Balmis

Balmis, often referred to as The Hopeful, is one of the major deities in the world of Sprin'Torel. Though they are not as well known as some of the other major deities, they still hold a powerful position in the pantheon, standing strong with the other gods.

Balmis is sometimes seen as a deity for those who have hit rock bottom or are getting close to it. In spite of that, people often find themselves saying a quiet prayer to Balmis during times of high stress, hoping that they can guide them into the light.

Worshipers
Balmis' followers tend to be of a lower class or to have originally come from a lower class. Typically the people who follow Balmis are people who feel the need for hope in their every day lives. Conversely, they can also be people who yearn to be an inspiration to others, wanting to spread hope for all.

Clerics
Due to Balmis' nature, there are not very many clerics who worship them. Those who do tend to dedicate every moment of their lives to inspiring hope wherever they can. Balmis' clerics tend to go out of their ways to look for those who could use more than a simple priest, serving as friends for anyone who needs them. As such, they tend to spend most of their lives in squalor, surrounding themselves with people who may need it most.

Orders

 * Saint Walkers
 * Many of Balmis' followers tend to go from town to town to do charity work to those who need it most even if it means sacrificing their own happiness and well being. This constant nomadic lifestyle led to their being named the Saint Walkers, and a reputation that makes people more willing to open their homes to them.


 * The Penitent
 * Not all who worship Balmis do so to actively help others. The Penitent are a group of people who believe there to be a finite number of suffering in the world, and inflict maximum suffering on themselves to try and detract from other people's suffering. As such, they go to the harshest places on the planet, to do whatever it takes to be as miserable as they can be.

Rites
As with all other religions, the worship of Balmis involves many rituals and rites. While these are mostly a cry for help, many of these prayers are for an overarching desire for hope for all. Below is an example of a prayer to Balmis:"'God of hope, you know the secrets of all hearts, for you know who is just and you forgive the repentant sinner. Hear my prayer in the midst of destruction; give me patience and hope, so that under your protection and with you as my guide, I may one day be reunited with my family and friends in peace, tranquility, and love. Grant this your undying light.'"