Saint Bernadette

Bernadette, Saint of Tongues was a woman who lived in Skjol during the 33rd century AE. She was martyred in 328 AE via beheading. Her head is housed in the Convent of the Sisters of Tongues near the Fleurian border in Skjol.
== Biography ==
Little is known of Bernadette's childhood or young adulthood. Tradition holds she was the daughter of a cloth merchant who became highly devoted to Justain. In her teenage years, she joined a now destroyed local church, becoming anchored to it for several years before leaving one day on her holy mission. The then adult Bernadette entered Bjorg and began speaking in tongues to the people there. She could not stop, despite being warned by authorities to cease. When given pen and paper she was able to communicate in Northern as well as in a mysterious alphabet not known to anyone on Fayos. After three months of preaching in the streets, Bernadette was imprisoned in Castle Bjordenston. After two years of ceaseless speaking in tongues, she was executed in the town square by sword after refusing to stop.
Her remains were buried at the local chapel, then exhumed in 298 AE to be housed as relics. It was found that her body had barely decayed while her head had withered to just a skull.
== Sainthood ==
Bernadette's body was exhumed in 298 AE to check for signs of preservation indicating her sainthood after the report of several miracles done by her within Bjorg. The most famous of these miracles was the Miracle of the Voices, in which for nine days none of the people of the town were able to speak following the removal of a shrine to Bernadette in the town's square. Miraculously, all but her skull had remained preserved, and Bernadette was canonized in 297 AE. Her domain is tongues, being the patron saint of linguists and orators. Her sign is a flaming tongue, her animal a parrot. 
== Relics ==
Saint Bernadette's jaw is an important relic, housed currently in the Convent of the Sisters of Tongues, a convent founded in her honor in 280 AE. The jaw is housed within a golden bust with a disc halo, also gilded and inlaid with jewels. The face is blank, with a cushion upon which the jaw sits as well as two floating pearls where her eyes would be. The reliquary is displayed in a small chamber without ornament in the monastery, dimly lit or in total darkness. It is claimed that the jaw will speak if enough time is spent in devotion to it. The women of the convent spend many years of their lives in the chamber. 
Several bone fragments, locks of hair, and pieces of cloth claiming to belong to Saint Bernadette appear throughout the North in convents or in amulets sold to travelers. Their authenticity is debated. 
Category:Skjolian Characters
Category:Saints