Ilmater

The Crying God, the Rack-Broken Lord, He Who Endures, The Broken God
Ilmater is the god of suffering, martyrdom, and perseverance, renowned for his compassion and endurance. It is he who offers succor and calming words to those who are in pain, victimized, or in great need. He is the willing sufferer, the one who takes the place of another to heft the other’s burden, to take the other’s pain. He is the god of the oppressed and the unjustly treated.
Gentle and good natured, Ilmater (ill-may-ter) is a quiet. even-tempered deity who willingly shoulders the burdens and tears of a long-suffering world. Although he is slow to anger, the wrath of the Broken God is terrible in the face of extreme cruelty or attrocities. He takes great care to reassure and protect childern and young creatures, and he takes exceptional offence at those who would harm them. The Vrying God appears as a man whose body has been badly mutilated by punishment on the rack, crisscrossed with marks of torture and hacing broken and ravaged joints. He is short, burly, balding, and wears only a breechcloth, but his kind, homely face is warm and comforting.
Misunderstood by most, pitied and even scorned by a vocal minority, the church of Ilmater yet has one of the largest and most faithful followings in Faerun. In a cruel world, the suffering, the sick, and the poor have come to rely only on the Crying God's followers to provide succor to all. The church of Ilmater is widely loved by common folk in settled lands everywhere, and its clergy can count on generous support in their lifelong mission of healing. Those who cannot comprehend why anyone would willingly submit to the torments and cruelties that Ilmater's faithful seem to welcome misunderstand the church. Among those who hate weakness, the church of the Crying God is seen as weak and foolhardy - cruel tyrants and powerful villains alike dangerously underestimate its members.
Clerics of Ilmater pray for spells in the morning, although they still have to ritually pray to Ilmater at least six times a day. They have no annual holy days, but occasionally a cleric calls for a Plea of Rest. This allows him or her a tenday of respite from Ilmater's dictates, to prevent emotional exhaustion or allow the cleric to do something Ilmater would normally frown upon. This custom is an established tradition that some leaders of the faith rely upon, sending their best fighting clergy out to do things that the church cannot otherwise accomplish (covertly removing a tyrany rather than confornting him openly, for example). The most important ritual is the Turning. It is the duty of ecery cleric of Ilmater to convince the dying to turn to ilmater for comfort, receiving the blessing of the Broken God before they expire. (This deathbed prayer does not change the person's patron diety to Ilmater). As the veneration of ilmater grows, even in death, his healing power becomes greater. Many clerics learn Herbalism so that they can help those beyond their immediate reach. One group of Ilmatari monks, the Broken Ones, acts as defenders of the faithful and the church's temples, as well as agents of punishment for those who cruelly harm others. These monks can multiclass freely as clerics, paladins or wizards.

History/Relationships

Ilmater is an older deity who has long been associated with Tyr (his superior) and Torm, who together are known as the Triad. The Triad work together closely, for in union thet are stronger than as individuals. Ilmater is also allied with Lathander. He hopes deities who enjoy destruction and causing pain and hardship for others, paticularly Loviatar and Talona, whose natures are diametrically opposed to his own. Other foes include Auril, Bane, Garagos, Malar, Shar, and Talos
It is said that if he had his way, the Crying God would take all the suffering in the world onto himself, so as to spare others. Since he can’t, he blesses those who endure on others’ behalf, and he alleviates suffering when he can. Martyrs who die that others may live are always blessed by Ilmater with a final rest and reward in the god’s afterlife, should they so choose.
Ilmater’s priests take in the ill, the starving, and the injured, and his temples give most of what they receive to help offset the suffering of the world. His followers provide succor when they can, but also use force to put an end to torture and suffering inflicted on others. Ilmater’s priests travel to places where the worst possible conditions exist, ministering to the needs of the oppressed, the deceased, and the poor. They put others ahead of themselves, are sharing of all they have, and emphasize the spiritual nature of life over the welfare of the material body.
Priests of Ilmater who are on a quest to aid others can be recognized by their hair shirts, vests of coarse fur worn against the bare skin. It is taboo to harm such priests as they go about their duties, such as when they administer to the wounded on a battlefield. The taboo is so strongly felt among humans that other races respect the custom. Even orcs and goblinoids will avoid directly attacking a peaceful priest of Ilmater, as long as the priest administers to their fallen warriors as well.
Most folk deeply respect the work and the sacrifice of Ilmater’s faith, and lend aid to such endeavors where they can. When a temple of Ilmater sends its faithful to help refugees of war or victims of plague, their willingness to sacrifice their own well-being always prompts ordinary people to support them, whether they are inspired or shamed into action.

