Overview
Ilmater is the deity of endurance, martyrdom, perseverance, and suffering. The Crying God is the patron of the suffering, oppressed, and persecuted, and the One Who Endures encouraged them to endure and encouraged others to help them by taking their burdens or places. The Rack-Broken Lord is a willing sufferer, bearing the pain of others to spare them from it, and it was said that if he had his way he would do so for all the suffering in the world, he is most heavily worshipped in Cutter's Harbor.
Description
In avatar form, Ilmater appeared 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 bore 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 were broken, his limbs were ravaged, and his hands were smashed yet still functional. Moving caused him a great deal of pain as he dragged himself around. No matter how much his avatar healed, it still showed these terrible wounds.
Personality
Ilmater was the incarnation of compassion, and the eternal foe of suffering, a generous, good-spirited, and even-tempered deity, with a kind and gentle nature. He sought to offer aid and relief and words of comfort to those in pain, who were oppressed, or otherwise in great need.[7][2] He encouraged them to endure their pain, suffering, and abuse, for good things came to those who waited. He encouraged his faithful to halt and relieve the suffering of others, and to take it on themselves if they must. Ilmater was himself a willing sufferer, taking one's place to bear their burden, seeking to endure any pain if it would lessen the pain of another.
Ilmater did not anger quickly, but when he did, he was fearsome in his wrath. He was greatly angered by extreme cruelty and atrocities, and at those who inflicted such suffering. He was particularly enraged by those who harmed or abused children and other young creatures. At such times, he set aside his doctrine of endurance and non-violence, and unleashed his full force to put an end to cruelty. Although his ravaged appearance or his righteous rage could scare children, Ilmater took great cares to reassure them and protect them. He treasured all children and young creatures in general.
Ilmater was the most forgiving of beings; it was thought he could even forgive Loviatar, Maiden of Pain, if she repented of her cruel deeds. Though he knew full well the atrocious and horrific acts that wicked creatures could do, he remained forever hopeful that evil beings could one day be turned to good, or destroyed, and so he stayed firm in his goals.
He had a good if rather rustic sense of humor, and liked to hear funny stories