# Open Halls of Thunder

The Open Halls of Thunder are the spiritual centers of the [Thorist](https://eusia.sanctuarydnd.ca/books/worldbuilding/page/thor "Thor") faith. Part temple, part refuge, part school, and part community gathering place, they serve as places where followers of Thor worship, learn, debate, feast, and seek shelter beneath the open sky. Despite sharing common traditions, the Halls are independent institutions rather than branches of a centralized church. Each Hall governs its own affairs, interprets Thor's teachings in its own way, and is led by its own keepers and clergy.

The Halls are united by a handful of shared principles, foremost among them the Law of Open Doors, which requires aid and hospitality be offered to those in need regardless of station, origin, or belief. Many Halls also contribute resources and personnel to the [Stormward Sanctuaries](https://eusia.sanctuarydnd.ca/books/worldbuilding/page/stormward-sanctuaries "Stormward Sanctuaries"), reflecting the faith's belief that those who wield the power of storms bear a responsibility to assist those affected by them.

Open Halls vary greatly in size and influence. Some are little more than modest frontier lodges maintained by a few devoted priests, while others attract pilgrims and scholars from across Eusia. Regardless of their scale, all Open Halls share a common purpose: to teach courage in the face of hardship, provide shelter during life's storms, and honor [Thor](https://eusia.sanctuarydnd.ca/books/worldbuilding/page/thor "Thor") through service as much as worship.