Pantheonism

Pantheonism, also known as the Faith of the Eight-Circled Ring or the Archchurch, was a prominent religion in the Broken Continent during the Age of Myth. Pantheonists worshiped the original Pantheon of Order, believing that each deity that ruled the Mortal Realms ruled over individual domains of life and each was worthy of respect and worship. Following the break-up of the Pantheon of Order during the Age of Chaos and the subsequent centuries of turmoil, Pantheonism has fallen from favor. Numerous beliefs and traditions persist and the Pantheonist legacy remains, but it is a much smaller religion presently.
== History ==
=== Early History & Golden Age ===
When the first peoples came to the Panghura, which would later become the Broken Continent, they carried with them a multitude of beliefs and deities they worshiped. Most humans worshiped various aspects of Sigmar, orruks and grots worshiped Gorkamorka, aelves had their own pantheon, and so on. 
As more civilizations and nations developed in central Panghura, many humans began to turn to greater worship of other deities, founding complex religious sects, organizations, and churches that worshiped the central gods of each realm. The Church of the Glimmering Twins which followed the teachings of Tyrion and Teclics, the Springfellow Accords that worshiped Allarielle, or the Servants of the Deathlord are a few examples. This large degree of religious diversity led to increasing competition as followers of each god strove to convert more and more mortals to their own cause and to praise their deity above all others. In several cases this even led to small-scale conflicts that were religiously inspired. 
Out of this turmoil came the young Gathenus Morrowmar, whose teachings and actions would be the foundation of Pantheonism. He believed that the gods were all due proper reverence, and could be prayed to for various matters. To help foster greater religious unity, Gathenus called for a grand convention of the most notable priests and leaders of each god. Worshippers and priests of the various gods gathered at the city of Skyra, and there Gathenus proposed a compromise to the assembled clergy. All the gods were considered equally worthy of worship in the eyes of the Archchurch, but a specific hierarchy would be followed. None of the priesthoods would be abolished in favor of an all encompassing one, but remain as they were. A council of twelve Archpriest would be formed to lead the Archchurch, one chosen from each of the priesthoods of a particular god, and they would elect a new Supreme Priest upon the death of the previous one from within their ranks.
Each city would have a high priest and a body of priests to serve the spiritual needs of the populace. If a given populace worshiped more than one god, then multiple religious structures and churches would be erected, and the clergy would work together to administer to the faithful. Above them a Dominate would deal with the needs of a region, while an Arch-Dominate, appointed by the Supreme Priest, would coordinate all the priesthoods of a given region. This simple, yet elegant system seemed to address most of the greatest points of contention including the semi-autonomy of the different priesthoods under the administrative eye of the Archchurch.
This system functioned very well for many years. Throughout the Age of Myth most mortals, (primarily humans, and some duardin, and aelves) would worship all the gods, calling upon them and their respective clergy as needed. During times of harvest Alarielle was petitioned and her priests performed ceremonies to bless the harvest. Sigmar was prayed to for courage in battle as well as for protection against storms. Near death, Nagash's clergy performed funeral rites and offered up litanies to guard the soul. Even gods like Gorkamorka or Grimnir were worshipped, albeit often in smaller degrees. Many individuals, cities, and regions leaned more towards a specific deity, and some even devoted themselves entirely to a specific realm god.
While certain tensions would continue to persist between different priesthoods, Pantheonist beliefs took hold all across Panghura, especially in its central regions and kingdoms. Several deities were generally more popular and favored, such as the aelven gods Tyrion and Teclis, Sigmar, and Alarielle, but priests and worshipers of every major god could be found across the continent.
=== Decline ===
In the late stages of the Age of Myth Pantheonism began to see a gradual decline and greater friction within the Archchurch. Increasingly conflicts between the various deities of the Pantheon of Order saw their respective clergy grow increasingly belligerent with each other. This was most notably the case between followers of Sigmar, Nagash, and Gorkamorka. Religious friction began to tear apart the Archchurch, while several growing Chaos cults flourished and gained many followers.
As the Age of Chaos began the Archchurch was devastated. Large forces of Chaos gathered and rampaged across much of Panghura, while the Shattering devastated the landmass. This caused Panghura to be renamed the Broken Continent, and numerous people groups and kingdoms were wiped out by marauding Chaos hordes. Most of the population was slain or converted to Chaos worship out of fear or necessity. Followers of Sigmar, always a large majority within the Archchurch, mostly fled to Azyr, and those who did remained in Ghur usually turned to their respective gods for safety.
