Saint Sanmarino Divederci

Patron Saint of Knights Sanmarino Divederci (a.k.a. The Sambucco Cavallo)

Saint's Story

The story of Sanmarino Divederci, historical paragon of righteousness, architect of modern chivalry, and best friend to a god.
“The Age of Savagery,” a time of rule by the cruel Tukrok Khanate, ended by the great Temora Primus who, upon his death, rose to godhood as Prime, God of Civilization. One cannot tell the tale of Emperor Temora Primus, and his struggle against the savages, without telling that of his long time traveling companion and ally, Sir Sanmarino Divederci, the first Sambucco Cavallo. Sanmarino Divederci was born and raised in the lands then known as Cras, late in the reign of the Tukrok Khanate. The young Sanmarino bore witness to innumerable atrocities committed by the warriors of the Khanate, as they violated and abused both the beautiful countryside and the people who resided therein. This hardened Sanmarino, and when his childhood sweetheart was kidnapped by the savages, Sanmarino decided that he had to act. Sanmarino was enthusiastic, but he lacked combat training and experience, and if not for a mysterious wandering warrior, Sanmarino, would have never made it long enough to become a legend. His sweetheart saved, the savages slain, Sanmarino became enamored with the warrior who had come to his aid in his hour of need. He was a pre-modern Cavallo.
Due to the lawless nature of this time, warriors, believed to previously be in the service of lords, found themselves in a hostile land, infested with brigands, monsters, and savages. Those who did not leave or die began their own personal crusades across the land of Cras, generating legends of “I Cavalli.” They were said to be warriors who traveled the land, usually alone, slaying monsters and brigands alike, surviving by spoils acquired from their defeated enemies and the support of local, civilized, settlements.
Sanmarino had heard tales of I Cavalli, but as that generation aged, few still patrolled the roads. Some people even believed them to be mere myth. And yet, here was one, likely a Banneret, Sanmarino thought, given his lengthy grey beard, visible below his helmet. The old Cavallo, seeing potential in the boy, trained him in the art of combat, as was practiced by the Cavalli, as well as the worship of his god, Rein. Sanmarino was a natural, and a handful of years later, becoming an avatar of vengeful fury of a people, robbed, and a way of life, lost.
A decade later, Sanmarino, one of the last Cavalli, heard tell of a successful revolt against the Tukrok to the west of modern Chandria, led by a man named Temora Primus, who had begun to call himself Emperor. Sanmarino did not know this man, or trust his claim as some kind of emperor, but anyone who put the Tukrok savages to the blade, were friends of his.
This sentiment was echoed by Emperor Primus when, after the success of his legions in securing Ackramor’s initial borders, he visited the once great land, then known as Cras. Sanmarino was impressed with Temora Primus’ skills as a commander and strategist, as well as with the efficiency of the Ackramorian Legions. Primus quickly organized any Cavalli he could find, giving them treatment that befitted the knights of a bygone age. Thanks to Sanmarino, now Primus’ ally, he knew the value of the knowledge possessed by these warriors, who had defied the Tukrok for so many years, would be key in defeating the savages in Cras.
Sanmarino was placed at the head of this new order, in a position known as the “Sambucco Cavallo,” and his first objective would be to find Iniziati, pages and squires, to teach and train. Sanmarino knew the tales of the Cavalli well, the brave, gallant, romantic warriors of old, he grew up worshipping these legendary warriors. So he continued to spread the stories, codified the “Cavalli code of Chivalry” (now known as “The Chandrian Chivalric Code”) and young prospective knights soon flooded in.
Sanmarino emphasized that the purpose of the knights, was to protect the civilized people of Cras. They were not common soldiers, they were not mercenaries, and they were certainly no savages. They were ethical warriors, they were Rein’s chosen, they were I Cavalli.
Years of fighting went by, Sanmarino, then 37, had grown the ranks of I Cavalli ten fold, and they, in cooperation with the famous Ackramorian legions, had beaten back the Tukrok. The final battle would come to be known as “La Battaglia Finale Per La Civilita.” The battle was a hard fought gamble by the allied Ackramorian and Chandrian (as they now called themselves) forces. Despite being outnumbered 3:1, the superior tactical mind of Temora primus combined with the revolutionary use of heavy shock cavalry by the Cavalli forced a route and won the day.
In an even greater gamble, immediately following the battle, Temora Primus turned to his close friend, drew his blade and challenged him to a duel for the hand of a fair lady. Sanmarino was taken aback by this, and asked that his friend reconsider. He thought that perhaps his old friend had gone mad, or maybe he had finally broken down after all of the stress of years of fighting. Then it was all made clear, as Emperor Temora Primus declared, “I challenge you, Sanmarino Divederci, Sambucco Cavallo, for the fate of the fair lady Chandria. Sanmarino accepted the challenge and steeled himself, honorbound to do battle against his closest friend.
As the stories go, they battled hard for 3 long days, and although Sanmarino was the greatest warrior of his, or any age, Temora Primus was both swift and cunning. As the dust settled on the third day, onlookers saw the Sambucco Cavallo lying exhausted on the ground, weapon out of reach, and the Emperor of the Ackramorian Empire above him, weapon pointed at his defeated opponent.
This would be the end of the great Sanmarino Divederci, the first Sambucco Cavallo and savior of Chandria, felled at the hand of his closest friend. It took every ounce of strength the Cavalli present had to restrain themselves from violating the sacred duel, many of the Ackramorian soldiers felt a similar affinity for the commander of their Chandrian Allies. Suddenly, as Sanmarino accepted his fate, his old friend sheathed his blade, and reached out a supporting hand to the Sambucco Cavallo instead.
It was then, that the final tenant of “The Chandrian Chivalric Code” was inspired. As he helped his defeated friend off of the ground, Emperor Temora Primus said aloud, for all to hear, “the greatest strength that can be had by any warrior is the strength found in restraint, mercy.” Primus then turned to Sanmarino, who said, “Emperor Temora Primus, I will never bend the knee to a liege who is not of Chandria,” the Cavalli looked on, confused Sanmarino had lost the duel, and was honorbound to concede that which was wagered, but to swear his homeland to a foreigner would be equally disgraceful.
After a moment of surveying the crowd of onlookers, the Sambucco Cavallo spoke again, ”and you are more so Chandrian than many I know of such a birthright. You are Ackramorian by birth, Chandrian by destiny.” Sanmarino kneeled before his Emperor among the cheers and support of the Cavalli and Ackramorians alike, he then stood, and tightly embraced his close friend.
Chandria became the earliest territory to be annexed by Primus’ Ackramor, and the cultures of Ackramor and Chandria became forever intertwined. Sanmarino went on to revolutionize Ackramorian battle strategy, become the greatest general the Ackramorian military would ever know, and continue to grow and support I Cavalli, the most terrifying elite heavy shock cavalry and heavy infantry to ever storm the battlefield. Sanmarino and Primus remained close friends until Primus’ ascendance, and it is often said that their friendship extends into the stars.

