What is polytheistic intercession (shirk-based intercession)? And did the Arabs believe that their gods would grant them victory over Allah, or that He feared them?

Polytheistic intercession (shafa'ah shirkiyyah) is the belief of polytheists in their deities, where they draw near to them so that these deities may intercede for them with Allah. However, Allah does not permit such intercession because these deities are not pleasing to Allah, or those for whom intercession is sought are not pleasing to Allah. Allah has denied the intercession that the polytheists believed in, which is the intercession of intermediaries by their own right without Allah's permission. He has affirmed the intercession that occurs with His permission and His satisfaction with both the intercessor and the interceded for. This polytheistic intercession is the root of all shirk (polytheism).