Artemis Entreri

Artemis Entreri (once known as Barrabus the Gray) was a ruthless assassin and the former arch-nemesis of Drizzt Do'Urden. A cunning and tactical assassin, Entreri lived an empty life, devoid of any kind of pleasure, existing only to kill. The passage of time caused him to soften his sentiments, but never his fighting edge. He was credited with being one of the most feared and effective assassins in Faerûn.
==Description==
Artemis Entreri was not very tall (in fact, considered "small") but he was compact with wiry muscles. He was possessed of angular features, striking high cheekbones, and prominent sideburns. Though he was usually clean-shaven, Artemis always seemed to need a shave. He had brown skin, which was later tinged with a grayish hue. His raven-black hair was thick and full, but his eyes were gray and lifeless, portraying the emptiness of his life and his soul. When he was about 40 years old, Artemis had the lean athleticism of a man half his age. While traveling with the drow elf Jarlaxle, Artemis was often seen wearing a small-brimmed black hat called a bolero.
As humans aged far more quickly than elves, Artemis first started to feel the bite of age in 1364 DR, while Drizzt was still as agile and powerful as he was when the two of them first met. On the way to Damara, Artemis inadvertently stole the life-force of a shade with his vampiric dagger. He then appeared to have reversed age a full decade, and his aging slowed considerably. It was likely that he would live as long as an elf or dwarf, however.
In 1484 DR, Artemis appeared to be 40 years old.
==Personality==
Artemis was a professional and always had an air of control about him. Every move he made or word he spoke was calculated to achieve a desired effect. He never allowed emotions or the circumstances, no matter how dire, to master him. Underneath this facade, however, he was terribly angry, which he recognized in himself only with the influence of Idalia's flute.
Artemis tirelessly maintained himself in top condition, and constantly sought to improve his martial skills. He was extremely cunning, able to out-think as well as outfight his opponents. Artemis vowed to "never leave an enemy in his wake" and he did not take threats lightly. However, for the most part, those who were not enemies of Artemis or his allies had nothing to fear from him. He did in fact have his own code of honor, although it was sometimes obscured.
Artemis's greatest hatred and disgust was reserved for those who were willing to hurt or betray their children for their own benefit or to save themselves. This was because of events in his childhood.
Artemis's time spent traveling with Drizzt Do'Urden in the 15th century DR changed him. He was generally less angry and became willing to defend his allies as well as entertain the notion of having friends.
==History==
===Early Years===
Artemis revealed little about his past to others, but some things were known about his early life. He was born into the streets of Memnon in Calimshan to a prostitute named Shanali. He was constantly abused by his "father", Belrigger, and was molested by his uncle Tosso. Eventually, his mother sold him to a pedophile merchant who was, if anything, worse than his uncle; presumably, this is how he came to Calimport. 
In Calimport, he was taken in by the thieves' guild ruled by Pasha Basadoni.
===First Clash with the Companions of the Hall===
Under Pasha Pook's command, Artemis Entreri chased the halfling Regis for nearly five years before finding him in Icewind Dale in 1356 DR. There he kidnapped Catti-brie to hold an advantage over Bruenor Battlehammer, Wulfgar, Drizzt Do'Urden, and Regis. He was met by some allies on the way from Luskan, though during the chase they each eventually died. Artemis finally located the Companions in Mithral Hall, where he fought Drizzt for the first time, however, their fight was interrupted by the shadow dragon Shimmergloom and neither warrior could call himself victor.
To ensure that he would get his fight again, Artemis kidnapped Regis as well as Guenhwyvar. Drizzt and Wulfgar chased Entreri all the way to Calimport, and there Drizzt again fought Entreri. Their fight reached the streets of Calimport, where the scared citizens broke up the fight to try and kill Drizzt, believing him to be a drow scout from the Forest of Mir and a prelude to an army. Entreri wanted to see who was the better fighter and so eventually became obsessed with destroying or defeating Drizzt.
