Wedding Bells

A dissertation on Saint Astrid of Nadrinfall

Penned between the Sixteenth of March, 972 years Post Apocalypse, and this the Ninth of April, 972 years Post Apocalypse.

Acknowledgments and Content

This dissertation will be presented in a five distinct parts, summarized here for ease of reference.

• Preface
• Part One: The Life of Astrid Amelia Coopersmith of Fandar
• Part Two: The Miracles of Saint Astrid of Nadrinfall
• Part Three: Canonization and Ascension
• Part Four: Saint Astrid's Day and Modern Celebrations

The author would like to thank His Holiness Pontiff Grigory VII (serving 958 - ) for permission and access to the libraries of the Grand Cathedral in Alliander. Her Eminence Cardinal Selina Goldenleaf of Andorra (serving 968 - ) for her tireless efforts in finding tomes for study (A “Labor of Love” she calls it). The scholar Rinald Harold of Londwyn, without whom this work would be more devoid of the dissenting opinion.  Finally, to the Holy Mother Wendy Wright of the Astrid Monastery in Nadrinfall (serving 921 - ) for her devoted time and supervision while I accessed and researched the holy relics and tomes found therein.

Preface

This dissertation will be written as a fair, equitable account of the life of the woman behind the religious figure.  It will at times be brutal, and contrary to commonly accepted religious belief.  However belief, tradition and ceremony are as much a part of the truth of this figure as any layman's view of the truth, so it too must be presented in its entirety.  The research for this work has been conducted over a period of five years which retraced much of the original journeys of Saint Astrid.

It cannot be argued by anyone that this was a woman of faith, vision, and extreme compassion.  This work, while it has been commissioned by the Holy Sect of Andorra, under the Supervision of the Valosian Church, has been given permission to present contrary views for the sake of completeness, tolerance and understanding.  The Andorran Church wishes this information disseminated for the good of all peoples, and wishes it done with love and compassion as would be consistent with the wishes of Andorra herself.

The Life of Astrid Amelia Coopersmith of Fandar.

“At the beginning of life, we are naked unto the world, the only things we know and feel are a desire for protection, and love for our parents, the greatest love of all that suffuses us for our entire lives.”

--Andorran Proverb, commonly attributed to Saint Astrid of Nadrinfall

Historical accounts all agree that the date of the ascension, and passing from this world by Saint Astrid of Nadrinfall was the Nineteenth of November in 359 PA.  When and where she was born are often in argument.  Common historical accounts believe that Saint Astrid of Nadrinfall was born there in 280 PA, and aside from her frequent travels lived out her life in this small village not a league from the Great Rift.

They believe that her life was that always of servitude to Andorra in the Monastery which now bears her name, and where her simplest, yet greatest Miracle was performed.  This work however, finds that Astrid was born Astrid Amelia Coopersmith of the city of Fandar in 321 PA.  She was the daughter of a shipwright whose lake ships were the backbone of trade between the Barony of Fenrik and the Barony of Talenthal across Lake Trallon.  Accounts of the Coopersmith family show some amount of strife arising around 336 PA, when young Astrid found herself at odds with her parents.  The words of her father, Leopold Coopersmith:

“November the twenty-ninth, Three hundred and thirty six years after the Rift – My daughter Astrid, is so very much not like me, it pains me.  It obviously pains her as well.  She means well, I know she does.  She speaks of a dream to see more of the world than 'one city choked with dung and the smell of stagnant lake air' and all of my attempts to teach her the proper technique of caulking, whether it be a barrel or a hull, have ended in frustration, and often have nearly ended in blows.  I wish it had not come to this, but the business is floundering and additional hands would be an amazing help.”

Within a month of that date, Astrid Amelia Coopersmith's name first appeared upon the Novice rolls in Alliander.  Her early months at the Grand Cathedral were spent tending the gardens, and in study and prayer.  Her writings, found today in the vaults at Nadrinfall would suggest that she struggled, and had no connection to the gods, although she was penitent  She suggests in these early journals that she wished to become baptized to Valos, and though it saddened her to not have any deeper connection, to become a Scholar in His service.  Her studies continued in this manner for the next four months.

