Ilmater

Ilmater (pronounced ill-MAY-ter ), also known as the Crying God, the Broken God, the Lord on the Rack and The One Who Endures, and, in the Great Glacier, Ayuruk, was an intermediate deity whose portfolio included endurance, martyrdom, perseverance and suffering. He sought to offer words of comfort and calming to those in pain, oppressed, or in great need; he did so by seeking to endure any pain if it would lessen the pain of another.

Appearance
Ilmater was pictured as a man with a mutilated, tortured body and wearing only a breechcloth. When manifesting himself via an avatar, Ilmater's limbs were broken and moving caused him a great deal of pain. He was covered in marks, cuts and scars, with a burly build, a kind face, balding head and a hairy body.

When not appearing via his avatar, Ilmater sometimes manifested as a presence that made a howling or whimpering sound and could move objects around or cast spells. Alternatively he could possess any creature who was being tortured, provided that the torture contravened local laws. This creature glowed white and any wounds were regenerated immediately. Torture or restraining devices were immediately destroyed, and in the case of extreme torture, Ilmater granted the creature the ability to cast spells such as lightning bolt and meteor swarm for a short time in retribution.

Ilmater could create daisies, devas, donkeys, doves, einheriar, field mice, hollyphants, planetars, solars, sparrows and white roses to indicate or suggest his presence or awareness.

Personality
Ilmater did not anger easily, but when he did, he was fearsome. He was angered by cruelty and those who inflicted suffering, particularly upon children and young creatures in general. He was quiet with a good sense of humor and liked to hear stories containing humor.

Worshipers
Those who were oppressed, sick or poor were likely to be worshipers of Ilmater and those who had a dislike of weakness (tyrants, for example) did not understand why anybody would turn to him. 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 humour 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.

The clergy of Ilmater were known collectively as the Ilmatari. 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. 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, or could be a simple length of cord wrapped around the cleric's wrist in prayer. Some older clergy had a teardrop tattooed beside one eye.

Monks and clerics in the Ilmatari faith were known as the Adorned. Clerics of Ilmater prayed for their divine magic once per day, in the morning, but ritualistically prayed a further six times per day or more. The cleric received no holidays and celebrated no regular festivities, but could request a Plea of Rest – a tenday during which time he or she was freed from the rules laid out by Ilmater's faith. Clerics of Ilmater were duty-bound to convince the dying to pray to Ilmater, and it was likely that they are able to brew their own potions. 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. Specialty priests of Ilmater were known as Painbearers.

Many of Ilmater's clerics were known as Healers. These specialist priests were focused completely on healing and lessening suffering in the world. They took a very negative view of any Ilmateri who suffered needlessly, such as a self flagulator, believing that these people were unwittingly doing the work of Loviatar by increasing suffering in the world and to Ilmater himself who shared all pain with mortals. The healers were often charged with founding Sanctuaries and hospitals in the poorest cities in the realms. The healers followed strict vows and usually swore pacifism, chastity and poverty so as to blend in better with the down-trodden and poor whom they meant to help. This gentle and humble appearance often granted them acceptance into slums and won them love from commoners who viewed them as selfless healers who took nothing in return for their kindness.

Followers of Ilmater were often perceived as martyrs and intentional sufferers, to the point of ridicule by some. 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. 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.

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.

Initiation
An individual expressing an interest in joining the clergy of Ilmater was taken on a walk with a priest who explored that individual's views on life. Then they dined, and the individual was given wine that induced a slight trance so that he or she could be explored with magic in order to determine if any deception has occurred, or whether this person was genuinely suitable for the faith.

Vows
Many clerics, especially healers, considered taking one or all of the three vows of Ilmater: Purity, Poverty and Peace.

Purity was a vow of chastity which was taken to uphold what the Healer's called "Unbiased Love." In refusing to love one above others, healers of Ilmater kept their minds clear so that they could be ready to do good where it was most needed, rather than putting a loved one above the needs of strangers.

Poverty was a vow that prevented healers from keeping coin or wealth. Excess and luxury were sworn off to better let these faithful understand those they meant to help. This vow also kept Ilmateri (who were often pacifists) safe from criminals who might harm them for the coin in their pockets. Lastly, because the Healers could only get the supplies they used to help others by donation, it required others to show them kindness by donating first. In this way kindness was spread.

Peace was the vow of non violence that many healers took. Every blow was a blow against Ilmater, as he shared suffering with all mortals. This vow was taken by those who wished to devote all of their training to healing arts without wasting time on martial training. This was the vow that made Healers of Ilmater among the best healers in the realms, both mundane and divine. Healers of the Sanctuaries often depended on Monks or Paladins of Ilmater, or other members of the Triad to protect them in times of danger.

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. were unique among Ilmater's knightly orders due to their offensive nature. These Paladins were considered a fringe group by the rest of the faith, however they fulfilled a duty to hunt down and bring justice to the cruel. These were the most aggressive hunters of Loviatar's torturers.

The Holy Warriors of Suffering were an order of paladins sponsored by the church of Ilmater to protect travelers and pilgrims in Ilmater's holy land of Damara, as well as other places where the Triad Knights had no presence.

The Order of the Golden Cup. was often charged with the protection of Ilmater's Healers when their missions took them to the most hostile of places. Serving as faithful guardians, these questing knights swore to many of the same vows as the Healers, though with some differences. They carried enough gold to keep arms and armor, as well as other relevant equipment. They would provide food and supplies if needs be, but beyond this did not keep gold or wealth. The Knights of the Golden Cup used violence only when absolutely necessary to protect their charge, whose zeal for helping often landed them in danger. They would not turn a blind eye to the suffering of others however, but would show restraint, understanding that the Healer's cause is vital.

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.

Other
The House Melder Rythtin of the Healing Hand was the largest hospital in Faerûn, located in Calimport.

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.

Temples found within large cities were often known as Sanctuaries. Healers of Ilmater were often dispatched to such places to found a Santuary in the slums. These temples were usually run-down and poor buildings, funded by material donations only, such as food, clothing, labor, and medical supplies. They accepted no gold or valuables so as to discourage crime, as their healers were usually unarmed pacifists. Such temples had a soup kitchen, infirmary and chapel for worship. Temple grounds were often granted to healers by the city as an inexpensive method of fighting sickness and plague and improving the general health (and therefore production) of the poorest commoners who could not afford other temples. Even thief guilds and other criminal organizations tended to leave the Ilmateri in peace, or even protected such temples from lone criminals and zealots as many of their own members found healing with no questions asked inside Ilmater's Sanctuaries.

Relationships
Considering their contrasting portfolios, the Crying God and his followers were a bane to Loviatar and her worshippers. 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. Among his other foes were Bane, Garagos, Malar, Shar, Talona and Talos.

The ranks of Ilmater's allies included Tyr (who was his superior prior to the Spellplague), Torm and Lathander. In fact, Ilmater could often be found traveling with Tyr, teaching him to live without his sight and to rely upon feelings instead. Along with Torm and Tyr, Ilmater forms the Triad.

Creed of the Triad: Tyr is the sword of justice whose wrath punishes the wicked, Torm is the shield of faith who protects the weak, and Ilmater is the beating heart who tempers each with mercy and compassion.

Symbol
As of 1372 DR, Ilmater's symbol was a pair of white hands bound at the wrist with a red cord, but before the Godswar, it was a blood-stained rack. His newer symbol increased his popularity. Often, healers of Ilmater would simply use a length of red cord which they wound around their wrist to use as a holy symbol.

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.