Infinite Analemma

So, for starters, here's a list of all the patriar families, including "fallen" houses that are barely hanging on: Belt, Bormul, Caldwell, Dlusker, Durinbold, Eltan, Eomane, Exeltis, Gist, Guthmere, Hhune, Hlath, Hullhollyn, Irlentree, Jannath, Jhasso, Linnacker, Miyar, Nurthammas, Oathoon, Oberon, Portyr, Provoss, Ravenshade, Rillyn, Sashenstar, Shattershield, Silvershield, Tillerturn, Vammas, Vannath, Vanthampur, and Whitburn

From what I've gathered, Exeltis, Provoss and Ravenshade are all more-or-less destitute. Also, the Szarr family (Cazador's family) were patriars, but were believed to be entirely wiped out. No living descendants makes them a dead house, rather literally. 😏 (No, I'm not sorry.)

Now, we learn that Wyll's father is Ulder Ravengard, the Grand Duke. This brings us to the first point: There are four Dukes, known as the Council of Four, and the Grand Duke's job is to be the tie-breaker.

Traditionally, one of the Dukes is also the highest ranked officer of the Flaming Fist--that's Ravengard, who was a Fist promoted up through the ranks. Wyll tells us that his father was born lower class, and quite a few of the patriars seem to scorn him for that. The other Dukes are Belynne Stelmane, Dillard Portyr (more on him later) and Thalamra Vanthampur (more on her later, too). Of the four, two are patriars: Portyr and Vanthampur. We don't know much about Stelmane's past, except that she was a brilliant businesswoman, politician and--as we find out later--member of the Knights of the Shield. Apparently, you can't buy your way into the patriars, but maybe you can buy your way into being a Duke.

Skipping ahead a bit, when the player shows up to Gortash's coronation, there are a group of mostly patriars sitting in the boxes leading up to the front of the room. I'm listing them by seating arrangement, with box 1 and 2 being the left and right closest to Gortash, and 3 and 4 being farthest. (I don't know what, if anything, the seating arrangements imply. The second box has eight people, compared to four for all the rest.)

Lady Ailis Belt, Baron Callem Bormul, Lord Rugger Shattershield**, and Lady Alia Durinbold**

Lady Ruth Linnacker, Lord Sarken Eomane, Lady Freida Oberon, Lord Raylen Jannath, Lord Myer Ravenshade**, Lady Madeline Whitburn, Lady Beatrice Provoss, and Duke Dillard Portyr

Lady Winstra Hullhollyn, Admiral Peil Hullhollyn, Lord Randolph Vammas, and Lady Eshvelt Guthmere

Lord Milon Tillerturn, Lady Silifrey Sashenstar, Lord Petric Amber**, and Lady Haeril Birch**

Here's some pictures of the nobles sitting together. (Sorry for the terrible quality! I slapped it together for my own reference. 🙈)

The characters marked by ** aren't human, which is interesting because the information I found said all the patriar familes are human except the Shattershields. Myer Ravenshade is listed as human if you examine him, but he has a dwarf model. That might be a mistake, but I'm including him anyway. Alia Durinbold, from a presumably human patriar family, is a wood elf. Again, this could be a mistake, but unless Larian winds up changing it, it could mean that interracial marriages that once may have been looked down on are now becoming more acceptable. Petric Amber is also a wood elf, and Haeril Birch is a high elf.

Those last two are interesting because they are the only ones in the boxes who aren't patriars. If not for them, I'd have assumed the coronation was simply a demonstration for the patriars alone. Their inclusion means this is something else.

Digging around, my conclusion is that all the listed people are members of the Parliament of Peers--a 50 person advisory party to the Council of Four. However, what I found says that it's pretty rare for all 50 to attend meetings, and the usual group is between 20-30. There are exactly 20 named individuals listed, plus a group of unnamed "patriars" standing at the front.

Here they are, for what it's worth:

One thing I noticed here is that most of those listed here are Lord/Lady, but there are three other titles: Duke, Baron and Admiral. I've already talked about the Dukes. Looking into the patriars, the Hullhollyn family are notable for having a fleet of ships, so it makes sense that one of them would be an Admiral. That leaves the Baron.

I couldn't find anything about what it means to be a baron in Baldur's Gate. Going on real-world peerages, a baron/ess is generally the lowest "rank" of nobility. Basically, it's someone who was an official landowner (usually of an "important" bit of land) under the feudal system. Well and good, I suppose, but presumably all the Lords and Ladies of the patriars own land within the city. This particular Baron is also a patriar, but given that one doesn't need to be a patriar to become a Duke (normally a higher peer than a baron), that may not mean anything.

(Apparently, the term "Duke" was originally meant somewhat jokingly. That said, it still carries the weight of a title even if not the conventional one.) We don't see any other titles between Duke and Baron, so what does that mean?

This isn't canon, but my assumption is that it means the Baron owns important land outside of the city. This would make sense for Baron Bormul, given that the Bormul family apparently have investments in silver mines and vineyards. Assuming they own the mines/vineyards, that may make those lands "important" enough to the city for their owner to earn a title. Alternately, the Bormul family also has counterparts in Amn, so maybe baron is an Amnian title that got passed along. That's getting a bit far afield for me, though. 🤷‍♀️

Anyway, among the group at the coronation, pretty much everyone supports Gortash becoming Archduke, with the exception of Lady Sashenstar (an old woman who really isn't too impressed with this commoner) and Duke Portyr, who expresses some hesitation at the whole thing.

Duke Portyr is interesting here. Except for Ravengard (who is thralled and conducting the ceremony), Portyr is the only Duke present. Now, Stelmane is already dead, so that explains her absence. Vanthampur is also missing, which is interesting. Portyr first, though: he was Grand Duke before Ravengard. He's the one who re-instituted (Edited: and originally created!) the Parliament of Peers to make the day-to-day decisions of running the city, and ceded the title of Grand Duke to Ravengard. He's described as being conflict-averse, so it makes sense that he'd go along with Gortash's coronation, even though he's clearly unhappy about it. Also, the current leader of the Fists is also a Portyr, likely still Liara Portyr, the Duke's niece and Ravengard's second-in-command.

Thalamra Vanthampur is an interesting character, too. She's the head of the Vanthampur family, and part of the Descent into Avernus story. Apparently, she's the one who got Ravengard to go to Elturel before it sank to the Hells, intending to take his place as Grand Duke. From what I read, she also conspired with the Dead Three's cults to murder people in a bid to discredit the Flaming Fist. (The murdery bits were undoubtedly left to Bhaal's cult.) We never do find out anything about Thalamra Vanthampur in this game (I assume that's probably cut content). (Edited: She is mentioned in one of the in-game texts as having been killed, which was one of the possible outcomes of Descent into Avernus. Larian chose that as their canon, just like the fate of Elturel and Zariel.)

The only Vanthampur we do meet is Carnelia Vanthampur, who is in the Guildhall and describes herself as "a peer of the Parliament". She's willing to work with either the Guild or the Zhentarim. Nervously of course. Also interesting is that, on the Bloodstained Parchment hit list, is a Varri Vanthampur, whose gravestone you can find in Candulhallow's Tombstones shop, reading: "Varri Vanthampur. Unwanted in life, welcomed in death."

Interesting, hm?

Also on that hit list is Fridrik Hhune. The Hhunes apparently have links to the Knights of the Shield, from what I looked up--the same group the Emperor led with Stelmane. The only Hhunes we meet in-game are Blaise and Gheris Hhune, two of the werewolves in Cazador's ballroom who are brothers according to the dev notes. With them is another werewolf of a different patriar family, Duver Rillyn. This suggests Cazador has been going after members of patriar families, which sort of fits with what we know about his plans. We really don't find anything else out about them except that they consider Cazador to be their master and Astarion says they're new.

We also can talk to a Flaming Fist who mentions that Hurlbut Hhune is the father of Henrietta Hhune, who used to be secretly engaged to the Fist in question, only for her father to decide to arrange her to marry fellow patriar Derque Rillyn, who the Fist describes as "a major arsehole."

That conversation is interesting for a few reasons. For one, it tells you that arranged marriages within the patriar are a thing. Also, this Fist is a Manip (essentially a Sergeant) who can't ask the other Fists for help because "the Fists don't mess with wealthy patriars, they've got the Watch to back them up." That's aligned with what Devella can also tell you: "There are patriars on the murder target list. I'm oathbound to secure them first, so I'll be heading to the Upper City next." If you say that the Fist should protect everyone: "Not from around here, are you? We're in Baldur's Gate - this is just how things work."

