Legends of Rega : St. Emmerich of the Lash

Emmerich was born the son of one of the Elector Kings of Theudonia, 235 years after the fall of Rega. As a third son, he entered the clergy, as was expected, and took vows as a warrior-priest of Saevios. Even that long ago, the border between Skaria and Vyzantos was constantly at war, and Emmerich led a large force of crusaders and priests to the aid of the beleaguered border nation.

By ill fortune, Emmerich’s command team was caught divided from the rest of the army by an avalanche in the Kalpation Mountains. The rest of his officers were killed, but he was held prisoner, perhaps because of his noble birth, or his high rank. Nonetheless, they did not try to ransom him, but instead, enslaved him. He was given as a personal slave to the commander of the forces of Vyzantos involved in the invasion. 6 years, he remained a slave, praying every day to Saevios and Alke for the courage and fortitude to endure, biding his time, until he could rescue every slave in the border city his owner commanded. He endured horrible torture and abuse, and never once even whimpered. He thought only of freedom, and freeing the other slaves. When his time came, he seized a whip from an overseer, and led a revolt. In his wrath and fury, he drove the enemy commander, Aspis Belsiarius, along with his entire bodyguard, to leap to their deaths from a high cliff to escape him.

When the Vyzantine army sent reinforcements to recapture the slaves and the town, Emmerich held the docks while all the other prisoners made their escape. He was still armed only with the whip of his former master. 3000 slaves escaped that day, and when Emmerich died at the feet of Legate Samius Vernestes, he did so with a smile. Alke and Saevios raised him to the heavens where he serves as the demigod of freedom, St. Emmerich of the Lash.