Tillenbirg Keilrecht

Appearance
Tillenbirg often disguises himself as a fairly old man wearing many grand red robes. He often has a look of anger of bitter joy on his face. His true appearance as a decaying lich gives him a grotesque look with the very same expression.

Personality
Tillenbirg is almost stands alone among Red Wizards. He is unusually arrogant and aggressive. His power and influence allows him to seem lawful by using his power to bend the law. His extreme attitude and lack of regard for life make him unpopular even among his own ranks, but his methods are successful and his authority is absolute.

Family & Relationships
Nothing is known about his family.

He is a high ranking Red Wizard that works directly under the Zulkier of Necromancy in Thay. Tillenbirg is known for his aggressive leadership style. His actions are considered extremely rash for the Red Wizards and his help is often seen as a doubled edged sword. Despite the resentment towards Tillenbirg, he is still respected for his immense power.

Tillenbirg is also known by the Cult of Mephistopheles. He tried to bring Mephistopheles to the material plane 50 years ago. His efforts were stopped by Jonas Califomme. Since then, Jonas, his party, and his family became Tillenbirg's enemies.

Tillenbirg has made many connections throughout his life and it is believed that he has made several trips to the Nine Hells.

Character History
50 years ago he tried to revive Mephistopheles. By using manpower from the Red Wizards of Thay and the Cult of Mephistopheles he came very close to making a gateway for the Arch Devil. Jonas Califomme, Eustace Califomme's father, took his party of distinguished adventurers to battle Tillenbirg and his forces. Jonas managed to stop Mephistopheles's return.

After his failure, Tillenbirg was demoted and has worked his way to obtain his rank in the Red Wizards after using his embarrassing defeat. His unauthorized use of Red Wizards would normally be seen as treason, but his influence and power allowed him a chance to link Thay's national interests with his person plan to revive Mephistopheles. Since his defeat, he has called unbridled revenge against Jonas and all of his family and friends.

In recent times, he has mostly regained his rank in the Red Wizards. Though most the Zulkiers do not trust his methods, the Zulkier of Necromancy sees a special charm in his methods. Tillenbirg's aggressive and militaristic approach to every problem inspires fear, resentment, but also respect in the people he orders. He has moved to Sembia to take control of the operations since the actions that took place in Swordpoints of the Sea Hook. The past leader Alinard Solkern has been far less vocal and the Zulkier's of Thay decided that they needed someone more focused towards Sembia. Alinard's true purpose in Sembia and his actions remain hidden from everyone except the Zulkier of Necromancy himself. As a result, Tillenbirg sent to act in his stead as the head diplomat to Sembia.

Current Whereabouts / Activities
Tillenbirg Keilrecht is currently in Ordulin acting with the present Red Wizard force in Ordulin. People do not know why he is there exactly, but what is known that it was a direct order of the Zulkiers that Tillenbirg would be sent to work in Ordulin. His position is unknown, but it is widely believe that he is co-head of Thay operations with Alinard Solkern in Sembia.

After being ripped in half by Eltab, Tillenbirg returned to Hell in failure once more. Mephistopheles was truly enraged by his failure, but Tillenbirg had been the closest to freeing him out of his cultists. Wen he left Hell, he had returned to Thay to be awarded for leading to the death of a great enemy of Thay. His conduct was questionable as usual, but his determination and sacrifise for leading to Eltab's death gave Tillenbirg good reputation.

Alinard's report mentions actions against protocol for Tillenbirg, but Szass Tam believed that his actions were necessary as a temporary informant in Sembia. Without Alinard's approval, Szass Tam worked a plan to integrate the remaining Red Wizards with Sembia. By attempting to make Tillenbrig appear guilty, Szass Tam can allow Tillenbirg to murder and still make it seem like Thay was against this sort of technique. The report on the grounds of bringing back Mephistopheles was ignored since there was no loss of life from the Red Wizards as a direct result of his action.

Alinard would soon learn that actions that took place were actually a calculated plan set up by Szass Tam. Tillenbirg was the only one that knew the plan. Szass Tam knew the plan from the beginning. Szass Tam had actually released Eltab himself with the plans of using a custom spell to enslave Eltab. Szass Tam had actually used the spell and commanded Tillenbirg to spy and see what occurred. Tillenbirg was the one that realized that Dhansis Khaldun broke the spell and that is when Tillenbirg was sent to Sembia to track the Arch Fiend and kill him before he could enact his revenge on Thay.

There were several causalities to this plan, but Szass Tam was able to reverse his mistake without too many problems. Alinard learned the plan, but as an agent of Szass Tam, like Tillenbirg, he will continue to play his game without alerting the other Red Wizards in Sembia of the actual events.

Right Hind Force of the Undead Nation
Tillenbirg would be one of the those that supported Szass Tam's ritual for immortality. As time passed, Tillenbirg was seen as an even closer ally to Szass Tam, but more like a shadow. As his right hand man, he had learned of the pact that was made between him and Bane. Tillenbirg knew as the first regent of Mephistopheles, that it meant that he could be called to order by Asmodeus after his advent into godhood. Tillenbirg had worked for his position in Thay, and knew that Mephistopheles's wishes often did not place him at odds with the will of Szass Tam. Tillengirg anxiously awaits the time when he believes Asmodeus will call on his services and make him defy Szass Tam to weaken Bane's influence.

Until then, Tillenbirg continues to live the way he did before the Spell Plague.

Operation Morning Star
Keilrecht Tillenbirg his the prime example of a top priest and spiritual leader of Hell. He is more charismatic than he appears, and is fiercely loyal and fanatic. The council of Nilvarrus on Mephistopheles suggested that Magadon would not complete his mission in the suspected time. Mephistopheles agreed to the fact that Magadon would likely fail, but found amusement in his trying. By the will of Asemodeus, this part of the plan would not be allowed to fail, and Nilvarrus informed Mephistopheles that he would need to allow the Grand Magi for each of the to convene and make a call of what to do. He informed him that there was already a plan on how to set up the initial invasion.

Mephistopheles smiled and admitted that he was aware of the backup plan, a devious idea set forth by his Grand Magus. Nilvarrus stated that it was Tillenbirg and Vlitzcod that arrived at the conclusion for the ritual. If Magadon could succeed in his own right, the ritual would happen with great ease, though the dissent in the city created many holes for their victory.

Keilrecht Tillenbirg knew for the plan he needed a powerful ally, one with enough forces and magic to fight through opposition if it were to occur. There is little reason for an unsuspecting world to predict the level of invasion that was about to happen, but Skyclave was home to several very powerful mages. He needed to be confident that none could disrupt his efforts. He sought the aid of his worldly master, Xzass Tam. Keilrecht Tillenbirg and Xzass Tam awaited the day this conversation would occur. Both knew it was only a matter of time before their interests crossed. Both expecting this were both slightly unnerved. Both knew they each had allegiances to different gods on a highly established level, but Xzass Tam was willing to betray his efforts, at least a front to it. He had done it before in an attempt to become king of the gods himself when he sacrificed the entire living population of Thay to do it.

With Deathknights and ritualists from Thay, Keilrecht Tillenbirg had what he needed to succeed. At the first sunset of the God Silence, he would have four primary ritualists engage in a chant combined with power of the damned from Hell to create a portal to engage their ritual. During the destruction set forth by Balzrompt, the City Cleaver, the deaths of the city would be harnessed into a powerful ritual that would establish a permanent connection of that portal between Hell and the Material Plane.

The success of Operation Morning Star was the work of many, but easily Keilrecht Tillenbirg gains the credit for being one of forbearers in thought and execution. It was his connection to Xzass Tam that sealed it's eventual success.