This brings me back to my original issue: what is a Baldurian noble? The patriars are canonically nobles, of course, and they're undoubtedly seen as the "most important" of the nobility. From there, it's not much of a stretch to say that anyone who has earned the title of Duke is now a noble, even if they aren't patriars. I'd go so far as to say anyone on the Parliament of Peers (and their family by association) is a noble^, given that non-patriars Petric Amber and Haeril Birch are considered Lord and Lady. The information I found about that is that there are approximately twelve non-patriar members. If Amber and Birch are two of them, that leaves another unnamed 10.

^Edited: Looking at the dates, I realized that the Parliament of Peers is a very recent change to Baldurian governance. Duke Portyr originally created it after the three other Dukes on the Council of Four were assassinated. It was clearly meant as a temporary measure, but my guess is that the patriars liked having more official say. Not to mention the non-patriars who managed to get a seat. This has all happened within even the youngest of Tav/Urges' lifetimes.

Personally, I'd also assume that branch families of the patriars probably also count as nobility. By branch family, I mean those that marry out of the main line but whose ancestry stems from a patriar family. From what I've seen by naming conventions, Baldur's Gate seems to use patronmyic lineage--ancestry is generally passed to the sons, and wives take their husband's surname. So, if a daughter marries out of the family, she'd no longer be a part of her father's family lineage, but still would be considered nobility. These branch families likely still maintain powerful influence and connections from marrying into wealth, which would make them a good political/financial choice of marriage alliance, despite no longer having the main branch patriar family name. These families are also probably the ones most likely to find a place on the Parliament, too, but likely have to jockey for position if their "representative" dies (or otherwise leaves) and a new opening in the Parliament is created.

If you've read this far, as a treat you can have some crappy close-up portraits of the nobles at Gortash's coronation, grouped together in their respective boxes. 😚

You can assume anyone on this list is human unless otherwise stated. This isn't a comprehensive list, by any means. There's ... a lot of lore I haven't looked at. Many of these are found mentioned in the in-game texts, so if you see "mentioned", that's probably where I found it. If I've missed anyone egregious, let me know and I'll add them to the list.

Patriars, alphabetically:

Belts - breeds and sells horses across the Sword Coast

Duke Belt - (historic figure, former Grand Duke)

Lady Ailis Belt - human female (noblewoman at Gortash's coronation)

Bormuls - holds investments in silver mines and vineyards, with a branch of the family in Amn

Baron Callem Bormul - human male (nobleman at Gortash's coronation)

Gormund Bormul - chaotic evil wraith (from Baldur's Gate: City Encounters) killed 65 years before BG3, stalks streets as an undead serial killer

Caldwells - one of the oldest and richest families. Originally made fortunes from apple and pear orchards in the south of the city, but expanded into timber and lumber. Now owns most of the art museums in the city.

Malghar Caldwell - charred corpse found near Guildhall entrance in BG3

Wyllyck Caldwell - aging patriarch of the Caldewells circa 1482 (was in his 70's then, 10 years before BG3), well regarded among patriars and commoners. His wife, Abelea, used his alchemical discoveries to significantly increase their wealth. He was a former political rival of Ulder Ravengard. (from Murder in Baldur's Gate)

Dluskers - "nearly broke", but own a textile mill in the Lower City and a few slaughterhouses in the Outer City.

Guinever Dlusker - younger sister of Norold Dlusker, married a Caldwell (from Murder in Baldur's Gate)

Norold Dlusker - disgraced patriarch of Dlusker family, was being investigated by then Duke Torlin Silvershield for ties to Guild (from Murder in Baldur's Gate)

Durinbolds - own vast herds of sheep. They are related to nobility in Waterdeep.

Lady Alia Durinbold - wood elf (noblewoman at Gortash's coronation)

Eltans - descended from the famous Grand Duke Eltan, who founded the Flaming Fist. They sold their stake in the mercenary company to pay off their own debts.

Duke Xeremiah Eltan - historic figure (from Baldur's Gate, mentioned in dialogue in BG3)

Eomanes - owns whale- and fish-oil factories to produce lamp oil, along with the most elite perfumery in Baldur's Gate.

Nysene, Dolandre, Rusorra, & Trenteller Eomane - (from Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus) Nysene (lawful evil human female) is known for tricking lower-born people by inviting them to a party, convincing them to stay in the Eomanes' manor until after curfew, then giving them a choice: be kicked out so they get arrested for violating Upper City curfew (to spend" a night in the Citadel's cells or worse"), or allow her and her friends to "make cruel sport of them until they can escape at daybreak". Her siblings find it all embarrassing and unworthy of a patriar, but don't care enough stop her because her victims are all social inferiors. They're more interested in their own "scandalous masked revels" to pay attention to her or realize the extent of her sadism. Apparently Nysene's "games" have attracted the attention of the local Banites as possibly worth cultivating ties to her.

Lord Sarken Eomane - human male (nobleman at Gortash's coronation, mentioned in Vulnerable Patriars)

Exeltises— merchant family that made a fortune on Exeltis Ice Wine made only in the family's vineyards west of Daggerford. By the late-14th century DR, the family was in decline, and now in the 15th isn't even mentioned among the other patriars.

Gists - production of various dyes

Lord Haverford Gist - (mentioned in To Lord Haverford Gist)

Leander Gist - painting created by Oskar that became possessed by a poltergeist

Guthmeres - owners of a Baldurian butchery along with a number of tanneries.

Lady Eshvelt Guthmere - human female (noblewoman at Gortash's coronation) just wants someone to stop Absolute

Hhunes - Originally from Tethyr, the Hhune family married into the Baldurian patriar. They have strong ties within the secretive Knights of the Shield, and own holdings in other major cities.

Blaise & Gheris Hhune - werewolf servants of Cazador (meet in BG3) dev notes say they're brothers

Fridrik Hhune - (mentioned on Dolor's hit list)

Hurlbut Hhune - father of Henrietta, broke her relationship with a Fist Manip and arranged a marriage to fellow patriar Derque Rillyn (mentioned in dialogue in BG3)

Henrietta Hhune - daughter arranged to marry (mentioned in dialogue in BG3)

Lutecia Hhune - lawful evil human female (from Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus) A widow who presides over the Hhune manor in Manorborn, where the Shield of the Hidden Lord had been hidden before it was stolen by the Vanthampurs. She has no children but estranged siblings she's looking to avoid passing the estate to, and has asked the librarians of High Hall to scour the genealogies to find distant relations she can choose instead. The Guild has taken an interest to influence and/or forge a genealogy. Lutecia is served by a cambion named Kaddrus, who takes the form of a much younger, "strikingly handsome" man.

Satiir Thione-Hhune - neutral evil human female (from Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus) A member of the Hhunes who married into another, wealthy family. She'd been taken prisoner by the Vanthampurs to be leverage in case they found out who had stolen then Shield of the Hidden Lord. Satiir was a member of the Knights of the Shield, and if released, tells her family who stole it and ensures the Vanthampurs are politically ruined.

Hlaths - own cafés and great gambling debts

Lord Orthagon Hlath - (nominal head of family, mentioned in The Patriar Blackmail Files) - BG3

Merrigold Hlath - (practical head of family, mentioned in The Patriar Blackmail Files) - BG3

Holiday Hlath - (Orthagon's grand-neice and heir, mentioned in The Patriar Blackmail Files) - BG3

Hullhollyns - owns a fleet of merchant ships. They have a trading truce with the Irlentrees.

Admiral Peil Hullhollyn - human male (nobleman at Gortash's coronation) approves of Gortash, respectful of Ravengard

Lady Winstra Hullhollyn - human female (noblewoman at Gortash's coronation) not fond of Ravengard

Irlentrees - merchants as well, and notable members of the city's Merchant's League

Gilbert Irlentree - painting found in Oskar's studio

Jannaths - owners of tin and copper mines, and once sat a Grand Duchess upon the Council of Four.

Duchess Liia Jannath (historic, from Baldur's Gate) Grand Duchess and founder of the Jannath patriar line

Lady Firelia Jannath - human female (meet in BG3) Oskar's wife

Lord Raylen Jannath - human male (nobleman at Gortash's coronation, mentioned in Political Influence Plan and Vulnerable Patriars)

Lady Wisteria Jannath - (had affair with Gortash, mentioned in Perfumed Days, Passionate Nights, SPOILER: "Wisteria" is Lady Jannath's middle name. /SPOILER)

Jhasso - named after the Baldurian merchant who helped found the long-standing Seven Suns Trading Coster. They are now part owners of the coster, which is currently struggling financially.

Klim Jhasso - neutral evil male human (from Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus) Found being held and tortured by Banites in a hidden dungeon under a bathhouse in the city, captured after his bodyguard was killed. May be alive or dead based on player choice. Promises players will be rewarded by his family for saving him, but is lying. His mother is dead, father is sick, and three younger siblings would rather he died so they can get his share of the inheritance. (None of his family members are named.) The trading coster (grocery, basically) that his family co-owns is failing, so they can't afford to pay anything.