In April of 337 PA, The first appearance in the Novice rolls of the name Richard Hunter came.  Writings from Astrid in this period described a handsome man, who was highly devoted to Andorra.  She also described him as what one often thinks of as 'typical' of young Andorran men, seemingly dallying with every woman that shows an interest.  This said though, Astrid very quickly fell deeply in love.  The truth of Richard however, was that he was devoted to Andorra, and sought to become a priest.  His dalliances in truth were very few, and his studies were strong according to the records at the Grand Cathedral.  Astrid wrote that she would attend more of the classes presented by the Andorran Clergy and Templars, attempting to find inroads to what she referred to as the “True Richard”.  It was in this way, that Astrid Amelia Coopersmith became enamored, not only with a man, but with the Goddess that man worshiped.

In July of 337 PA, the Black Flu reached Alliander, and struck down Richard Hunter.  There is record of Richard Hunter attending Mass on July sixth, and the curious name of Astrid Hunter being entered into the novice rolls on the seventh.  It is theorized that in those months, Astrid did manage to win Richard's heart, and they were joined in matrimony as Richard lay dying in the Hospice wing of the Cathedral, the Flu being so persistent that even the strongest of prayers offered by Gaians or Andorrans could only give minor respite.

Baptismal records show Astrid Hunter becoming baptized June the thirteenth, and being ordained as lay clergy on July the nineteenth.  Records of departure with the guardhouses at the Grand Cathedral show Astrid Hunter departing July the twentieth, and all records from that era never show her returning as a visitor, until her funeral procession in 360 PA. Also, there is no further mention of Richard in any of Astrid's own writings after the sixth of July, 336 PA.

The Miracles of Saint Astrid of Nadrinfall

“Marriage is the Miracle.  All I have done is facilitated that.  Nothing more.  I am as deserving of this honor as any one who has spoken the words, 'Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today.' It is nothing truly of note.”

-- Saint Astrid of Nadrinfall, upon hearing claims of her miraculous deeds.

There have been many fanciful claims of Saint Astrid and the miracles she performed, many of which can be directly attributed to the well wishing of the celebration that now bears her name.  There are no historical accounts of her being able to travel great distances within the span of one sunrise.  These tales are more likely the result of people of all manner of locales devoutly praying that an Andorran lay clergy would visit on that sacred day.

Astrid's own claims that Marriage is the miracle in and of itself is an over humble denouncement of her own deeds, of which there are several that the Church deemed Miraculous, and worthy of Canonization. The three most prominent, which served as Qualification: Astrid's Tribulation of the Chaos Waste and the Journey to Selandrias, The Saving of Nadrinfall and the Joyous MacLiam Marriage, and The Cessation of the Twelve Years War.

Let us first discuss The Saving of Nadrinfall and the Joyous MacLiam Marriage.  It is not the first of her three canonized Miracles, but it is her most well known  It was in fact her second, and it is said that after these events, Astrid returned to the village between all of her pilgrimages.  Nadrinfall is a small village that lies within a league of the Great Rift.  It is at times, even today under attack by creatures both Fel and Natural due to this proximity.  Today it is much more well protected due to being seen as one of the more holy places on Arawyn for the Andorran faithful.  But in 342 PA, it was as wild a frontier as could be imagined.

Accounts of the miracle that took place are as follows.  It was the evening of April the eighth, 342 PA, and a young couple, Malcolm MacLiam and Sarah Brighton had set out on the road toward Vollka to the southwest with the intention of becoming married.  There was no Monastery in Nadrinfall at the time, and no Andorran priest in residence.  A full company of Orc warriors, led by a Hobgoblin captain had infiltrated along the rift from Gaaldron, and set to taking Nadrinfall for supplies. The MacLiams' account tell that as they were surrounded by a full platoon, there was a soft white glow in the night.  A woman, dusty from long days of walking, but glorious in her white robes, came walking into view, a silver rose necklace held aloft in her hand, which was the source of the glow.

As Astrid drew near, the Orcs recoiled, and fled into the woods.  The Hobgoblin sergeant with this platoon moved to attack MacLiam and Brighton, and his sword would not land, even with the cloaked form of Astrid still a quarter of a mile away.  The sergeant charged Astrid, wild with rage.  Astrid swung once with the warped, thin cedar branch she was using as a walking stick, and the hobgoblin fell.  Bloodied, the goblinoids retreated back into the forests.  The three returned to the village of Nadrinfall.

The next morning, as Astrid counseled the couple before deciding whether or not to perform a marriage ceremony, the full company of Gaaldron soldiers attacked the village. Astrid's own words concerning that fateful morning.

