Saint Ricardo Darude

"It is apocryphal," Kara asserted. "Do you know what that means, Celie?"

"Of course!" Celie's retort was scorching with defensiveness. She always felt stupid around Karanette. This feeling was a belief among certain members of her family, and Celie was not about to start believing it herself. She crossed her arms, but she kept her feelings from her face. No frowns, no frowns. "It means..." Celie frantically dug through her mental lexicon. Her shovel was not large enough, her arms were not strong enough. She fell back on her creativity. "... The book is big enough to fill your pockets. But that's not really true, is it? If it was a pocketful, the text would have to be very small, or you would have to have some very big pockets. Saint Ricardo had a lot of journeys, and each of them has an important lesson in them!"

Despite the strong evidence provided, Kara sighed.

Saint Ricardo Darude's story is one that is debated. Is it a work of fiction, fact, or an embellishment of reality that lies somewhere in between? He is the central figure of the Cetoilais work 'Les Voyages de l'Ricardo de Rude'. Though he was not one of Thierrin's retinue, he followed in their footsteps. He was mortal, not celestial, and of Aragonian birth, though he lived in Eloine until his death. He arrived in Cetoile some few days after Thierrin and his twelve disciples, and famously demanded repayment for the chicken lunch that was taken from him by Eloa. It is said that this debt was forgiven when he looked upon her beauty and wept, however. Upon seeing her, he swore to serve her for the rest of his life. Saint Ricardo Darude rests beneath a statue of him in the Cathedral of Aemoa. At the base of this statue is engraved his famous words, "Pour vous, toutes mes pépites de poulet. Une promesse éternelle."

Fact or Fiction?

Whether or not Saint Ricardo existed is beyond debate. Numerous records support his existence; the weight of the evidence would be a strain for any joke to carry. That he said the words engraved into his statue, that he dedicated his life to Eloa, are likewise considered true. The record of his journeys, a work that claims to be autobiographical and accurate, blurs the line between fact and fiction. It is very Cetoilais to consider an Aragonian to embellish tales concerning themselves.


His journeys begin in Imperial Ruma, where he had settled to fight in the arena. He was a young man at this time, but one well-traveled. His father was a merchant, and sailed across the opal sea between the Imperial homeland and the Aragonian territories. Because of these travels, Ricardo had the opportunity to meet and learn from his father's hired muscles. From his varied lessons, he crafted his own, unique style of swordsmanship synthesising the whirling, dancing Alkhafi style and the lunging, swift and straight Aragonian style. Ricardo called himself The Sandstorm, for he whirled like the eddies of the Alkhafi deserts and struck like lightning.


It was during Darude's time at the arena that he encountered Thierrin. At the time he met Thierrin, his retinue consisted only of four of the deities that would come to follow him. Ricardo did not heed his teachings at first. What need has a man of the arena sands for love? Love was something best bought with copper and forgotten come the morning. Nonetheless, Ricardo was forced to listen to Thierrin teach. He did not see the man, nor his companions. Darude sharpened his sword as he waited for his crumbed nuggets of chicken. His writings recount at this point an encounter with a youth with a sooty face and bereft of all but two teeth. Below is an excerpt from Les Voyages de l'Ricardo de Rude:

"Tell me, boy, of your origins, and I will tell you mine! My sword is sharp, yet thirsts for the stone still," exclaimed The Sandstorm. The clamour of the teacher and his learners begged The Sandstorm to howl, and howl like the desert sands he did as he cared for his sword with swift, jerking motions.

Exclaimed the youth in squeaky tones, eyes not meeting Darude's, "Fighter, oh, fighter! have a care with that sword, for one so large and solid may take out my eye -- or both!"

"Yes! Worry not, for I have much practice in tending my sword. Do you not see my technique, child? How my eye wanders as my hands move?" assured The Sandstorm.

