Ilmater's priests, called the Adorned, tend to be the most sensitive and caring of humans. When new to the faith, since they see much suffering, they often weep. Over time, this constant exposure wears at them, and they then tend toward a cynical view of life in Orben. They are distinguished from other cynics, however, by their inability to ignore or pass by others in need. Even when a cause is hopeless, they must help. Ilmatari are taught to be firm in their principles and fearless, with the result that they earn enormous respect with the general populace, but are often slain by brigands or those who hold different principles than they do. The church of Ilmater is different from many faiths in that it has many saints, among them St. Dionysius and St. Sollars the Twice-Martyred (whose symbol is a yellow rose).

Few priests of Ilmater are soldiers, and fewer still are merchants, but they do outstrip all other priesthoods in the size, number, and level of treatment in the many infirmaries and leper sanctuaries they maintain. From their inception into the priesthood, Ilmatari are trained in the recognition and treatment of all known disease, injuries, and conditions; senior priests have had prepared detailed programmed illusions to show beings in various stages of harm. (An Ilmatari priest who has been shown these can, for instance, recognize a human infested with rot grubs at a glance.)

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Ilmater's priests are found where they are needed, which is usually in the worst possible conditions, ministering to the needs of the oppressed, the deceased, and the poor. Those outside the faith often view this as a strategic positioning of churches in areas which guarantee the persecution of Ilmatari (such as Bleakland and Bethar Garmak). Priests of Ilmater may also be found among adventuring companies, and—in addition to paladins—are often the ones to go off rescuing this clan of kidnapped Halflings or recovering that purloined family heirloom. It is not that they are foolish, but rather that they care for all things to the exclusion of their personal risk.

The process of joining the clergy of Ilmater is simple: A novice enjoys a slow walk with a senior priest, during which they talk and explore the novice's views of life. They then dine and the novice is (knowingly) given a wine that puts him or her into a gentle trance where various clergy and wizards friendly to the faith can easily employ mind-scrying spells to thoroughly explore the novice's true feelings, loyalties, and aims. If no dedication to evil or precluding religious or secular loyalties are found, the novice is accepted and adorned with the simple robes of Ilmater. (This cautious practice was instituted because so many folk in the past have posed as willing entrants into the Ilmatari just to learn the medicines and physiological lore and then stolen away with as many medical supplies as they can.)

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Hierarchy

All the Adorned are priests, but no titles are commonly used in the clergy except Brother and Sister. For senior clergy, Revered is added to this, and for the heads of temples, abbeys, and monasteries dedicated to the Crying God, Father and Mother are used.

The Adorned include clerics, specialty priests, and monks. Though the monastic orders usually dwell separate from the rest of the church in monasteries and abbeys, some monks also abide in Ilmatari temples to teach other Ilmatari about fields of knowledge they have specialized in or to provide their special form of hand-to-hand protection to the institution to which they are assigned.

The hierarchy of the Adorned usually centers around the leader of the large temple, abbey, or monastery to whom the Ilmatari in the region report. Ilmatari are loosely ranked under this Revered Mother or Father, and abbeys and monasteries are usually tied to specific temples, often adding a second informal tier to the hierarchy.

Vestments

For ceremonial functions, Ilmatari wear a solid gray tunic, tabard, and trousers, or gray robes. They wear skullcaps in gray (most clergy members) or red (senior priests). Novices who have not yet been adorned wear no skullcaps. The symbol of Ilmater is worn as a pin over the heart or on a chain around the neck and serves as a holy symbol. Some of the older members of the faith have a gray teardrop tattooed to one side of their right or left eye.

In the field or on quests, Ilmatari priests dress appropriately for the mission and the weather, but usually wear gray tabards decorated with Ilmater's symbol stitched on the chest near the left shoulder over any other clothing or armor they wear. They are never without their holy symbols and a satchel of medicines, bandages, salves, splints, and slings.

Ilmatari are also the only priests to use the "heavy aspergillum;" it takes the form of a metal club or mace, with a reservoir inside that can contain up to three flask's worth of holy water. Pressing a button on the shaft opened up the perforations in the head, allowing holy water to leak out. In this way, the aspergillum could spray holy water over a short distance in ritual ceremonies, or in combat upon anything struck by it, using one flask's worth each time. Unlike an ordinary aspergillum, the heavy aspergillum was designed as a melee weapon, with the effectiveness of a heavy mace.