Linnacker - hold investments in other lands; their main source of income is from their gem mines in Tethyr.

Fariza Linnacker - Ruth's granddaughter (mentioned in Political Influence Plan)

Flaev Linnacker - charred corpse found near Guildhall entrance in BG3

Lady Ruth Linnacker - human female (noblewoman at Gortash's coronation)

Mssr. Rewth Linnacker - (mentioned in Art Show Schedule) note: probably not the same person as Ruth; Mssr. means Monsieur, a masculine honorific

Miyars - ties to the Merchant's League, control many businesses related to the repair and resupply of wagons that come into the city

Nurthammases - own businesses that supply ships, readying them for long trips at sea

Oathoons - import quality wines and fine spirits into the city.

Martnev Oathoon - (mentioned in Past Due Invoice and Final Delivery) works at Durinbold & Oathoon as a Valued Customer Disciplinarian

Oberons - own many of the dry docks situated within Gray Harbor

Lady Freida Oberon - human female (noblewoman at Gortash's coronation)

Lady Harette Oberon - (mentioned in Art Show Schedule)

Ulis Oberon - charred corpse found near Guildhall entrance in BG3

Portyrs - maritime shipping, investing, and trading

Duke Dillard Portyr - human male (Duke at Gortash's coronation) In Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus, it says that Dillard used to be a respected businessman, but after a string of bad investments, and losing two wives and all three sons, he has no desire to deal with conflict or anything stressful. He lives alone and comforts himself with his wealth and luxuries. He does seem to have a good relationship with his niece, Liara, who he kept correspondences with during her deployment to Chult. The text describes him as easily manipulated in politics, and being well-meaning but ineffectual: "He is known for listening with concern, showing an earnest desire to help, making promises to look into things, and then doing nothing." He was against Ravengard going to Elturel, worrying about what the Fists would do without him, but no one cared what he had to say.

Liara Portyr lawful evil human female (from Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus, met in BG3, mentioned in Flaming Fist New Recruit Booklet, Investigation Priorities, Letter of complaint, Political Influence Plan, Skeletons in Patriar Closets, White Bishop - Orders, White Knight - Orders, and White Pawn - Orders) In Descent Into Avernus, it says she was recalled from Chult by her uncle Dillard to get the Fist under control while Ravengard was away. She hoped to take Ravengard's position as his successor, but also "clings to the hope he's still alive." She "strongly" encouraged players to save him and Elturel if at all possible, ensured they were rewarded for having dealt with the Vanthampurs, and gave them horses and a cart full of supplies to do so. She then works to get the Gate's security under control. In BG3, based on all the places she's mentioned, it seems she's done her best to fulfill that goal — even if it's just to ensure the Flaming Fists' reputation isn't smeared. It also seems she's not terribly ideological about what help she takes to get it done, but at least keeps up appearances of it being about justice.

Provosses - previously well-off, but became near-destitute after the loss of their cattle herds

Lady Beatrice Provoss - human female (noblewoman at Gortash's coronation)

Raddles - Note: Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus is the only place I've seen mention the Raddle family.

Mentioned in Descent into Avernus as being a dead house whose last heir died "several years ago", but that a member of the Guild called The Whiskey Lady pretends to be the "Dowager Raddle", supposedly one of the last of the family and operating out of the Raddle manor in the Manorborn district. No one actually knows the name of this "Dowager", because to ask is admitting that one doesn't know their name, a major social faux pas.

Ravenshades - trading inks, dyes, precious gems and fine jewelry

Archibald Ravenshade - painting of what looks like an elf with a beard, found in Oskar's studio and captioned "A master of sonnets and plays about ambition, supernatural tensions with the natural world, avarice, love, and moving bushes." Given that elves can't grow facial hair, the figure must be a half-elf.

Lord Myer Ravenshade - "human" male but has dwarf model (nobleman at Gortash's coronation)

Redlocks - Mentioned in Descent into Avernus as secretly financing piracy and smuggling.

Morgan Redlock - (the only Redlock I've found so far) mentioned when examining a bust in Gortash's office as a woman who married a man three times her age. After the wedding, he had a heart attack, and she took his merchant ships and turned them into a pirate fleet.

Rillyns - once known as wise investors and moneylenders, the Rillyns used guild-sponsored enforcers to collect their debts. Since losing much of their fortune, Yvandre Rillyn has restored their reputation and finances by running a sword-wielding school.

Clerebold Rillyn - cousin of Derque Rillyn (mentioned in My Dear Madame Nortale, painting of same name in Oskar's studio)

Derque Rillyn - cousin of Clerebold Rillyn, new fiancée of Henrietta Hhune, called "a major arsehole" by a Fist Manip (mentioned in dialogue in BG3 and in My Dear Madame Nortale)

Duver Rillyn - werewolf servant of Cazador (meet in BG3)

Gothric Rillyn - thief buried in the graveyard by the "Stone Lord" (meet in BG3)

Lord Hir Rillyn - father of Derque, Committee Chair of "The Committee of Concerned Patriars" (mentioned in Vulnerable Patriars, My Dear Madame Nortale, and Invitation to Lord Gortash)

Yvandre Rillyn - true neutral female human (from Candlekeep Mysteries: the Scrivener's Tale and Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus) A former Flaming Fist who opened a sword-wielding school in a guest house on her estate in the Upper City's Manorborn District. She is the current head of the Rillyn family. She worked to bring the Rillyns back after her uncle, Machil, spent the family fortune. According to Descent into Avernus, the Rillyn School is "about to graduate its first class of students", which it also says have studied there at least five years and have gained her approval. Apparently she is selective about who she allows in as students, which has caused some grudges against the Rillyns for the "humiliation". (It seems likely that this means other patriars, who would be insulted that a fellow patriar would refuse to allow their connections or money to buy admittance.)

Sashenstars - one of the city's most well-known patriar families, own shipping, mining and textile businesses and are members of the Merchant's League

Lady Silifrey Sashenstar - human female (noblewoman at Gortash's coronation) old woman unimpressed with Gortash

Ser Yarrick Sashenstar - (mentioned in Art Show Schedule)

Shattershields - the only non-human patriar family, shield dwarves whose ancestors built Balduran's famous city wall.

Lord Rugger Shattershield - gold dwarf male (nobleman at Gortash's coronation)

Silvershields - very wealthy family that has seated multiple Grand Dukes

Duke Entar Silvershield - (historic, from Baldur's Gate) former Grand Duke

Alana Silvershield - (from Murder in Baldur's Gate) middle daughter of Torlin and Evelyn Silvershield

Entar Silvershield III - (from Murder in Baldur's Gate) son and youngest child of Torlin and Evelyn Silvershield

Skie Silvershield II - (from Murder in Baldur's Gate) eldest daughter of Torlin and Evelyn Silvershield

Torlin Silvershield - true neutral human male (from Murder in Baldur's Gate) Former Grand Duke and high priest of Gond who became a Chosen of Bhaal and brought about the god's resurrection in 1482

Tillerturns - prominent landowners, owning and leasing property in the city, able to trace their lineage back to the original four Dukes that founded Baldur's Gate

Ernest Tillerturn - name of a painting found in Oskar's studio

Lord Milon Tillerturn - human male (nobleman at Gortash's coronation) excited but unsure about Gortash

Vammases - controls much of the trade between Baldur's Gate and the ports of Chult

Lord Randolph Vammas - human male (nobleman at Gortash's coronation) approves of Gortash

Vannath - recently married into the patriar after fleeing Neverwinter following the destruction of the city after the eruption of Mount Hotenow

Vanthampurs - raised to patriar due to Thalmara Vanthampur's successes of civic engineering

Amrik Vanthampur - lawful evil human male (from Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus) The second son of Thalamra Vanthampur and her favorite. A 33 year old man with ear-length, black hair, beard and mustache and dark eyes. He had a money-lending business on the side, and used his family's name to hire thugs to rough up the gamblers who couldn't pay back his exploitative loans. Amrik is basically a dagger-wielding rogue, described as "a practiced liar" who will blame everything on his younger brother, Mortlock, if given a chance or if not, use his mother's name to try to wiggle out of trouble. He can be killed by players in Descent into Avernus, and I've found no mention of him in BG3. If he or any of his family is allowed to live by the players, one of the Flaming Fists promises to ensure they're "hunted down and punished".

