Church of Ilmater

The Church of Ilmater was the primary religious organization dedicated to the worship and service of Ilmater, the Crying God.

Initiation
Initiation into the clergy of Ilmater was uncomplicated. A novice expressing an interest in joining went on a simple walk with a senior priest who, as they talked, explored that individual's views on life. Then they dined, and the novice was given wine that induced a slight trance so that their mind could be examined with magic. This was done with the full knowledge of the novice, and performed by various other clerics or wizards sympathetic to the Ilmatari. They closely examined their loyalties, goals, and true feelings and determined if any deception had occurred, or whether the novice was genuinely suitable for the faith. This practice was introduced to prevent false applicants from joining simply to learn the church's healing knowledge and steal their medicines, as had happen often in the church's early history. Deceit, a devotion to evil, or loyalties to another faith or to a secular organization or authority disqualified the applicant.

If found genuine, then the novice was accepted as a full member of the clergy. They were dressed in the simple gray robes and pronounced one of the Adorned.

Titles
The clergy of Ilmater were known collectively as "Ilmatari", which was also the adjective for the faith. Another collective term was "Ilmats".

Monks, clerics, and specialty priests in the Ilmatari faith were known as the Adorned. Specialty priests of Ilmater were simply called "clerics" around 1358 DR, but were known as painbearers by 1369 DR. By 1479 DR, all priests of Ilmater were called "painbearers".

The clergy referred to each other as "Brother" or "Sister". Senior clergy were called "Revered", such as "Revered Sister". Those who were leaders of temples, monasteries, and abbeys were addressed as "Mother" or "Father", and "of the House" was added to their title, such as "Revered Father of the House". No other titles were commonly used. The greatest of the faith were called "Saint", and often bore a unique title.

Hierarchy
The Adorned had a fairly loose and informal hierarchy, organized around the Revered Father or Mother of the nearest large temple, monastery, or abbey. All Ilmatari in the region reported to his person, and were loosely ranked under them. The abbeys and monasteries were often linked to a specific temple, adding an extra level in this hierarchy.

There was no overall leader of the faith nor a governing council. Instead, the senior clergy occasionally met in informal conclaves.

Activities
During a war, the Ilmatari would gather supplies in order to treat the dying and wounded. Ilmatari also sheltered the homeless and offered moral support to those who needed it. They would tour the wealthy areas of towns and cities seeking donations to help cover the costs of the church.

However, they were known as some of the best healers in the realms, often being found in some of the worst possible conditions, helping the oppressed, the diseased and the poor.

It was likely that they are able to brew their own potions.

In adventuring groups, they were often the ones who took all risks to save a person in danger, putting the needs of others above their own, to the exclusion of their personal safety.

Rituals
Clerics of Ilmater prayed for their divine magic once per day, in the morning, They ritualistically prayed a further six times a day or more, every single day.

The clergy observed no annual holy days and celebrated no regular festivities. However, an Adorned could make a Plea of Rest to Ilmater requesting a special dispensation for time off. The Rest was a tenday during which time they were freed from the rules laid out by Ilmater's faith. This was normally called for if the Adorned was emotionally exhausted by their work, but some exploited the time to perform deeds that Ilmater would normally disapprove of. Some church leaders depended on this tradition, using the Rest to send their best fighting or adventuring clergy out to perform deeds they could not normally do, such as covertly bringing down a tyrant instead of making an open confrontation.

Clerics of Ilmater were duty-bound to convince the dying to pray to Ilmater, in a ritual of the highest importance called the Turning. If a dying person turned to Ilmater, praying for his comfort, then they would receive his blessing before they died. However, this did not change their patron deity or alter their destiny in the afterlife. Even in death, it was believed Ilmater's healing powers grew with greater veneration.

Temples
Temples and shrines to Ilmater were often manor houses on traveled routes, named after Ilmatari saints. It was common for these houses to contain an area for treating the sick and injured. There was no single leader of a particular temple; instead, a collection of senior clergy met on occasion to make decisions. A temple to Ilmater often had an abbey or monastery affiliated with it or contained within it.

The House of the Broken God was the largest hospital in Faerûn, located in Keltar, Calimshan.

Possessions
The Ilmatari wore grey tunics, trousers, a tabard, or robes, and, unless a novice, wore a skullcap, which was red for senior clergy and otherwise grey. The symbol of Ilmater was worn around the neck or as a pin badge. Some older clergy had a teardrop tattooed beside one eye.

Dogma
A typical follower of Ilmater was generous and sharing, advocating spiritualism over materialism. Worshipers believed that all injustices should be rectified and that a death with meaning was not shameful. Cynicism and dark humor were common. They did not believe in impeding desires of others, even when those desires conflicted with their own duty to provide alleviation of suffering and healing.

New initiates were often overcome by the suffering they witnessed as part of their work, and could develop a cynical attitude towards life, but most persevered nonetheless, even when faced with hopeless causes.

Relationships
Those who had a dislike of weakness (tyrants, for example) did not understand why anybody would turn to him. Followers of Ilmater were often perceived as martyrs and intentional sufferers, to the point of ridicule by some.

At any opportunity, the followers of Loviatar sought to torment Ilmater's people, finding the greatest pleasure in forcing a restrained Ilmatian to watch someone else be tortured to a slow and painful death.

History
The reputation of Ilmater was damaged shortly after the Time of Troubles when a cult professing to be Ilmatari began inflicting suffering (on others and themselves), engaging in kidnapping and rioting. The Ilmatari suspected that these cultists were under the influence of Beshaba, Cyric or Loviatar. The cult was mostly eliminated.

Saints
The faith of Ilmater had more saints than most other faiths. Notable saints included St. Sollars the Twice-Martyred, represented by a yellow rose, and worshiped from the Monastery of the Yellow Rose high in the Earthspur Mountains, and St. Dionysius.

Knightly
The Companions of the Noble Heart.

The Holy Warriors of Suffering

The Order of the Golden Cup.

The Order of the Lambent Rose.

Monastic
Most Ilmatari monastic orders had a symbolic flower that had a particular importance to them.

The Broken Ones was a monastic order whose monks were responsible for the defense of Ilmater's temples and shrines and sought to punish those who inflicted cruelty.

The Disciples of St. Morgan the Taciturn.

The Disciples of St. Sollars the Twice-Martyred was a monastic order noted for the Monastery of the Yellow Rose, located in the Earthspur Mountains near to the Glacier of the White Worm.

The Followers of the Unhindered Path.

The Order of St. Uzurr was a monastic order that was devoted to Ilmater and followed St. Uzurr. They were based at the Cloister of St. Uzurr in the city of Uzurr in Lapaliiya.

The Sisters of St. Jasper of the Rocks.

The Weeping Friars were the most fanatical believers in the idea of "bleeding" for others.

Appearances
In Baldur's Gate II, a cleric of Ilmater appears in two different temples of Ilmater in Athkatla, which is located in Waukeen's Promenade, and in the Slums. Actually, he is at least two different individuals of the same appearence and as far as the game is concerned have the same kind of personality. He is humble, compassionate and working constantly to help the poor and insane in Athkatla. He declares the statement that there is a great need for the Crying God's compassion in Athkatla.