Ilmater

lmater

lmater (pronounced: /ɪlˈmeɪtɛr/ ihl-MAY-ter) is an intermediate deity of the Faerûnian pantheon whose portfolio includes endurance, martyrdom, perseverance, and suffering. He is the god of those who suffer, the oppressed, and the persecuted, those who offer them relief and support, encourage them to endure, and who encourage others to help them, to take their burdens or take their places. He is called the Crying God, the Broken God, the Lord on the Rack, and the One Who Endures. To the Iulutiun people of the Great Glacier, he is known as Ayuruk, and to the Angulutiun people he is Itishikopak.

Description

In avatar form, Ilmater appears as a short man with a burly build and wearing only a breechcloth, with a plain but kind and comforting face, balding head, and a hairy body. But this body bears the marks of mutilation and torture on the rack, covered with open cuts, closed scars, burns, and a range of other wounds. Ilmater's joints are broken, his limbs are ravaged, and his hands are smashed yet still functional. Moving causes him a great deal of pain as he drags himself around. No matter how much his avatar healed, it still shows these terrible wounds.

Personality

Ilmater is the incarnation of compassion, and the eternal foe of suffering. He seeks to offer aid and relief and words of comfort to those in pain, who are oppressed, or are otherwise in great need. He encourages them to endure their pain, suffering, and abuse, for good things came to those who wait. He encourages his faithful to halt and relieve the suffering of others, and to take it on themselves if they must. Ilmater himself is a willing sufferer, taking one's place to bear their burden, seeking to endure any pain if it will lessen the pain of another.
He is quiet, generous, good-spirited, and even-tempered, with a kind and gentle nature. Ilmater does not anger quickly, but when he does, he is fearsome in his wrath. He is greatly angered by extreme cruelty and atrocities, and at those who inflict such suffering. He is particularly enraged by those who harm or abuse children and other young creatures. At such times, he sets aside his doctrine of endurance and non-violence, and unleashes his full force to put an end to cruelty. Although his ravaged appearance or his righteous rage can scare children, Ilmater takes great cares to reassure them and protect them. He treasures all children and young creatures in general.
Ilmater is the most forgiving of beings; it is thought he could even forgive Loviatar, Maiden of Pain, if she repented of her cruel deeds. Though he knows full well the atrocious and horrific acts that wicked creatures can do, he remains forever hopeful that evil beings can one day be turned to good, or destroyed, and so he stays firm in his goals. He has a good - if rather rustic - sense of humor, and likes to hear funny stories.

Abilities

When manifested as an avatar, Ilmater can cast a wide variety of magic spells, though he is strongest with healing magic and beneficial necromancy. Only rarely does he cast a spell that will injure another, unless he does so in anger and retribution for a cruel or sadistic deed performed by the target, or to protect another from harm.
He fights unarmed, open-handed or with his fists, and is a supreme martial artist. However, he usually chooses not to defend himself, instead simply taking and absorbing damage - his avatar is extremely hard to destroy. As with his spells, Ilmater only attacks in retribution or protection, or to deflect missiles or destroy items. He also uses nonlethal methods to disable his powerful foes. His unarmed strike counts as a +5 keen lawful vorpal weapon.
Alternatively, he can possess any good and innocent creature that is being tortured, provided that the torture contravenes local laws. This creature will glow white, all pain being relieved, and any of their wounds are regenerated immediately. Torture or restraining devices are immediately destroyed, releasing the sufferer, alert and healthy. In the case of extreme torture or associated murder, Ilmater grants the possessed being the ability to cast destructive spells, such as flame strike, lightning bolt or chain lightning, meteor swarm, sink, or imprisonment for a short time in retribution.
When not appearing via his avatar or through possession, Ilmater manifests himself as an unseen presence that makes a howling or whimpering sound yet feels watchful. In this form, he can speak, move objects around by telekinesis, and cast spells.
To act in his place, Ilmater sometimes sends devas, einheriar spirits of slain martyrs, hollyphants, incarnates of courage, planetars, solars, and some beings that remain unidentified. To indicate or suggest his presence or awareness, to show his favor, and to give his faithful encouragement, Ilmater can create daisies and white roses, or send white donkeys, white doves, field mice, or sparrows. A minor manifestation to show favor is in the colors gray and red.
Finally, Ilmater can sense any kind of suffering the moment it takes place, anywhere in the world. He also knows whenever a person sacrifices themselves for another being. He can instantly create any magical item that heals or reduces suffering, or is good or lawful in nature.

