Ioa

Never cower before the weak
— Ioa

God of war, conquest, martial art and brawling

Ioa is the god of war and conquest.   Hobgoblin and goblinoid tribes worship him as they go into battle, while lizardfolks' chieftain worship him as a sign of respect. Ioa is often called the king of kings.   Ioa's commandments:
  • Never allow your fear to gain mastery over you, but drive it into the hearts of your foes.
  • Punish insubordination and disorder.
  • Hone your combat skills to perfection, whether you are a mighty general or a lone mercenary.
 

Ioa

(God of war, conquest, martial art and brawling)

Titles
King of kings, The Iron emperor
Race
/
Sex
Male
Alignment
Lawful Evil
Sheet
Portfolio
conquest, war
Domains
war
Celebration
/
Symbol
by Claudio Pozas
Children

Characteristics

Physical features

The king of kings is often depicted as a furry Tyrannosaurus, a black fur covereing his pink hide.Large fangs protude from his lower jaw and heads dangle from a collar around his neck.  

Possessions

Bane once helf the helm of perfect potential, but the artifact now serve as his palace. ANother artifact Stronmaus crafted for him, is The Bloody End, an artifact and a mace he usually wield in his mouth.  

History

Hobgoblins

3046 BD After the Nexus overload, and the flow of magic in Toriel, many creatures were impacted by this, including the goblins. Ioa, seeing a spark of intelligence in the evolution of certain goblin tribes, blessed them with a new form. In the process, he also transmitted his will to conquer to those new goblins, which were later called hobgoblins.  

Fall of Vanumoke

3042 BD   Four years later, in 3042 BD, exploiting the empire’s unrest, he unleashed them against the middle eastern region of Siniador. As a new and unfamiliar race, the hobgoblins struck fear and confusion into the Orrin forces, hitting villages with sudden, lightning raids. By the time the empire could respond, the hobgoblins had already penetrated deep into its territory. Only Vanumoke’s direct intervention slowed their advance.   Faced with a god, the hobgoblins could not progress further. Ioa ordered them to consolidate their gains, fortifying the lands they had seized, key fortresses and towns. The Orrin armies attempted to push back, but the hobgoblins’ discipline and coordination left them largely unsuccessful.   Ioa then confronted Vanumoke directly. Exhausted from fighting the hobgoblin army, Vanumoke could not withstand Ioa’s power. He fell, and Ioa claimed martial combat as one of his divine domains.   The hobgoblins expanded across the contested region, cementing Ioa’s influence. The Orrin Empire retained its core lands but lost dominion over Siniador’s contested territories. Vanumoke’s legacy as a god of martial discipline was eclipsed by Ioa’s triumph, and the rapid campaign of the hobgoblins became a defining moment in the region’s history.  

Ioa, God-Emperor of the Hobgoblin Empire

After Vanumoke fell, Ioa claimed both the martial essence of the defeated god and full authority over the hobgoblins. He consolidated the lands they had captured, enforcing strict hierarchy and organization. Under Ioa’s divine rule, the Hobgoblin Empire became a disciplined, efficient, and unified force.   Ioa’s presence explains the exceptional coordination and effectiveness of the hobgoblin armies. As god-emperor, he wields tremendous power, shaping law, military practice, and governance throughout the empire. The Hobgoblin Empire under Ioa is no longer merely a conquering force—it is a divine institution, solidifying Ioa’s lasting influence and the hobgoblins’ identity.  

Draco-giant war

267 BD through 1 BD   During the era of dragons and their war against the giants, Ioa sheltered the hobgoblins, protecting them from the wrath of both sides. Once the conflict ended, he moved the empire south of the Green Earth, conquering the region with ease.   Their expansion carried them across all the lands east and south of their mountains. Troops moved in tight formation, defeating any who dared oppose them, mostly wandering tribes of goblins and shifters. Under Ioa’s leadership, the Hobgoblin Empire grew into a powerful, organized state, feared for both its military strength and divine authority.  

Emperor's Helm

Around 100 BD   The current capital of the Hobgoblin Empire, the Emperor’s Helm, is named for the massive palace at its center. The palace was crafted from a giant, thirty-foot-tall helm that Ioa once dropped to shield the hobgoblins. This act took place at the start of their conquest south of the Green Earth, likely to protect the newly expanding hobgoblin forces from remnants of dragons and giants still resisting their advance.   The helm is a divine artifact, forged by Stronmaus, the god of craftsmanship. Stronmaus agreed to create it only because it was intended to serve Ioa and safeguard the hobgoblins. The resulting artifact is a helm of perfect potential, serving as the throne and seat of Ioa’s divine authority.   Today, the Emperor’s Helm remains the heart of the Hobgoblin Empire. It is both a military stronghold and a symbol of Ioa’s protection, authority, and the divine origin of the empire itself.


Cover image: Anjanath pursuit by Raph Lomotan

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