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 or its patron, but [[013_20260821 Session 13|Session 12]] revealed considerably more about [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]]'s connection to it. 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. ### 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.