Ilneval
Ilneval appeared as a confident and seemingly war-wise, yet perpetually unsmiling, 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall orc. His face and arms were marred heavily by battle scars that only increased his appeal to his orcish followers.[7][8]
Personality Bold and direct,[3][13] Ilneval was a daring leader that charged headfirst into battle with only the destruction of his opposition and triumph over his adversaries on his mind.[1][7] He was a take-charge figure[3] of inspiring bravery that loathed cowardice and underhandedness, but was not, as one might assume, an unthinking brute.[1]
Indeed, Ilneval was actually a devious strategist,[13] but his careful plans were made before the battle to maximize his odds of success and ensure he inflicted as much damage on the enemy as possible. He was both self-serving and ambitious, preferring to plan the conquest to come rather than reminisce on victories past.[1]
Powers Ilneval was nearly as strong as the incredibly powerful Bahgtru,[1] and his avatar was immune to non-magical weaponry.[8] It could also use clerical magic and cast domination three times per day.[7]
Possessions Ilneval's dreadful broadsword was enchanted, and caused profuse bleeding in those it struck unless magic on or above the level of cure serious wounds was applied.[7] There was a chance that any non-orc it hit would be instantly slain.[8]
The War Maker also wore an enchanted suit of red, iron chainmail that deflected all missile weapons including arrows, bolts, and ray-form spells or spell-like abilities, though it was possible that enchanted missile weapons could harm him.[7][8]
Realm The orc pantheon was known to move between the planes in their war against the goblinoid pantheon. At one point they went from the Nine Hells to Acheron, with Ilneval inhabiting a smaller block orbiting the cube of Nishrek.[9] Eventually he ruled the warriors with a fortress town on one of Nishrek's faces, the Blood Armor clan. His forces were often content to battle against the goblinoid legions of Clangor.[14][15]
In the World Tree cosmology, where Nishrek was its own realm (a twisted natural landscape marred by carnage and warped to fit orc ideals), Ilneval dwelt within Gruumsh's Iron Fortress.[16]
Activities Ilneval's role in the orc pantheon was that of the captain, the master commander (next to Gruumsh) who devised the tactics and stratagems that allowed orcs to dominate the battlefield and fill their war wagons with gore and treasure.[8][12] Ilneval was called upon to lead Gruumsh's forces when the One-Eyed God lacked the time, or otherwise did not wish to do so himself, and the Crafty Warrior only sent an avatar at his superior's command, and only when the battle was important.[7][8]
Relationships Ilneval was Gruumsh's first lieutenant and right hand,[12][9] and allowed no challenges to his position, systematically stopping any potential rival.[1] He had deposed or destroyed one or two orc gods in the past, crushing demigods and relegating more powerful deities to lesser status in his climb to power. This was because he secretly coveted the position of Gruumsh,[7][1][8] and had been waiting for ages to seize the throne of He-who-never-sleeps. However, many obstacles stood in the path of the Crafty Warrior's objective, and for a god of bold warfare, he was ironically restricted by several forces beyond his influence.[3]
Gruumsh was aware of Ilneval's desire and so rightly did not trust him, but with his son Bahgtru on his side, some of the One-Eyed God's concerns were relieved.[1][8] Ilneval was absolutely terrified of Bahgtru's brutality,[3] and so long as the Leg-Breaker remained loyal to Gruumsh, Ilneval would stay loyal enough to him as well,[1] so Gruumsh chose not to take action.[7] Ilneval secretly resented Bahgtru for this on top of being frightened by the stronger but stupid deity, and so avoided him as much as possible (never battling with him) while covertly working to undermine him.[1][3][7] Ilneval was also believed to lust after Gruumsh's mate, Luthic, but was afraid to act on this desire as well.[3]
The more sinister members of the pantheon, Shargaas and Yurtrus (the orc god of darkness and stealth and the orc god of death and disease respectively), had a cold, quiet alliance to counterbalance the influence of the orcish gods of war, including Ilneval as well as Bahgtru and Gruumsh. Shargaas in particular, who was even more cunning than Ilneval, secretly revealed his treacheries to Gruumsh to simultaneously undermine the War Maker and cement himself in the pantheon. Ilneval intensely disliked the two of them for their craven, dishonorable methods but was smart enough to make use of their talents effectively when fighting other pantheons.[1][17]
Others Though he had his differences with his fellows in the orc pantheon, Ilneval hated the goblinoid gods, Morndinsamman, Seldarine, and all their other traditional enemies, and would never betray his race as a whole.[1] He once found himself in battle with Bahgtru against the forces of Khurgorbaeyag, the goblin god, and Hruggek, the bugbear deity.[18]
Ilneval's proxy was the half-orc warrior known as General Guldrin Blut.[3]
Worshipers Ilneval symbol The symbol of Ilneval, a bloodied blade.
Ilneval was considered the god of orcish leaders, and his clerics were expected to be physically strong themselves, charismatic enough to lead, and able to command a military force effectively.[7][8]
Ilneval was also seen as the patron of orc crossbreeds, particularly the powerful ones, with ogrillons and tanarukks (orc-ogre and orc-tanar'ri hybrids respectively) being prime examples.[2][1] Half-orcs were included under this purview, with those that worshiped the orc gods following him in particular,[2] and orogs often revered him due to them frequently being in leadership roles.[7] Tanarukks believed him to be their special patron, worshiping him almost as much as Gruumsh, and if the race were to expand he'd likely supplant the One-Eyed God in their eyes, with wiser tanarukks already favoring him.[6]
Dogma Ilneval taught his followers to train hard and think smart to prepare for the unending battle that was life. It was their duty to unite the tribe into a raging storm that could attack as one, using the strength found in numbers to triumph. Nonetheless, when combat began, they were to charge into the fray and let the blood fall as it would. Ilneval's own courage inspired great loyalty, and only through personal courage would one prove themselves worthy of leadership.[1]
Rituals Clerics and adepts of Ilneval prayed for their spells at dusk to prepare for the battle of the upcoming night.[1] Their holy days were before and after battle,[8] but they had only a few besides token rituals of obeisance to honor Gruumsh, a calculated show of fealty by the Crafty Warrior. The clergy's most sacred celebration was an annual raid on Greengrass, when the clerics of the War Maker gathered hordes of orcs to descend upon the civilized world and destroy all in their path.[1] Sacrifices to Ilneval could be performed anywhere and consisted of blood and weapons.[8]
History Near the end of the Orcgate Wars, Ilneval fought against the leader of the Untheric pantheon, Gilgeam, before Tiamat used the situation to launch an ambush against the God-king. The Untheric aspect of Bahamut known as Marduk managed to defeat Tiamat before she could land a killing blow, though at the cost of his own life.[19]
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