Caldira's Iron Pyre

At the heart of the center of Worship of Caldira lies her great Temple, the Iron Pyre. Said to have been created when one her first petitioner was set ablaze, stories say that Caldira herself came down to deliver her from her barbaric punishment for a crime her petitioner did not commit. The flames grew, but did not harm her. Then, slowly, through divine magic the fires did become solid sheets and beams of iron and steel, and a great temple in the shape of a blazing, metallic bonfire was created. It is the main site for pilgrims of Caldira to visit from across the land.

Purpose / Function

The Iron Pyre of Caldira is a symbol of the great power of the Iron Maiden and is one of the foremost visited pilgrimage sites in the world. Followers of Caldira wil occasionally be called by a strong spiritual sense to begin making the pilgrimage and come from the world over to make the voyage. It also serves as the Holy Seat of the Bardizian theocracy, serving as the throne of Zenobia II.

History

The Iron Pilgrimage culminates at this holy site for the followers of the Lady of Order. This particular site is where Caldira's first pilgrim, Isolde, was allegedly put to the torch by witches of the wilds. The scriptures tell of her great defiant scream, so powerful was it that Caldira herself came down from on high and delivered Isolde from her mortal shell, transforming the blazing pyre into a metallic mass of strands that towered over the plaza where she was burned.

Tourism

As the site of one of the great pilgrimages of the world, the Iron Pyre sees many tourists every year. As a result of this, a substantial amount of trade goes through the eastern half of Bardiz for this reason alone. However, due to the increased pressures of the church, many tourists make their stop here as brief as possible unless they are arriving to convert.

Alternative Names

The Pyre

Type

Cathedral / Great temple