Considered the youth, eyes yet betraying concern, "I can see by the size of your wrists that you are no mere hobbyist in the ways of the sword, and by the scars on your arms that the sword is no stranger to you! I am Two-Teeth Timaeus, child of a whore, virgin-born! I have no father, you see, and so my birth must be a miracle!" Two-Teeth Timaeus grinned at his jest, and The Sandstorm laughed heartily. His chicken had arrived, and he reached without looking to his plate, finding only crumbs.

"Larceny!" cried The Sandstorm, the warmth of his mood turning to heat. "Larceny most foul! Someone has taken my crumbed fowl."

Observed Two-Teeth Timaeus, "It was the pretty lady now with the teacher. You said yes to her question, master! Your voice deafened you!"

"Egads! I've been had!" Cried The Sandstorm. Try as he might, he could not pass through the knot of people about the teacher, and when he tried to follow, he fell and took a strike on the head from a rock. When he awoke, Two-Teeth Timaeus was yet watching over him.

So began Ricardo's years-long pursuit of Eloa and Thierrin. At times, he was ahead of them, and he has written that it was, in fact, he and Timaeus that felled some of the terrifying creatures Thierrin and his disciples are credited with slaying. Ricardo's deeds, though brave and heroic by recollection, largely went unrewarded, and his luck was forever poor. Nonetheless, he maintained a determined, positive attitude, and his writings impart various Etoiline morals among piquant picaresquery.

The Epithet de Rude

Darude explains his choice thusly: 'it simultaneously sounds similar to my name and encapsulates the roughness of my character before fully embracing the glory of love.' There is question whether the name Darude is actually a corruption of de Rude, and de Rude was applied to Ricardo first. Given the general level of illiteracy across the world some two thousand years ago, there is some merit to this theory. Darude was the son of a merchant, however, and he likely received lessons in arithmetic, reading and writing as well as the lessons he recounts in his writings.


Darude or de Rude, the literary figure of the saint is unquestionably irreverent and ribald. Throughout his journeys, he gives in to many mortal vices. His demeanour is choleric and obtuse, and his desires and delights earthy. Scholars have debated whether it was Ricardo's intent to celebrate or denigrate the rural people who he likens himself to throughout his works.

The Cultural Impact of Saint Ricardo

Ricardo was canonised two centuries after his death, though his statue was built previously. His jocular, dramatic stories remain a source of entertainment and inspiration. Their light-hearted nature has allowed them to gain international popularity despite some very Cetoilais sentiments in the text. Numerous works have been derived from Les Voyages. Saint Ricardo's holy day is the third day after the winter solstice, the day he is recorded at last meeting Thierrin and Eloa.

Saint Ricardo is regarded as a man and hero of the people. Idealistic young warriors of Cetoilais or Aragonian stock will sometimes seek to emulate his courtly devotion to Eloa. These aspirants will often take a squire to fill the role of Two-Teeth Timaeus.

Patron Saint of the Hungry, Adventurers, Travelers and Courtly Love.

Religion

Etoiline, particularly of the Cygeaux sects.

Related

Eloa | Thierrin | The Twelve Stars

On the fate of Two-Teeth Timaeus.

Timaeus is Ricardo's constant companion throughout his literary tales. These stories are the only account of Timaeus. Thus, historians question whether he existed or was created by Ricardo as a foil for himself in his stories. Ricardo embodies passion, determination and drive, while Timaeus is a practical person who embodies devotion to another. Ricardo's writings end when he and Timaeus finally meet Eloa and Ricardo makes his promise. There have been attempts to verify and definitively disprove the historical existence of Timaeus, yet none have succeeded.

Two-Teeth Timaeus is sometimes considered by Eloinais to be the protector of good children.

The Sandstorm: Darude's Weapon

Darude's sabre is enshrined in the Eloinais ducal chateau. It is an unremarkable weapon beyond its origins and age. Eloinais tradition holds that there will come a time of crisis in the duchy and Cetoile as a whole, and the Sandstorm will call its second wielder in order to pursue the ideals of justice, charity and love once more.