Carnelia Vantampur - Peer met at Guild (meet in BG3)

Lady Haeril Vanthampur - (mentioned in Vulnerable Patriars)

Mortlock Vanthampur - lawful evil human male (from Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus) The third and least favorite son of Thalamra. He's a 29 year old, tall, bald, muscular man with heavy burns across the left side of his face. His mother tolerates him, but his brothers hate him, think he's a stupid abomination and conspire to have him assassinated. If the players save him, he tells them everything he knows about his mother's plot and leaves Baldur's Gate as soon as possible. He's stated to have boarded a ship, with no intention of ever coming back.

Duke Thalamra Vanthampur - lawful evil human female (from Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus, mentioned in The Dukes of Baldur's Gate, deceased) She was in her late 60's during Descent into Avernus. She'd had three husbands, all dead, and had one son by each. Her second son, Amrik, is her favorite. She considers her first son to be the smartest, but unsuited to be her successor. She doesn't care about her youngest son, Mortlock, and would have had him killed if she hadn't promised his father on his deathbed that she'd take care of the boy. When she was young, she'd been a manual laborer in the city's sewers, then rose to be the Master of Drains and Underways — a minister of sewers and waterworks. Eventually she was elected as a Duke. She was also a devil worshiper and warlock (Zariel is explicitly stated to be her patron) with a temple to Zariel built under her house. She orchestrated events to force Ulder Ravengard to leave for Elturel on a diplomatic mission, knowing it was going to fall to Avernus, so her plans to pull Baldur's Gate into the Hells would be easier. She is also stated as willing to die — or "happily" watch her sons be killed — instead of surrendering, though she does try to escape first. BG3's canon has her dead.

Thurstwell Vanthampur - lawful evil human male (from Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus, mentioned in Post House Delivery Complaints) The first son of Thalmara Vanthampur, who she doesn't consider fit to be her successor. He's called "a pale and sullen recluse in his forties," "frail and hateful", who is "sickly" and resentful of his brothers — Morlock for being a "monstrous dolt" and Amrik for being the favorite, despite Thurstwell being "supposedly the smartest of her sons". He uses imps to spy on both his brothers, but won't move against Amrik for fear of making his mother angry. He is basically an evil cleric, who whines about his guards' failures if he's taken captive. Given his mention in Post House Delivery Complaints, which is stated to be turned to the most recent page, he may still be alive in BG3's canon. One interesting thing is that the Post House note has him asking "Do you know who my parents are?" Parents, plural, even though his father is stated to be dead. That could be taken to mean his father was in important person, and that Thurstwell might be close to the father's family. If Thurstwell survived and was "hunted down and punished" by the Fists, it's possible the unnamed father's family may have gotten him out of trouble.

Varri Vanthampur - (mentioned on Dolor's hit list, and inscription on the gravestone you can find in Candulhallow's Tombstones shop, reading: "Varri Vanthampur. Unwanted in life, welcomed in death.", deceased)

Whitburns - own a slate quarry east of the city

Lady Madeline Whitburn - human female (noblewoman at Gortash's coronation, mentioned in Vulnerable Patriars and I Have a Serious Complaint!) Likely the "mother-in-law" mentioned by the elven Lady Whitburn below. Apparently her husband's name is Whit Whitburn, if the I Have a Serious Complaint note is using his real name.

Lady Whitburn - (met in BG3) high elf wife of Lord Whitburn, found looking for a hat shop with her husband in the Lower City and congratulating herself for visiting the area and not being a "snob" like her mother-in-law

Lord Whitburn - (possibly mentioned in Donation Record and Draft Letter to Lord Whitburn) human husband of elven Lady Whitburn, found looking for a hat shop with his wife in the Lower City, "keeping his finger on the pulse" of the city and spending his inheritance money

Important non-patriars

Lord Petric Amber - wood elf (found in Gortash's coronation)

Lady Haeril Birch - high elf (found in Gortash's coronation)

Duke Ulder Ravengard / Wyll Ravengard

Duke Brelynne Stelmane (deceased, mentioned in dialogue)

Gov't Officials:

Preserve in the face of pain. Heal the sick, the wounded, and the diseased. Comfort the dying, the grief-stricken, and the heartsick. Take on the burdens and 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. Share and give counsel and listen whenever needful. Be a comfort and a support. Stand up for the oppressed, guide the lost, and give food, water, medicines, firewood, clothing, and shelter to all in need and burial to those beyond mortal need. Life is sacred and suffering is holy, but “life” implies the freedom to make bad choices or embrace danger and hurt; thus, seek not to control what others do. Sacrifice and know pain and loss on behalf of others, but do not indulge in the sin of enjoying pain, benefiting from your sufferings, or seeking revenge primarily to inflict more pain. - Ilmater’s Dogma

Holy symbol: Ilmater’s Bound Hands, A pair of white hands bound at the wrists with red cord. Before the Time of Troubles his symbol was a torturer’s rack, upon which the god himself was martyred upon, stained with his blood.

Sacred colours: Grey and red Sacred animals: White doves, white donkeys, sparrows, field mice Sacred plants: White roses, daisies Sacred stones: N/A Sacred monsters: Devas, Planetars and Solars

Worship

O Holy Ilmater, O Crying God, Succorer of Tyr the Blinded God, who suffered for us upon the rack, friend to the oppressed, aid us your children now... - A prayer to Ilmater

‘I met a mighty warrior on the road. Her sword was shattered, her face was scarred, and she carried with her a bloody saddle. I offered her a ride in my cart, but she graciously declined, saying that she had to walk the path Ilmater had set before her. Within her eyes burned a fire the likes of which I’ve never seen. This warrior, I imagined, had fought horrors that would crush the spirit of any common man.’ - Champions of Valor

Ilmater is the ancient Calishite god of martyrdom, compassion, and the alleviation of suffering in all its forms (and obviously his faith spread far outside of his ancestral lands). His legends tell of him offering himself up to torture to spare others, and he is invoked by those in physical and emotional pain to ask him to share the burden of their suffering, known as ‘embracing [the pain] with Ilmater.’

While Ilmatari and Loviatans overlap somewhat in their doctrine of drawing strength from suffering, they can be easily distinguished by the fact that those who favour Loviatar learn to take enjoyment from their pain, work on overcoming their aversion to pain and suffering, and utilise pain offensively, while Ilmatari take a more defensive role in their approach to suffering and ‘hate, fear, or are repelled or sickened by pain, but undergo it anyway.’ Ilmatari take pride in undergoing pain and will inflict it on themselves, but they are not to enjoy it.

To outsiders, the Ilmatari appear to be the ultimate masochists; you could say they’re gleefully throwing themselves at anything and everyone that will harm them, but they’re not even enjoying it. They just seem desperate to die on somebody’s behalf. Many view them with contempt and pity, partially because of the former description and some because the Ilmatari are viewed as throwing their lives away for nothing (the world is not going to get better). Nevertheless, the Ilmatari faith has one of the largest clergies of any faith on Toril and they are the first place the common people turn. Ilmater’s boundless compassion is legendary, and people of all backgrounds and alignments pray to Ilmater when suffering befalls them. All who die martyrs for the sake of a good cause have the right to go to Ilmater in death, if they chose.

Of all the faiths his in the most healing focused. No other priesthood can match them for ‘size, number and level of treatment in the many infirmaries and leper sanctuaries they maintain.’ They provide free healthcare, for the most part, though they do charge modest fees for the provision of ointments and prosthetic limbs and other disability aids. They also provide mental health care, being available as therapists and community support groups for anyone who is struggling with something and needs somebody to talk to. Certain herbs and spells may also be utilised for relief in some cases of severe mental illness, and if the individual is direly stressed then they will be taken to the nearest congregation for more organised aid.

They are also heavily invested in social justice, focusing on healing larger sources of pain opposing and ending wars, slavery and feuds; ensuring a fair and uncorrupted economy; and fighting against oppression on all axes (gender, class, race, fantasy race), often in cooperation with other priests of the Triad and sometimes Lathanderites.

Ilmater and his followers enjoy great popularity, both with the common people to whom his followers dispense charity and with the nobles who seek to avoid both losing money and facing angry revolutionary ideas by supporting the clergy who keep the common people healthy and less distressed. He is, in some senses, a patron of protests and those defending the right of the people against tyranny and oppression. They also tend to have a high turnover rate, as Ilmatari are eternally placing themselves in the line of fire and risking their lives against dangerous people. There is some stigma against harming Ilmater’s faithful (whether that be morals or the simple pragmatism of not killing people who might help you later who don’t have anything worth taking), but there are a great many dangers in the world who absolutely do not care. Loviatans in particular will seek them out for the purposes of killing them.

