View source for Hagiography of Elanthian Saints Vol.1

==INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW==
My research started innocently enough.  A mention of Saint 
Gyoir in an old manuscript I was looking over for High     
Priestess Tallis.  When I mentioned Gyoir to her, she had  
little information as well.  You see, I like you dear      
reader, grew up without mention of the Elanthian Saints.   
I did not learn it in my cloister, or when I took up a     
research post in the Temple.  Diligently, I set out to see 
why Gyoir had disappeared from memory.  Were there more    
like him I wondered, and have found indeed the answer      
is yes.
<br/><br/>
The best reason for the Saints of Elanthia fading into the 
background that I have been able to discern is that during 
the reign of Vithwok IV (246BL-243BL) the regent, Selyan   
generally frowned on reverence of the saints and within a  
short time it fell out of fashion at Court, and this       
trickled down a bit slower to the general populace and     
became even more a disused practice during the Dragon      
Priest war, that by 160BL it was generally unheard of, and 
the last saints elevated by the Temple council was in 170BL
(the saints of Zoluren and Theren respectively).  In fact, 
it fell so out of favor very few remnants remain.  Shrines 
were destroyed in the war or dismantled, reliquaries were  
hidden away, broken up or sold to private parties and      
disappeared into family vaults.  One of the most prominent 
remaining piece of the puzzle is a stained-glass tympanum  
in Catherine’s Court in Shard of Saint Ilysia.
<br/><br/>
Some of you may question, why are there no Prydaen, Rakash,
Kaldar or Gnomes listed.  And to this, I tell you quite    
frankly, they have their own pantheon of which I am not    
versed.  If they have saints, I am unaware of it nor would 
their saints belong here, in a book about the Elanthian    
Saints as our saints are chosen by a council of the High   
Temple based on various merits, miracles and other such     
things I will not bore you with.  Curiously, the process   
for selecting a saint survived the purge...  the council   
itself does not always decide where a saint is placed.     
For example, I personally have never seen a thieves guild, 
but my research tells me that thieves revere Kvirinus.     
Thus, it has been included here in the interest of         
completeness. 
<br/>
Please note that the saints listed here not do represent   
the fullness of the hagiography of Elanthian Saints.       
From my research I am led to believe at one time there     
were over a hundred saints some covering the same expertise
and area, the ones included here are but a few.  In this   
book are only initial saints of Guilds and of Provinces.   
Perhaps as research sheds more light on the subject we will
see more documentation on saints of cities, immortals, and 
other subjects.  
<br/><br/>
-By my hand, Ayoe Pengetahuantuhan, hagiographer of the   
High Temple  
<br/><br/><br/>
==GUILD PATRONS==
===BARBARIAN===
Gyoir (324BL - Unknown)<br/>                  
Several stories have been attached to Saint Gyoir, the best
known of which Gyoir faces a dragon that lived in Lake     
Gwenalion. Whole armies had gone up against this fierce    
creature, and had gone down in painful defeat. The monster 
ate two sheep each day and when mutton was scarce, lots were  
drawn, and maidens were substituted for sheep. Into this   
fiasco came Saint Gyoir. Hearing the story on a day when a 
nobleman's daughter was to be eaten, he genuflected while  
giving a fierce prayer to Everild for steadfastness in     
battle, and then rode out against the monster, and killed  
it with a single blow with his lance. Gyoir then held forth
with a magnificent sermon, converting many of the locals to
the fierceness of Everild. Given a large reward by the     
nobleman, Gyoir distributed it to the poor, then rode      
away -- never to be heard from again.      
