Page 84 - Volo's Guide to Monsters

Eyes ofGruumsh. A few of the ores touched by the BAHGTRU, "THE LEG BREAKER"
power of Gruumsh are given the ultimate honor of Despite the influence of Ilneval, ores are and will forever
carrying a small part of the god's overwhelming rage be brutal and feral in how they wage war. Bahgtru is the
into battle, in the form of magic that augments their deity who epitomizes the physical might and ruthless-
weapons and helps the tribe succeed. To become an eye ness that ores use to overwhelm their foes. He is the one
of Gruumsh, an ore that has been chosen by Gruumsh who drives every thrust of an ore's weapon, so that it
must gouge out one of its eyes as a sign of devotion, does as much harm as possible.
sacrificing half of its mortal vision in return for divine Fearless and Mighty. In the myths, it is said that
power. These god-touched ores are revered as living Bahgtru was out hunting when he was surprised by the
connections to Gruumsh, and are treated with respect mightiest of the behirs, one with hundreds of legs. In a
even when they are old and infirm. flash, Bahgtru was wrapped in the creature's coils and
gripped by its legs. No one had ever escaped the grasp
ILNEVAL, "THE WAR MAKER"
of the behir, but Bahgtru saw this as the ultimate test
Ilneval is the loyal right hand of Gruumsh. He is the god
of his strength, and laughed at his good fortune. One by
who plans the attacks and devises the strategies that
one, Bahgtru broke the behir's legs, and freed himself
allow the forces of Gruumsh to dominate the battle and from its clutches. The creature's shrieks became the
fill their war wagons with plunder and severed heads. 11- lightning of the storm, and its broken femur became the
oeval stands with his bloody sword, calling to those who symbol of Bahgtru's followers, reminding them that any-
understand the ebb and flow of combat to sit around his thing can be broken and defeated by superior strength.
council fire and learn the ways of warfare. Competing in Cruelty. Most young ores that an
SkiJJed Strategists. Ores that show aptitude for the explorer or an adventurer might encounters are fol-
nuances of warfare at an early age are considered cho· lowers of Bahgtru. Ores of Bahgtru continually try to
sen by Ilneval and are groomed to serve as blades of prove their superior strength and endurance through
Ilneval. These individuals are battle captains that follow cruel contests against their tribe mates, acts of unpro-
the orders of the tribe's chief, leading a portion of the voked belligerence, and great success in battle. It is
tribe's warriors into the thick of battle and bringing a through these tests of strength that Bahgtru's followers
measure of strategy to the assault. Blades of Ilneval are prove which among them will eventually be worthy of
fearsome opponents, seeming to have an uncanny sense Gruumsh's unwavering gaze.
of when to move and when to strike, able to exploit the The Sacred Bull. Ores of Bahgtru sometimes enter
weakness of their enemy like a pack of hungry wolves. battle astride aurochs, large creatures that resemble