The Woman Who Lived
Agda Persdotter was a local lass of Kythyss that survived the destruction of the temple of Chauntea. A terrible event where during a festival of spring celebration, a new bell was rung above the temple to bless the year harvests, and the roof collapsed, crushing everyone within the building. After weeks of digging with no hopes of survivors in the rubble, upon removing a large stone, Agda walked clear of the rubble, with only dust to show she had been under the rubble for such a time. Local tales at the tavern say her hair was just as perfect and just as beautiful as she stands currently.
Agda has become larger in life since as she has since rose to prominence after, becoming the self proclaimed Marchioness of Kythyss. The stories of her time under the rubble range from 5 days to 5 weeks.
Summary
During the spring festival of Chauntea to celebrate and bless the season's harvest, most of the Chauntea faithful, as well as though who only know to pray to the gods as it does not benifit to not, raised their new spring bell above the temple to ring in the new season. At the height of the celebration, as the bell was struck, the temple shook, which many saw as a displeasement from Chauntea. The temple quickly collapsed, crushing the faithful and those within. Over the next week, many from the city began working to clear the debris, however no survivors were found throughout the large slabs and ruin.
After a week of removing debris, a large slab was removed, revealing a chamber from which a local woman rose and cried in thanks of being rescued. She was the only survivor of the collapse found within the building. Others found below the temple in the corridors and halls below were lost to elements and of lack of food and drink. The woman quickly became a local legend, claimed to be the only one blessed and favored of Chauntea, although she herself states only she was fortunate to be in the right place at the wrong time.
Historical Basis
The Temple of Chauntea is an ancient temple, of which the current temple may not have been the original temple. The foundation stone and general construction and architecture do not match those of other Chauntea temples along the Moonshae Isles. This has led some Chauntea purist to believe the reasoning behind why Chauntea would allow the loss of so many within her temple.
Spread
Tales of the Woman who Lived are told through the immediate area and islands. Cities doing business with Kythyss know of her and have met, some tell of her story. Those may change depending upon their favoribility of the island independence or that of Amn and their presence for conquering the small island.
Variations & Mutation
The legend of Agda walking from the ruins of Chauntea's temple varies by telling, the plain being she was found after 5 days of searching, other tellings vary with it was after 5 weeks of searching and she was found standing naked with her arms wide praying to Chauntea without a scratch on her flawless skin. She is a tall woman, so standing with her arms high under rubble seems unlikely.
Other tellings (heard from taverns in Westphal to the south and sometimes in Amn) claim she was pulled from the basement of the temple where she had blood running down her mouth and the priestesses all within the basement had been slaughtered, that the death from the temple had awakened Agda as a vampire and she now ruled the city of Kythyss under hypnotism, poisoning the people. It is only under her powers that she worked her way to become the Marchioness.
Cultural Reception
The locals of Kythyss embraced the 'Woman who Lived' quickly after her rescue. A new feast was held in her honor with her becoming a local VIP with immediate access to governor and asked for opinions on many of the current state affairs, whether immediately deemed experienced or not. Agda used this new found celebrity status to strengthen Kythyss independence from both the king in Callidyrr as well as the new Amn presence from the south. This new view of becoming more independent from the far off nations began a strong following from the locals of Kythyss as well as the local militia, which had been sent to battle Amn in the past war, only to later see the king retreat and Amn move to their borders.
After over a year of being a highly respected advisor, with many of her decisions directing Kythyss into a strong position against Amn as well as Callidyrr, the king's chosen governor passed away. The city of Kythyss immediately moved to have an election for a new governor, with Agda winning in a landslide against her opponent, a smooth talking aristocrat backed by the local mercenary group, backed by Amn. Agda has since become a beloved leader of Kythyss, leading with a passion for the people and history of the port city, at times possibly inventing it's own history although each time a new local legend is found, historical data of such comes forward.
Date of First Recording
3 years prior
Date of Setting
3 years prior
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