Saints of Luisant
Well-known figures of legend whose relics still survive today, the Saints of Luisant are popular objects of veneration and spiritual devotion for the people of Luisant. Below are the most well-known of these figures.
Saint Vigilus
St. Vigilus is a Cappacian saint, not from Luisant specifically but commonly revered in the Lorassaint region. He is among the more recent saints to enter common reverence and tradition, having lived just under two centuries ago.
Vigilus was a monk-academic at a monastery dedicated to the development of agriculture and sustenance. Vigilus distinguished himself by his passion for the advancement of human knowledge, and his ingenuity in making that goal a reality.
Besides various lesser inventions, he is mainly credited with the invention of the column still, allowing a vast increase in the quality and quantity of distilled alcohol production. The church officially recognized this for the medical and industrial applications of purer alcohols – but among the common people, he is beloved because of the surge in high-quality whiskies, brandies, and other spirits.
Sayings of St. Vigilus:
“Give me a sharp quill, a strong hammer, and a stout ale, and I’ll get anything done.”
“An idle mind breeds sloth.”
“The problem’s hard? That’s what makes it worth it!”
Saint Florianne the Just
Florianne was a noble who ruled a northern section of the Lorassaint in the early-middle Lion Age era. She was said to have been wise, just, and humble. She ruled for 43 years before dying peacefully of old age; after her death, stories about her spread further until she became a local symbol of the ideal ruler.
The stories of Florianne speak of her constant attention to the needs of those she ruled. The peasants under her charge sometimes referred to her as “Aunt Florianne”, and legends say she knew the names and faces of every single one of her subjects. During her rule, she commissioned the construction of multiple temples and monasteries, earning wide approval in the church.
Sayings of Florianne:
“Justice must not only bring punishment, but restoration. The eyes of the judge must not only be on the past, but on the future.”
“Our words are seeds; and their fruits are the actions of tomorrow.”
“Ten years of trust can be lost with just one minute of faithlessness.”
“The worth of a human is in those who follow them.”
Saint Leonore Viridian
Leonore’s precise biography is uncertain – many villages claim to have been her birthplace, and stories about her come from several generations. Nevertheless, it is agreed that she was at some point a resident of the wilder parts of the Lorassaint – and possibly even from Luisant itself.
Leonore was a Melandihim wanderer. Her faith and the blessings of Melandiel protected her in the most dangerous forests. She brought comfort to the distant villages she visited, and often taught them both prayers and survival skills to help them walk safely through the wilds. She is held up as an example of the triumph of the human spirit over the dangers of the untamed world, and of the value of teaching and sharing knowledge.
Sayings of Leonore:
“Keep your mouth closed and your eyes open.”
“A smile’s only as good as what’s underneath it.”
“Nothing more dangerous than thinking you know everything about the forest.”
“Don’t go calling in the woods lest you want an answer.” Now a common saying about someone who’s making trouble for themselves with their own actions.
Arbor the Woodsman
Arbor the Woodsman is a figure of legend who appears in various stories of both Benalian and Vecatran origin. He is spoken of as a man of enormous strength, both spiritual and physical, who wrestled with a finger or limb (the tales vary) of Chiropoler to free a group of orphans and won, chasing the demented fleshy thing back into the dark earth with naught but his hands and a walking-stick for a weapon.
Wanderers and hunters pray to Arbor when lost or in danger under the eaves of the trees, for he is a protector of the lost and was said to have fought many ferocious beasts of the forest and guided home lost travellers.
Depictions of Arbor vary wildly, but he is commonly shown as a man of enormous strength, with a tremendous beard and a great staff hewn from a tree.
Although Arbor the Woodsman is not strictly canonized, he is often included in the lists of Saints.
Words of Arbor
“Whistle in the dark.”
“Do not fear, child. The things that gnaw the roots of the earth feed on your terror. Call out to it in joyous welcome and bid it join us at our table.”
“The wilderness is my chapel and the calls of the birds my bell.”
Saints of the Ordo Croix
The incursion into the body of Chiropoler that would make Francois Marseilles king and dethrone the Witchking himself once and for all took place near what would later become Luisant.
The strike team was small, every one of them carefully selected. The core was a group of seasoned warriors; assisting them was a group of supporters, necessary for the long campaign. Every member of the team was a volunteer. The team knew the risk was extraordinary, but were placing their faith in God to achieve success.
All their lives but that of Marseilles’ were claimed by the overwhelming horrors within Chiropoler.
They are revered as saints and heroes throughout Cappacione, but the people of Luisant have a special devotion to them, and many proudly claim that their ancestors met the Saints personally.
"Cyaniel-Blessed" Eliphaz
Look beyond and within. They may conjure lies, but the Light of God pierces all.
Intelligent and strategically oriented, Eliphaz had great gifts of vision and subtlety from Cyaniel. He was one of those who entered the Chiropolis itself, where he served as a real-time analyst and helped them react quickly to the ever-changing situation as they pushed into Chiropoler’s body.
Later into their mission, Eliphaz was separated from the others and died fighting against Chiropoler’s internal defenses.
Mael Judoc
Hearken in the quiet, for the voice of God speaks in silence.
The commander of the incursion, Mael was selected by mutual assent – the oldest, most experienced, and considered most strategically savvy. Mael was reserved and soft-spoken off the battlefield, preferring to observe and listen in most situations.
Mael is said to have died heroically, sacrificing himself in the end to ensure that Marseilles could reach the final heart and slay the Witchking.
Gabrielle the Defiant
I am not alone; for wherever there is even one human, there is God – and the presence of God is greater than an army.
Gabrielle was the moral and spiritual center of the attack, revered by her comrades as a woman of great inner strength and compassion. The exact circumstances of her death in the depths of Chiropoler are not known, but it is certain that she died a martyr’s death, proud to the end.
She is known as Saint Gabrielle, Gabrielle the Defiant, and Gabrielle of Perseverance. As a saint, she is associated with perseverance in the face of adversity, and with decisive action against overwhelming odds – traits she had in her life.
Gabrielle is now associated with the holiday of The Longest Night.
Harwara of Lemeg
When you see a need, look to its root; for like a weed, suffering returns unless it is drawn out from the source.
The town of Lemeg, somewhere in Gotha, is now lost to history; it lives on only in the story of Harwara. She was raised as the daughter of a wealthy family – one who gave obeisance to the Witch-Kings, served them dutifully, and was given riches as a reward. Unknowing of the cruelty of the Witch-Kings, she was a spoiled and arrogant youth, believing the lie that people like her were better than the “common rabble” and disdaining the poor and enslaved. Seeing the cruelty and falsehoods behind her family’s wealth, Harwara deserted them, and sought to help those who she had formerly oppressed She labored tirelessly to build and give to those who had less than she.
She later joined the Ordo Croix, and while she was not the best fighter or the wisest strategist, she had a generous spirit and a tireless desire to labor for the good of all.
Harwara is now associated with the holiday of Noblesse Oblige.
Sayings of Harwara
“The shine of gold is naught but mud, compared to the smiles of my brethren.”
“Work is easy; it is sloth that tires the soul.”
“Better an empty stomach and a full heart than the other way around.”
Derrall the Reconciler
Derrall is remembered as a peace-maker, a man who took to heart the principle of redeeming and aiding others who had not yet found their way. He advocated the idea that all will eventually recognize the light of God without the need for violence. Dozens of sayings are attributed to him, including common idioms such as “catch more flies with honey than vinegar”.
Derrall is now associated with the holiday of Lune Croissante, the Waxing Moon.