<br/><br/>
Gyoir is represented by a serpentine creature forming a    
half-circle that has been pierced by a lance.<br/>            
Gyoir is remembered as the patron saint of Barbarians      
and as the patron saint of skin rash, which prayer to      
him has been known to cure.<br/>           
Gyoir is often depicted as a rugged, good looking Elven    
man with black hair and green eyes.<br/> 
<br/>

===BARD===
Rikarour (the Stammerer) (302BL - 276BL)<br/>       
Plagued from early childhood with a nearly unintelligible  
stammer, Rikarour felt he was destined for a mundane       
existence on the family farm.  However, the young man lost 
his stammer when singing and had clear treble voice in     
childhood that deepened into a vibrantly rich              
contrabass -- a talent that was not lost on a passing      
bard who happened past the family plot one day and heard  
Rikarour's song as he toiled in the fields.  At first      
unbelieving, the bard eventually came to realize that      
Rikarour was not deceiving him and that he could sing      
without the same hesitation that plagued his speech.       
After arriving in Zoluren, Rikarour began his career.      
However, his inability to speak clearly prevented him from 
gaining much work as an entertainer so he eventually left  
the guild and attached himself as a cantor in a local      
temple to Faenella.  His songs and hymns were renown all   
through the province, and he was highly sought after as    
word of his talents grew. He rejected all work, however 
except for that in devotion to Faenella, whom he credited  
with gifting him his ability to sing.  Rikarour took ill   
and died in 276BL, and shortly after his burial, reports   
of miracles for those who prayed to him began to spring up.
<br/><br/>
Rikarour is represented by three wrens each clasping       
a quill.<br/>                                                   
Rikarour is remembered as the patron saint of Bards,       
and as the patron saint of spinsters.<br/>                      
Rikarour is often depicted as a hulking olive-green        
Gor'Tog male with benevolent brown eyes.<br/>
<br/>

===CLERIC===
Ilysia (249BL - 205BL ) <br/>                   
Depicted in glorious form on a stained-glass window in     
Catherine’s Court in Shard, Ilysia was an Elven cleric     
(some say of great beauty) who rejected all in order to    
please Idon.  Despite her reverence to Idon himself, she   
also helped beautify the area that would eventually become 
Shard, sometime after her death by cultivating wildflowers, 
and other plant life in the area.   
<br/><br/>
Ilysia is remembered as the patron saint of Clerics, and of gardens.<br/>  
Ilysia is often represented by the Cleric Guild symbol of  
two clasped hands intertwined with rose vines.<br/>             
Ilysia is depicted as a dark haired Elven woman with       
green eyes.  
<br/><br/>

===EMPATH===
Kinnochenka (405BL - 375BL)<br/>             
Born into a wealthy Therengian family Kinnochenka's story  
is simple.  She rejected the life she was born to, much to  
the dismay of her parents who expected her to marry well   
and bring more wealth and prestige to them.  She entered   
a cloister of nuns who were devoted to service to Hodierna,
and there she gave her life to public works, particularly  
medical pursuits, in and around the area of Therengia.     
She died tragically when a beam from a nearby hospital     
construction crashed and hit her in the head.    
<br/><br/>
Kinnochenka is remembered as the patron saint of Empaths   
and the patron saint of lumber.<br/>                          
Kinnochenka is often represented by an emblem of a         
bleeding heart pierced by billets.<br/>                         
Kinnochenka is depicted as a lithe blonde Human woman,     
with bright blue eyes. 
<br/><br/> 
===MOON MAGE===
Detlef the Blind (423BL - 376BL)<br/>          
History is unclear if Detlef was always blind, became      
blind through illness or some other ailment or if he       
rendered himself so.  Regardless of this, Detlef spent     
his adult life blind. He worked closely with the Moon Mage 
guild in Throne City itself particularly during the time   
of the Bloodworm Comet during the reign of Empress         
Merthamone.  Detlefs visions and prophecies are all       
attributed to Phelim.  From fragments of letters available,
it seems Detlef believed that Phelim had singled him out   
for his devout nature and had given him access to visions  
"beyond the ken of others". Detlef himself did not press   
his gifts, but instead tried to use them to the best       
ability he could to further the guild.  His devotion to    
Phelim in particular, as well as his visionary gifts earned
him great praise with his contemporaries as well as in the 
years that followed his death.  The phrase                 
"By Detlef’s eyes!" gained some use among the young       
immediately following his death, but seems to have fallen  
into disuse after it was deemed disrespectful. 