Dogma

• Help all who hurt no matter who they are.
• The truly holy willingly take on the suffering of others, suffer in place of another or suffer so others need not.
• Those who suffer in Ilmater’s name are comforted by him and he will accompany them in their suffering.
• Stick to your cause if it is right and just, no matter what pain or peril you face.
• There is no shame in a meaningful death.
• Stand up to all Tyrants, and allow no injustice to go unchallenged.
• Always place emphasis of the spiritual facet of life over the material realm of the body and possessions.

Clergy

Ilmatari Wear a solid gray tunic, tabard, and trousers, or gray robes. They wear skullcaps In gray (most clergy members) or red (senor clencs). Novices who have not yet been adorned wear no skullcaps. The symbol of Ilmater is worn as a pin over the heart or on a chain arouud the neck and serves as a holy symbol. Some of the older members of the faith have a gray teardrop tattooed to one side of their right or left eye.
The Adorned, as the clerics and monks of lmater are known, are organized in an informal hierarchy centered on the leader of large temple, abbey, or monestery) to whom the Ilmatari of the region report. Abbeys and monasteries are usualy tied to specific temples, often adding a second tier in the informal hierarchy. There is no one pontiff of the faith or governing body, although the senior clergy come together for informal conclaves on occasion. Altbough most monks dwell separate from the·church in monasteries or abbeys, some reside in Ilmatari temples as teachers or defenders.

Playing a devotee of Ilmater

Faith in Ilmater tends to go two ways: First, the more hardcore, possibly more deluded priests who seem to believe that suffering is itself holy, and thus go around trying to find new ways to essentially torture themselves. Sort of akin to Christian monks or penitents who wore "hair-shirts" or who scourged themselves because they believed that by suffering it drew them closer to their god. This mentality can also go hand-in-hand with the idea that there is a finite amount of suffering in the world, so that by doing those sorts of things, the priests are metaphysically siphoning that suffering away from OTHER people, thus helping others. This version of the faith shows up in the Drizzt book Sojourn, and are sort of implied to be a flawed branch of the true intended ideology:
But the second type of Ilmater worshipper focus on the idea that Ilmater himself suffers to redeem others, and that what he actually expects from his followers is to alleviate suffering. Priests of this type go out of their way to try and lift burdens from others, whether that be through healing or charity or shelter, or in more extreme cases, by hiring adventurers (or by bringing in Paladins of Ilmater) to help protect people from violent threats, or defend them against tyrants or thugs. Basically, think the most pacifistic, altruistic, non-judgemental Christians you can imagine, who follow absolutely no creed or dogma other than "Love thy neighbor", and you're starting to get the feel. If there are soup-kitchens or free clinics in Faerun, the priests of Ilmater are probably running them. This is probably what a PC priest of Ilmater SHOULD be.
You might start annoying the hell out of your adventuring party after a while, because you're probably going to be the first one to push for non-violent solutions to every problem, to argue for giving the benefit of the doubt to people who haven't previously betrayed you (yet), to encouraging the group to offer up large chunks of your treasure as charity to the poor (even if only as tithes paid to your church with the assumption that more sedentary priests will distribute it in the most efficient and effective manner possible). You should also be the first one to step forward to try and offer comfort NPCs who are weeping or upset (and will likely encourage the group to offer help even if the NPC in question can't necessarily pay for it - helping others is its own reward). You're probably going to push to take villains in alive so they can be tried, or offer them a chance to redeem themselves in some way if they seem amenable to that sort of thing (though a villain who fools you once may not get a second chance - you're idealistic and optimistic, not stupid or naïve. And preventing them from harming others will still trump attempting to redeem them if you start to believe they're irredeemable). Ilmater hangs out with gods like Tyr and Torm - he's not adverse to the idea that some people just need to get the **** kicked out of them. And you're going to try to live life as if the world was the best possible world that it can be, so that, by your example, maybe the world will move just a little bit closer to what it should be.
But also keep in mind, there's a distinct chance your behavior is going to get you killed - which is something most priests of Ilmater fully understand, and accept as part of their faith. If your death makes the world a better place, even in the slightest of ways, so be it. Death is not to be feared, but treated as the just end to a well-lived life.
You might be a bit preachy, but it's not necessarily the case - priests of Ilmater tend to let people lead their own lives for the most part, and if you want to do bad things or stupid things, they won't stand in your way (for the most part). They'll likely try to discourage you from doing it, but if you're dead-set on it, they'll let you do your thing, and try to pick up the pieces afterwards. If your teammates are sad or grumpy or angry, you'll likely try to lighten their spirits or otherwise be team therapist - but you also won't push or inflict yourself on anyone in the group who is clearly annoyed by your advances. Basically, you kind of see the world as this hurt, wounded thing, and it's your job to heal it. Whether that means wounds of the flesh, or wounds of the mind, or wounds of the spirit, or even wounds of the material. Especially as a Life Domain Cleric - a lot of your outlook is probably going to revolve around trying to bring peace and comfort to everyone and everything you meet.

