Balor

Balors ( ), or type VI demons, were the quintessential anarchists of the Abyss, and in some respects the manifestation of the tanar'ric side of the Blood War. Whether acting as generals for demon lord armies or even as minor princelings themselves, balors were warmongering paragons of burning rage that inspired violent defiance against the legions of Hell.
==Description==
Balors were imposing humanoid figures that stood about tall and weighed . A powerful aura of darkness enveloped their grotesque forms, as their deep red skin was wrapped in glaring flames. A pair of massive bat-like wings allowed them to soar throughout the air with unnatural agility. Although they were naturally armed with venom-dripping fangs and fearsome claws, they were also normally armed with a sword of lightning and a multi-tailed whip of flame.
==Personality==
Rising above the cold, emotionless logic of the mariliths was the passionate rage of the balors. Driven by an overwhelming and primal urge to do battle, balors constantly strove to increase their own power and prestige, all while sowing chaos, terror, and misery for others. They were creatures caught within their own spells of overpowering fervor, from the highest points of conceit to the lowest levels of self-hatred, constantly pushing themselves to unleash their emotions and obtain a release they would never find.
Despite their raw fury, they were still highly intelligent beings capable of concocting vile schemes. Their wicked charisma allowed them to sway legions of demons underneath their banners, enjoying battle as much as they delighted in the subtle corruption and destruction of the innocent.
==Abilities==
Balors were beings of flame and cinders, constantly exuding fire too hot for most to bear, being immune to fire themselves, and exploding into a lurid flash of light that destroyed everything nearby upon death. Their flaming whips had tails ending in hooks, spikes, and balls, allowing them to easily draw in those netted by them. Balors were able to summon hordes of dretches, other weak demons, or smaller numbers of more powerful tanar'ri.
As tanar'ri, they were resistant to most forms of energy, specifically being immune to electricity and poison, while resistant to cold and acid. This combined with their tough exterior and magic resistance, made them incredibly hard to kill in combat.
The magical capabilities of the balor were largely based around controlling the battlefield while destroying those in its path with devastating strength. Their magic allowed them to dominate powerful beings; drive creatures into insanity, which could only be stopped with powerful magic; instantly paralyze, weaken, or kill any non-evil creature in its presence; or weave great fire storms from nothing. Their most powerful ability. however, was to cause creatures it focused on to implode, instantly killing them.
The few who were particularly ambitious could further increase their power through training, with some of them deciding to properly learn wizardry which always had devastating results. As one of the most magically gifted out of all tanar'ri within the Abyss, they were capable of reaching the heights of magic, usually picking straightforward schools of magic such as evocation. Long was the list of areas laid to waste by the sorcerous battles between balors and similarly trained pit fiends. 
==Combat==
Despite their overwhelming power, many balors favored scheming and plotting rather than doing battle on the front lines. They preferred to battle from afar using their spells, abilities, and ranged weapons, utilizing their incredible flying speed and teleportation skills to navigate the battlefield with ease.
Balors nevertheless enjoyed battle. If forced to fight in close range, they used their flaming whips to entangle and force a target into range of the potent flames they constantly emitted or their powerful vorpal swords, with which they could either heavily wound or finish off their targets.
Balors typically began battle by enveloping themselves in their unholy auras and using their most powerful spells from the start in order to quickly take control of the fight, summoning additional demons if needed to overrun their enemies. After doing so, it would stay out of range while using its remaining spells to weaken or kill the remaining foes. However, if feeling unthreatened, they would typically use nonlethal attacks and spells while saving their strength, focusing on capturing or disabling their victims. When fighting head on, balors focused incessantly on one opponent at a time.
==Society==
While many believed that there were only twenty-four balors within the Abyss, this was merely the number that were known at one point. Rather than stay within specific areas, most balors roamed the Abyss gathering soldiers to create their armies, giving them commands in their battles against the baatezu. Typically a tanar'ri horde was lead by a marilith, with balors commanding multiple hordes in larger battles.
Balors were the very heart of the Blood War, their wrathful devotion an awesome inspiration that roused furious bloodlust in their inferiors, a display that the logical moves of the mariliths couldn't hope to match. Because they were among the most important demons in regards to the Blood War, the balors could be said to be part of the Abyss's immune system against Hell, ironically causing them to lean towards organized evil.