<br/><br/>            
Detlef is remembered as the patron saint of Moon Mages     
and the patron saint of ophidiophobics.<br/>                    
Detlef is often represented by an inky starred sky behind  
the outline of a nightingale in flight.<br/>                    
Detlef is often depicted as a SKra Mur man, with his      
eyes either milky white or covered by a grey blindfold,    
with red-gold scales and a long tail.          
<br/><br/>

===PALADIN===
Yalvache Ruahen (467BL - 380BL)<br/>             
Already renown for her work as a strategist during the     
reign of Empress Merthamone, Yalvache also helped to       
raise the Zaulfung Stones as a part of Farn’s Company.     
Her unorthodox ways, such as her discomfort at court       
and pet monkey, Floki caused some raised eyebrows, but     
as she was a brilliant scholar and strategist, this was    
often overlooked.  Her knowledge and work with battle      
contingencies helped the Imperial armies win many battles, 
often when the tides were turned against them.  On her     
retirement, and later on her death, older soldiers and     
commanders could be heard to remark phrases such as        
By Yalvache! or would find themselves wondering what     
the woman would do in their place. Prayers to her quickly  
became commonplace, asking her for divine intervention     
of her knowledge to help the Empire.
<br/><br/>
Yalvache is remembered as the patron saint of Paladins,    
and the patron saint of monkeys.<br/>                           
Yalvache is represented by a monkey paw closed             
over a gleaming broadsword.<br/>                         
Yalvache is often depicted as a disheveled Elothean        
woman with an abundance of blonde hair pulled back in an   
utilitarian bun, and inquisitive violet eyes.
<br/><br/>
===RANGER===
Lirisa (897BL - 237BL?)<br/>                   
Fabled daughter of Sable, Lirisa was renowned for          
defending the Empire from traitors with her silvered bow,  
Zuzazt.  As one of the older saints in the Elanthian      
pantheon, there is very little information about her.      
She revered Kuniyo, and disappeared after her last target, 
an Elven warlord died in 237BL.  Some believe she chose    
to end her days in quiet revelation, or in disguise as a   
companion of Arhat.  So well-known was she that when the   
Elanthian calendar was reordered, one of the months was    
named in her honor.
<br/><br/>
Lirisa is remembered as the patron saint of Rangers,       
and the patron saint of alchemists.<br/>                        
Lirisa is often represented by a silver bow over a         
stylized green sanrisi tree.<br/>                
Lirisa is depicted as an Elven woman with dark hair that   
is usually pulled back in a ponytail and alert grey eyes.
<br/><br/>  
===THIEF===
Kvirinus (612BL - 566BL)<br/>                
Included here not because I believe there is any organized 
guild of thieves, but I do recognize that thieves          
themselves exist, and I am told that they look up to       
Kvirinus.  Kvirinus was a thief who started his career     
during the reign of Krael, and ended it during the reign   
of Mamni Timbleton.  Curiously, both Halflings, as         
Kvirinus himself was.  Kvirinus was well known in the      
underworld for his black-market trading, but particularly  
well known (and we have records of this) for his dealing   
and trading in goods that were required for the building   
of the Ponthilas Imperial Observatory.  It is not recorded,
but heavily hinted at that Kvirinus’ withholding of       
materials that he obtained in a less than honest fashion   
contributed to the halted the construction of the          
Observatory in 589BL.  Kvirinus was arrested and detained  
during the insurrections and riots that broke out in Throne
City in 567 and 566BL respectively. He died in prison, but 
not before various thugs and street rats began to use his  
name as a sort of byword for success and the thrill of     
duping their betters.
<br/><br/>
Kvirinius is remembered as the patron saint of Thieves     
and the patron saint of boatmen.<br/>                           
Kvirinus is often represented by three stacks of gold      
coins in alternating heights.<br/>                              
Kvirinus is depicted as a jovial looking Halfling man,     
with a shock of red hair and freckles. He is almost        
always smiling in all portrayals.