Spell Evocations

BLESS

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Mount Celestia Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Material Plane. blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see Ilmater. blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of Ilmater. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is Mount Celestia. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of against you because of Ilmater. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in mount celestia.

LIGHT

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify ilmater in mount celestia.

CURE WOUNDS

Keep on, then, seeking Ilmater and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.

MENDING

What therefore the gods hath joined together, let not man put asunder

WORD OF RADIANCE

Get thee behind me, Asmodeus; thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of god, but that that be of men.

SPIRITUAL WEAPON

Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword/

The Chains

Chains of greed bind;
Hunger's bite inspiring grasping hands;
The Judge offers choice;
The Righteous teach how to choose.

Chains of hate bind;
Burdens endured only through Fury;
The Judge offers choice;
The Righteous teach how to choose.

Chains of fear bind;
Suffering's whip removes compassion;
The Judge offers choice;
The Righteous teach how to choose.

To inspire the Adorned

He wept for the hungry;
He wept for the sick;
He wept for the lost;
He wept for the broken;
He wept even as the rains fell, and as the sun parched the dusty earth, and as the moon shrank to a sliver;
And he said 'I will be there'.

Loss

Loss
A beast
With rending claw
It gnaws my soul
Pain

Loss
Hunts me
A ceaseless pursuit
I flee before it
Denial

Loss
I defy
Clad in fire
Burning the helping hand
Anger

Loss
I beg
Caging the anguish
Questions for the past
Desperation

Loss
I stumble
On liquid ground
Realities made of sand
Doubt

Loss
I endure
Never truly alone
He shares my burden
Faith

Loss
I own
Carrying the past
Stronger in the futur
e Peace

Admonitions. Often repeated.

Persevere in the face of pain.
Heal the sick, the wounded, and the diseased.
Comfort the dying, the griefstricken, and the heartsick.
Take on the burdens and the pain of others.

Champion the causes of the oppressed and unjustly treated, and give shelter and kind counsel to the lonely, the lost, and the ruined.
Pursue the service of Ilmater, and he will provide—leave gross riches and the acquisition of all but medicines to others.
Take up the tasks no others dare.

Words spoken when the novice becomes Adorned.

Help all who hurt, no matter who they are.
The truly holy take on the suffering of others.
Suffer in His name and He will be there to support you.
Stick to your cause if it is right, whatever the pain and peril.
Stand up to all tyrants, resisting in ways both great and small.
Allow no injustice to go by unchallenged.
There is no shame in a meaningful death.

Prayer

Ilmater, grant me the temperance
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Ilmater does,
this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that You will bless the sword of my spirit.
Until I die serving You.

Prayer

Please Ilmater, protect us.
I know I have your guidance, because you made my heart like this, because you have given me love, because you have protected me, because you are my savior and my reason to live, is just so I can be a living manifestation of your Will and Might.

The Wanderer

He came in from the Wilderness, seeking out his purpose.
He looked upon the legions fighting against a throng of rapacious goblins. In close order; united in duty; hearts focused; a barrier between the weak and the cruel. Their swords were sharp and their discipline firm.
And He looked out over the battlefield when it was done. The soldiers tired and weary; the moans of the wounded; the tears for fallen comrades. He saw the victors losing a piece of their souls as they punished the vanquished. And He wept.
He came to the village, to look upon the people.
He saw the ordered arrays of farms, crops growing all in a line. The diligent peasants, serving faithfully; working hard. The officials inspecting well maintained roads, collecting taxes and ensuring order; in fealty to their master.
And He saw the lean forms working in the fields, their bent backs and mean rations. Their slave fetters. He saw the mandate of service unbroken by the coming sickness; and full tax coffers and empty bellies even as the plague reaped its own harvest. He saw the loyalty in the eyes of the officials. And He wept.
He came to the tower, to view its master.
He looked upon his court, where a scale of decision hung by the throne. The master sat anointed: speaking this way to direct the people; speaking that way to punish the guilty. The master's stern voice directed to keep the peace; the master's cold heart governed by reason.
And He saw the supplicants brought in, humble and cowed, free men still yet still their spirits chained; their hearts fearful of reproach; their hopes and dreams all dependent upon the master's choice. And some of those brought in had chains on their body, too; they had refused the yoke, and to those, he saw the master's pitiless edict. They wept as they were dragged to the door, and so did He.
He went through the door.
And He looked out over the rods and whips, the screws and racks, the chains and shackles. The Maiden's casket; the Wheel. He smelt the fear in the air and saw the blood on the floor. And he said 'I know my enemy'.
And they all learned chains could be broken.

