A RETELLING | ST. LUCIEN 'THE GOOD'

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SAINT LUCIEN “THE GOOD”

A RETELLING OF THE LIFE OF THE FATHER OF SAVOY & LUCIENISM

 

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COMPILED BY OWYN HECTOR ASHFORD DE SAVOIE

 

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FOREWORD

 

IN A CONTINUED ATTEMPT to recover and record the History of Savoy, this was perhaps the easiest recollection to compile. With the works of Charles Fournier primarily, I was able to compile a concise yet respectful retelling of the life of St. Lucien I, ‘the Good’, who is largely considered to be the Father of Savoy, as well as the Progenitor of House Ashford de Savoie and its Patriarch for the longest time. Despite the modern controversy that surrounds the Order of the White Rose, much of the retelling of the life of Saint Lucien must mention the Order, as he was an integral member of it - it is important to note that neither Charles Fournier nor myself necessarily condone nor agree to the actions of the Order - this is merely history retold in order to preserve culture and identity.

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SAINT LUCIEN’s TITLES;

High Pontiff Saint Lucien I ‘The Good’ of Savoie, Prince-Archbishop of Savoie, Master and Commander of the Order of the White Rose, Seneschal of the Order of the White Rose,  Former Bishop of Crestfall, Patriarch of House Ashford and Progenitor of the House de Savoie. 

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THE LIFE

 

FOLLOWING THE failure of House Ashford’s forefather, Sergius, Gwenneg Ashford was exiled to the distant penal colony known as ‘Ulmsbottom’, giving his wife a son he named Velwyn. Living his childhood as similar as most impoverished youth do, it was upon the first day he came of age that he boarded a ship, later discovered to be a galley transporting slaves, leaving the dingy port that made up part of the town and departed for Arethor in Asulon, his intention never to return to such a poor colony.

 

IT WAS DURING his trip to Arethor on the small vessel that, as most great stories begin, he was struck by disaster and caught within the ice floes south of the icy shores of that realm of Hanseti, ruled by Hochmeister Bealcrest at the time. Managing to survive with little but a scant few possessions he dragged himself to the capital and seat of Bealcrest in a feat of willpower, swearing himself to Hanseti in the process.

 

IT WAS FOLLOWING a decade or so of diligent service to the stony land that he was granted the stewardship of the lands of Dresden, the title in the Teutonic Order being know as ‘Landmeister’, by the heir to Bealcrest’s fortunes, the infamous Mirtok Denurem. As part of his tenure in this role he was assigned as emissary in matters of state to the realm of Renatus, immersing himself in the religious and cultural beliefs of the Kingdom.

 

FOLLOWING THE Hochmeister’s betrayal of Renatus in the wars around Salvus, Velwyn was recalled to the lands of Dresden before promptly renouncing his position and travelling on a pilgrimage unto the God he had discovered in Renatus. Swiftly facing baptism under the Church of Oren he left the icy and war-mongering lands of Hanseti.

 

IT WAS CLEAR that during this visit he experienced a spiritual awakening, remaining on his route for roughly seven years before returning the lands of Man with a fervour lit in his heart, and after meeting the passionate brothers Thomas and Peter Chivay went on to found the religious militant Order of the White Rose, a force dedicated to racial supremacy. 

 

ESTABLISHING themselves in the keep known as Rivia, Velwyn displayed his stewardly skills after being named as Seneschal of the Order by quickly ensuring the Order faced a rise in recruits and their ability, leading them onto becoming the largest and greatest militant order in the history of Humanity. Following the Order’s move to the impenetrable fortress of Krak du Rhoswen Velwyn was also installed as the Bishop of Crestfall and Pontiff of the Church by High Pontiff Adeodatus I.

 

IT WAS UNDER his hold of the Diocese of Crestfall that he successfully proselytized the region, using his own considerable influence and forces of the White Rose to cleanse the region of the vast covens of infidels and heretics. Displaying at these times a great passion for matters of the Faith emerged in him, according to witnesses, along with large amounts of personal willpower and determination. 

 

THE EXACT DETAILS of why his inquisition was so devastatingly effective come from accounts in his court at this time, recording that the future Saint was slighted by the major family of this region, one that identified themselves under the name of Amador, as a disgraced failure, comparing himself to the now dead Sergius Ashford. Following such an insult he launched a frenzied investigation into the house, ending in their denouncement as heretics and subsequent destruction.

 

THE PERSONAL COAT OF ARMS OF ST. LUCIEN

 

FOLLOWING THE travel of the Imperial ships to the new lands of Humanity and their abandonment of these lands the current High Pontiff, Adeodatus ‘The Simple’, resigned - many rumour that he was forced into such an action by the nobility and clergy of the realm following a great eccentric outburst, the sort of which he was famed for. Elected as his inheritor, Velwyn took on the papal name of ‘Lucien’ following his ascension to the position and immediately proved to be of a making far greater than Adeodatus. 

