The Saints of the Twelve

See also: Lore and Eorzean Faiths

In the various lands of Eorzea, there has long been a tradition of conferring the mantle of “saint” upon those worthy souls who have accomplished great works, or lived a life of exemplary virtue. These saints are each associated with the deity whose qualities they embody, and are revered as figures graced by divine benediction.

The Council Of Loetstym

Marked by great deeds or purity of virtue, the lives of the saints have long been immortalized in story or song, The tale told in one hamlet, however, contradicted the telling in another, and even the validity of the sainthood itself was often only recognized by certain social institutions. Thus it was that some five-hundred years ago, Archon Loetstym Merlzirnsyn of Sharlayan sought to redress these inconsistencies by collecting scattered anecdotes from across the realm, and unifying the results in his hagiographic compilation, the Saints of Eorzea. Based upon this definitive work, his successors went on to establish the “Council of Loetstym” in a move to formalize the process of canonization. Once every seven years, its members convene in the Sharlayan motherland to pore over potential cases, and cast votes to elevate new candidates to sainthood.

The figures thus recognized by the council become a ubiquitous sight in Eorzean society. They might appear as the subjects of theatrical productions or children’s picture books, but perhaps the most common saintly encounter for adventurers is found in the stained-crystal illustrations of leve plates. As seen below, each leve plate features the depiction of a scene from a chosen saint’s life, titled with a word which encapsulates the personage’s most prominent virtue.

VALOUR - Valor

Saint Daniffen and the Basilisk

When the basilisk came, the fishermen’s poles which once bristled on the banks of the Velodyna River vanished from view, replaced with a sprouting of mercenaries’ spears. Yet even these hardened fortune-seekers could find no counter to the beast’s deadly gaze, and a forest of petrified flesh soon crowded the riverbed. Just when it seemed none remained to challenge the monster, there appeared an itinerant knight by the name of Ser Daniffen. The peril lay in meeting the creature's eyes, not in being seen by them, he proclaimed, and thus did he pad his helm’s visor to render himself blind. Tracking his prey by the sound of its scraping claws alone, the knight stalked and slew the terrible basilisk. Daniffen was celebrated for his valor and daring, and raised up as a saint blessed of Halone.

TENACITY - Tenacity

Saint Norvello’s Quarry

On her way home from a campaign, the mercenary Norvello chanced across a pilgrim camp under attack by bandits. She immediately joined the fray, slaying several brigands before tumbling from her saddle with an arrow lodged in her thigh. Thrown into disarray, the surviving attackers quit the field, seizing a pilgrim youth as they did so. His frightened yelp put Norvello in mind of an enemy soldier she'd killed—a green recruit, scarcely more than a boy. Clenching her jaw against the pain, she pulled herself back onto her mount, and set off in pursuit. The sun was setting when her chocobo returned. On its back it carried the youth, who breathed gently in slumber, and Norvello herself, who breathed not at all. The mercenary was remembered for her selfless tenacity, and raised up as a saint blessed of Azeyma.

DILIGENCE - Diligence

Saint Tothor the Ratcatcher

Every harvesting season, the villagers dreaded the inevitable plague of ravenous forest rats. Though they stood guard night and day, they could not keep the nimble vermin from their crops. When it was the hardworking Tothor’s turn to keep watch, he did the unthinkable—he removed the fences from around his own well-tended patch of beans, and even put out pails of fresh water. Upon seeing his ravaged field the next morning, the villagers mocked the man for his fool-headed actions. But their derisive laughter lasted only until the rats appeared—sluggish and drowsy from their feast of beans, the bewhiskered pests were easily caught. The diligent Tothor was praised for the sacrifice he made on behalf of the village, and raised up as a saint blessed of Nophica.

VERACITY - Veracity

Saint Nonoya and the Voice of Truth

There was once a general renowned for his tactics. The mere sight of his standard on the field was enough to send tremors through enemy ranks, which would escalate within moments to an outright rout. Every such victory would earn the general an extravagant tribute from the king—and the opportunity to flaunt his growing wealth before his troops. A Lalafell named Nonoya, the feeblest of his soldiers, was the one to finally expose the general's true character. Weary of the bragging, and suspicious of his triumphs, Nonoya lingered behind when the next battle culminated in the predictable fleeing of the foe. She crept into the enemy camp, and was witness to her general raising a tankard with the rival officer. Praised for the testimony she provided to the court, the veracious Nonoya was raised up as a saint blessed of Thaliak.

WYSDOM - Wisdom

Saint Llafymae and the Hero’s Lay

Llafymae the bard sung songs of heroes” hearts. In a time when folk craved overblown epics where fearless champions slew monsters by the score, she crafted verses which laid bare the mind of her subject matter. Her words drew an unapologetic picture of uncertainty and terror, of crippling wounds endured for the sake of honor. She wrote of the heroes’ true selves, which history had buried beneath the grandeur of their deeds. Although her works did not stir the blood as would a valorous ballad, it was no coincidence that those sobered by the truths contained therein did find firmer footing on the path of adventure. Celebrated for the wisdom she imparted to a host of fledgling heroes, Llafymae was raised up as a saint blessed of Nymeia.