Prayer

A prayer spoken at times when faith seems hard, when the sacrifices of duty weight heavy. Although it is originally Damaran, it spread long ago and has perhaps been modified in its travels. This is the version I was taught in Tethyr.
Set aside the cup;
Thirst will trouble you no more;
Ilmater provides

Set aside your greed;
Hunger only in your soul;
Ilmater provides

Set aside desire;
The body chains pure spirit;
Ilmater provides

Rebuke avarice;
No wealth adorns the faithful;
Ilmater provides

Rebuke anger;
Fury is foe to healing;
Ilmater provides

Rebuke your fear;
Death is the gate to his side;
Ilmater provides

Shoulder your burden;
He shares even bitterest pain;
We walk together.

Parable

A parable on the subject of error, often shared with paladins of He Who Endures who seek atonement or those of the Adorned who struggle with the burden of human error. It uses the heresies of the Mad Priest, the Archsufferer Bloirt Waelarn as a backdrop, and is said to have been composed by the Adorned of Mussum itself, to honour Sir Holenhand's resolve to undo his mistake.
Sir Holenhand knelt before the Archsufferer and heard the command. "The heretics of the degenerate house of Mussum have lost their faith. They are mad in their minds! Their knights laid hands upon their fellow Adorned!" Sir Holenhand's brow furrowed at thought of the crime. "Cleanse the filth!" the command came, and Sir Holenhand answered, leading the Brothers of the Cup to war. For he knew not that it was the Archsufferer who was mad.
Sir Holenhand looked up at Holy Hill Farm. The banner of the Noble Heart flew proud over it, and the heretics lay inside. And he gave the order. "No injustice must go unchallenged, even by those we once called brother! Onto the walls, Knights of the Cup! Onto the walls, Knights of the Bleeding Shield! Onto the walls, Warriors of Suffering!" The Noble Heart did not ask for quarter, though; and the fighting was bitter.
Sir Holenhand looked upon Bronsheir's Charge, as the enemy's bravery finally broke upon the reserves. The wedge of heretics selling their lives so their Brothers might escape. He heard their prayers to the Broken God; saw the purity in their sacrifice. And he wept as he gave the order. "We have Endured, Brothers! We are Unbroken! Now we end this!" And it was done.
And Sir Holenhand looked out over the Weeping Rock, stained with the crimson tears of the fallen. He looked upon the broken pennants and shattered shields, upon the Bloody Rack's sundered, a Golden Cup filled with the blood of Noble Hearts, his bitter victory. "True sufferers all." He said, and he knew his error.
And then his judgment fell upon the mad priest.

Prayer

Written by myself, Brother Ameris Santraeger, after a moment of severe spiritual crisis in the winter of 1349 DR.
Ilmater the Wise, Ilmater the Merciful, Ilmater the Enduring, hear my prayer.
I ask for wisdom,
Guide me through this blinding storm;
Thanks to you, I see.

Ilmater the Wise, Ilmater the Merciful, Ilmater the Enduring, hear my prayer.
I ask for mercy,
Forgive my most wicked sins;
Thanks to you, I breathe.

Ilmater the Wise, Ilmater the Merciful, Ilmater the Enduring, hear my prayer.
I ask to endure,
Share freely your divine strength;
In your name, I rise.

Prayer

The work of an unknown author in Implitur. Some say it was written by a priest there in celebration of a treaty with Thesk. Others say it predates the founding of modern Implitur, instead being written by an Ilmateri knight lamenting at the fractious civil strife that fell over the country.
To Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love
All pray in their distress;
And to these virtues of delight
Return their thankfulness.

For Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love
Is God, Ilmater dear,
And Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love
Is Man, his child and care.

For Mercy has a human heart,
Pity a human face,
And Love, the human form divine,
And Peace, the human dress.

Then every man, of every clime,
That prays in his distress,
Prays to the human form divine,
Love, Mercy, Pity, Peace.

And all must love the human form,
In friend, in foe, in you;
Where Mercy, Love, and Pity dwell
There Ilmater dwells too.

Prayer of Monastics Militant of Ilmater

O Master of Mercy and hope for the hopeless,
Instill into me this day the spirit of mercy and forgiveness
To bestow likewise, myself, upon those who, in their wretchedness,
Mete out cruelty upon your helpless and suffering children,
So that all may come to bestow mercy in your manner.
Or failing that, guide my feet to kick their sorry butts
From the Sword Coast to the Sea of Stars
And back again.
This, I ask, as your humble and loving servant.