The Ilmaterian faith is indeed full of contradictory behaviour, though I believe this could be said of almost all faiths. Faith, like all things is interpreted by the individual, and the words of dieties can oft be taken in many ways. There always tends to be extremists at both ends of the spectrum (ie. Those who apply the tennants of a faith as hard and fast rules, to the other end where there are those who use them to guide their actions or as a reassurance that perhaps their actions are guided), as well as being many who fall anywhere in between.
Though I do not think Ilmaterian are one of the hardest (personal opinion only)faiths to roleplay as their church seems fairly well structered, and as always strutuce allows us guidlines to direct our RP. (Unlikes other dieties like Shar who faithful seem to exist in more an emotional state than in one of pre-defined worship)
I have not seen Ilmaterians in any books, though I confess I do not read much (Many authors in FR I find weak at best). The best guide I found to their faith is the Information laid forth in the Faith and Panthenons guide. Below is the Dogma, which is possibly the most important things, as well as a few choice sentences that I found meaningful.
Dogma -
Help all who hurt, no matter who they are. The truly holy take on the suffering of others. If you suffer in his name, Ilmater is there to support you. Stick to your cause if it is right, whatever the pain or peril. There is no shame in a meaningful death. Stand up to all tyrants, and allow no injustice to go unchallenged. Emphasize the spiritual nature of life over the existence of the material body.
Extracts -
"Although he is slow to anger, the wrath of the Broken Diety is terrible in the face of extreme cruelty"
"He takes great care to reassure and protect children and young creatures, and he takes exceptional offense at those who would hamr them"
"Those who cannot comprehend why anyone would willing submit to the torments and cruelties that Ilmater's faithful seem to welcome, misunderstand the church."
"They have no annuals holidays but can occasionally call for a Pleas of Rest. This allows him or her a tenday of respite from Ilmater's dictates to prevent emotional exhaustion or allow the cleric to do something Ilmater would normally frown upon"
"The most important ritual is the Turning. It is the duty of every cleric of Ilmater to convince the dying to turn to Ilmater for comfort and recieve his blessing before they expire (NB This does change a persons faith). As the veneration of Ilmater grows, even in death, his healing powers become stronger"
"They see life as sacred and suffering as holy, but they do not stand in the way of others desires or condemn them for their chosen path."
Hopefully the above is helpfull information to those who don't have and I am sorry it cannot be more complete.
I can see many interpretations of the faith, all of which are valid. A quick example would be to take the line from the dogma tha reads "Stand up to all tyrants". Many could take this as being open, vocal and even confronting. I personally do not for I temper it with the final extract I listed - "They do not stand in the way of others desires or condemn them for their chosen path". This is where I see one of the divisions in the faith. The clergy, while taking a dim view of the tyrant, would seek to help the suffering (even if that is the tyrant themselves), where as the knightly orders may or some of the monk orders would help the suffering by standing in the way of those who would cause that suffering (this does not neccessarily mean attacking them, but we are only human
). An then some of an extreme view, may take it upon themselves to remove the tyrant completely. While the later is a possible choice, I personally feel that Ilmater's reason for being in the Triad is so that those of Tyr and Torm can do what he does not.
Gwain wrote:Would an Ilmarite spar then? or would he scorn that? I would suppose it would depend on a person by person basis.
It is a tough question, and the person by person basis is the best answer. Those of the clergy whose mission in life is to tend the sick or the dying, to provide food for the needy and a palce of rest for the weary, would probably have little use for martial skills. The monks and the knights, and even those of the clergy who meet suffering by standing between it and its intended would know the value of practicing such skills. I think that they would take the view that anyone who would take the pain of practicing such skills in a spar is holy in that they are suffering so that those of Ilmater may do their jobs better.
Whichever way they go, I do not believe any member would scorn anyone sparing, for it is not their place to judge others.
While the dogma and extracts are quoted, the rest is just my opinion. Hope it helps
-Stayne