IUSTIS - Fustice

The Seven Deeds of Saint Gafryde

Injured on the field of battle, Ser Gafryde spent seven days in the care of a woodland hermit. On the day of his departure, the hermit interrupted the knight’s words of gratitude—he had no need of thanks. What he wished was for Gafryde to perform seven deeds in the name of justice. He himself had failed to act when action was called for, and thus did he live apart, alone with his remorse. Seven years passed before Gafryde returned to the hermit. Gravely wounded, the knight spit blood as he spoke of the minor nation he had fought to save, and of the seven times his belief in righteousness had guided his sword arm. Sir Gafryde grew still then, his story told, a faint smile forever etched upon his pallid features. Revered for his unbending sense of justice, Gafryde was raised up as a saint blessed of Oschon.

TEMPERANS - Temperance

Saint Ascya’s Mead

The Arralicie drifted on the empty sea, her rudder shattered by a sea serpent’s tail. Not a shadow of land could be seen on the sun-flooded horizon, and even the crew's veterans were gripped by tendrils of despair. The captain put on a brave face, but it was only Ascya, the cook’s apprentice, whose calm was unfeigned. After hearing the ship’s navigator estimate three weeks until the current washed them up on the nearest shore, she drafted a plan to conserve their remaining rations. The sailors cajoled and threatened. The captain shouted orders. But she refused to dole out more food than was scheduled, never leaving her vigil beside the mead barrel. Praised for rescuing her entire crew with her temperance, Ascya was raised up as a saint blessed of Lymlaen.

RESOLUE - Resolve

Saint Allene and the Fields of Summer

The festive commotion in the village square turned to bewildered panic as Allene rushed at the crowds, her harvest scythe in hand. She screamed at the villagers to flee into the fields, and flee they did—not for fear of the scythe, but of the unholy rage twisting the features of a woman known best for her placid nature. No sooner had the revelers taken refuge than a howling tornado tore a path of destruction through the now-empty village. As a farmer, Allene was well acquainted with the vagaries of the weather and, sensing the coming catastrophe, chose to feign a maddened attack on her neighbors rather than waste time on explanations. Celebrated for her act of resolve, Allene was raised up as a saint blessed of Nophica.

SYMPATHIE - Sympathy

Saint Zozonan and the Empty Chapel

Long was the war, and numerous were the refugees who fled its devastation. When Zozonan caught sight of the haggard throng approaching the city walls, it was as a knife twisting in his heart. The compassionate friar went in search of donations, but the merchants, miserly and selfish, rebuffed his gentle pleas. And so he gathered the few implements of value from his chapel, bartered them for provisions, and set off with a full cart to feed the hungry. Shamed by the austere Zozonan’s act of generosity, those watching from the gates were moved to join him. First one city dweller ventured forth, and then another, until finally a crowd of helpers assembled to continue what the friar had begun. Revered for his example of sympathy and the lives he helped save, Zozonan was raised up as a saint blessed of Nald’thal.

CONFYDENS - Confidence

Saint Meryall’s Log

Lady Meryall, the archaeologist responsible for unearthing the ruins of Sil’dih, was known for memorizing the names of several hundred site laborers and assigning each a task suited to his or her talents. She also kept a detailed log on the families of her workers, sending small nameday gifts to sons and daughters, and slipping alchemical remedies into the hands of those caring for ailing parents. Meryall’s caring attention earned the trust of her work crews, and excavations proceeded without debate or delay. Thus it was that the subterranean ruins were swiftly identified as the origin of the zombie scourge, and effective measures could be taken to contain the peril. Praised for the confidence she inspired in others, Meryall was raised up as a saint blessed of Althyk.

CONSTANCIE - Constancy

Saint Moergynn and the Edgeless Blade

In a certain castle, there lived a pair of brothers. The two had always been close, until one day a quarrel over some insignificant matter escalated from a simple disagreement to insults flung and gauntlets thrown. They each approached Moergynn, the town’s finest blacksmith, to request the forging of swords for their forthcoming duel. Moergynn accepted the commissions, patiently re-hammering the blades as both brothers stopped by with additional instructions. On the day of the duel, the crowd was taken aback, for the siblings’ swords were both blunted into little more than crude clubs. The blacksmith had merely shaped the steel as he had been bid, his reputation for excellence be damned. Revered for the constancy of his craft, Moergynn was raised up as a saint blessed of Rhalgr.

CHERYTE - Charity

The Warp and Weft of Saint Lathme

Be it through war, sickness, or simple mishap, men are fragile creatures to whom death comes all too easily. And whilst this is a great misfortune for the one who passes, it is often of greater tragedy for those left behind. Seeking to ease the hardship of widows suddenly bereft of their family’s main provider, Lathme would teach the art of spinning yarn, weaving cloth, and sewing clothes. She offered up her trade knowledge and asked naught in return, for in her youth, she too had known the loss of a husband. For all she gave freely, Lathme was praised for her charity, and raised up as a saint blessed of Nymeia.