===Involvement with the drow===
To get another fight against Drizzt, Artemis went to greater lengths, allying with the band of drow mercenaries called Bregan D'aerthe. In 1357 DR, the mercenaries were bringing Drizzt from Mithral Hall to Menzoberranzan and allowed Artemis to have his fight. The fight never truly ended because of various interferences and when Artemis managed to get his fight once again, Regis was the factor that resulted in his loss. Artemis fell off the side of a mountain and was left for dead.
Artemis was rescued by Jarlaxle and Bregan D'aerthe, though none in Mithral Hall knew of this. They brought him to Menzoberranzan, where he felt like a prisoner and slave to the drow there, something he utterly despised. He was also used by the drow priestesses (including Berellip Xorlarrin) as a plaything; they were fondest of making love to him while dangling him over the Clawrift. When Catti-brie and Drizzt came to Menzoberranzan, Artemis entered into an unlikely alliance with the two in order to escape the Underdark.
===Return to Calimport===
By 1364 DR, Artemis had returned to Calimport to once again stake out his territory. His friend LaValle helped him rise once again in power. Eventually, however, he wound up in the hands of Bregan D'aerthe once more, with Jarlaxle seeing him as their opportunity to extend operations into Calimshan. Artemis, with the help of Bregan D'aerthe, took over the guild of Pasha Basadoni and as a reward, he was allowed a fight with Drizzt. Bregan D'aerthe took Crenshinibon from Drizzt and forced him into its crystal tower, Cryshal-Tirith, where Drizzt and Artemis fought for a final time with no outside interference. However, the heads of the two opponents clashed and temporarily Artemis lost his sight, something that gave Drizzt the advantage, causing Entreri to lose. Drizzt was about to leave the crystal tower feeling the fight was over and that nothing was proved with it, but Entreri was enraged and went to attack Drizzt. Drizzt defended himself, but Kimmuriel Oblodra bestowed a kinetic shield on Artemis that resulted in Drizzt taking some serious wounds. Although Jarlaxle made Rai-guy Bondalek heal Drizzt moments later, Artemis was not told that his rival was in fact alive. He felt betrayed, unsure if he would have fairly won the fight or not.
He returned to Calimport once more with calculating plans. With Bregan D'aerthe sponsoring his activities in Calimport, Entreri waged war against all other thieves guilds and the Basadoni Guild, now a faction of Bregan D'aerthe. Entreri obtained Charon's Claw, a powerful Netherese sword that he acquired by killing its owner, Kohrin Soulez. Eventually, Artemis became something of a king in Calimport. However, Entreri grew wary of Jarlaxle's lieutenants (Kimmuriel and Rai-guy), whom he hated, and of Jarlaxle himself, who was growing more and more fascinated with Crenshinibon. However, Artemis felt that he would be unable to escape the wrath of Kimmuriel and Rai-guy without Jarlaxle's protection, so he devised a plan to protect Jarlaxle when the lieutenants and Berg'inyon Baenre tried to steal Crenshinibon and supplant Jarlaxle as ruler of Bregan D'aerthe. Artemis was able to obtain Crenshinibon and resist its psychic influence through sheer willpower. He and Jarlaxle then fled to Spirit Soaring, where Cadderly Bonaduce and his allies waited for them, expecting an attack by the wielders of Crenshinibon.
Entreri and Jarlaxle made it clear that they wanted the destruction of the artifact, which made them ally with Cadderly and his wife, Danica Maupoissant, in order to destroy it with the fire of the red dragon Hephaestus. Things were complicated by tensions between Entreri and Danica as well as an ambush by Rai-guy and his allies, including the illithid Yharaskrik, but the team eventually completed the task and the shard was destroyed—or so it was believed. Entreri, who had experienced some change of heart through his adventures, saved Danica's life instead of leaving her to die. Cadderly expected him and Jarlaxle to reform and renounce their evil ways; when they refused, he left them to go their own way. Jarlaxle had the option of returning to his band, but he elected to hand over its leadership temporarily to Kimmuriel and adventure with the assassin instead of going back to the Underdark.
