Ilneval
Encyclopedia
In many campaign setting
s for the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Ilneval is the orc
deity of Warfare and Leadership. His symbol is a bloodied longsword.
's article "The Half-Orc Point of View," in Dragon
#62 (TSR, 1982). In Dragon #92 (December 1984), Gary Gygax
indicated this as one of the deities legal for the Greyhawk
setting. He also appeared in the original Unearthed Arcana
(1985).
Ilneval was detailed in the book Monster Mythology
(1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
(1996).
Ilneval's role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in Faiths and Pantheons
(2002).
s, the orcish pantheon of gods consists of the leader Gruumsh
, as well as Bahgtru
, Ilneval
, Luthic
, Shargaas
, and Yurtrus
.
. Nishrek is one face of the Battle Cube; the goblin realm, Clangor, is another, and the orc and goblin spirits battle endlessly.
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
s for the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, Ilneval is the orc
Orc (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, orcs are a primitive race of savage, bestial, barbaric humanoid.-Publication history:The orc was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game. The D&D orc is largely based upon the orcs appearing in the works of J.R.R...
deity of Warfare and Leadership. His symbol is a bloodied longsword.
Publication history
Ilneval was first detailed in Roger E. MooreRoger E. Moore
Roger E. Moore is a designer of role-playing games. He is best known for his long-running tenure as editor of Dragon magazine, and was the founding editor of Dungeon magazine.-Early life:...
's article "The Half-Orc Point of View," in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#62 (TSR, 1982). In Dragon #92 (December 1984), Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
indicated this as one of the deities legal for the Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
setting. He also appeared in the original Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana is the title shared by two hardback books published for different editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1985).
Ilneval was detailed in the book Monster Mythology
Monster Mythology
Monster Mythology is a sourcebook for the second edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Released by TSR in 1992 and written by Carl Sargent, with interior illustrations by Terry Dykstra, John and Laura Lakey, and Keith Parkinson, Monster Mythology was released as a companion volume for...
(1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground is an accessory book for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, for the Planescape campaign setting.-Contents:This book contains information about deities' planar domains from 20 separate pantheons...
(1996).
Ilneval's role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in Faiths and Pantheons
Faiths and Pantheons
Faiths and Pantheons is a campaign accessory for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons, for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.-Contents:...
(2002).
Relationships
In many campaign settingCampaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
s, the orcish pantheon of gods consists of the leader Gruumsh
Gruumsh
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Gruumsh, also known as Gruumsh One-Eye, is the patron deity of orcs, who regard him as the god of Conquest, Survival, Strength, and Territory. He is also considered a member of the default D&D pantheon of deities...
, as well as Bahgtru
Bahgtru
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Bahgtru is the orc deity of Strength and Combat.-Publication history:Bahgtru was first detailed in Roger E. Moore's article "The Half-Orc Point of View," in Dragon #62 . In Dragon #92 , Gary Gygax indicated this as one of the deities legal for the...
, Ilneval
Ilneval
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Ilneval is the orc deity of Warfare and Leadership. His symbol is a bloodied longsword.-Publication history:...
, Luthic
Luthic
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Luthic is the orc goddess of Fertility, Medicine, Females, and Servitude. Luthic embodies the orcish feminine ideal, subordinate to male orcs but still protecting the cohesion of orcish society. Her sacred animal is the cave bear...
, Shargaas
Shargaas
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Shargaas is the orc deity of darkness, night, stealth, thieves, and the undead. His symbol is a skull on a red crescent moon.-Publication history:...
, and Yurtrus
Yurtrus
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Yurtrus is the orc deity of death and disease.-Publication history:...
.
Realm
Ilneval lives in the orcish realm of the Nishrek in AcheronAcheron (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Acheron , also known as The Infernal Battlefield of Acheron, is a lawful neutral/lawful evil-aligned plane of existence...
. Nishrek is one face of the Battle Cube; the goblin realm, Clangor, is another, and the orc and goblin spirits battle endlessly.
Temples, holy days, and rituals
Ilneval's holy days are on battle days. Blood and weapons are sacrificed to the War Maker both before and after battle.Additional reading
- Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online: http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip