Alizandra Markovia was an Angelborn servant of the Morninglord, trained as a Cleric at the Church of Barovia from a young age. In adulthood, she traveled west into the Zarovich Valley and founded a hospital in the low Balinok Mountains. This hospital evolved into the Abbey of Brilliant Worship, which became the center of a growing settlement called Zachodgrad. Markovia mentored healers and warriors who served this community, such as Sergei von Zarovich, and her miracles earned her fame across the valley. When she defeated the Wolf-Father in single combat at the Pool of Zachodgrad, she was honored as a Saint of the Morninglord.
By this time, Count Strahd von Zarovich had taken full control of the valley after the Wedding That Never Was. The mists prevented escape, and attacks from the Mark of Strahd increased by the month. After building Zachodgrad into a fortified bastion, Alizandra rallied a force of local defenders to march east and destroy Strahd. This force crossed the valley with discipline, and cautiously passed the Black Carriage Crossroads. Representing the last organized attempt by mortals in the valley to confront Strahd directly before Barovia entered its long period of isolation, this action was called the Sunless March of Saint Markovia.
The battle began at the bridge leading into Castle Ravenloft. Markovia’s forces broke a first wave of defenders, reanimated Skeletons and Wights from Strahd's former army, and stormed across the bridge. However, the dead who fell during the assault rose again at Strahd’s command. The battle lines collapsed as undead enemies attacked from both sides of the bridge. The defenders of Zachodgrad fought without retreat, but they were overwhelmed as Vampire Spawn joined the battle from the castle grounds. Markovia continued forward alone, attempting to reach the inner keep to strike at Strahd directly, but she was surrounded before she could reach him.
Strahd did not face Alizandra in battle; instead, his chamberlain Rahadin executed her after her force was destroyed. The Count had believed she would make an extremely powerful minion in undeath, so sealed her body in a stone tomb beneath Castle Ravenloft. Even after passing, however, her sanctity was not extinguished. In a moment of divine inspiration, her bones were Consecrated with Celestial power, preventing Strahd from raising her as a servant or turning her corpse into a weapon. Rather, even as she turned to dust, a part of her became a weapon with holy power dedicated to fighting Strahd: Saint Markovia's Thighbone remained untouched in her crypt over centuries, awaiting one who could use it to defeat Strahd.