“April 9th, 342 After the Sundering - I have never seen anything like it.  Andorra's hand guided my staff, and seemed to touch the minds of the young couple who intended to marry.  They were simple children.  Malcolm, yes had wielded a sword, but fled his homelands in the highlands to the north to escape war.  Sarah a tailor's daughter, small, not frail, but not intimidating in the slightest.  She had never even touched a knife to slaughter a goose, much less anything more substantial.  Nadrinfall was a wash with Orcs, the townsmen scattered to the four winds.

Then I said to the Hobgoblin leading them, 'This is a joyous day.  It is protected, and Andorra watches over this place and these people.  Leave.'  He charged me, as his lieutenant did the night previously. I swung, almost blindly, trusting in Andorra, then Malcolm and Sarah were there, to my right, stepping up as the Captain fell from one thrust, my staff splintering and splashing against his chest. Suddenly they all were there, as the orcs charged. I felt Andorra's power surge through me, and despite these farmers with just their tools against a trained regiment, the orcs fled, fell or were routed within minutes.

I am still amazed myself.  Bless Andorra's Love, as no one of Nadrinfall fell this day.  The ceremony shall continue.”

After the battle, the town,  including the elders who had been against the MacLiam/Brighton union turned out to decorate the entire village with roses, and the couple were married that afternoon, next to the fountain. Records show that upon her return to Nadrinfall after each pilgrimage, Astrid was treated as a heroine.

The logical explanation of these events are that so far from Gaaldron, this unit of orcs were tired, and perhaps mutinous, as unheard of as it is amongst units in their army.  Any resistance was seen as not worth the effort, as the Hobgoblin captain likely promised his men an easy sack of the village.

The implications of Astrid's words that Andorra was directly guiding her words and actions are sentiments that are often heard from the clergy, however, the diaries of many around Nadrinfall that day confirm the presence of an unseen force which emanated across a very large area, centered on Astrid, which protected every man, woman and child from the blades of the Gaaldronites.  As a matter of historical record, the ninth of April, 342 PA was the fifth anniversary of Richard Hunter's enrollment at the Grand Cathedral, and very likely the first time that he and Astrid had met.

Next we shall discuss the Miracle of the Tribulation of the Chaos Wastes.  This was Astrid's first.  It in and of itself is merely the act of survival, but the act itself was miraculous.  In the histories of Astrid's travels to bring couples and peoples together, there are long periods of no account at all. This is one of them.  It is said that after she left Loez, Astrid traveled west.

Even though it is assumed from the earlier accounts of her husband's passing, that Astrid was grieving, she found her calling on this first trip, offering council and marriage to those in the smaller villages of Loez, Arkovnia and Winterdark, as he approached the Wastes. From the ledgers of the merchant Charles Tallenvare of Winterdark:

“September 23rd, 337 AB – One quarter before 9th Bell – Sale of jerky – void – Young girl, maybe 16, claiming ordainment to Andorra asking for a handout for travel to Selandrias – Sister Astrid – refused.”

Several other merchants in Winterdark recorded similar entries on this day, and the days immediately following, all of which refused Astrid food.  It is not a matter of historic record if Astrid ever made a vow of poverty (Andorran vows are not recorded in the Grand Cathedral, and dogmatically are kept private, this is not unexpected) however, it is safe to assume so.  Not one ledger, or account from a citizen of The Black Keep or any merchant therein record giving Astrid anything, though many record her being refused, despite polite attempts.  A young woman matching the image of Sister Astrid was noted in the gate ledgers as leaving toward the Wastes on September 28th, 337.

Two months later, Astrid's journal records that she arrived in Selandrias, having had no water, and no food with her throughout the journey.  She also notes several attacks by the mad and wild of the Wastes, which she offers little explanation beyond 'Faith in Andorra' as having seen him through.

The logical explanation of this is that Astrid found friendly tribes in the Wastes that harbored her and gave her sup.  Several eye witness accounts later given to the Church contradict this common sense.  These accounts describe Astrid when she arrived in the Sylvan lands as highly haggard, a driven look in her eyes, her voice barely coming in rasps, as if she were severely dehydrated.  All sources of water in the Wastes are highly contentious things by all rumor, it is likely that she did not stop at any of the local lakes.  She appeared weak, malnourished, and close to death, according to no less than thirteen accounts of local elves who were curious of the new arrival.  Yet, she was alive.

Even in her weakened state, Astrid is said to have begun Extolling Andorra's virtues, as an answer to why she had come.  She even married a curious couple, after counseling them for two hours before performing the ceremony, despite taking no food or water until afterward.

