Saint Markovia

Saint Markovia is a Barovian historical figure and saint of the Morninglord. A native of Krezk, Markovia led a simple life, entering the service of the Morninglord as a young girl. The second-youngest of eight siblings born to simple farm folk, Markovia demonstrated an early talent for healing and for interpreting the will of the Morninglord, and she quickly became a revered figure, taking over from the village priest at the age of 17. It was under Markovia's direction that the abbey was founded, and during her lifetime, Krezk became known for the devoutness of its populace, with the abbey becoming a pillar of the community, and a site of pilgrimage for the Morninglord's faithful across Barovia.   Markovia became a saint due to the extent of her mercy, which she showed even to servants of Strahd and those who her fellows considered beyond redemption. When Strahd's servants began to seek out the sanctuary of the abbey, many believed they should be turned away and left to face the consequences of their actions. Saint Markovia said that to meet cruelty with cruelty was to let cruelty win, and she welcomed these servants of Strahd into the abbey, showing them the Morninglord's light. It is said that in her later years she even demonstrated the ability to cure Strahd's immortal servants — the vampires who served him would come to her as creatures of the night, wincing as the hallowed ground they walked in burned them, and in the morning they would awaken as humans once more, able to revel in the light of the Morninglord's dawn.   The abbey at Krezk became hallowed ground when Markovia performed one of her acts of mercy — the villagers of Krezk had cornered a career criminal, surrounding him beside a pool in the abbey, and had bound and gagged him, weighing down his body with rocks and tossing him in to drown. When Markovia came to see what was happening, the villagers insisted that the man must not be allowed to live. He was a rapist and a thief who had harmed many, including children. But Markovia dove in after the man and freed him. Standing in the pool, one hand on his shoulder to protect him against the wrath of their fellow villagers, she gave a great speech about the importance of mercy and forgiveness, and how even in the darkest times, we must not turn on one another. Not only was the crowd moved to mercy, but the criminal was so moved that he swore his devotion to Markovia and the Morninglord from that moment on, and spent the rest of his days in humble service to the abbey. For a few moments, the oppressive clouds over Krezk parted to allow a beam of sunlight down upon Markovia, the criminal, and the pool, and ever since then, its waters have been blessed, and the grounds around it have been hallowed.