===The Bloodstone Lands===
In 1367 DR, Artemis and Jarlaxle were assaulted by Shadovar hoping to reclaim Charon's Claw for the Netherese. Artemis used his vampiric dagger against a shade, which inadvertently made Artemis part-shade, making Charon's Claw feel a certain affinity for him and possibly giving it more sway over him in the future.
Artemis and Jarlaxle ended up in Damara, where they were employed by the dragon sisters Tazmikella and Ilnezhara. They fought the lich Herminicle Duperdas and the dracolich Urshula. They were then recruited into a task-force instructed by King Gareth Dragonsbane to investigate a replica of Castle Perilous in Vaasa and the possible return of Zhengyi the Witch-King. In a bizarre turn of events, Jarlaxle claimed the castle and the surrounding lands for "King Artemis I of the Kingdom of D'aerthe," provoking the ire of King Gareth. Artemis, however, was more preoccupied with Idalia's flute and his awakened past emotions than with Jarlaxle's antics. Artemis and Jarlaxle eventually retreated with the help of Bregan D'aerthe and Artemis headed for Calimshan. There he settled accounts with all those who abused him, killing Yinochek and allowing Pinochek to live only with an ultimatum. Artemis refused to continue on in the company of Jarlaxle, whose actions (particularly involving the flute) he viewed as gross manipulation.
At some point after their parting, Jarlaxle betrayed Artemis to the Netherese, who were seeking Charon's Claw, in Baldur's Gate. In truth, Jarlaxle had found himself trapped and forced to capture Artemis in an extra-dimensional pocket for the Netherese, but he had intended to rescue Artemis immediately thereafter. However, the drow was manipulated by Kimmuriel Oblodra and Matron Mother Quenthel Baenre and psionically forced to forget about that event, believing instead that Entreri had in fact betrayed him. However, Entreri was never privy to that information and never forgave Jarlaxle. The Netherese lord Herzgo Alegni then obtained Charon's Claw from Draygo Quick and tied Entreri's life-force to the sword, forcing Entreri to serve him and making it so that Entreri could not die while in the service of Charon's Claw.
===Barrabus the Gray===
In the 15th century DR, Entreri, now known as "Barrabus the Gray", served Herzgo Alegni as spy and assassin in Neverwinter and Neverwinter Wood. Barrabus helped the citizens of New Neverwinter against the Thayans, giving the Shadovar the citizens' favor. In honor of Barrabus, the citizens renamed the Winged Wyvern Bridge as "the Walk of Barrabus", but Alegni, who held a fondness for the bridge, forced them to rename it the "Herzgo Alegni Bridge", a feat he had achieved before Mount Hotenow erupted. Alegni ordered Barrabus to kill Dahlia Sin'felle, but Artemis ended up joining forces with Dahlia and Drizzt Do'Urden, who were both out on a quest to kill the Thayan commander Sylora Salm. Artemis assisted them in killing Salm because he hoped they they might help him in killing Alegni.
The pair then decided to allow Artemis to help them get revenge on Alegni, and in the process free Artemis from the grasp of Charon's Claw. They succeeded in retrieving the sword, believing they had killed Alegni. In truth, Alegni had made it to the Shadowfell ,where he was healed and tasked with retrieving the Netherese artifact. Artemis's group headed for Gauntlgrym, where they believed they could destroy the sword and thus allow Artemis to die. Despite Alegni's forces, Drizzt was able to throw the sword over the rim of the pit where the fire primordial Maegera resided. The sword was presumed destroyed and its hold over Artemis broken. Artemis, unexpectedly, did not keel over on the spot but continued to live.
