Painbearer

A painbearer was a specialty priest of Ilmater, the Crying God.

History
Specialty priests of Ilmater were simply called "clerics", like other clerics, around 1358 DR. The name "painbearer" was in use by 1369 DR, by which time they had gained additional powers.

By 1479 DR, however, all priests of Ilmater were called "painbearers".

Relationships
As specialty priests, painbearers were naturally included among the ranks of the Adorned, the clergy of the church of Ilmater.

Entry
Painbearers were required to be quite hardy, in addition to being wise. Later, they also needed skill in healing and to be of a lawful good disposition.

Culture
Some painbearers trained at the Convent of St. Rhynda in Tethyr around 1370 DR.

Possessions
Painbearers learned to wield bludgeoning weapons as well as the scourge. However, they did not wear armor.

Abilities
Painbearers learned techniques and gained greater endurance to help them undergo hardships, weather suffering, and resist pain and even drowning. A painbearer could also go without food and water for several tendays and, though weakened, they would not die of starvation or thirst during this time. However, the painbearer was still afflicted by hunger pangs and thirstiness, which they simply had to endure as a matter of course for their faith.

Painbearers also learned the arts of herbalism. They could brew potions with healing effects earlier than other clerics, beginning with the potion of healing.

With a touch, a painbearer could remove fear and dispel magics that negatively affected the emotions of others to cause pain, suffering, or despair. This worked on two other people a day, and later the painbearer could also perform it on themselves once a day.

As divine spellcasters, painbearers could gain major access to the spheres of All, Charm, Creation, Guardian, Healing, Necromantic, and Protection, with Law and Travelers following later. They could also gain minor access to the spheres of Combat, Elemental, Summoning, Sun, and Weather, with Wards added later.

As they advanced, later painbearers learned to cast a number of spells outside their normal spellcasting: draw upon holy might (without need for rest), favor of Ilmater, and endurance of Ilmater. They could also commune with Ilmater.

The highest painbearers could, when enduring great suffering, torture, or extreme punishment, beg a good servant to Ilmater to aid them. This servant possessed the painbearer and took on all the pain they suffered, though none of the injury, for the duration of the ordeal. The servant was also unable to move the painbearer's body.

Early painbearers could not turn or command undead creatures.

Notable Painbearers
Some known painbearers were:
 * Heldatha Dhussta, Painbearer and Revered Mother of the House at the Towers of Willful Suffering in Eshpurta,
 * Revered Father Darrom Vallson, Painbearer of Ilmater, of the Knights Kuldar.
 * Brother Bevnor the Painbearer, of the Knights Kuldar.
 * Brother Kalil the Painbearer, leader of the Janessar.