Monte San Biagio
Saint Blaise of Sebaste was a bishop in Lesser Armenia during the fourth century. In his youth he had studied philosophy, though started working as a healer. Treating bodily ailments, Blaise soon became an expert on the soul. When the bishop of Sebaste died, Blaise was elected to replace him. He performed many miracles, healing the sick and poor. Though the Emperor Licinius ordered his execution in 316. Blaise was captured and martyred. Immediately after his followers regained his remains and buried him. Though the saint’s bones would by necessity be moved, as emperor Leo III forbade the veneration of icons. Thus, the faithful conspired to have the relics translated. Blaise's body was exhumed and divided. His ribcage was to be moved to Rome.
In 732 the ship transporting the relic reached the coast of Maratea. Though miraculously the ship stopped, nothing could move the boat until the crew took the crate with the relic off board. They tried to take back the crate again, but when they did so the ship was again motionless. Knowing therefore the will of the Saint, they placed it on the small island where they were moored. delivering it to the citizens of Maratea.
Maratea was a former roman trading centre, as well as a fishing port. Following conflict between the Saracens of Sicily, Goths and Byzantine the town had migrated to the top of Mont San Biagio—who used to be called Mont Minerva. A chapel was built upon a former pagan temple of the Goddess. And it was to this chapel Blaise’s bones were placed, in accordance with the saint's will. Soon he became the city’s patron saint, and pilgrims started to travel to it.
The Monte San Biagio has a divine aura of 3, as does Maratea. The mountain offers a wide view of the Tyrrhenian Sea and is covered with patches of wild fennel. The chapel has a higher aura of 5. Blaise’s ribcage is a relic with 2 Faith Points. In the mountain there is also another location with a stronger aura. The Grotta dell' Angelo is a small cave, where the first christian community in the Basilicata hid from persecution. The cave has since been decorated with frescoes depicting the Crucifixion, the Father, at the top, of the Sun and the Moon, on the upper sides, of St. John and Michael the Archangel. The cave has a divine aura of 6.
The citizens of Maratea are very active with the promotion and spread of the cult of the Armenian saint. Blaise is popular in a large part of Mythic Europe, and if your saga follows real history, this will only increase—as he becomes part of the fourteen helpers. Blaise is the patron of wool workers, physicians and can be invoked against throat illnesses and choking.
In Maratea his feast day is naturally observed, so too is a special feast and fair in May each year. It marks the miraculous translation of the relic. The reliquary of wood, carved in Saint Blaise likeness, is taken on a tour throughout the city.
Story Seed: Procession of Flames
The city of Maratea is suddenly attacked by a large band of brigands. The battle is fought in the streets of the town and despite the citizens lack of experience, the bandits are overwhelmed and forced to flee. When the citizens gather to assess their losses, they find out one man died while four are missing. Kidnapped by the brigands. The player characters could by pure accident be there when the raid takes place or be contacted by a sceptic in the town who isn’t content in leaving the matter in St. Blaise hands.The bandits are trying to lay low, with the plan to eventually ransom the kidnapped men back to the city. Though the same dream keeps haunting them. In it a venerable old man stands as tall as a mountain. In his hand a wooden baton, which he points toward them. Behind him is the Monte San Biagio, surrounded by burning fires, like the thousands of campfires of a huge army. What does the dream mean, and how will the brigade react to it?