Ilsensine
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
roleplaying game, Ilsensine is the patron deity of illithid
s (also known as mind flayers). While not the creator of illithids, Ilsensine sees mind flayers as the entities most worthy of dominating the universe. Ilsensine is obsessed with gathering knowledge of all varieties, and its ganglia stretch to every corner of existence, tapping into all the knowledge of the universe. The Symbol of Ilsensine is a brain with two tentacles protruding from it.
(1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
(1996).
Ilsensine is detailed in the Expanded Psionics Handbook (2004).
god Diinkarazan
and seeks vengeance against Diirinka
, who successfully stole from it. It was formerly served by the illithid god Maanzecorian
, who was later killed by Orcus
. Ilsensine is an enemy of Lolth
and Laduguer
, but is allied with Kiaransalee
.
setting
, Ilsensine dwells in a series of caverns beneath the Dwarven Mountain in the Outlands called the Caverns of Thought, along with a vast army of mind-controlled thralls. This realm is intertwined with that of Gzemnid
, and stretches near the gate-town of Glorium.
campaign setting
, Ilsensine lives in the Deep Caverns.
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...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
roleplaying game, Ilsensine is the patron deity of illithid
Illithid
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, illithids are monstrous humanoid aberrations with psionic powers. In a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous Underdark...
s (also known as mind flayers). While not the creator of illithids, Ilsensine sees mind flayers as the entities most worthy of dominating the universe. Ilsensine is obsessed with gathering knowledge of all varieties, and its ganglia stretch to every corner of existence, tapping into all the knowledge of the universe. The Symbol of Ilsensine is a brain with two tentacles protruding from it.
Publication history
Ilsensine was first detailed in the book Monster MythologyMonster 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).
Ilsensine is detailed in the Expanded Psionics Handbook (2004).
Description
Ilsensine appears as an enormous emerald-green brain trailing thousands of nerve ganglions off into the distance. It is made of the brains of all the illithids who have died. Ilsensine is served by illithids, cranium rats, and eaters of knowledge.Relationships
Ilsensine cursed the derroDerro (Dungeons & Dragons)
The derro are a fictional species of monstrous humanoids in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They were first devised for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons First Edition adventure Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth...
god Diinkarazan
Diinkarazan
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Diinkarazan is the derro deity of vengeance.-Publication history:Diinkarazan was first detailed in the book Monster Mythology , including details about his priesthood...
and seeks vengeance against Diirinka
Diirinka
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Diirinka is the derro deity of magic, savants, knowledge, and cruelty. His symbol is a spiral of gray, black, and white...
, who successfully stole from it. It was formerly served by the illithid god Maanzecorian
Maanzecorian
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Maanzecorian is the illithid deity of knowledge and philosophy. His symbol is a silver crown set with a red gem....
, who was later killed by Orcus
Orcus (Dungeons & Dragons)
Orcus is the fictional demon prince, and lord of the undead in many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. He is named after Orcus of Roman mythology. His symbol is a mace with a human skull as the head...
. Ilsensine is an enemy of Lolth
Lolth
Lolth is a fictional goddess in the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Lolth , the Demon Queen of Spiders, is the chief goddess of drow elves...
and Laduguer
Laduguer
In many campaign settings for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, Laduguer is the evil deity of the duergar, the Underdark-dwelling cousins of dwarves. He is a strict and unforgiving god. His holy symbol is a shield with a broken crossbow bolt motif.-Creative origins:Laduguer was...
, but is allied with Kiaransalee
Kiaransalee
Kiaransalee is the fictional drow deity of slavery, undead, and vengeance. She was created for the AD&D Second Edition, first appearing in Monster Mythology, and as such is a general deity not specific to any one game world.-Publication history:Kiaransalee was first detailed in the book Monster...
.
Realm
In the PlanescapePlanescape
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...
setting
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...
, Ilsensine dwells in a series of caverns beneath the Dwarven Mountain in the Outlands called the Caverns of Thought, along with a vast army of mind-controlled thralls. This realm is intertwined with that of Gzemnid
Gzemnid
Gzemnid is a fictional deity in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It is a beholder deity. Gzemnid is the beholder deity of gases, fogs, obscurement, and deception.-Publication history:...
, and stretches near the gate-town of Glorium.
Forgotten Realms
In the Forgotten RealmsForgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting
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...
, Ilsensine lives in the Deep Caverns.
Additional reading
- Baker, RichRichard Baker (game designer)Richard Baker is an American author and a game designer who has worked on many Dungeons & Dragons campaign settings.-Early life, education, and military:...
, James Jacobs, and Steve WinterSteve WinterSteve Winter is a game designer who has worked on numerous products for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from TSR and later Wizards of the Coast.-Early life:Steve Winter was born in Dubuque, Iowa on December 8, 1957...
. Lords of MadnessLords of MadnessLords of Madness is an official supplement for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy roleplaying game.-Contents:It includes new content for aberrations including new aberration monsters and monsters related to them, and information on how to hunt aberrations.-What Is an...
(Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
, 2005).