Ilmater’s clergy tend to be the first or second choice of drop off point for orphaned or unwanted children (assuming due to the nature of the tragedy (plague, drowning, etc) an evil god doesn’t call dibs). Temple foundlings are raised in the faith with the hope of them growing up to be priests and are not the most sheltered children in the world. Apparently by the time they’re discovering puberty for the first time they will be well acquainted with the ills of the world and have Seen Some Shit. His religious iconography, so focused on suffering and horrific injuries, typically gives Faerûnian children their nightmares growing up (for which the god feels guilty).

As faithful of the Triad, the faithful of Ilmater are to embrace the followers of Tyr and Torm as siblings of faith and honour Ilmater’s divine brothers. The union of the three faiths goes back almost 2000 years.

A good Ilmatari shuns material wealth and the faith considers envy a sin. They must forgive their enemies always, for it is said that ‘Ilmater would forgive Loviatar herself if she repented of her cruelty,’ and one should strive to emulate him.

When praying to Ilmater one initiates the prayer using one’s right arm to touch their chest four times to make the shape of the rack upon which the Crying God was martyred. One then crosses their arms across their chest in the same shape as the holy symbol, as though their wrists were bound, gazes upwards and makes their prayer. Some prayers – presumably the bigger ones - involve intentional suffering as an offering, engaging in periods of abstinence from pleasures one craves or by causing oneself harm (such as burning oneself with candle-flame or washing wounds with saltwater while praying).

A briefer prayer, to ward off harm, is simply to do the crossed-arm motion.

Ilmater has six standardised ritual prayers every day (minimum) attended at services at the local temple or shrine. Not including any prayers aimed at saints. Ilmater has no holy days or festivals himself, but the dates of the births, miracles and martyring of his saints may be observed.

The Ilmatari faith is one of the few faiths that has saint veneration, consisting of over 50 saints, all known as ‘the Blessed [of Ilmater]’ who are specific to certain vocations, locations, events, etc etc. Each realm has its own canon of saints who are not typically venerated outside of their homelands. Calimshan boasts the majority, as the origin of the Ilmatari faith. As far north as the Sword Coast the roster of saints gets rather thin at eight saints, all of whom founded monasteries in the region, as is the usual for Ilmatari monastic orders. Unlike other faiths that do venerate saints, his saints are openly venerated and their existence is common knowledge, rather than being mystery cults within the Church.

Named saints include:

St. Natan, a prince and paladin who died saving his newborn son against three wereboars. Seems to be associated with the protection of children, and the temple built in his memory (as per his will) serves as an orphanage and school.

St. Dobla, of Calimshan. A former jhasina (concubine) who was beaten to death by her master and canonised. Patron saint of women, and possibly sex workers.

St. Fanal, patron of history as a discipline, schools and libraries. St. Amahl, patron saint of desert nomads.

St. Sollas the Twice-Martyred, first of the Twice-Martyred saints, who – as the name implies - died and then came back and martyred themselves again.

St. Araz, a saint of the North who is associated with crafts and smithing

St. Aralthar ‘the Unbroken’

St. Corin, a Tethyrian saint (the realm, not the ethnicity)

St Ostus, another Tethyrian saint associated with learning.

St Laeran, a saint of the Dragon Coast associated with combat and war in some fashion.

St Dyonasis of the Veil, a Demarran saint and winemaker who was martyred freeing slaves.

St. Uzurr

St. Jasper ‘of the Rocks’

St. Daranna

St. Ulrach the Twice-Martyred

St. Morgan the Taciturn

St. Persaadon

(Realms authors recommend making up new OC saints as needs require).

Ilmatari are to serve as a voice for the words of the oppressed when they are too afraid to speak on their own behalf, and then bear the repercussions for them. They stockpile food, clothes and medicines so that they will always have these on hand whenever they encounter somebody in need of it, and are always to offer their shelter to the homeless.

Phrases:

Invoking Ilmater’s name, when done with respect involves appending ‘blessings to his name’ immediately afterwards or referring to him as ‘martyred Ilmater’.

‘...martyred Ilmater willing.’

For funerals: ‘Long and well has our [sibling] served Ilmater, and now the Crying God has called [them] home,’

Priesthood

Ilmatari priests – known as the Adorned Sufferers, or simply the Adorned – can be divided into three categories: the Healers, the Painbearers, and the Sanctars.

Healers are the main body of the faith and focus on administering to the common folk, often in slums, hospices and other places the desperate can be found.

Painbearers – Ilmater’s hand-picked specialty priests – focus on larger systematic sources of suffering, travelling Faerûn under Ilmater’s guidance working against war, slavery, systems exploting specific categories of people (class, race, gender, etc). They have superhuman abilities to work physically unhindered while in pain (no matter how much agony they’re feeling) and can go 10 days per level without eating and drinking (‘Such painbearers are wracked by hunger pangs, but that is to be expected in this faith.’ Faiths & Avatars). They can remove emotional suffering (fear, physical pain, nausea, hopelessness, etc) through physical contact with the sufferer. Once per day they may communicate directly with Ilmater, and while suffering extreme suffering he may send a celestial to possess their body and endure their suffering for them (their physical form will endure no damage).

The most trusted of Ilmater’s Painbearers also have access to an offensive spell which doesn’t necessarily do that much damage but does leave the target in debilitating agony.

Sanctars are basically unknown outside of the clergy, responsible for the internal policing of the Church. They are responsible for ensuring none of the Adorned abuse their positions, rooting out corruption, settling interfaith conflicts and legal issues, and they are also the military arms of the faith that guard the faithful from harm, dissuade those who would harm them and persecute those who do inflict harm upon Ilmater’s faithful – such as the monks of the Order of the Broken Ones, or the paladins of the Companions of the Noble Heart. Other Adorned endure their suffering, the Sanctars will only endure it for as long as it takes to kick your ass.

Some believe that it is Ilmater’s will that wealth be redistributed from the wealthy to be shared and alleviate the world’s suffering, and may occasionally engage in a little espionage or maaaaybe a little crime towards the aim of making it so. Ilmater apparently hasn’t said anything to dissuade them thus far.

Painbearers and Sanctars are the Adorned most often found working arm in arm with the clergy of the Triad and the Lathanderites (to further a happier, fairer society and spread hope and strength amongst the people).

Ilmatari are held to a few oaths when they join the faith: a vow of poverty (whatever wealth they accumulate they must give 70% of it to the nearest temple or shrine), and - with the exceptions of a few, mostly those in the military orders – a vow of non-violence (‘abjuration of the shedding of blood’), and some take a vow not to be resurrected if they die before their time (this may or may not be optional, I’m unsure).

The expectation is that an Ilmatari’s death will be an act of martyrdom. Exceptions who return to life and continue their holy work and martyr themselves again become saints, known as the Twice-Martyred. The Twice-Martyred are recipients of multiple blessings; their capacity to endure suffering is supernatural and they are capable of speaking directly to Ilmater himself and receiving responses.

Some churches, such as the Comyrean church, demand a vow of chastity as well, though such vows are not universal in the faith. In some denominations that vow is optional, and in others it doesn’t exist. A temporary oath of celibacy may also be enforced upon clergy as punishment for straying from Ilmater’s teachings. As a mater of doctrine, the Ilmatari don’t see sexuality as immoral or themselves purer for avoiding it, but they do see sex and romance as potential distractions from their work, and so some of them avoid it. For others the suffering that comes with self-denial also counts as a form of worship.

Priests pray for their spells first thing upon waking in the morning, plus the standard six minimum daily services. Adorned clerics may not use bladed or piercing weapons, being trained only with blunt weapons like quaterstaves, whips and scourges.

The Adorned are not to fear death, for suffering for the sake of others is the holiest act of all, and through martyrdom Ilmater will give them an afterlife better than anything the mortal realm could match. They are to give aid to all who need it, whoever they are and whatever their circumstances. They are to oppose every injustice they encounter and never stop working towards their cause, when it is just. There is no reason to fear repercussion to one’s self in a faith that hinges upon martyrdom.

Punishment for transgression against one’s oaths can be quite severe: ‘A paladin of Ilmater who rebuffs a frightened old man’s request for help might be tasked to take on the floggings of an entire prison full of murderers.’ Others have been subjected to solitary confinement for their crimes, being sent into exile and forced to live as hermits. Ilmatari have prisons intended for such purposes, one of which is the tiny island known as Falconrise.

When disaster of some kind is on the horizon - war, for example - the priests will begin stockpiling and preparing emergency aid. Splints, liters, tents, wagons loaded with medicines and food and etc, ready to be distributed from temples and shrines.

While typically found in slums, the Ilmatari make regular visits to the nice parts of town to politely harass the wealthy and highborn for donations for the needy – which the sensible residents will give them.

