thoros of Myr, a warrior-priest who becomes a key figure in the riverlands. He is a rotund man with a shaven head, known for his flamboyant style and his ability to set his sword ablaze. Thoros participates in the Hand's tourney, winning the melee by fighting with a flaming sword that frightens the mounts of his opponents. He later becomes a companion to Lord Beric Dondarrion, leading a band of outlaws against Lannister forces. The faith's reach extends to the highest levels of power; the red priests are known to have agents and influence in the courts of the Seven Kingdoms, and their prophecies and counsel are sought by those who seek to understand the coming war.
The Faith in Westeros
While the Faith of the Seven is the dominant religion in the southern Seven Kingdoms, the worship of R'hllor is a foreign import, viewed with suspicion by many. The red priests are often seen as exotic and dangerous, their fire magic and blood sacrifices unsettling to the established order. Thoros of Myr, despite his prowess, is a figure of some mockery at court, his religion seen as a strange and barbaric cult. However, as the realm descends into war and the threat of winter looms, the Lord of Light's message of a struggle against darkness begins to find a more receptive audience. The faith's promise of power through fire and its clear, uncompromising cosmology offer a stark alternative to the more ambiguous and passive gods of the Seven and the old gods of the north. The red priests' willingness to engage in political intrigue and their potent, visible magic make them a force to be reckoned with in the wars to come.
