Pantheons and Gods
Most of the gods are structured together into pantheons, which are worshipped in particular regions. This is because those gods who are worshipped in more than one kingdom often seem to change according to the perceptions and culture of their new worshippers, so that in effect the Asura worshipped in the Hyborian kingdoms is no longer the same Asura worshipped as part of the Vendhyan pantheon. Thus what appears to be the same god may be worshipped within different pantheons. While worshippers of one pantheon might be respected by and happily engage in debates with the priests of another, as worshippers of a different form of the god they are not regarded as having the same privileges as local worshippers. Some of the gods are sufficiently powerful that they are the only one worshipped by many people in a particular region. Sometimes these lone gods are worshipped alongside a more established local pantheon; other times they are suppressed, regarded as demons by the official state religion. A character who is a worshipper or priest of an entire pantheon may well have a preferred god or gods within that pantheon but he will call upon whichever deity is most appropriate at the time. A priest of a pantheon can officiate at the services of any of the gods of that pantheon.
Types of Religions
There are many types of religion in the Hyborian Age. Mystical, nature, prophetic, revealed, sacramental and tribal religions all exist throughout the nations of the world. Many of these religions revolve around the same pantheon of gods and are simply alternative paths argued and debated among the priests and holy men, but others are truly alternative types of religions. Most Hyborian Age religions are complex enough that many of these types are intertwined. An example might be a revealed religion with sacraments that create a mystical experience. Religions often grow and change and these types may help a Games Master develop a history for a religion. Perhaps a charismatic leader of a tribal religion has a mystical experience and a revelation. He leaves his tribe and begins to spread the word of the revelation and his teachings are written down. He encourages people to use lotus to re-enact the mystical
experience and thus creates the first sacrament of the religion. Later, after his death, his tribal symbol becomes a holy symbol for the new religion, adding another sacrament, and his burial place becomes holy. His teachings are preserved and guarded as the revelations of the god he worshipped. Thus the tribal religion is converted to a revealed religion with sacramental aspects.
PrayerandSacrifice
Prayer & Sacrifice
Mystical Religions: Mystical experiences are at the heart of this type of religion. In order to understand the divine and become devout one must have a mystical experience of some sort. Life, society and even fellow believers are of no consequence. The divine must be experienced directly and individually. Usually these religions do not go beyond a single person but occasionally there arises a charismatic and powerful individual who constructs a social structure built around the achievement of the preferred divine experience. These religions usually die with the charismatic leader unless a new authority quickly takes over. Ritual, sacraments and traditions are used to aid beginners in achieving the divine experience but are ultimately thought of as crutches and the goal is to get rid of the need for such crutches as soon as possible. A problem with this religious form is its unpredictability. Anyone can have any sort of experience and come away with virtually any message, inspiration, insight or teaching, even if it contradicts the current authority’s teachings. These alternative insights may generate their own followings, creating a split or even hostility in the religion. Some mystical religions revolve around the use of certain drugs or around certain acts, such as masochism or even orgasm. Many of the mystery cults are simply craftsman guilds devoted to protecting the secrets of their chosen craft. At annual festivals the various craft guilds put on complex morality plays emphasising myths and philosophies relevant to their chosen craft. Nature Religions: Among the earliest sort of religion developed by men, nature religions present gods and supernatural powers as revealed through natural events and objects. Deities can be metaphorical or literal. Nature as a whole is often treated as sacred; everything in the universe is connected by an intricate web of energy. These religions are almost always polytheistic. They do not rely upon sacred writings, individual prophets or single religious figures. Shamans act as religious guides to serve the community
3