Over the 500 years of the Age of Chaos the Archchurch was virtually destroyed, with most non-Chaos worshippers turning to either Sigmar or a small select of other gods. Without any specific hierarchy, the faith broke apart into numerous sects or inspired traditions.
=== Legacy ===
Pantheonism currently remains a minority religion in the Broken Continent, although it has a significant cultural impact. Very few individuals within the Broken Continent would consider themselves Pantheonists in the traditional sense, and the original Archchurch is absent. Even still, Pantheonism has resulted in a greater acceptance of worship of more than one god among residents of the Broken Continent. and several small sects and traditions of Pantheonism persist. Most non-Chaos followers in the Broken Continent primarily worship Sigmar as their god, but also offer prayers to Alarielle, Tyrion and Teclis, Grungi, and sometimes even Malerion and Grimnir. Non-Sigmarite ceremonies and beliefs are generally more accepted and greater religious diversity is typically tolerated.
== Beliefs and Traditions ==
Traditional or classical Pantheonism (sometimes referred to as Orthodox Pantheonism) was based off the teachings of its founder, the Skyran prophet Gathenus Morrowmar. Gathenus believed that each of the eight Mortal Realms had its own ruling deity who was intimately tied with their realm. These were Sigmar for Azyr, Alarielle for Ghyran, Malerion for Ulgu, the Tyrion & Teclis for Hysh, Nagash for Shyish, Gorkamorka for Ghur, Grimnir for Aqshy, and Grungni for Chamon. Each of these deities ruled over their own realms, but was also a master of a specific part of life, such as death or hunting. The best way to live, as well as for a society to function, was to properly balance worship of each of the gods. This included performing rituals and ceremonies of praise for each god, but also praying to each for help in their respective domains. Traditional Pantheonists attempted to visit shrines to each deity and offer them prayers and occasionally small gifts, although it was acceptable to favor certain gods over the others.
Traditional Pantheonism has virtually gone extinct, due mostly to the nature of the gods. Few worship Nagash after his betrayal of Sigmar and his constant seeking to dominate all life, and Gorkamorka's brutality and favor of the orruks has made him basically reprehensible to all. In the Age of Sigmar, Pantheonism is often divided and grouped by scholars into a few central traditions. These descriptions are usually more general, and individuals within the Broken Continent often hold a variety of different god as important or follow unique and specific beliefs that have developed over the ages. Even still, most groups that descend from classical Pantheonism can generally be grouped into the following traditions.
Neo-Orthodox Pantheonism is the most organized and clearly recognizable tradition of Pantheonism. Early into the Age of Sigmar a young priest named Sellathe organized another gathering of priests and called for the creation of a second Archchurch. This new Archurch claims descent from the original, and functions in a roughly similar manner. Notably, however, is the absence of any recognizable priesthood to Nagash, Gorkamorka, Nagash, Grimnir, and only a very small priesthood devoted to Malerion. Neo-Orthodox Pantheonists believe that these gods have proven to be either unworthy or worship or unable to be heard, and instead one must give proper reverence to those who deserve it. Sigmar is often given greater respect due to being the one to lead the fight against Chaos, but gods like Teclis & Tyrion, Alarielle, and Grungi are resepcted for their gifts and for fighting alongside Sigmar against the dark forces of Chaos. The Neo-Orthodox tradition has a substantional following within the lands of Skiriya, with the Archchurch based out of the city of Highgarden. Several towns and cities host churches that follow Neo-Orthodox Pantheonism across the Eastern Panghura. Even still, this tradition remains a minority religion.
Far more unorganized but often widespread is Reformed Pantheonism. This is a general term for a variety of individualist beliefs as well as smaller cults and sects that worship multiple gods and have some Pantheonist beliefs. Reformed Pantheonists generally believe that one should choose to worship whoever is most beneficial and helpful to oneself. Blacksmiths, for example, ought to pray to Grungi for aid in forging, and warriors to Sigmar. A group of gods is often selected by an individual whom they believe are worthy of worship, and this tradition is very individual-based for that reason. Some small sects and cults will worship a variety of distinctive gods and follow traditional rituals or create their own to appease them. The most popular gods for Reformed Pantheonists are often Sigmar, Alarielle, and Grungni, although any god can be followed. Many sailors and merchants often lead towards Pantheonist beliefs, many praying to Malerion for protection and cleverness, and any number of gods can be worshipped by an individual or a group, even if the gods themselves are bitter foes themselves. The small cult known as the Thundering Eyes worship Sigmar and Nagash, for example, even though the two gods are actively enganging each others forces.
Category:Religions
Category:Broken Continent