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  1. Characters
God of Mercy
Deity

"... and thus, Atemar was struck down viciously by the sword of... of the Borsimeri, whose lust for conquest ended immediately as he saw the life ebb away from the dying monk's eyes. He fell to his knees, overcome by regret.

'My son,' Atemar rasped, blood dribbling down his chin.

The warrior found himself compelled to answer, 'Yes, o wise one?'

The robed old man stared at him, eyes full of compassion.

'Go forth with your shoulders eased of their killing burden... my forgiveness is yours.'

"The Tale of Atemar's Ascension" by Olaf Ragnarsson, Year 321 C.F.


Also known as the Open Handed, the Martyr God, and the Merciful, Atemar is the god of Mercy, Humility, and Healing. Counted among the young gods, he is believed to have ascended from a mortal after his actions in life inspired others to worship. 

History

Like most things pertaining to divinity following the Curse of Falandine, Atemar's exact origins are disputed but it is believed he was a mortal human from the Fjallur sometime in the early Age of Fear. The songs of Fjallur tell the story of who rose in opposition of his people's warlike and callous ways under the guidance of Borsimer, his ancient temples are no more than sturdy, practical shelters that were believed to have sprung up in isolated villages and towns along the coast for shelter from his kinsmens' raids. The story of his ultimate martyrdom came when he finally paid for his crusade in defending the victims of his peoples' Borsimeri worship when a favoured cleric of the war-god personally executed him, moved from his faith when Atemar spent his dying breath to offer him forgiveness for what he had done. This nameless warrior would begin the dawning of a new faith in the name of the martyr fallen by his own hand. 

Characteristics

Atemar appears much the same as he did in life since his ascension, even since the moment of his death, a human of wholly unremarkable features clad in a humble woolen cloak and the white of his robes stained red with the head of the spear that ended his existence still embedded within his heart where he has chosen to let it stay forevermore. Driven and charismatic in life, his quiet presence and unflinching integrity has only manifested itself into something greater with divinity, described by his followers as humble, but never meek; forgiving, but never naïve; kind, but never timid. The same single-minded constancy that has earned him the sometimes grudging respect from much of the surrounding pantheons, even that of his own killer, it has similarly set him apart from the wider denizens of the heavens since no other greater deity has remained so mortal in their divinity as him. 


Worship

Atemar's faith is spread across most corners of Aranor but is most prominent on the shores of present day Calindra where his first temples were erected and among his mortal people of the Fjallur whose clans now tend to be divided between Atemar and Borsimer's teachings. His places of worship echo the martyr god's intent in life as shelters for the needy, prioritizing hospitals, kitchens, and supply stores above the ostentatious vanities frequently sighted in other temples to empathize their function over form. Such temples are a common sight in most civilized places in one form or another, frequently heavily fortified to withstand attacks and dug-out cellars to host large portions of the local population for an extended period of time if need be. Walking in the footsteps of Atemar is a difficult, sometimes thankless life in a world that can be so violent and cruel as Aranor, but few could deny that the role they play has eased the suffering of countless others. 

Atemar's symbol is a silver chalice signifying charity and a gray woolen cloak the same as Atemar wore on the day of his death is a common, personal gesture of solidarity with their god. By his very nature Atemar possesses no favoured weapon but the monastic orders of the Fjallur Isles have created an unarmed, debilitating style of their own in his honour called the Way of the Palm. Common domains of Atemar are Life and Protection.