Their relationship with other demons was complicated due to the position and views of the balors. Glabrezus were favored by balors due to their corrupting influence and use of temptation against mortals. Mariliths and nalfeshnees viewed the balors as unnecessary figures only in command due to their power, and that their greater intelligence and tactical skills were superior. Nalfeshnees in particular would take every opportunity to undermine the Blood War and embarrass their balor masters rather than directly challenge their authority. In general, balors were dreaded beings who preferred to be around creatures just short of their own power rather than weaklings or equals. While two balors might occasionally team up, any alliance would normally break after some time had passed due to their natural competitiveness.
On the other hand, beings more powerful than the balor did exist, such as the molydei and klurichirs. The former, despite reporting to the balors, worked for their respective demon lords above all else and would not hesitate to report a rebellious balor. Klurichirs were significantly stronger than balors and might casually beat them if they stepped out of line or committed a perceived act of laziness. Demon lords in particular did not favor balors as servants due to their malevolent force of personality and ability to unite demons to their will, hence the molydei to help keep them in line.
===Mortals===
Balors were among the few demons that recognized a crucial underlying principle of the Blood War, that being the other planes. All planes were possible battlegrounds, and the Prime Material Plane in particular was crucial. Balors nearly always benefited from pacts made on the Material Plane by exchanging demonic help for influence on the plane, as with every ally and follower they made, the more magical power flowed back to them for use in the Blood War. As such, balors were some of the most likely demons to work with mortal individuals or groups, if properly invoked and made the right offers and promises. However, any team with a balor among its ranks would be beset by the balor's attempts to either assume a leadership role or usurp it from the current leader. Some balors still lurked within the depths of the natural world, whether in preparation for conquest and bloodshed, or unwillingly bound there.
==Notable Balors==
* Balor, the most powerful balor and for whom the race was named.
* Errtu, archenemy of the Companions of the Hall.
* Chare'en of the Army of Darkness that attacked Myth Drannor. He raised a huge gnoll army in the Thunder Peaks, before being defeated and imprisoned.
* Wendonai, Champion of Lolth. He was sent to corrupt the Ilythiiri and later the drow. In the 1370s DR, he tricked Halisstra Melarn into killing Qilué Veladorn (and Eilistraee with her chosen, albeit only for a century, until her return).
* Baalbisan, one of the demons of Ammon Jerro's Haven. After the trespassing of Kalach-Cha, he was released by Shandra Jerro.
* Axithar
* Badrazel
* Raachaak was a balor general who was plotting to take over the Nine Hells using a legendary bloodforge in 1377 DR.
==Appendix==
===See Also===
*Pit fiend
===Appearances===
:;Adventures
::Dungeon #28, "The Pipes of Doom" • Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus • City of the Spider Queen
:;
::Hellgate Keep
:;Novels
::The Crystal Shard • Siege of Darkness • Passage to Dawn • The Paladins • The Glass Prison • Sacrifice of the Widow • Ascendancy of the Last • The Crystal Mountain • The Last Threshold • Archmage
:;Video Games
::Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn • Neverwinter Nights • Neverwinter Nights 2 • Sword Coast Legends • Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford
:;Board Games
::Faerûn Under Siege
===Gallery===
Legendary Evils - Balor.jpg|The balor miniature from the "Legendary Evils" set.
NwN Balor.jpg|A balor from the Neverwinter Nights game editor.
Neverwinter_Nights_2_-_Creatures_-_Balor.png|A balor from the game editor of Neverwinter Nights 2.
Dragon_Magazine_297_-_Neverwinter_Nights_Promotion_p19.png|A NWN promotional image from Dragon #297 on page 19.
Monstrous_Manual_2e_-_Balor_-_p332.png|A balor from the 2e Monstrous Manual.''
Yeenoghu's_Balor.jpg|250|A balor of Yeenoghu.
Balor 3e concept art.jpg|3-edition concept art.
Balor CLB.jpg|Also a balor.
Avance balo.png|A balor from Deathkeep.
===Further Reading===
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===References===
===Connections===
FR:Balor
de:Balor
Category:Creatures found in the Abyss