<br/><br/>
===TRADER===    
Yrsa (423BL - 383BL)<br/>                  
Yrsa was a powerful Human trader who worked with the       
Empire during the reign of Tobias Redthorne (402BL-390BL)  
and helped to pool resources into strengthening the        
Imperial fleet which led to victory against one of the     
pirate clans.  Yrsa was also instrumental assisting with   
the regulations of lifting the trade sanctions against     
Morganae in 389BL.  Yrsa died peacefully, after living     
long and fulfilling life.  She began to be actively        
remembered within a year of her death, with traders        
themselves finding themselves sending a quick prayer to    
Yrsa for her knowledge, or asking themselves what Yrsa     
would do in a specific situation.
<br/><br/>
Yrsa is remembered as the patron saint of Traders and      
the patron saint of silversmiths.<br/>                          
Yrsa is often represented by a set of perfectly balanced   
scales.<br/>                                                    
Yrsa is depicted as a SKra Mur woman with slitted gold    
eyes and silvery-olive scales.
<br/><br/>
===WARRIOR MAGE===
Kigutaarnaq (342BL - 270BL)<br/>                
Alive during a time of relative peace in the Imperial      
empire, Kigutaarnaq is nonetheless remembered for her      
drive and determination.  Kigutaarnaq has been noted to    
be a scholar of fire having first been a mage of that       
element.  However, her focus shifted during the discovery of
blackfire.  Several mentions have been made of her papers  
and other works deriding blackfire -- as yet however, these
papers have not been found.  Regardless, she was well      
known for her work with water magic and praised for her    
patience with younger mages.  Her death is recorded as a   
tragic accident, where a wave of her own summoned water    
washed her out to the Segoltha where she drowned.  However,
other sources list her not as have being drowned, but as   
the goddess Eluned having taken Kigutaarnaq for her own    
for having mastered such control over water.
<br/><br/>
Kigutaarnaq is remembered as the patron saint of Warrior   
Mages and the patron saint against slander.<br/>                
Kigutaarnaq is often represented by a flame on top of a    
cresting wave of water.<br/>                                    
Kigutaarnaq is depicted as a proud Gortog woman with a    
gleaming bald head and pale green skin.
<br/><br/><br/>
==PROVINCIAL SAINTS==
===ZOLUREN===
Aesetani Guemos (229BL - 193BL)<br/>
One might remember Aesetani from history books.  He was    
the leader of Zoluren after his father, Blaeduan Guemos    
and ruled during the Dragon Priest incursions lead by      
Dzree.  Aesetani himself died in battle with the forces    
of Dzree and the entire Guemos family was rounded up a     
year later and executed in a brutal manner publicly.       
Aesetanis perseverance and military excursions were       
remembered with pride throughout Zoluren for years         
afterwards during the theocracy of the Dragon Priest     
empire when the city was under its thumb. People looked    
to Aesetani and the Guemos family as having made a valiant 
sacrifice.  Like his counterpart in Therengia, Aesetani is 
said to have been a presence felt by the armies during the 
defeat of the Dragon Priests in 1BL.
<br/><br/>                   
Aesetani is remembered as the patron saint of the province 
of Zoluren.<br/>
Aesetani is often represented by an emblem of a blooming   
apple tree in front of two crossed spears.<br/>                 
Aesetani is depicted as a man verging on middle age with   
slightly greying brown hair and blue eyes, with his face   
set in a stern expression.
<br/><br/>
===THERENGIA===
Bamiec Theren (234BL - 186BL)<br/>
The tragic second Baron of Therengia, executed after the   
Dragon Priests marched through Therenborough and captured  
it.  Like his Zoluren counterpart, Bamiec is remembered    
for his steadfastness and his perseverance during the      
military excursions that he carried out with his troops    
during this time.  Though the town was captured, the       
citizens of Therenborough never lost hope, especially      
when word got out that Bamiec’s young song Kerehald (I)    
had escaped. Bamiec was revered after his death by his     
citizens who loved him, and many secret shrines were       
erected in his honor in homes during the Dragon Priest     
occupation.  It is said that his presence was felt during  
the final defeat of the Dragon Priest armies.
