| “ | I am he who rules the world, don't you know? One little bit at a time. I am the stuff of Riordan Parnell's most outrageous song and a confused memory for those whose lives I've entered and departed. | „ |
| ~ Jarlaxle about himself. |
| “ | Of course, I knew Zakneifen. He and I were friends, if I can be said to have any friends. We were not so different, he and I. We both survived. We both found a way to thrive in a hostile land, in a place we despised but could not find the courage to leave. | „ |
| ~ Jarlaxle to Drizzt. |
| “ | Sane is boring. | „ |
| ~ Jarlaxle. |
Jarlaxle Baenre is a major character in the Forgotten Realms. He is a major character in R.A Salvatore's The Legend of Drizzt, serving a secondary antagonist of Exile, Legacy, and Siege of Darkness, the main antagonist of A Silent Blade, an overarching antagonist of The Pirate King, a supporting character of Starless Night, and The Neverwinter Saga, and the tritagonist of The Ghost King. He is also one of the two protagonists of the Sellswords trilogy and the main antagonist of the Fall Session of Waterdeep Dragon Heist.
He is the charismatic leader of the drow mercenary band Bregan D'aerth who operated in the drow city of Menzoberranzan, and worked for whoever they believed would benefit them the most. As the years passed, Jarlaxle grew increasingly more interested in the surface, initially trying to expand Bregan D'aerth there but later just traveling around going on adventures himself.
Appearance[]
Thin, attractive, and tightly muscled, Jarlaxle was the dandy of Menzoberranzan. He chose the brightest colors for his clothes and wore a cape that shone in every color in both the visible and infrared spectra. He commonly wore high boots and bracelets that could be made to be clack loudly or be silent at his discretion. He also wore a magical eye patch that protected his mind from magical and psionic intrusions and allowed him to see through walls and other solid objects. He often shifted the patch from eye to eye to keep others guessing as to its powers. Another staple item was his wide-brimmed hat, plumed with a diatryma feather and worn atop his clean-shaven scalp, which was a symbol of his refusal to conform to society's expectations in Menzoberranzan, a society where rank and position were reflected by hair style.
Jarlaxle walked with mild limp from an injury that never completely healed.
Personality[]
More than anything, Jarlaxle was an opportunist. His wealth was considerable, but official station in draw society meant nothing to him. He observed that the best way for a male to survive and prosper in the matriarchal drawn society was to be outside the system and to be too valuable to be eliminated — and he was audacious enough to take his life in that direction. Always calm and graceful, Jarlaxle enjoyed flaunting his independence and was proud of the fact that the noble houses come to him for aid. In the city of Menzoberranzan, intrigue and double-dealing were a way of life, and no one played them better than Jarlaxle did.
As a male outsider who had no qualms dealing with the "lesser races," Jarlaxle had much information few others beyond Lolth's priestesses were likely to have access to. He was one of the most powerful males, if not individuals, in the city and the surrounding Underdark. He benefited from the chaos of Menzoberranzan and was always able to align himself with the winning side in any conflict. In his later years, he preferred to see adventure and profit in the World Above. He found that he felt most alive when he was with friends and when he was taking risks.
He had a very charismatic personality, always willing to talk his way out of situations rather than resort to force of arms. Moreover, talking was what Jarlaxle did best. His words easily worked past the handicap of his race's evil reputation, able to turn potential enemies into allies. He loved irony, sarcasm, and wit. He was extremely intelligent and a brilliant tactician who was always prepared for any imaginable or unimaginable circumstances. He also preferred to avoid killing someone as long as that person could be manipulated to serve his interests, no matter how small his or her role might be. In fact, Jarlaxle didn't like to kill somebody unless he had to, an unusual trait in a drow — and likely the reason he did so in the first place. Several times, he played the hero just for the sake of it.
His lieutenant Kimmuriel Oblodra revealed a deep understanding of Jarlaxle's personality. He recognized that his gambling and sometimes foolish-seeming attitude was a very good façade, underneath which lay a frighteningly intelligent mind.
Trivia[]
- Jarlaxle is one of the most well-known Forgotten Realms characters, perhaps even more so than his enemy-turned-friend Drizzt Do'Urden.
External Links[]
- Jarlaxle on the Forgotten Realms wiki
- Jarlaxle on the LGBTQIA+ Character Wikia
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The Legend of Drizzt Villains | ||
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Pirates of Luskan Calimport Underworld Sentient Artifacts Demons Dragons Drows Army of Many-Arrows Shadowvar Red Wizards of Thay Others | ||