Argos of Plios considered himself to be a religious man. He was, after all, a prominent priest of the church of the true faith and known throughout the Whitelands as a seer of good nature and true virtue. Still, in his many years at the helm of his various flocks Argos had come to find that religion and politics tended to mesh quite readily. He'd served as the personal advisor and spiritual councilor  to a variety of nobles both high and low and found even more so now that he was getting on in age that his services were always in demand. Everyone wanted to know that their immortal soul would reach the afterlife, everyone wanted to know what their fortunes would be on earth.

It was in this capacity as spiritual advisor that he'd been summoned to the capital of the Whitelands under mysterious orders. The note he'd received had contained a rather generous donation to the priest's sometimes affluent flock and promised there would be no shortage of work in that area in the near future. Furthermore the message had also contained some. . . [i]suggestions[/i] as to the nature of his upcoming sermons. There really wasn't anything uncouth about changing the topic of his lectures and so, after some thought, Argos agreed. What would it hurt to preach a little fire and brimstone?

In the few days since he'd gotten there the priest had spent his time worming his way into the courts and hearts of the various militaristic kinds. His reputation was not overwhelming but never-the-less his name was still recognized and many were willing to give a little coin to hear what words he had to say. In all cases he stuck to his previously set topic: the dangers of earthly authority, specifically authority which could be wielded by those who were incompetent or untrained in its use. 

Understandably this whole situation had instantly put him on the outs with the ducal court but really, that was just as well with Argos. His mysterious employer was continuing to send him bags of gold and so Argo was just as happy to continue flapping his lips. When Joakim and the ducal entourage prepared to depart that same employer made sure Argos had a writ of sanction by a higher religious authority to observe, report, and give council on the actions under-taken but the young liege-lord. It simply wouldn't do to have a proper young noble travel about without real religious overview? What would become of his morals? More than that if Joakim declined he risked the support of his barons by appearing a godless heathen. And so, as the journey began Argos kept yapping and Jaokim's just recently built-up position began eroding.