History

Ilmater is an older god and was an obscure deity in the 3rd century before Dalereckoning, but he came to prominence during Tyr's Procession of Justice in the Vilhon Reach. In −247 DR, Tyr had led a force of archons out of a gate to pacify the remnants of the fallen empire of Jhaamdath, which had fallen into anarchy, lawlessness, and banditry. Tyr's deeds and sacrifices caught the attention of Ilmater, who allied himself with the Just God in the Year of the Rack, –243 DR. The Procession came to an end in −238 DR but Tyr remained on Abeir-Toril and the two deities continued to work together.
Many years after the Procession, Torm joined them as Tyr's war leader. Together, Ilmater, Torm, and Tyr formed The Triad, a long-lasting alliance of good and lawful deities.
An ancient and unsupported legend tells that the human Khala of Imaskar had devoted themselves to the god Bane the Black Lord and perpetrated numerous atrocities. For their deeds, the gods of law inflicted curses upon them. Among them, Ilmater accused the Khala of tormenting their victims and tearing heart and soul from them. Thus he cursed them with an unnatural hunger, to devour the hearts of their prey so they might live. Out of all the gods' curses was born the peryton, a vicious, stag-headed, eagle-bodied beast. The female peryton needed to devour the heart of a humanoid to become fertile—some considered it ironic that Ilmater's curse drove the peryton to further murder and savagery. According to another legend, an avatar of Ilmater once died somewhere south of the Inner Sea some time before the 4th century DR. The only remnant of this avatar was the Iron Helm of Heroes, which became a minor relic of Ilmatari faith.

The Triad was broken in the Year of Three Streams Blooded, 1384 DR, when Tyr was manipulated into slaying Helm, god of guardians. Ilmater chose to leave the House of the Triad and, at the invitation of Sune, goddess of beauty, he relocated his divine realm to the plane of Brightwater. By 1479 DR, however, Ilmater had returned to Torm's side and reestablished his realm in Celestia.
During the Second Sundering of the late 15th century DR, a Chosen of Ilmater began a passive slave revolt in Calimshan against their genie masters. During this time, he disappeared mysteriously. Though the overlords were cast down, it was only by bloody means. Many humans still long for the return of Ilmater's Chosen so he can complete the country's transition to a better non-violent society.

Relationships

The ranks of Ilmater's closest allies include Tyr the Maimed God, god of justice, (who was his superior prior to the Spellplague) and Torm the True, god of loyalty and duty. Collectively, these deities formed the Triad, an alliance of lawful good deities that were stronger as a united force than individually. In fact, Ilmater can often be found traveling with Tyr, assisting him and teaching him to live without his sight and to rely upon his feelings instead. Ilmater showed Tyr that true justice requires a judge to know how much punishment is sufficient, whether it is too harsh or whether mercy is better. Ilmater also has an excellent relationship with Torm.
Other allies include Lathander the Morninglord, god of renewal and vitality and Ibrandul, the Lord of the Dry Depths, the freedom-loving god of caves and darkness.
Ilmater stands against those gods and goddesses who enjoy causing destruction and spreading pain and suffering for others. In particular, considering their contrasting portfolios, the Crying God and his followers are a bane to Loviatar, the Maiden of Pain, and her worshipers. Loviatar in turn hates Ilmater with a passion, as he protects her victims from her torments. Ilmater also frequently opposes Talona, Mistress of Disease. Among his other foes are Bane, Bhaal, Garagos, Malar, Myrkul, Shar, and Talos.

Realm

Ilmater makes his home in the divine realm of Martyrdom, a mountain of reward and peace for suffering in life, where none feel pain or weariness. Under the Great Wheel cosmology, this was located on the layer of Shurrock in the Twin Paradises of Bytopia. Under the World Tree cosmology, however, Martyrdom is found in the House of the Triad, on a lesser mountain of Celestia, alongside the mountain realms of Ilmater's fellow gods of the Triad, Tyr and Torm.
However, following the breaking of the Triad in 1384 DR, Ilmater moved his domain out of the House of the Triad. At Sune's invitation, he relocated it to Brightwater on the World Tree. By 1479 DR, Ilmater had reestablished Martyrdom in Celestia, now under the World Axis cosmology.

Symbol

Ilmater's holy symbol was originally a blood-stained rack, such as used to torture a victim by stretching. This remained in use until the mid–14th century DR. However, by 1356 DR, a new symbol had entered common usage: a pair of white hands crossed and bound at the wrist with a blood-red cord. After the Godswar of 1358 DR, this was used nearly exclusively. This newer and less gruesome symbol has increased his popularity across Faerûn.

Worshipers

Those who are oppressed, sick, lame, or poor are likely to be worshipers of Ilmater, and people who have been injured or are otherwise suffering often call upon him for aid. His faith is popular among the poor in big cities, and with serfs and slaves, as well as merchants, thieves, and a few guards. Although people of any alignment can worship Ilmater, he is largely followed by folk of a lawful and good bent, especially among his own clergy.
Ilmater's clergy is most frequently comprised of clerics, paladins, and monks. They are organized into the Church of Ilmater, with many affiliated knightly and monastic orders. 
Across Faerûn, the hardy people of the harsh and war-torn land of Damara particularly venerate Ilmater, as well as his champion, St. Sollars. In Calimshan, Ilmater is one of the most frequently worshiped gods, especially among the lower classes and slaves. Attending clerics during a battle are recognized by the coarse furred shirts they wear. It is considered a great wrong to harm these priests as they help ease suffering. Even orcs and goblins hold them in esteem for ministering to their fallen people and not just humans.