 

UPON THE ARRIVAL of the Humans to the lands known as Anthos he was granted the Prince-Archbishopric of Savoie in the north, upon the border with the realms of Hanseti that he formerly governed. With the aid of a close friend and vassal, St. Adrian of Leuvaarden, and another loyal vassal - House Varodyr - they reformed the region into an industrial powerhouse and the start of a new culture, named after the region in which they were birthed.

 

DURING THESE times Lucien fathered his own family, proving as a model to many other families within Savoy that he was charitable to. It was recorded that those Lucien was kindest in his actions too were families, particularly those with upcoming children - the types he would often provide patronage to. 

 

HIS BENEVOLENCE towards families is clearly shown in the first recorded miracle at his hands, on a visit to Aldersberg he allowed an elderly couple in their fifties who faced an issue of infertility to kiss the hand of his cadaver, them going on to conceive a healthy boy and raise him successfully to manhood.

 

IT WAS DURING these years that Lucien exercised his considerable influence as a counsel to King Peter Chivay to express his views upon the Sacking of Malinor, famously expressing in a letter to him, “The road to Malinor is very pretty, but you’ll have a hard time marching your army down it.” It was following the ascension of Peter to King that he pronounced, “I kneel to no man.” when asked his stance upon his former master’s ascension to royalty. However, despite what could be considered at first glance as an opinion against the Malinorian invasion is, once delved deeper, simply counsel for his former companion in not to he hasty with the assault. It is clear from St. Lucien’s beliefs that he was of the same cloth as many of the White Rose zealots in his beliefs regarding such elements of supremacy.

 

IT WAS IN the year of 1406 that Lucien I. proved his great devotion to the Faith with an act of unwavering strength, forming the militant Order of Saint Amyas (see Richard de Bar, Guy de Bar, Sascha de Saltpans, and Augustus Fournier for more information), a group that went on to become a staple Savoyard order. Granting a loyal vassal, Guy Varodyr, with the post of Grand Master he declared a grand Crusade upon the lands of the Orcish, raising a mighty host of pious and loyal men beneath the Papal banner and riding south.

 

QUICKLY SECURING a mighty fortress, Antrim, and garrisoning it against multiple Orcish attacks he carved out a new Holy Land before reclaiming the lost relics of the St. Lorraine, the objective of the strike, and returning to the lands of Oren awash with spiritual and religious victory over the nonhuman enemy.

 

AFTER THE VICTORY, Lucien I went on to work closely with St. Thomas of Gaekrin and St. Adrian of Leuvaarden to draft up the principles of a Church sect known as Lucienism, advocating his pro-family and strictly pious teachings. After their publication, this religious reform swiftly gained traction and proved so successful that it inspired others, such as the Order of St. Lucien, to take up his banner following his death.

 

IN THE LATE years of the First Empire the High Pontiff began an attempt to leave the clergy and his post to claim his lands as a Duchy in their own right, outside of the clergy, but he never achieved such a goal before the Exodus. Resigning in 1420 on the leave to Aeldin he died at the age of eighty-four in the 1430s.

 

IT WAS DURING the 1440s that an expedition was launched at the behest of Arjen de Sarkozy to recover the lost relics of Lucien, travelling to Aeldin to do so. After the eventual discovery and reclamation of these relics Arjen discovered that, despite their well-known documented appearance as lead and copper, they had miraculously transformed into items of solid gold - heralding another miracle.

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CONCLUSION

 

A PIOUS AND dedicated man, St. Lucien the Good - credited too as forefather of Lucienism and a staunch member of the Order of the White Rose - was a supremacist and crusader as much as he was patriarch of House Ashford and progenitor of House de Savoie. His supremacist beliefs were quite common for his time, and many men and women alike would share the beliefs of St. Lucien for years to come, stretching as far as our current day and age. Once more, I make the effort to point out that the recollection of St. Lucien’s life has no intent of condoning such actions. Humanity has evolved to accept other cultures and the rest of Descendant-kind within their walls and lands, and although there are those who yet preach this supremacy of Humanity over all, they’ve turned into a steady minority.

SAINT LUCIEN should be remembered, first and foremost, by his benevolence, his miracles, and his pious deeds for Humanity. Although advocating for archaic beliefs, his devotion to Humanity and its preservation - in a time where it was truly threatened - was admirable. A man of devoted faith, St. Lucien is arguably one of the most influential Humans in History - and is likely the primary figure that comes to one’s mind when it comes to both Savoyard and Human History. To compile his life in such a manner, is an honor, and I am glad I was able to utilise the works of Charles Fournier to aid in this.

 

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IN GLORIA ET LUMEN DEI

Owyn Hector Ashford de Savoie,

Record-Keeper & Historian.

 

[Islamadon 9164]

"But Saint Lucien remains Pontiff in Aeldin . . ." comments Aeldenic migrant LECTOR