# [[Iron Faith]] The **Iron Faith** is an old religious tradition in [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]] associated with the unknown entity connected to [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]]'s devil-faced pendant. Very little is currently known about the faith. ### Known Teachings and Practices The entity connected to Erno's pendant offers supernatural power over iron and other ferrous metals in exchange for **blood**. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the power that may be granted. The entity has also implied that the bargain involves surrendering some portion of the recipient's soul. Whether blood sacrifice was historically a central practice of the Iron Faith or is specific to Erno's relationship with this entity remains unknown. ### Log #### In [[012_20260814 Session 12|Session 12]], After the pendant's power manifested in the [[Marshes]], [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] collapsed from the strain. When he regained consciousness, the devil face carved into the pendant was smiling and its eyes were glowing red. [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] understood that the power he had just used had functioned as a kind of **blood sacrifice**. Later, [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] dreamed of a vast industrial furnace while wearing the cultist robes taken from [[Durst Manor]]. A dark figure spoke to him through the pendant and offered him greater power over metal. The entity revealed: - Power would come at the cost of **blood**. - Greater sacrifices could grant greater power. - [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] should keep the arrangement secret from the rest of the Gang. - Its church had once been served by [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]] many centuries ago. - Some people in [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]] still remain faithful to the **old teachings**. - [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] should seek those followers out and tell them that their patron has a **new envoy**. - The entity described Erno as now **speaking with its voice**. - It called Erno a **faithful envoy** and promised to be a faithful patron in return. - More specific terms would be discussed once the entity knew how much control Erno had over his new powers. #### In [[014_20260904 Session 14|Session 14]], The Gang learned more about the historical spread of the Iron Faith while examining an old travelogue by **Kolchek**. According to [[Novgor]]: - Kolchek is said to have introduced the Iron Faith to dwarves outside Barovia; - he convinced some of those dwarves to migrate into Barovia; - giant eagles and giant goats were among the creatures once revered by followers of the Iron Faith; - and some of these creatures can still be found in the mountains beyond [[Tsolenka Pass]]. The captive [[Harpy]] also claimed that her people lived in Barovia before Strahd and once served the land's former master, whom she called the **Iron Devil**. It is possible that the Iron Devil is the same entity associated with the Iron Faith and Erno's pendant, but the Gang has **not yet confirmed this**. ### Known Associates - Erno Van Iche — appears to have been appointed the patron's new envoy. - Strahd von Zarovich — the patron claimed that Strahd served its church centuries ago. ### Related Quests - [[Find Followers of the Iron Faith]] ### Unknown The Gang does not yet know: - the identity of the Iron Faith's patron; - what the faith actually teaches; - what the **old teachings** entail; - where its surviving followers can be found; - what relationship the faith once had with Strahd; - whether Erno's relationship with the patron constitutes a formal pact, religious initiation, possession, or something else; - how much blood or sacrifice the patron will eventually demand; - or what Erno's role as its envoy will ultimately require.