After being freed from the enslavement of Charon's Claw, Artemis ceased using the name Barrabus and returned to his old name. In Neverwinter, Arunika placed a magical dweomer on Artemis to spy on him unknowingly from afar. He continued to travel with Drizzt and Dahlia (as well as Ambergris, Afafrenfere, and later Effron), after being lured to Port Llast by Drizzt offering the possibility of retrieving his lost jeweled dagger. Along the way, he developed a close relationship with Dahlia. He and Dahlia ended up petrified in the home of Draygo Quick after a botched rescue attempt for Guenhwyvar. They were turned back into flesh when Jarlaxle rescued the entire group. Artemis traveled with the group to Icewind Dale, where they spent a night on the edge of Iruladoon that lasted eighteen years in the real world. When they returned to civilization and found how much time had passed, Drizzt opted to stay and ended his relationship with Dahlia, who attacked him in fury. Artemis was last seen pulling Dahlia off of Drizzt, but not before the drow was gravely wounded.
===Capture===
Artemis continued to travel with Dahlia, Effron, Ambergris, and Afafrenfere. They headed to Luskan, but when Artemis learned that Jarlaxle might be there, they went instead to Port Llast. There they (except Effron) were captured by a drow band led by Tiago Baenre and taken to Q'Xorlarrin. He was hung in a cage close to Dahlia, who was driven insane by the illithid Methil El-Viddenvelp. Artemis managed to escape by picking the lock with his thumbnail; he was subsequently "rescued" by Drizzt Do'Urden and the reborn Companions of the Hall. He refused to travel with them and instead tarried in Q'Xorlarrin with Dahlia's corpse, killing Berellip Xorlarrin.
The last word of Artemis was that he had escaped Q'Xorlarrin.
Artemis was later journeying with Jarlaxle and Drizzt to rescue Dahlia from Menzoberranzan. It wasn't clear if Artemis and Jarlaxle had reconciled. Artemis tried to return to the City of Spiders to save Drizzt after the drow loyally refused to have one of his friends killed in return for his own freedom. Jarlaxle stopped him and they most likely headed to Luskan.
==Abilities==
Artemis specialized in a two-weapon fighting style with the use of a dagger and a sword. He generally wielded his jeweled dagger as a main-gauche in his left hand with a sword or saber in his right.
A fast learner, even if he observed a particular combat maneuver just once or twice, he was able to adapt it to his choice of weapons and duplicate it effectively in battle. 
Later in his life, Artemis was able to see in the dark innately, as a gift from Jarlaxle. Before that, in Menzoberranzan, he had worn a cat's eye circlet to be able to see in the dark.
Artemis was able to peel off the top layer of his thumbnail and use it as a lock pick. He kept his thumbnail long for this purpose.
==Possessions==
Artemis carried a number of signature items over his years.
; Vampiric dagger / Jeweled dagger:
: This emerald-studded dagger was Artemis's signature weapon as an assassin. Created by a Thayan necromancer named Thivris Ull in the , it was stolen by Thivris' apprentice, who fled to his former home in Calimport. Pasha Pook would later order the assassination of that apprentice's great-great grandson with Entreri performing the deed, and taking the dagger for himself. It was long the most recognized and feared weapon in Calimport. With a single strike, the magical weapon could drain the life force of the victim and use it to heal the wielder. The blade could also emanate a fiery white light. Artemis sometimes used the dagger in interrogation, pricking his victim on the palm and starting its life-draining magic; he rarely had to wait long before the victim yielded. When Artemis was seriously hurt, he could use the dagger to heal himself at the expense of a poor beggar or drunkard who happened to pass by. At some point (likely during Jarlaxle's betrayal), Artemis lost the dagger and it wound up in the hands of Beniago, a Bregan D'aerthe lieutenant posing as a human of Ship Kurth. Drizzt used the retrieval of the knife as incentive for Artemis to go with him to Port Llast.
