Iron Martyr

In Isturoth, there is a firm understanding that the gods of the Isturian Pantheon are real and have an impact in the daily lives of the Isturian people. For many, this foundational knowledge is enough. But others seek more, a deeper and more tangible connection to deities for the betterment of all.  

Selection

Specially-chosen individuals within the organised religion, those who show dedication and zeal beyond what is normally asked of them, are given the opportunity to live the life of an Iron Martyr, shedding all other life they may have had. Family, friends, jobs and possessions are all cast aside for a greater purpose.   What this means is different for which deity they are assigned, but in general, it will mean a life of solitude, meditation and work, a life free from distractions. Every waking moment will be spent appealing to their god, attempting to garner their favour so that they might one day appear or speak to them.  

Responsibilities

The deity with whom the new martyr attempts to communicate will dictate how their life is to be spent, as delegated by heralds and anchorites.  

Barud - The Warming Hearth

Starting with the most desirable, martyrs dedicated to Barud, a deity most associated with comfort and the home, may opt to build a home in an inhospitable place or far from civilisation. Bringing a warm fireplace to a cold and lonely area would be most appealing to the god of the hearth. These martyrs are lucky enough to spend their days chopping wood, gathering herbs and cooking on a warm stove.  

Xasan - The World's Vitality

An Iron Martyr dedicated to Xasan lives as a farmer. In seclusion, they grow crops and raise livestock, living completely off the land.  

Akhmat - The Aspiring Knowledge

Should one enjoy the smell of vellum and the weight of tomes, they may seek to be a martyr in service to Akhmat. Every day will be spent studying and learning, either within founts of knowledge available to all or in their own vast collection of books and scrolls.  

Kohra - The Loving Sacrifice

A life spent garnering the attention of Kohra is a much more perilous one. These Iron Martyrs do not tend to last long, for the god of selfless sacrifice values above all else, the defence of the weak in the face of violent threats. Martyrs capable of fighting will do this until their body inevitably gives out.  

Drevok - The Indomitable Time

These martyrs seclude themselves beneath the earth, for this is the domain of the Drevok. Years are spent attempting to communicate with the earth, with the flow of life and death that Drevok commands. Some will be lost to creatures that inhabit these dark places, others to cave-ins and landslides.  

Jura - The Endless Fate

Little is known about the Iron Martyrs that seek out Jura, leaving much to fate and chance, throwing caution and care to the wind. Most will disappear without a trace.  

Jokhoš - The Primordial Instinct

The most undesirable of all fates, Jokhoš is rage incarnate and is the cause of all seismic and geothermal activity. It is not uncommon for these martyrs to seek out this activity, and plunge themselves into volcanoes or deep fissures in the ground.  

Martyrdom

When one becomes an Iron Martyr, there is an understanding that they will one day meet their death while living this lifestyle. While some are not as risky as others, dying in service to communication with gods is seen as an honourable sacrifice. If these noble martyrs carry this weight, all others are free from having to live for the gods themselves, free to live as they choose.