Posts : 1397 Join date : 2010-01-20 Age : 31 Location : England
Subject: The Divine Saints of Occitan Sat May 01, 2010 6:55 pm
There are two tiers to the status of "saint". Revered, meaning the holy ancestors of Occitan who are worshipped by the vast populace. In life they were model citizens of the Empire, heroes who all Occitanians should remember in their daily lives. In death, they are divine, with otherworldly hands that reach down into the Empire and aid all.
The second tier is 'Recognised', meaning usually more recent saints (many still walk among us) who have done a great contribution and have been rewarded as such. They can be worshipped, though it is nonsensical and ill advised due to tradition. There are very little known recognised saints, as this process remains a purely ceremonial honour, not an official canonization.
STOLZ - The male patron saint of THE KAISER.
FALK - The male patron saint of ANGER, VINDICATION and FRATRICIDE.
Arvin Falk's early life is almost entirely undocumented, suggesting destruction of his records either by his own means or by other methods. He first appears in history after the Second Occitanian Civil War, as a prominent politician.
However, after the brutal murder of his wife and three children, he disappeared from politics. Following the discovery that his brother has committed the murders, he vows vindication. Falk spent a total of thirty three years tracking down his brother, eventualy killing him honourably, but not without immense sorrow and rage. It was also revealed later that the brother was indeed treasonous, involved in multiple failed plots against the Empire and the Kaiser.
After his death, he was canonized. It is estimated this took place around the time following the Second Occitanian Civil War.
STRAUSS - The male patron saint of BATTLE, VALOUR and LOYALTY.
Johann Strauss was born to a somewhat wealthy family, their true wealth in the tradition of breeding sons who would always be trained into fine soldiers, with no other siblings and a harsh upbringing. Constantly tested and trained by his hardened father, all the while encouraged to fight by his mother, Strauss grew to be the model soldier for the Occitanian army. His test would come later in life, once he had become recognised and respected within the ranks of the military. At the time, it was a war that no-one really knew the reason for fighting. Even now, that reason remains unknown. The conflict would be known as the First Occitanian Civil War.
He insisted, as at this time he was close to the leading generals, that he should be at the head of every major battle, and then every minor battle should there be no decisive conflict. Much to his delight, this request was accepted, and Johann spent all of the war in battle. His fellow soldiers were amazed by his valour and undying loyalty in battle. Hundreds of stories circulated, each one as heroic as the last.
The most famous story goes, that at the turning point of a significant battle that could have changed history, the army that Strauss belonged to began to rout from the battlefield. Despite his angered cries to keep them on the field, they turned and kept on running. Strauss, however, merely faced the remaining oncoming force of nearly one-and-a-half-thousand men and readied his blade once again. His undying loyalty to his Empire and his general would not let him make any other choice. When the general rode back to the field, after hearing suspicious silence, he found Strauss alone on a field of dead bodies. Bloodied and badly wounded, Strauss looked up. He saluted.
Strauss went on to fight in the army well into his older ages until the law required him to live a calmer life. It is not known where he died, but that his actions would forever be remembered for all Occitanian soldiers to follow. He was canonized once his legend was told.
RIEGEL - The male patron saint of TIME.
ELFI - The female patron saint of THE OCEAN and SAILING.
Elfi Amsel was born to a humble family. Not much is known about her upbringing, but from a young age it is told she took a deep interest in the sea, and sailing.
She looked into a military career, in the years following the First Occitanian Civil War, but finding no naval forces or openings for them, she turned to a career in trading. Following in the steps of her idol, the late and canonized Arabella, she set out to deliver goods to coastal towns where trade had not flourished in times of famine. Her actions over a lifetime not only saved hundreds of thousands of lives, but allowed those men to go into military training.
Most notably, however, she helped in transporting soldiers about Occitan whenever asked, often without charge. Her selfless service and dedication made her the role-model for all mariners in the Empire.
She was canonized on her death bed, her home now a beautiful marble shrine after it was destroyed in a thunderstorm.
HARTHAN - The female patron saint of THE HUNT.
LORA - The female patron saint of LOVE and JOY.
STEUDEL - The male patron saint of STRENGTH and PERSISTENCE.
KEIPP - The female patron saint of DILLIGENCE and ARCHERY.
SABINE - The female patron saint of THE WIND and AIR.
LORELEI - The female patron saint of SCHOLARS and KNOWLEDGE.
RAIDEL - The male patron saint of BENEVOLENCE and FORGIVENESS.
DIMMIG - The male patron saint of FARMING and THE HARVEST.
GESCHWARZT - The male patron saint of FIRE.
ARABELLA - The female patron saint of HOPE and THE POOR.
Arabella Kirsch was born in poor conditions, surviving a tough upbringing in a poor area of Occitan where she grew to be known amongst the locals as the role-model for everyone wishing to elevate themselves to better conditions. This was due to her dedication to going into further education in the field of medicine. After years of application to a medical college, and helping locals with minor medical issues via skills she taught herself, Arabella finally found herself on the road to the college she had aimed for.
She went on to spend her entire life healing so many, ignoring the pressures to tend to the more wealthy before helping the poor.
On her death bed, still a beacon of hope for those in need of help, she was canonized. Her legend lives on in the hearts of those in desperate conditions.
FRECHTEN - The male patron saint of THE FORGE.
Lucas Frechten was born into a wealthy family, having an easy life and upbringing. Regardless, he ignored any further education opportunities, choosing to follow in his father's footsteps as a blacksmith.
Abandoning the chance to live effortlessly and rich, he walked away from the palace to begin a trade of smithing armour and weaponry. He would do this for thirty years before being recruited by the military for his skills, the likes of which the entire nation had heard of. So many had travelled across the Empire for his masterwork swordsmanship and armour.
For the rest of his life, he made armour and weaponry for the highest and most respected knights in the Occitanian Legion. It was reported that his work never broke. Famously, he died working in his forge, the unfinished blade still on the anvil. This sword is kept in the Kaiser's palace.
Frechten was canonized immediately after his death.
TIMO - The male patron saint of HOLIDAYS.
Timo Steinhauer is well known across the Empire as a post-war hero who pioneered three additional holidays for the nation. One focused especially on the farmers, allowing them to take a five day break annually. The other two were more widespread.
Regardless, he dedicated his life to his cause and as such lived to see the holidays become a realised dream.
He was canonized on his death bed, and ascended peacefully.
Sat May 01, 2010 6:55 pm