:It was an evil weapon, and if used to kill someone, their soul was utterly destroyed, preventing resurrection. It also proved able to absorb some of the magical abilities of it's victims, bestowing them upon it's wielder, such as when Entreri used it to kill a shade and absorbed some of their shadow-manipulation abilities.
;Charon's Claw:
: In 1366 DR, Artemis took the artifact from Kohrin Soulez after tricking Soulez into grabbing the blade without the proper gauntlet. It became one of his signature items, but also made him a target for the Netherese. Later it enabled Herzgo Alegni to enslave him. Entreri attributed his long lifespan to Charon's Claw, though it was unclear whether this was the case or not. In the , desiring death, Entreri therefore traveled to Gauntlgrym to throw the blade into the body of Maegera, with Drizzt actually doing the deed, but it was not destroyed inside the magma primordial, and was retrieved intact and fully-functional by Jarlaxle and Catti-Brie after 24 years of being entombed in molten rock.
;Bolero
: Artemis received a small-brimmed black hat, called a "bolero", from Jarlaxle. Though looking inconspicuous, the hat, like every item of Jarlaxle's, has beneficial properties, magical and mechanical in nature. It had the ability to chill its wearer's body temperature to better help him or her hide from eyes seeing in the heat-sensing spectrum and it had a wire inset into the band that held the hat in place on top of Artemis' head even when falling off a horse.
;Idalia's flute:
: Artemis received Idalia's flute from the dragon sisters Tazmikella and Ilnezhara in 1367 DR. For Artemis, playing the flute helped to clear his thoughts. However, the flute also brought up old, unwelcome memories and placed Artemis in a state of emotional turmoil. He eventually broke the flute into two pieces and threw them to the ground at Jarlaxle's feet, wanting no more to do with it (or Jaxlaxle). He viewed that flute as part of Jarlaxle's attempt to manipulate him.
;Nightmare statuette
: A figurine of wondrous power in the form of an obsidian horse was given to him by Jarlaxle. When summoned from the Lower Planes, it turned into a nightmare with flaming hooves. The summoned horse never tired and was resistant to most non-magical attacks. The magic was limited however, and the horse disappeared when the magic of its statuette ran out. The magic recharged after some time, leaving the horse ready to ride again. The nightmare could be dispelled by powerful countermagic and temporarily sent back to the Lower Planes. The steed was fearless and charged forward with reckless abandon. Artemis continued to carry the statuette as Barrabus.
;Belt-buckle knife
: As Barrabus, Artemis wore a belt buckle that could turn into a knife.
;Cloak
: Artemis possessed a cloak of the bat that could transform into a pair of bat wings that allowed him to fly, but nearly resulted in his death.
;Sword
: Artemis at one time carried a slender sword that emitted a greenish-blue light.
;Cat's Eye circlet
: For a time, he wore a Cat's Eye circlet that allowed him to see in the infrared spectrum to an extent.
He was known to make use of poison, such as from the rockstinger fish.
==Relationships==
===Dwahvel Tiggerwillies===
Artemis's first true friendship was with the halfling Dwahvel Tiggerwillies, with whom he spoke openly, sharing opinions and thoughts he shared with nobody else. He trusted her as a confidant, informer, and helper. When they parted ways, Artemis wrote her a very moving letter written in a way that caused Artemis himself to doubt that he was the letter's author.
===Jarlaxle===
The relationship between Jarlaxle and Artemis was often strained, but the two traveled together for many years and seemed to have developed some form of friendship—perhaps more so on the part of Jarlaxle, who considered Artemis a friend and even a century later grieved at the idea of his death. Jarlaxle and Artemis met when Vierna Do'Urden employed Artemis to help find, capture, and fight against Drizzt Do'Urden. After Artemis was trapped in the Underdark, Jarlaxle gave him advice and missions, perhaps his only solace from the drow.