Every one of the Adorned is obligated to convince the dying to accept Ilmater’s blessings, convert to his worship and pray to him as they expire in a ritual called the Turning, in the belief that this prayer of suffering and veneration beyond the veil of death will strengthen their god’s healing powers.

As the life of Ilmater’s faithful is so taxing upon their mental health, priests may petition the god for the Plea of Rest, or simply a Rest: a tenday where they are given leave from his service and their vows to relax and enjoy life. Some Ilmatari notably use this pause on their vow of non-violence to fight and assassinate abusers and oppressors they see no peaceful means of removing without bloodshed and violence. In exceptional circumstances the faithful – sometimes even non-clergy – and their companions are granted direct succour by their god as Ilmater intervenes to protect them and transports them to a divine space known as the Weeping Gardens, part of his home on Mt Celestia – the larger part of which will not be open to them until they die and join him in the afterlife. How frequently this occurs and what happens is vague, as those who have been rarely reveal the sacred experience.

What is known is that a garden path appears before the Ilmatari, no matter where they are, and walking down it will lead to the garden. The garden features a fountain of clean water and many fruit-bearing trees which are as filling and nutritious as a full meal; the weather always sunny with a cool breeze, and those present in the garden cannot experience suffering. Time does not pass, and the guest/s can spend as long as they like there before returning to the spot whence they came back through the gateway. Also there’s eight stone statues of people weeping and being utterly desolate, but who are we to criticise our host’s landscaping choices?

Ilmatari priests practice self-mutilation and mortification of the flesh in order to offer their suffering up to Ilmater, understand his suffering, and generally thus better understand and serve his doctrine. These are called 'Sufferings', which I haven't seen much explanation of the hows and whys but seem to mark some kind of rite of passage. For example:

'[Althea the Abased, new leader of the temple of the House of the Broken God] was bound onto a rack and dragged behind mules from one temple or shrine of Ilmater to another, all up and down the Sword Coast. She was to be struck "once, but vigorously" with a consecrated threshing flail by a nonbeliever whenever the mules were rested.' - Prayers from the Faithful

Sufferings can kill or permanently disable the priests, Althea was noted to survive many Sufferings but 'won from them countless scars, misshapen half-healed bones, and the need to walk with two canes'.

There is a small movement of radicals that adhere to the slightly heretical belief that rather than engaging in the pointless self-perpetuating cycle of enduring others’ sufferings for them that it is better to teach people to endure their own suffering by helping them through their troubles and teaching coping strategies. Adherents to this belief are called the alleviators. They are still technically considered legitimate members of the faith by the main church, which is more than can be said for those who believed in this creed to the extreme; the Cult of Shared Suffering was a heresy that believed that suffering should be spread throughout Faerûn and directly inflicted upon people to be better understood and was immediately and harshly disowned by Ilmater and his priests.

The belief of the Weeping Friars, another cult within the Ilmatari, is that there is a finite amount of suffering in existence and that the faithful should strive to collect it all and suffer it themselves for the world. They take cash and other offerings if you've got some kind of suffering coming up and would rather they experience it for you (alcohol is also good).

Hierarchy and initiation

Ilmatari have a loose hierarchy usually centred around the leadership of a single senior priest based out of the nearest monastary or temple in the area. The head priest of a temple or abbey is addressed as the Revered Mother/Father. Temples are walled compounds containing a chapel, a chapter house for the clerics, stable and garden, and usually a hospice. Some have seperate quarters for monks, as well as barracks for paladins, and sometimes libraries. Temples serve as way stations for any travellers in need of rest and care.

Aspirants who wish to pledge their lives to the service of Ilmater are introduced to a senior priest, who takes them for a walk while they calmly discuss the faith, and the aspirants life and motivation for joining. They are treated to dinner with the priests and – with their informed consent – drugged or enchanted into a sleep wherupon the priests will start magically examining their thoughts for lies and ulterior motives, as well as anything that would make them unsuitable for life in the service of the Crying God. The aspirant may refuse, at which point the interview ends and they will be sent home with no ill will. If all goes well the aspirant becomes a novice, titled Brother/Sister [name], to be trained in Ilmater’s dogma, rites, and also basically a medical student internship.

Initiated Ilmatari priests can be recognised by their solid grey uniform: either robes or a tunic, tabard and trousers – combined with a hair shirt underneath that rubs and irritates the skin. While administering in the field the hair shirt is on display, and etiquette in the midst of violence demands they be left unharmed and unharassed.

After finishing their training as novices and receiving their first cleric level from Ilmater they receive their holy symbol – the bound hands as a pin or a pendant placed over their heart – and their first skullcap, which is grey. Some Ilmatari also cut their hair or shave their head, some getting tonsures. Tattooing a grey teardrop beneath one eye is also a tradition, however it had mostly gone out of style by the 14th century. Senior clergy can be recognised by their blood-red skullcaps and are referred to as Revered Brother/Sister [name]. Novices and the recently initiated Adorned can be recognised by their boundless generosity and bright zeal to make a difference. Clerics who have gone through their first few years can usually be recognised by their general exhaustion, cynicism and propensity for gallows humour – sure marks of an Ilmatari.

Ilmatari priests do not serve Tyr and Torm directly, but they are expected to honour them and their teachings as well, and the syncretism goes deep enough that a few are also initiated as priests of the Triad as a whole. Those who find themselves drawn to such a path have usually been in a dilemma where they found themselves drawing from the teachings of another of the Triad, and began to expand their The feat involved with that is called ‘Mark of the Triad’ so I assume members get some kind of tattoo or something out of it. Some such believers may go on to join a knightly order (the Triadic Knights, not all paladins – clerics and monks are eligible) dedicated to eliminating the corruption of the Lower Planes resident on Toril, serving all three faiths and balancing three dogmas: ‘sometimes justice must be tempered by mercy; suffering must be alleviated through courage; or obedience must give way to what is right.’ (Champions of Valor) Those hoping to serve the Triad will be sent on a quest assigned by each of the three faiths, if they succeed then they are rotated through the different churches to learn the ways and doctrines of all three.

While travelling, Ilmatari dress appropriately to whatever they’re doing, and have no ban against armour, wearing over their gear grey tabards with Ilmater’s hands stitched over the left breast. They also take a fully stocked medicine bag wherever they go in case they find somebody in need of aid, and are trained in herbalism so that they can replenish their stocks on the go. Some do not bother with arms, simply wearing their uniform and carrying a wooden staff which may serve as defence (if they carry any weapon at all).

Of the sacred spells and arts of the Ilmatari faith (be they cleric, monk or paladin), carefully guarded and taught only to the faithful, most pretty much involve taking the pain and damage from another being and experiencing it for them. Others allow them to keep functioning as normal as their pain-wracked, literally dying body is giving out on them.

At level 7, an Ilmatari has served the Broken God loyally enough to be initiated into a deeper circle of the faith. What this involves is unknown, but it essentially gives a massive boost to their healing spells. They also gain the abilities: Favour of Ilmater, which when in use grants them endurance and immunity to charm and other mind control, pain and non-lethal damage, allowing them to continue to function perfectly normally at -1 to -9 HP (when they are effectively dying); Glory of the Martyr, which allows the cleric to bless several individuals, giving them a boost to their reflexes and saves while also causing the priest to take half of the damage inflicted upon them; Pact of Martyrdom allows the priest to exchange their health for another (swapping total HP).

Primarily healers of body and mind with a focus on passive endurance of their own suffering, most Ilmatari are not fighters of any sort and one who can fight is in the minority.

Orders

Rangers:

The Order of St. Faelar, founded in Calimshan (the original monastary was destroyed in an act of arson in 1370 DR, I don’t know if it’s been rebuilt), works to free slaves and trains them in wilderness survival and hiding outside of civilisation’s reach.

Monastic Orders: The abbeys of Ilmater’s monks are typically associated with but separate from the clerical abbeys and temples, although they do have contact and exchange theological perspectives and research or to serve as guardians for the pacifistic clerics. Many multiclass as clerics, some as paladins. With a few exceptions, monastic orders are associated with flowers with some symbolic meaning in their backstory. Many are also named for the saint who founded their order.

The Order of the Broken Ones The Broken Ones are one of the faith’s military arms; the guardians and defenders of the faith and one of those who actively engage in missions where they go out and punish those who inflict cruelty unto others.

The Order of St. Sollars the Twice-Martyred, also known as Monks of the Yellow Rose (for the monastery of the same name). Set out of Damara, in southern Faerun, they specialise in genealogy and are the most famous of Ilmaters monastaries.

The Order of St. Dobla Predominantly female, protectors of abused women and particularly enslaved women. They champion women’s rights where patriarchy exists.