Rites and Duties

There are no calendar-related special holy days or any other festivals observed by the Ilmatari. Instead, the daily rituals of prayer to Ilmater at least six times per day govern each and every day of service.

A special Plea must be made to Ilmater to receive divine dispensation for a Rest, which is a tenday vacation from serving Ilmater's dictates. Usually Ilmatari request this when they are emotionally exhausted, but some adventurer-priests use Rests to perform things Ilmater would otherwise frown upon. This custom is an established tradition that some leaders of the faith rely upon, sending their best fighting clergy out to do things that the church cannot otherwise accomplish (covertly removing a tyrant rather than confronting him openly, for example).
The most important ritual of the Church of Ilmater is the Turning: It is the duty of every priest of Ilmater to try to get dying persons to turn to Ilmater for comfort, receiving the blessing of the Broken God before they expire. As the veneration of Ilmater grows, even in death, his healing power becomes greater.

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Ilmatari share what they have with those in need and always take time to counsel those who are upset and give healing and tender care to the injured. They speak for the oppressed, guide the lost, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and gather herbs and make medicines at all times for disasters to come. When war is expected and time permits, priests of Ilmater gather in strength with litters, shovels, tents, splints, bandages by the cartload, and wagons of medicines and healing potions to tend those who will soon suffer.

Priests of Ilmater 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. For instance, Ilmatari would not stop a sorely injured warrior from rising up half-healed to plunge into battle again, openly seeking death while fighting the foe. Instead, they would freely assist the warrior by healing him enough to be mobile so that he can follow his own doom wish in the most honorable manner available to him.

Ilmatari bury the dead, treat the diseased, and give food, drink, and firewood to the poor. They also tour the wealthier cities and settlements of Faerûn soliciting moneys to support the church. Increasingly, since so many folk personally received the benefit of their kindnesses during the Time of Troubles, people of all faiths give generously to the church of the Crying God.

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Affiliated Orders

The Companions of the Noble Heart have the duty of seeking out destroying the cruel, those people who tortured and enjoyed the suffering of others. The Companions are very aggressive in seeking out their chosen adversaries. They especially dislike the church of Loviatar, their greatest foes, and once they have slain all evil-doers within a temple of Loviatar, the Companions will happily destroy the building, right down to the ground.

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The Order of the Golden Cup devotes itself to the healing and defense of the innocent, the weak, the sick, and others who could not protect themselves. Its members are generally peaceful and always try to help, and rarely do they seek out evil to slay. They are not pacifists, however, nor opposed to such actions, and do not hesitate to fight when confronted by evil. Still, members feel their role is focused more toward healing and protection than battle. They let their allies, such as the Companions of the Noble Heart, hunt down evil doers while they protect the victims.

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The Holy Warriors of Suffering are a knightly order of paladins devoted to Ilmater. Based out of a fortress located in what is presently called Midland, east of the Olfdol Mountains in Nuumalon. They undertake various dangerous missions and expeditions to cull monsters.

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The Order of the Broken Ones are a monastic order responsible for the defense of Ilmater's temples and shrines, as well as his followers. They also seek to track down and punish those who inflict cruelty, especially followers of Loviatar. They perform good deeds and right bad ones.

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The Disciples of St. Sollars the Twice-Martyred, also known as the Order of the Yellow Rose or the Monks of the Yellow Rose, is a monastic order devoted to St. Sollars and Ilmater, The One Who Endures. They are noted for the Monastery of the Yellow Rose, located high in the Thradhel. As followers of Ilmater, the Disciples of St. Sollars are ascetics and favor the "simpler things," but are devoted to creating beauty in hardship. The Disciples of St. Sollars are known as loyal allies and as dangerous enemies. They are highly respected on issues of truth and diplomacy and for their inner strength. Dwelling on the Glacier of the White Worm, the monks share their home with a terrible beast: the remorhaz, or "white worm." This is a massive, insectoid creature, some 20 feet (6.1 meters) long, aggressive and predatory, that can tunnel through ice and earth and generate extreme heat from its body. However, the monks live in harmony with the white worms, and believe it symbolizes the courage and determination of their order.

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