Grondism is a Vagrumic monotheistic religion that was founded in the Vagronia region of Vagrum in the 12th century MDG by Hyneralla. Spanning from Ronaria to Myathia and Cayat to Schonemark, it is the most followed religion in the world, closely followed by Avabism.
While one of the most recently-founded major religions, Grondism claims to succeed Madulism. Developed from the teachings of Jotan Hyneralla, Grondists exalt an uncreated, all-wise deity known as Grond, who is hailed as the supreme being of the universe. Most Grondists believe this world to be a hallow one known as the Halengard, the center of the known universe and the habitation of Grond. As such, the world and its nature holds a venerable place in Grondism, giving way to its living tree symbol. Grondists adhere to the living books as infallable, unaltered scriptures written by avatars of Grond, known as jotans, of which Hyneralla was the most important. These halenbachti consist of four books: the Salabachti (Books of the Fathers), the Hynerallan (Teachings of Hyneralla), the Bunbacht, and the Gruba Kalachti.
Grondism asserts that the ultimate goal of life is to resurrect an extinct race of men known as the Erani, inhabitants of the world created as perfected soldiers (Ubermeni) of Grond. However, a rebellion led by the demon deity Yach’ub caused their extinction, in favor of inferior humans. Vagrumic mythology and Madulism both also worship a deity named Grond, and Grondism asserts that jatons from these eras preserved the teachings and practices of the Erani. The first jotan is widely considered to be Sachur, who wrote much of the Salabachti and some of the Bunbacht. Other prominent jotans include Grondsdier, Khual, Avab, Azalab, Mazralla, and Hyneralla. Hyneralla ended the era of jotans, instead established a trifecta of three offices known as the Rule of Three: prophet, priest, and king; ceremonial, moral, and legal. The ceremonial prophets are known as fuhrers; the priest-governors encharged with moral enforcement are known as techans; and lying at the center of the trifecta, believed to be Grond’s steward, is the legal institution of the reech, ruled by a Reechshalter.
Grondists consider the Four Purposes (Su’zweki) laid out by Hyneralla and elaborated on by the fuhrers that succeeded him obligatory acts of worship; these are: complete and unceasing loyalty to Grond and his kingdom (Grondmiel), complete and unceasing loyalty to Grondist brethren (Mezamiel), sacrifice and ritualistic killing of animals (sechami, which can also be interpreted to mean sacrificing possessions in general), and pilgrimages to holy sites (halji). Grondists believe that an observance of these Four Purposes (as well as several otherminor purposes) leads to a successful and plentiful life, as well as citizenship in the Halengard following burial (sometimes known as promotion). Failure to submit to these results in eternal torture in the dark cosmos.
The religion of Grondism originated in 1140, where Grondists believe Hyneralla began his work as jotan. By the time of his death, most of Vagrum had converted to Grondism. Hyneralla’s student, friend, and convert, a man named Hynerich the Great, founded the Hiali Reech as the world’s first Grondist state. The Hiali Reech went on to become the largest state by land area in history, conquering Vagrum, Ronaria, Cayat, and Myathia. Over the following centuries, four main branches of Grondism arose: Hiali Grondism, Goershi Grondism, Vochsdaia, and Gaiapurism. Hiali and Goershi Grondism split over the succession to the Hiali Reech; Vochsdaia arose in Salskani Ronaria around the 1600s; and Gaiapurism arose in Myathia, asserting that the Myathian emperor acts as an avatar of Grond. The Goershi Fashi Reech came out of Cyarika as the most powerful Grondist state from 1395 to 1822. Since then, the title of reechshalter has been disputed, but today exists the highest number of Grondist-majority countries. The most populous of these is Myathia, with 13% of the Grondist population. Other Grondist powers include Cyarika, Cayat, Vagrum, Tanith, and Ronaria.