Order of St. Dyonasis (sometimes spelt Dionysus, the Ilmatari ask that you not confuse their deeply revered saints with similarly named Greek Gods, they are tired of correcting planewalkers on this.) St. Dyonasis of the Veil was a freer of slaves in the 11th century. He was beheaded after giving himself up to spare the lives of slaves being killed to draw him out, and his murder sparked a slave uprising. The newly freed slaves founded a monastic order in his memory, and do enjoy the odd alcoholic party.

The Sisters of St. Jasper of the Rocks

The Followers of the Unhindered Path

The Disciples of St. Morgan the Taciturn

Order of St. Uzurr

Paladin Orders:

The sister orders of the Companions of the Noble Heart and the Order of the Golden Cup The Order of the Golden Cup is a defense-focused order, which defends the weak from predation and persecution while administering to the needy. They engage in combat only in defence. The Companions are a more proactive arm, which reacts to threats by going on the offensive and hunting them down. They’re often in conflict with Loviatans.

The Order of the Lambent Rose

The Holy Warriors of Suffering

The Knights of the Bleeding Shield

Sainthood

Sainthood is rare, occurring when a mortal sacrifices their life in significant service to their deity and their doctrine to the point where the god informs the clergy that this individual is to be revered as a minor divinity within the faith. Most deities don’t do this, as this detracts from the power they gain from veneration. Deities who do create saints usually have saints who serve as mystery cults, where adherents study the faith and earn the trust of the deity and the faithful as information is slowly filtered to them. Ilmater, not a god who cares about being powerful, openly declares his Blessed and they are common knowledge to the public.

Clerics may worship Saints as personal patrons alongside Ilmater, which grants them access to domains not normally associated with him (knowledge, war, nature, etc).

The majority of saints are dead, in the case of some faiths they might rise again as undead, but Ilmater does have one form of sainthood where the Blessed is alive.

The Twice-Martyred A twice martyred saint is one who has died a martyr and then willingly refused the eternal bliss and relief of the afterlife to come back and suffer for the sake of the living all over again, expecting yet another painful death on another’s behalf. Not all of them were members of the clergy prior to their death. Their holy status places them outside of the jurisdiction of the church and they answer only to Ilmater himself and, like Painbearers, he lends them his ear and speaks to them directly once a day.

The Twice-Matyred carry the blessings of Ilmater, while they still feel the needs of a living being they have no need to indulge them (they’re incapable of starving to death) and suffer all the pain of their bodies, they are supernaturally resilient.

Relics: Obviously there are the various relics associated with the saints, such as Dyonasis’ white veil and wine chalice.

Ilmater’s most holy relic is the Tome of Torment, given to the faithful by the god in 848 DR. It’s a six-inch thick book with a cover made of woven horse hair. The cover is the true relic, unfolding into a hairshirt which has a panel swern into the front and has sharp metal barbs woven into the insides. When a priest of Ilmater wears it - shredding their torso and irritating the wounds by rubbing them with horse hair – their pain activates the ‘tome’ and the front panel lifts its illusion to show the list of sacred spells of the faith embroidered onto it. This would not work for the faithful. By touching one of the names with a finger coated in blood, tears or holy water, the spell will reveal its instructions. It contains many miraculous spells and has triggered an interfaith holy war which led the faithful to decide that Ilmater meant for it to be in the hands of the humble, who would use it to aid the common man. It has been stolen repeatedly and as far as I know is still missing. There’s a reward for 400,000 gp for its return and those who bring the unimpressed priests forgeries in an attempt to claim the reward have been ‘introduced to the holy suffering of Ilmater’.

Other sacred tomes include the Book of the Holy Scourge, which summons magical whips that start attacking foes.

The Iron Helm of heroes is an ancient helmet that was consecrated to Ilmater in its crafting. An avatar of Ilmater – possibly possessing a mortal host playing martyr - died wearing it in combat with some great evil (Bhaal, according to some). The helm appears in random places and times all over Faerûn and imbues the wearer with powerful healing magics.

The mostly pacifistic nature of the Ilmatari will go out the window when a relic is out of the faithful’s hands. Stories of priests persistently harassing every passer by for news of it will fill the world and wherever there is sighting they will descend in droves. When they find somebody who has it they will be followed everywhere by an omnipresent flock of Ilmatari pestering them day and night to return it. If they try and destroy it or give it to one not of the faith the Ilmatari will turn violent and they are extremely willing to kill over it.

Naturally, Loviatans love stealing Ilmatari holy books and relics.

History: The faith dates back to the -7000s DR, a god of the human slaves of the elemental Calim empire and a member of the Coramshite pantheon. Ilmater remains a very popular god with the commoners of Calimshan and remains extremely popular as of the 15th century, after the efforts of a Chosen of Ilmater in building a slave resistance against the reoccupying Calim empire that returned during the Spellplague. Though the Chosen dissapeared those efforts were not in vain, and the slave rebellions ended with Calimshan’s freedom from their masters. If you’re looking for a pilgrimage, the most ancient and holy of Ilmater’s temples resides in Calimshan, in the 2200 year old city of Keltar; the House of the Broken God.

In -247 DR, when Tyr manifested on Toril for the first time and started the Procession of Justice, a crusade of human and celestial armies led by himself against the corruption of the human kingdom of Jhaamdath, Ilmater was impressed by Tyr’s ideals and acts of self-sacrifice and allied with him. They later adopted the human paladin turned new god Torm. When the Faerûnian pantheon formed the trio became known as the Triad.

While the faith is largely humble, they have been occasionally prone to interfaith holy warring.

In 1264 DR Father Archsufferer Bloirt Waelarn declared that all Ilmatari priests over in the Vilhom Reach were ‘degenerate heretics’ to be cast from the faith and directed a crusade at them leading to a war that saw four different paladin orders hacking at each other. After two years of conflict and three major battles (Holy Hill Farm , Bronsheir’s Charge and Weeping Rock) the war was ultimately declared a fucking stupid waste of life and all parties involved turned on Waelarn and sentenced him to a life in isolation.

The Cult of Shared Suffering arose shortly after the Time of Troubles and was another example, believed to be empowered by Loviatar or Cyric masquerading as Ilmater, they were denounced as heretics by the Church and caused outrage throughout the Realms through their constant violence and disorder, kidnapping people, torture, inciting riots… they’d been mostly stamped out by the joint efforts of secular and clerical efforts by 1372 DR, but managed to do some damage to the reputation of Ilmater’s faith in the meantime.

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Ilmater

Aliases: Ayuruk, Istishikopak (both on the Great Glacier) Epithets: The Lord on the Rack, the Crying God, the Broken God, the Rack-Broken Lord, the One Who Endures, Our Martyred Father Alignment: Lawful Good Portfolios: Suffering, Martyrdom, Endurance, Perseverance Cleric Domains: Life/Healing, Twilight, Good, Law, Charity, Endurance, Humility, Strength, Suffering, Temperance Groupings: The Faerûian Pantheon, the Triad Rank: Lesser (1e), Intermediate (2e, 3.5e) Favoured Weapons: None, Ilmater is always unarmed Usual Classes: Monk(35)/Cleric(32)/Paladin(20)/Wizard(18) | Monk(20)/Paladin(20)

Ilmater is a force of almost boundless patience, very little angers him save for those who inflict cruelty – and even these he would forgive if they sought to change, and he would seek to bring about this change in them without inflicting cruelty upon them. Ilmater never causes harm unless it is in retribution for cruelty.

If you do somehow push him that far he can be a force of terror. Notably, one of his more troublesome false priests once learnt this the hard way after his murder victim was brought back by Ilmater as an indestructible zombie that hounded the man everywhere he went until he collapsed from exhaustion, at which point said zombie choked him in his sleep and then gave them both a formal funeral pyre.

The god cares little for power, happy to honour his greatest martyrs and divide his worship with them and was content to spend most of his existence as a lesser deity until he found himself getting popular after the Time of Troubles.

He has been known to possess those being tortured and endure their suffering on their behalf, sometimes breaking the torture implements and possibly even punishing the torturer/s by healing the victim and granting them offensive spells to use for retribution with his express permission.

He is very gentle and protective of children, for all that he and his faith terrify the ever loving shit out of them.

Ilmater’s greatest allies are, of course, his brothers-in-arms Tyr and Torm.

His greatest enemies are the Dark Gods, holding a particular enmity with Loviatar over their mutual claim to suffering as worship and extremely different views on pain, its morality, and how it should be approached.

According to legend, if Bhaal didn’t invent Perytons then Ilmater did, which is highly concerning.

Servitors: Celestials (specifically the aasimon), hollyphants, mysterious unidentified beings (helpful description, F&A(!)) and the souls of martyrs turned into celestial servitors are his holy messengers. Or useless washed-up jaded police inspectors, as may be.