In Calimport, Artemis rescued Jarlaxle—claiming he needed the drow for protection—and escaped the wrath of Rai-Guy and Kimmuriel during the Bregan D'aerthe takeover. The pair continued to work together as mercenaries and treasure hunters in the Bloodstone Lands. During their many travels, Jarlaxle tried to use Idalia's flute to make him resolve his emotional problems, but Artemis came to view that as part of Jarlaxle's manipulation of him. Artemis was later betrayed by Jarlaxle to the Netherese and never forgave him, although he did not know the full story, which was that Jarlaxle had every intention of rescuing him but was manipulated by forces outside his control.
Jarlaxle and Artemis did not come face-to-face after the betrayal (Artemis was a statue during his release from Draygo Quick's clutches). Artemis refused to enter Luskan because of the possibility that Jarlaxle might be there. He also originally believed that Jarlaxle was behind his capture and removal to Q'Xorlarrin.
===Drizzt Do'Urden===
When Drizzt ran into Artemis as Barrabus the Gray, Artemis found that he was no longer jealous of Drizzt (claiming he had grown "bored" of him) and found that he now trusted the drow. For his part, Drizzt had the chance to kill Artemis and decided not to, finding that he was a welcome reminder of the past. Drizzt even gave up the chance to exchange Artemis and Charon's Claw for the captured Guenhwyvar, although he felt like a "miserable friend" afterwards. He became somewhat jealous of Artemis when the intimacy between him and Dahlia became clear, but Drizzt later let that go.
Just before believing he would die, Artemis admitted he had always envied Drizzt but "not for [his] blades."
===Calihye===
Entreri met the scarred bounty hunter Calihye while in the Bloodstone Lands. She blamed Entreri when her dear friend Parissus was killed in battle, as he had driven a cart over Parissus as she lay dying, but Calihye found herself falling in love with Entreri despite that, thereby muting her desire for revenge. Entreri had feelings for her too, however, when Artemis was exiled from Damara, the thought of him leaving her after she had lost Parissus and made herself emotionally vulnerable to him despite that, so offended Calihye that she attacked him, stabbing him multiple times. Entreri lived however, and he ended up throwing her out of an upstairs window.
===Dahlia Sin'felle===
During their travels, Dahlia Sin'felle and Artemis bonded through an understanding that came from shared past experiences. Dahlia was the first person in his life he ever told about the traumatic events in his childhood. Dahlia grew quite close to him and didn't want him to die. They became quite intimate, sharing a bed at least once. It was Artemis who tried to prevent Dahlia from killing Drizzt. He believed he was mentoring her in anger, love, and self-hate.
==Appendix==
===Gallery===
Artemis Entreri.jpg|Art by Matt Wilson.
Witch king det02.jpg|Art by Todd Lockwood.
Artemis Entreri - RotP - Todd Lockwood.jpg|Art by Todd Lockwood.
Artemis Entreri TotM.png|Entreri as he appears in Tyrants of the Moonsea.
===Appearances===
===Quotations===
===References===
de:Artemis Entreri
Category:Rangers
Category:Rogues
Category:Fighters
Category:Assassins
Category:Calishites
Category:Humans
Category:Shades
Category:Assassins (occupation)
Category:Members of House Basadoni
Category:Inhabitants of Memnon
Category:Inhabitants of Calimport
Category:Inhabitants of Calimshan
Category:Inhabitants of Menzoberranzan
Category:Inhabitants of the Northdark
Category:Inhabitants of the Upperdark
Category:Inhabitants of the Underdark
Category:Inhabitants of West Faerûn
Category:Inhabitants of Neverwinter
Category:Inhabitants of the Sword Coast North
Category:Inhabitants of Northwest Faerûn
Category:Inhabitants of the Bloodstone Lands
Category:Inhabitants of the Cold Lands
Category:Inhabitants of Northeast Faerûn
Category:Inhabitants of Faerûn
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Category:Inhabitants