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I learned at a very young age that I cannot trust in or count on anyone but myself. To do so invites deceit and despair and opens a vulnerability that can be exploited. To do so is a weakness.
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~ Artemis Entreri to Dwahvel Tiggerwillies
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You will not leave him. We long ago established that difference between us, the difference that you call strength but that I know to be weakness. And so to our business. And so to our destiny.
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~ Artemis Entreri to Drizzt Do'urden
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Artemis Entreri is a major antagonist in R.A Salvatore's The Legend of Drizzt as well as on the protagonists of the spin-off series Sellswords.
He was one of the deadliest assassins in Faerun before eventually becoming obsessed with defeating the dark elf Drizzt to prove that his empty and friendless life was necessary to perfect his skills. Over the years, he began to mellow down and occasionally even help people just to do the right thing. He is the former archnemesis of Drizzt Do'urden.
Appearance[]
Artemis Entreri was not a very tall man, and could be called small, but was surprisingly strong. He had high cheek bones and noticeable sideburns, as well as a small beard occasionally. He had light brownish skin which was later tinged with a grayish hue. His hair was jet black, but the most noticeable thing about him were his eyes, which always seemed dead. Artemis always stayed in shape, even as he got older. While traveling with the Jarlaxle, Artemis was often seen wearing a small-brimmed black hat called a bolero.
Personality[]
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I think not, Artemis Entreri. I know you better than you believe, and surely better than you are comfortable with. You would take no pleasure in killing me in such a manner and would hate yourself for the rest of your life for doing so, for stealing from yourself the only chance you might ever have to know the truth. Because that is what this is about, is it not? The truth, your truth, the moment when you hope to either validate your miserable existence or put an end to it.
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~ Drizzt to Entreri about his motivation.
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Entreri was credited as one of the most effective and dangerous assassins in Faerun. His clients thought of him as a sword; if he was assigned with killing someone, that person would be killed. He dedicated one hundred percent of his life to killing and perfecting his killing, having no friends or loved ones and barely feeling any emotions. Despite this, he did not feel that he wasted his life, as he considered himself the most skilled swordsman in the Faerun.
This, however, changed when he met Drizzt Do'urden, someone who was equal if not superior to him in skill, but did so while having loved ones, which proved to Entreri that he had wasted his life. Refusing to accept this, Entreri grew obsessed with defeating Drizzt, hoping that either he would kill Drizzt, proving that his life wasn't wasted, or Drizzt would kill him, ending his pointless existence. When Drizzt finally defeated Entreri but refused to kill him, Entreri broke down, realizing that his existence was a lie.
Jarlaxle Baenre, a drow mercenary Artemis Entreri traveled with for some time, ended up grossly changing the assassin's view of himself. Firstly, he brought him to the dark elf city of Menzoberranzan, where Entreri saw a whole city of killers. After watching the drow apathetically and ruthlessly destroy each other, he began to understand how little fulfillment he would gain from a life without emotions. Secondly, Jarlaxle gave Entreri Idalia's flute, a magical instrument that helped the assassin realize that underneath his apathetic exterior, he was immensely angry at the world for all the horrible things that had happened to him during his childhood.
Despite that his alignment being Lawful Evil, he was not truly evil. He was just a miserable human who has very great concern to little children, because it reminded him of how he was exploited when he was a child. He tended to mind his own business with others, but if he witnessed a child being raped or murdered, he descended into a murderous rage and will viciously slay the abuser. He truly hates and despises child abusers, pedophiles and child murderers, which makes him rather heroic. In addition to this he does have a standard of honor, and only kills people that he feels he has to kill.
Power and Abilities[]
Artemis Entreri was an incredibly skilled swordsman, being considered the best in the world by some. With the exception of Drizzt, Entreri could beat any opponent at sword-to-sword combat. He was also incredibly agile and fit, and remained this way even as he got older. These skills were amplified by his tactical mind, and he knew what best to do and say in every situation.
Artemis Entreri's prized possession was his vampiric dagger, that drained the life force of anyone he, anywhere they were stabbed, and gave it to its wielder. Although Entreri didn't know it for a long time, the dagger also stole the souls of anyone who was killed with it.
For a time, Artemis Entreri held the magic sword Charon's Claw. Charon's Claw lethally poisoned anyone who it even nicked, as well as giving Entreri infravision and the ability to create opaque black walls. However, after Herzgo Alegni used the sword to enslave him, Entreri destroyed it.
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Yinochek (father; deceased)
- Shanali (mother; deceased)
- Belrigger (step-father; presumed deceased)
- Tosso (Non-biological uncle; presumed deceased)
Allies[]
- Calimport Underworld:
- Pasha Basadoni (formerly/betrayed)
- LaValle
- Pasha Pook
- Dondon Tiggerwillies (formerly/betrayed)
- Rassiter (formerly/betrayed)
- Dwahvel Tiggerwillies
- Dendybar the Mottled
- Sydney
- Jeirden (formerly/betrayed)
- Cadderly Bonaduce
- Danica Bonaduce
- Calihye (lover; formerly)
- Dahlia Sinfelle (lover; formerly)
- Amber Gristle O'Maul
- Afafrenfere
- Effron Alegni
Enemies[]
- Unamed Merchant
- Calimport Underworld:
- Theebles Royuset (victim)
- Rassiter (victim)
- Pasha Basadoni (victim)
- Kohrin Soulez
- The Companions of the Hall:
- Drizzt Do'Urden (former archnemesis)
- Regis
- Catti-bree Battlehammer
- Menzberranzan:
- Berelip Xorlarrin (victim)
- Numerous unnamed priestesses
- Rai-guy Bondalek
- Kimmuriel Oblodra
- House Baenre
- Tiago Baenre
- Jarlaxle Baenre
- Gromph Baenre
- Berg'inyon Baenre (victim)
- The Shadowvar:
- Unnamed Shadowvar agent
- Herzgo Alegni (temporary archnemesis)
- Charon's Claw
- The Crenshinibon
- Kazmil-urshula-kelloakizilian
- Calihye
Quotes[]
The Icewind Dale Trilogy[]
Legacy of the Drow[]
Sellswords[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Artemis remains one of the most popular D&D characters. He was voted fifth in the "Underdark All-Stars Poll" on Wizards of the Coast's website and was also rated as one of Dungeons & Dragons' top twenty most infamous and most powerful villains.
- According to R.A Salvatore, when the Wizards of the Coast got rid of the assassin class in the Forgotten Realms, they told him to kill off Entreri. However, Salvatore had grown attached to the character, and told them that he was just a fighter who killed people for money, not an assassin.
External Links[]
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