Tenets of Faith

As the Sambucco Cavallo of the Cavalli, Sanmarino Divederci was beholden to the Chandrian Code of Chivalry during life which has since been enshrined in the worship of Rein, God of Integrity. Sanmarino's code has been slightly adapted in accordance with his knew liege lord.
The Integral Code of Chivalry:
1. Thou shalt be courteous and respectful.
2. Thou shalt defend thyne sovereignty and all who inhabit her.
3. Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.
4. Thou shalt abide by the laws of the land, so long as they remain within the bounds of these and the Common Tenants.
5. Thou shalt be ever obedient of thine master, but vigilant that they too maintain the Common or Chivalric Tenets, else the wrath of their station be brought down upon them.
6. Thou shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.
7. Thou shalt be generous, and give largesse to all who are civil.
8. Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against the Uncivil and the Evil.
9. Thou shalt roam the land and prove thyself, by defeating those evil who pray upon the lord and commoner.
10. Thou shalt fiercely defend the weak and defenseless, and shalt show mercy, to the enemy brought low.
While the Integral Chivalric Code is to be, at all times, adhered to by Knights, Sanmarino expects integrity from all of the civilized people of Jeharr. Failure to adhere to the Common Tenets can result in the loss of favor of the honorable and Knights across Jeharr as well as Rein and Saint Divederci.
The Common Tenets:
1. Thou shalt honor thyne ancestors.
2. Thou shalt not kill unjustly.
3. Thou shalt not be unfaithful, to thyne partner, nor thyne beloved Gods above.
4. Thou shalt conduct thyself in a manor in accordance with the teachings of Rein.
5. Thou shalt respect the authority of the honorable knight, regardless of thyne station.

Divine Goals & Aspirations

Sanmarino Divederci is the Patron Saint of Knights and as such represents the values and honor associated with individuals holding that title. Sanmarino seeks to encourage honorable conduct and adherence to both the Chivalric and Common Tenets. Sanmarino greatly disapproves of false knights and disreputable people.

Divine Classification

Saint