<br/><br/>
Bamiec is remembered as the patron saint of the province   
of Therengia.<br/>                                              
Bamiec is often represented by a version of the crest of   
House Theren -- a black background with a golden           
seven-pointed star outlined in royal blue in the center.<br/>   
Bamiec is depicted as a ruggedly handsome Human male with  
silver-streaked dark blonde hair and grey eyes, his mouth  
set in a firm line.
<br/><br/>
===QI===
Isleivur Uspenoken (the Toad --  sometimes called St. Toad) (302BL - 360BL)<br/>  
We wish we could say we know the most about Isleivur,      
because we know his family name and that which should      
lead us to roots, has only led to dead ends.  It is this   
author’s speculation that his last name was a moniker or    
false name.  Called the Toad because of a predilection to  
water, and a later ailment that left him bloated, bilious  
and somewhat jaundiced, Isleivur devoted his time and      
veneration to Drogor.  His work took him to coastal cities,
cleaning up river ways, waterways and assisting fishermen  
in ensuring longer productivity for their catches.  He was 
known to pray to Drogor, however, to destroy the same      
fishermen he helped when they over-hunted their quarry,    
prayers which would sometimes be met with the furor of a   
tsunami or violent sea storm.  Isleivur was lost at sea,   
a fate that all who knew him agreed he would find          
appropriate and fitting, and a shrine in his name on       
Ratha was established where local seamen would offer       
prayers and assure Isleivur that they were not hunting     
their prey into oblivion.  Several miracles of an unknown  
nature are said to have occurred at this site before it    
was lost, quite fittingly, to the sea.
<br/><br/>
Isleivur is remembered as the patron saint of the          
province of Qi.<br/>                                            
Isleivur is often represented by an emblem of a            
crashing wave interposed behind a raging shark.<br/>            
Isleivur is depicted either as a bilious green Human       
with slicked down black hair or as a web-fingered Human    
that looks suspiciously like a Merelew.
<br/><br/>
===ILITHI===
Sakarias (1167BL - 1006BL)<br/>           
Was the last standing member of the House of the Marching  
Lotus during the Elven-Human war.  Sakarias is reported    
as having taken up the banner for the House of the         
Marching Lotus and remembered and revered chiefly because  
of his staunch resolution and steadfastness to see Ilithi  
victorious in her battle, and was long used as a reminder  
not only of the needlessness of war but of the constancy   
of the Elothean people themselves.
<br/><br/>
Sakarias is remembered as the patron saint of the province 
Ilithi.<br/>
Sakarias is often represented by the crest of the 
House of the Marching Lotus --  three rows of five black   
lotus blossoms on a purple field, with the edges of the    
lotus blossoms having been tinged a blood red.<br/>
Sakarias is depicted as a stalwart Elothean man with short          
ash-blonde hair and piercing grey eyes.
<br/><br/>
===FORFEDHAR===
Garrock (1176BL - 986BL)<br/>                 
King of Kwarlog during both the Elven-Human War and        
during the Long Winter.  Garrock brought stability to the  
kingdom with the contract signed with the Gor’Tog’s who     
came into Forfedhar during the Long Winter.  Gor’Togs      
particularly felt affinity for Garrock for his taking the  
Togs in without prejudice or a hint of slavery as such    
they experienced under the hands of the S’Kra Mur.         
Unreliable stories also state that Garrock, having         
experienced bitter disappointment with the fickleness      
of the Humans during the Elven-Human War lost his beard    
and the hair would not regrow.  Regardless of the truth    
in this, Garrock is known for having a brass beard         
covered in chips of various gems either as a false beard   
or an ostentatious status symbol.
<br/><br/>
Garrock is remembered as the patron saint of Forfedhar.<br/>    
Garrock is often represented by a golden shield bearing    
five Dwarven hammers turned inward in a circle formation.<br/>  
Garrock is depicted as a stout Dwarf with brown hair,      
and a glittering brass beard.  He is also shown            
occasionally wearing a crown.

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