“December 3rd, 337 PA - At the hastily prepared feast following the wedding, this young cleric ate like I had seen no one, beast or elf eat before.  It was as if she had not seen a scrap of food in months! I pity this poor soul, though she claims that this meal is her reward for doing her Goddess's work.  Sweet lass, I hope she recovers well.”

--From the diary of Marilith Solinarious of Selandrias

We now come to the final of Astrid's three Major Miracles.  During her fourth marriage pilgrimage, in the summer of 353 PA, Astrid passed through the city of Faust on Coast Haven's southern coast, Astrid found herself in the middle of a longstanding trade dispute, known locally as the “Twelve Years War”.  Two trading (many say pirate) families, the Daviks and the Longhooks had let contract disputes boil over into outright warfare in the port, the harbor and the open ocean around Faust starting in 341 PA.

Many in Faust, when it was heard Astrid had arrived, sought her out, and bade her to speak with Tomas Davik and Jonathan Longhooks, to try and settle the dispute. Many had tried, but all accounts from the period described both men as 'unshakable' in their determination to have the upper hand.

Within twelve hours of her arrival in the city, Astrid had ended the dispute. Eyewitness accounts corroborate that the vast majority of that time was spent by Astrid arranging the meeting.  The words now of Lolly Smith, a woman of no particular note, as recorded by the canonical investigator Mother Henrietta Marton after Astrid's passing in November of 359 PA:

“The three o' them wen' in. Tommy – I none did like 'im, Jonny, 'e was me client f' tha' evenin', y'see. An' this funny girl all dressed in whi'... Like ye, missy!  Ne'r seen anythin' li' it.  Jonny an' Tommy, dey 'ated each o'r, ye know.  There wa' screamin', a row li' I ne'r 'eard. Fi' min'ites go by... dere tonnes o' laughin', an' swearin', an' pissin'. I thou' one of dem kilt the odder. Mebbey e'n the funny shrew in white.  Bu' they come out, all pallin', an' smilin'! Wierdes' thin' I e'r seen.  An' Jonny din' e'n come ter me fer me five coin serv'ce tha' night.... So odd.”

From the journal of Jonathan Longhooks:

“July 19, 353 – I hardly thought this possible.  We had all heard of her.  'The woman who travels'.  'The woman who marries'.  'The lonely walker', yeah, that's that Astrid alright.  To meet her though, was something completely from a story.  I walked into that meeting, thinking that I would kill Tomas, and probably this Astrid, I thought that there was no way it could be HER.  As I walked in, Tomas was already there, relaxing.  I had to start off in control, so I opened up, like a ballista from one of our ships, attacking him with any words I could to catch him off guard.

In the end though, this Astrid lass just smiled at me, and, after a few minutes of squabbling back and forth, we were both quiet, all three of us enjoying an ale, as I found myself actually NEGOTIATING a CONTRACT with Davik.  Imagine that!  I wonder if she bespelled me.  Maybe I'll feel different in the morning.”

Rationally, one must think that Astrid's force of personality and reputation intimidated the two quarreling captains.  That her skills as a negotiator gained from sixteen years counseling people made her very much suited to this negotiation.  However, that does not explain the alacrity with which the situation went from hostile to friendly.  Ms. Smith's, and Mr. Longhook's accounts both say that the negotiations took mere minutes, rather than hours. Jonathan Longhooks even claims to have been 'bespelled'.

The devout would have to assume, as Mother Marton did when reporting to the College of Cardinals in 360 PA, that a Miracle had touched the minds and hearts of these quarreling men, so as to end this feud.  It IS a matter of historical record that Longhook and Davik families soon merged through marriage, and became one of the greatest merchant smuggling operations that Coast Haven has had record of.

There are certainly 'rational explanations' for all three of these Miracles, but they leave too many questions, and are not convincing in the minds of the devout, nor in the minds of the Cardinals.

Canonization and Ascension

“Love is a miracle.  Andorra is a miracle.  Hold these things in your heart, and you too will be worthy of all the happiness that this world has to offer.  May Andorra bless your hopes for Happiness and Love.”

--The Commencement of Saint Astrid's Marriage Ceremony

It was determined in the spring of 360 PA, as Astrid's casket was finally lowered into the Astrid Monastery's crypt, with the Pontiff and the Andorran Cardinals in attendance that Sister Astrid of Nadrinfall was to become Saint Astrid of Nadrinfall.  She had spent 19 years of her life in prayer, travel and service. (Even though Canon teaching would you to believe this length of service was much longer) There are those who claim that she performed countless miracles, one miracle for every successful, happy marriage that he brought into being.  The Andorrans of course believe this.

