Iron Cult of Leng

The Iron Cult of Leng is a community of practitioners of the Stripping Path which is based in the western portion of the Isle of Leng.

Iron Cult of Leng
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: TBD
Anthem:
Map versions	TBA
Capital	Normaria
Largest city	TBA
Official language(s)	TBA
Official religion(s)	Bassaridianism
Demonym	Ironist/Normarian
- Adjective	TBA
Government	TBA
- The Cereberi	TBA
- The Six Teeth	TBA
- Legislature	N/A
Establishment	36.81 PSSC
Area	~ TBA sqkm
Population	57,700 (38.68 PSSC)
Currency	Poli (/)
Calendar
Time zone(s)
Mains electricity
Driving side
Track gauge
National website	N/A
National forum	N/A
National animal	Leng spider
National food	TBA
National drink	TBA
National tree	Pan moss
Abbreviation	ICL

History

The Iron Cult of Leng was first formally established in 36.81 PSSC by Normarkian followers of the Stripping Path who - as a result a decree by the Pentheros of the Dozan Bovic Church - were enslaved in the extensive iron mines which exist beneath the island of Leng. Originally established with financial support from the government of the Haifo-Pallisican Imperial Trade Union, which channeled funds to the cult through investments in the Foreign Ports of the Stripping Path, the Iron Cult operated in near-complete secrecy in the darkest, hellish depths of the icy arctic island, until the early 38.40's, when the cult was allowed to gradually emerge from the underworld following the large-scale abandonment of Leng by oppressive SANE forces in 38.38.

Geography

The Iron Cult of Leng maintains extensive control of the vast network of iron mines which runs beneath the surface of the frozen island of Leng. It also maintains a formidable, formal presence in the Screaming Mosslands, a region of western Leng which is home a species of giant moss, known as Pan Moss, that has evolved psychic defense mechanisms which render in living creatures a sense of utter, unspeakable terror, and to the fearsome Leng spider, which is the only species known to be immune to the psychic defenses of the region's giant moss.

The capital of the Iron Cult is Normaria. The sky-line of this humble city, which sits surrounded by the dozens of mineshafts which provide access to the vast network of caverns in which the Iron Cult originally formed, is defined by the presence of an ancient, windowless cathedral constructed out of black marble which is said to be home of a powerful, wicked demon known only as The Haunter of the Dark.

Culture

The culture of the Iron Cult of Leng is defined by a variant of the Bassarid religion which centers around the worship of Dionysus Khthonios, the aspect of Dionysus who resides in the underworld, and who governs the dead. This variant of the Stripping Path differs considerably from the variants found in the southern Strait of Haifa and across the Bassarids, which center around the worship of Dionysus as the god of ritual madness and chaos, and from the Apollonian Bassaridian religion, which highlights Hermes as the primary focus of its worship. In terms of beliefs and practices, the type of beliefs espoused by the members of the Iron Cult of Leng are similar to the practices of the Alperkin worshipers of Tar. With this said, such similarities are mostly general, and are somewhat superficial.

Government

The Iron Cult of Leng is an independent nation governed by a High Priestess of the Stripping Path known as the Cereberi, whose powers and responsibilities are in principle similar to those of the Basileusa of Zartosht. The Cereberi is represented in public by a group of six powerful political figures known as The Six Teeth, and by three high priestesses known as The Council of Tongues.

Despite its political independence, the Iron Cult of Leng is economically dependent upon trade with the Haifo-Pallisican Imperial Trade Union. In 38.68 PSSC the Iron Cult assumed control of the abandoned iron mines of Leng, formally adopting iron as its primary export on the Port of Vines.

Economy

The Iron Cult is represented on the Port of Vines as a constituent member of the Port of the Bassarid Kingdom of New Normark. Key industries in the territory controlled by Iron Cult of Leng include the extraction and export of iron, and the cultivation and fermentation of the region's native, edible lichens. The Iron Cult of Leng is also a notable employer of spies and mercenaries in Keltia - operatives representing the Iron Cult of Leng have historically played a role in all major conflicts in Keltia since the outbreak of the War of Lost Brothers. Iron Cult Operatives operate under the command of the New Zimian War League. Following the expulsion of practitioners of the Stripping Path from Kalgachia, the Iron Cult extended its support to roving Bassarid priests and priestesses in Benacia, who - working with members of the continent's ancient Dionysian cults - helped to establish and develop the religion of Benacian Bassaridianism,