False Sainthood

False Sainthood is the delusion that one is the reincarnation of one of the various saints of vecrona. In most cases, the individual believes themselves to be is a historical saint, though occasionally an entirely fictional saint is cited.

Causes

Most medical scholars believe the sainthood delusion is caused by psychological trauma, though a number of cases have surfaced with no evident trauma preceding it. Others theorize that the delusion can manifest as a symptom of a larger illness such as split identity, lunar fever, or any number of illnesses. Certainly there have been cases in which the sainthood delusion is not the only symptom.
Some believe the condition to have a spiritual cause; they claim that such individuals are in fact a reincarnation of the soul of these saints, though such beliefs are unable to answer for the cases in which the supposed saint is in fact a non-existent saint. This theory also contradicts the established fact that the draconic saints are ascended rather than deceased, and as such are removed from the reincarnation cycle entirely.

Symptoms

This delusion manifests as a complete belief that the individual is a reincarnation of a saint, even going so far as to relate events in their personal life to events in the history of the saint. This delusion does not cause the individual's previous identity to be displaced; they still retain their own personal memories and sense of self, but believes that their soul is one that previously lived as a historical (or fabricated) draconic saint.

Treatment

As most people who exhibit this delusion are entirely harmless and often accepting of the fact that their story is unbelievable, there is usually no prescribed treatment (other than occasional religious counseling in the more obtrusive cases).

History

The first known diagnosis of false sainthood was in the year 1983, during the Age of Fortune, though some historical records suggest undiagnosed cases as early as the Age of Heroes. Below is a list if the more typical cases recorded, though it is by no means comprehensive.

DATE RECORDED
06/07/1982

9/37/2026

7/29/2143

AFLICTED INDIVIDUAL
G. Gygax, noted author

K. Senicus, playwrite

I. Darkmoor, butcher

CLAIMED SAINT
Saint Cuthbert, patron saint of cudgels (non-existent)
Saint Cyrus the Muse

Saint Shemiah, patron saint of armorers (minor saint)

Type

Mental

Rarity

Rare

Affected Species

• Humans