Saint Thirkell

A member of the Raskvaerii religion's Holy Chorus of Saints, Saint Thirkell is the Patron Saint of Seafarers, specifically those who are lost or trapped in storms. He is often adopted as a Patron Saints by people within the merchant guild or shipping industry. One of His main supporters are the Ordesky family, of the slavers firm Ordesky and Sons', who trade in Beasts.

"Knowing the travesties their kinsmen had become [as a result of the Great Confiscation], mankind turned to its pantheon of gods, beseeching them for mercy. For time immemorial, our ancestors had worshipped gods of the earth, wind, water and fire. That was when mankind realised they had been deceived. The creatures they worshipped were not divine. They were nothing more than filthy animals whose bodies and blood were contaminated with Power."

— Saint-Servant Radimir Ekhorin

A Bief History of the Holy Chorus of Saints

Following the devestating events of the Great Confiscation, mankind was dealt a devestating revelation: the deities they worshipped for generations were not, in fact, true gods. Faced with the prospect of civil unrest, Karrena Agnessa ordered the surviving oligarchy of the Raskvaerii temple to destroy all images to the old gods and elect a new pantheon in its place. The new pantheon was called 'The Holy Chorus of Saints', notable humans that had achieved great things during their lives, or had been martyred to the cause of the Empire. More recently, some new elctees have been chosen because of the miracles attributed to them after their deaths. These Saints are considered to be the true leaders of the Raskvaerii religion, guiding their Servants through Divine Inspiratoin. Saint Thirkell is one such chosen.

by Zoltan Tasi

A Storm on the Unaidin Sea by Brinsmead

Early Life

There is very little to be gleaned about Saint Thirkell's early life from the historical record. He was born Thirkell Bezrukov on an unspecified date in Secondmonth 14 SGC. His father, Trofim Bezrukov, was a labouror at the Khinask Dockyards; his mother's name is not recorded.
It is thought he joined the crew of the Demon Flayer as a cabin boy in c. 22 SGC. He worked his way up through the ranks, becoming Second Mate on a slaving ship belonging to the fledgling company, Ordesky & Sons', by 43 SGC. Two years later, He was appointed Captain of the company's newly-commissioned ship, The Harrying Star, by Oriel Ordesky.

Murder and Miracle

While returning to the Saeric Basin from an unrecorded land across the Unaidin Sea, Saint Thirkell's crew mutinied and lashed him to the bowsprit at the front of the ship. He hung there for days like some grotesque figurehead, allegedly to prideful to call out to his traitorous crew for aid even in his final hours. Eventually, without water or food, and subjected to the merciless temper of the sea, the Saint died.
A few nights later, as the mutinous crew neared the Basin Mouth, a vicious storm blew in, taking the ship by surprise. Panic ensued. As the men struggled to navigate through the vicious, howling storm, a voice began to boom across the deck with inhuman strength, calling directions the helmsman.The voice prevented the ship from running aground on the north-western shore of Kredashmi, and eventually guided them to the Saeric Basin's gaping Mouth.

Recovery and Burial

When The Harrying Star returned to the Port of Khinask, the crew immediately turned themselves over to the port authorities. Every account given to the Saint-Servants by the sailors claim that miraculous voice that saved their lives came from the bow of the ship. They had but one reason for their survival: the Soul of their murdered Captain had refused to desert His men, and had led them safely home.
Saint Thirkell's body was reverently removed from its resting place on the bowsprit, and given an official escort to the Temple in Khinask, where He was given the burial rites of a martyr.

Date of Birth

c. Secondmonth 14 SGC

Year of Death

62 SGC

Circumstances of Death

Murdered during a mutiny of his crew.

Gender

Male

Beliefs and Worship

Saint Thirkell is thought to offer protection or guidance to His followers, and all merchant and naval vesels have a shrine dedicated to Him onboard for the use of their crews.
Although His guidance was initially focused on navigation and deliverance from storms, worshippers who have adopted Saint Thirkell as their Patron Saint, also pray to Him for guidance in their everyday lives, e.g. when trying to negotiate difficulties in their relationships, businesses, etc.

Depictions

Saint Thirkell is depicted as a skeletal figurehead tied to the bowsprit of a ship, or as the face of a drowned man, His shouting mouth twisted as He fights to be heard over the tempestuous rage of the storm.

Oaths: Taking the Saint's Name in Vain

In recent years, it has become common amongst worshippers to utter the Saint's name as part of a curse or exclamation of surprise. One partcularly favoured phrase is, "By Thirkell/the Saint's Drowned Beard!"
This is, of course, a misleading utterance, as sailors in the employ of Oriel Ordesky were banned from growing beards; furthermore, the Saint is to have died of exposure, not by drowning. Despite this, depictions created in the past decade have begun to reflect the new oath.