Manifestations: The most common of his manifestations involve strange portentous behaviours in white doves, white donkeys, sparrows and field mice, or the growth of daisies and white roses to comfort and encourage his faithful when they are struggling.

Ilmater’s avatar takes the form of a heavily injured burly human man with broken joints and smashed hands, dragging his wrecked body around in very obvious agony. He is balding, ‘homely’, very hirsute and covered in torture marks in various stages of healing ranging from scar to open wound. If attacked, Ilmater will likely do nothing but take the pain without complaint.

His more common, subtler direct manifestation usually involves the feeling of an invisible presence watching you; accompanied by the sound of somebody whimpering or screaming in pain, and sometimes the clearly tormented voice – aka Ilmater – will speak. He can also easily cast spells or move objects around with this manifestation.

Domain: Ilmater’s domain is Martyrdom, an open-air temple atop one of the trio of mountains surrounding Mt Celestia. The souls of his faithful cannot feel pain or fatigue of any kind, and enjoy an eternity of relaxation and comfort. Currently carved into a plinth at the centre of his temple is a memorial to Tyr, after the god’s temporary death during the Spellplague. It bears a stylised image of Tyr’s holy symbol and the words ‘Justice Endures.’

Selûne's orbit around Toril is almost in the same plane as Toril’s orbit around its sun, so solar and lunar eclipses are frequent. Solar eclipses are never annular (the sun's edge cannot be seen during totality) and almost never partial, because Selûne's shadow on Toril and Toril's shadow on Selûne are quite large. Eclipses are thus spectacular but rather commonplace. Inhabitants of any particular land do not always notice such eclipses, since the rising and setting times for Selûne wander across the calendar. Solar eclipses might briefly cause nocturnal beings to awaken, but they quickly return to sleep once daylight returns. - Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting

Rather than telescopes, most astrological observations come from spellcasters using scrying magic. I'm pretty sure I remember telescopes being mentioned, but even if they exist I guess divination magic is probably going to give better images.

The moon (Selûne) is big enough that you can usually see it in the daytime. The lunar phase takes 'thirty days, ten hours, and thirty minutes' to wax and wane (and presumably has more phases?). The Calendar of Harptos is deliberately constructed so that every month starts with a full moon, 'give or take a day or so.' Also new year is always marked by a full moon at midnight (hence the Feast of the Moon). We've also got the Tears of Selûne in orbit behind the moon,

The Tears act like any such bodies in a Trojan point, meaning that they do not stay in place but actually orbit around a common center in whirlpool fashion. Viewed from above, the Tears appear to be a very large disk of hundreds of assorted bodies, none of any remarkable size. Тһе Tears are visible as points of light like stars, too small for viewers to discern their actual shapes. The individual orbits of the Tears are not exactly coplanar with the orbit of Toril and Selûne, but they are close. As a result, their appearance in the night sky of Toril is that of a flattened ellipse of bright stars," trailing Selûne by sixty degrees across the sky, along the ecliptic.

And should anybody be writing something that involves characters observing the twilight hours:

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So, my understanding is that priests are people who enter the clergy (voluntarily or not) and learn the doctrines, how to perform rituals, etc., while clerics are basically people that a god points to and says "I want that one," and may not ever have or have had anything to do with the official clergy/religious hierarchy.

Everybody working at the temple doing the daily chores and dedicating themselves to a life of worship is a priest, but the priests in charge and the ones leading the rituals and speaking for the deity are the clerics (or druids). A cleric/druid does have to be part of the faith, and if a god wants this mortal as a cleric they’ll typically direct them towards the nearest actual cleric/druid and place of worship for that guidance and training. (Favoured/Divine Souls, as the spontaneous casters, are the annoying bastards who fuck up the hierarchy, but they’re rare. Don't need to follow the rules or pray for your god's power when you simply have it by existing.)

As far as I'm aware a god can't force a person to be a cleric/druid/paladin/ranger; divine magic requires some degree of faith and willingness to serve, even if for selfish reasons on the mortal end. They can bestow their power on a mortal, but the classes require a certain dedication. You can psychologically condition people into willingness though.

But to me, it seems like the clergy would have some process to establish that a person who claims to be a cleric of their god is actually legit.

For a random, already initiated priest you've never met before: Aside from a series of rites and secret handshakes or whatever - plus the assumption that few are going to be suicidal enough risk pissing off the gods - they do, it’s called asking the god.

The extremist cult mentioned in that other post happened during the Time of Troubles, so that wasn't exactly normal circumstances, but it seems like that sort of thing would be a concern all the time.

It kind of is is. Not even just enemy gods disguising themselves, but different religious leaders having different interpretations of the same deity.

I know the gods aren't supposed to directly meddle in each other's affairs, but it seems like some of them would try anyway if they thought they could get away with it. (Looking at you, Shar.) And I'm sure there are plenty of other entities that would deceive, brainwash or mind-control a mortal into thinking they're a cleric so they can slander a god. A truth-serum doesn't seem like it would be enough, because the person may genuinely believe it.

There’s a couple of factors, one being that pesky free will that mortals have to have, plus faith remains true to its definition (because even when gods are demonstrably real ‘I don’t need empirical evidence for what I believe in to believe in it’ still stands).

Even within a single faith there are heresies and splinter sects: worshipping their god in different ways, interpreting doctrine differently, and getting mad at each other over it.

The god then has a choice to make: cut off one of the sects, losing followers and power and leaving that sect to potentially be picked up by an enemy god who will empower them (possibly masquerading as them) but not causing disunity in the church or potentially altering their own nature; or empower both, maintaining their power (maybe creating a larger pool of potential worshippers with new avenues to the faith), but decentralising their power on Faerûn as the faith fragments, and potentially changing themselves as mortal faith ‘evolves’ them.

Sometimes gods treat heresies – even if they’re born of a masquerading enemy - as tests of faith for the misled mortal, or think they can get something out of it.

To be honest, I haven't been able to find much at all about where clerics fit in with the clergy.

They’re the authority, as handed to them from on high. The hands and eyes of the god upon the mortal realm in a way that a lesser priest is not. A cleric/druid is intimately and inextricably tied to their god; They have the god’s ear and speak and act for them, and the rest of the faith follow. A priest who isn’t a divine caster serves the temple and god out of faith, but doesn’t wield divine authority. It’s not quite the same thing, but imagine that the non-divine casters are volunteers helping the people running the place, and the divine casters have taken oaths and have to live according to a set of ecclesial laws the rest of the world doesn’t have to. I mean most clergy took rites and responsibilities, but nowhere near the level a divine caster did. Picture the difference between a fighter and the old fashioned LG paladin. Perhaps both may serve Tyr faithfully, but the paladin has a code, powers and mythos that the fighter doesn’t.

You don’t really get into the higher ranks of the clergy without divine casting.

But even beyond what the gods themselves feel about it, I imagine the clergy would want some verification process for anyone who would represent their faith.

They often – maybe always – do have that, assuming the god hasn’t singled you out for service in which case the clergy are getting sent divine omens that say ‘this is my new cleric/druid’ and then they shut up and do as they’re told or face divine punishment (clerics and druids are not to refuse their god’s commands).

If you’re just a standard acolyte looking to take vows and serve the faith, the Ilmatari have an example:

The senior priest takes you for a quiet walk where you discuss your views on life and your desire to join the faith, ending in a meal where you voluntarily allow yourself to be drugged into a trance where the priests will examine your mind for any ulterior motive or anything hidden that makes you unsuited to their life. If all goes well: welcome to the faith, if not tough luck.

There are also vetting processes for climbing the ranks, which both mortal tradition and the god is involved in: 'Clerics in the service of a god will advance only if they please the god, by remaining faithful to the god's rules and aims, and acting as the god wishes.'

Non-clerics usually fill the bottom ranks, maybe never prograssing past acolyte or having their own vows idk (non-divine caster priests are generally overlooked and recommended as npcs only). Ascending ranks usually means divine caster, and involves a greater level of study, rites to pass, and getting further and further involved with your god (meaning more loyalty required and harsher sentences for betrayal and failure). Spell levels 1-2 come from training, like wizards. 3-5 are being granted by divine servants and messengers of the deity (solars, elementals, fiends, etc). 6+ are coming straight from the god.

Priesthoods tend to be extremely secretive about their inner workings, a good example found in how they treat their holy books*: those are often warded to high hell to make sure the wrong people (alignment, religion, intentions...) can’t get near them, and will insist on putting outsiders that want to see them through an obstacle course of tests and tasks and then still want to stand to the side and watch the visitor like a hawk while they read, ready to act if they do anything sketchy or blasphemous.