St. Gion

"Well, his mother couldn't have children," Maeve began as she kicked her short legs back and forth under the table. "She prayed really, really hard and finally got pregnant when she was old, like in her thirties or something."

"Sixties," Bia corrected.

Maeve glared at the older girl, "You tell it then."

Rolling her eyes, Bia continued the narrative, "According to Martus Tullus, his mother gave birth to him in her hometown of Drossedor. Other writers since have attributed all sorts of signs and symbols to his birth, including deva singing and spring flowers blooming during the cold of None season. Though even Tullus agrees, the saint had a caul when he was born, like many prophets."

"My books all say he always listened to his parents and helped his elders," Maeve blurted.

"Those are kids books. We don't really know about his childhood other than his father was wealthy enough to send him to school." Crezanna sighed continuing the history, "According to his own writings, he had his first visions as a young man, but fear kept him from telling anyone. He started drinking to drowned out the voices. Finally, when he was twenty-eight, Kindattu struck Gion down. The men of Drossedor found him in a field unable to move. Believing it was due to his drinking, they simply brought him home."

"And the deva fed his family. That's not part of a children's story," Maev pouted.

Crezanna smiled and nodded. "Yup. At the same time, Kindattu talked to the saint in his dreams. He demanded that Gion began preaching the Truth of the Gods. Gion pleaded that his family needed him. The god promised the deva would continue to feed them. So he went to Viastetis and began preaching."

"And he was run out of the city."

"Yes and no. He actually preached there for three years before the power structure decided he was a threat. But when he got a large enough following, they literally dragged him through the streets while whipping him."

Bia cringed, "That had to be brutal."

"It's not as bad as the people of Koningstead pressing him, but that's getting ahead of things. After Viastetis, a dream told Gion to head south with his followers, wife, and children. With about fifteen of them in tow, he ended up in Koningstead. The island that is now Edelstowe was a ruin after St. Tedelis's crusade. Since no one wanted it, the band moved in. Saint Gion and his followers preached in the city. As more people joined, he sent his followers into the surrounding land.

"As word of the prophet spread, lots of people joined him on the island. They built a small town there. Eventually, all the believers made the authorities nervous. So Gion, trying to avoid conflict, agreed to stop recruiting. Instead, he spent his time writing down all his visions. But, converts kept coming. Afraid that this man posed a serious threat, the city father's threw him out."

"Wasn't it because the false religious authorities made them?" Bia asked.

"That's what Tullus says, but St. Gion doesn't say anything about that. Anyway, his wealthy followers bought some land about a day's walk from Koningstead. A few months later, the city authorities heard about it. A mob was formed with the blessing of the old religion. While Gion's family and followers watching helplessly, they beat the prophet until he was unable to stand. Then, they piled stones on top of him until he was dead. After his death, most of Gion's followers went back to their lives, but that's another story."

"A rough start Crezanna," Sister Otta began, "but you got there in the end. You two could learn something from her." As the Canoness turned her back, Maeve stuck out her tongue at her classmate.