Canonically, when a Saint's soul leaves its body, it ascends and is immediately judged worthy by Galladel to join their chosen deity in the eternal conflict. Astrid has been struggling now in the name of love and compassion for six centuries.  One must consider her service a success, as the world goes on.  Hers is a message of love, and of hope, for all those of us.  Her pilgrimages took her clear across Arawyn.  She married people of every race, even in Gaaldron, despite the age old conflicts.  Saint Astrid must be acknowledged as a force for the greatest of good.

As history marched on, the day of the conflict in Nadrinfall, April Ninth, became known as Saint Astrid's Day. Many clerics of Andorra seek to emulate Saint Astrid's journeys, and to bring marriage to the places that marriage and unity seem unattainable.  Many in this world, and indeed, in the Valosian Church itself would see this as unnecessary, but the Andorrans see the world differently than most.  Love is necessary.

Saint Astrid's Day and Modern Celebrations

“May Andorra bless your hopes for Love and Happiness in the coming year.”

--Traditional blessing between friends and family on Saint Astrid's Day.

The celebration of Saint Astrid's Day across Arawyn is as unique to each location as the location itself.  The common elements amongst many villages across Kormyre, and indeed much of the world, are on Astrid's Eve, prayers are offered, and feasts are prepared in the hopes that one of the Andorran layclergy will follow in Astrid's footsteps and visit their village the following morning.  These feasts often include small honeyed sweet cakes which were said to be a favorite of Saint Astrid herself.

Many couples who are intended, especially in frontier villages will plan for their weddings to take place on Saint Astrid's Day, especially since, like Nadrinfall of 342 PA, many smaller villages still have no church or clergy of their own, and the roads have too many dangers.

Villages where many such weddings are scheduled will often send word to a local Andorran enclave or monastery, for a cleric to come on this day.  Villages with no marriages scheduled to take place will still feast, and have communion with one another.

Gifts are often exchanged, as are notes and tokens of love and romance amongst prospective couples.  These are traditionally very personal, made by the participants themselves, in order to imbue as much of their own love into it as possible.

In Alliander, great streamers of roses are strung from building rooftop to building rooftop, often in radial lines out from the spires of the Grand Cathedral, symbolizing the marriage between Valos and Andorra.  Cups of tea, infused with rose petals are handed out by the Andorran novices at the Cathedral, and all who petition to be married will be considered by the church, no matter what crisis may be at hand.

In Nadrinfall, the bishop of the Astrid Monastery will plant one new rose bush with their own hands in the gardens that grow over where the crypt rests, and for that one day of the year, the congregation of Nadrinfall (which includes any pilgrims from outside that arrive for this) is allowed to see the remains of the Saint.

All that is said about how people prepare for, and celebrate Saint Astrid's Day, can only pale to the meditations and preparations of Andorra's servants themselves.  Traditionally, Clerics will embark upon pilgrimages to outlying villages near their parishes, in order to bring Marriage to the faithful.  These clerics all prepare themselves before they travel, they procure food and supplies, either from the Church, or local merchants (Many of these goods are donated, in remembrance to the disservice that was shown Astrid in Winterdark before her Tribulation) and they pray that Andorra and Astrid give them the wisdom to both recognize a successful marriage in the making, and to recognize a marriage that needs more time and counseling.

These pilgrimages are usually done solitarily or with their spouse(s), though clerics living in dangerous areas might elect to bring friends, companions and armed escort, these extra people are usually asked to stay quiet and in the background during the feasting and marriage ceremonies. Some truly devout clerics will even embark upon pilgrimages that last for months, seeking out villages that are too remote for other clerics to reach on Saint Astrid's Day itself.

Priests traditionally stay with their parishes, and perform marriages at the larger monasteries and churches that they inhabit.  The same prayers for wisdom are offered.  Both also will seek out any they see that are hesitant about revealing feelings of love to another, and find ways of encouraging them to do so.

--Penned by my hand, under the feather and leaf, on this Ninth Day of April, Nine Hundred Seventy Two Years after the Breaking of the World, and the Formation of the Great Rift,  Liarandra Fiorinia of Quinyarian, in commission of the Andorran Sect of the Valosian Church of Kormyre