Errtu
Encyclopedia
Errtu is a balor
, a true tanar'ri (chaotic evil demon) in the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, chiefly in the Forgotten Realms
campaign setting
. Errtu was featured as a villain of the first book in the Icewind Dale
trilogy, The Crystal Shard by R. A. Salvatore, and the main villain of Passage to Dawn, the final book in Salvatore's Legacy of the Drow
series. Second to the assassin Artemis Entreri
and Obould Many-Arrows, Errtu is the greatest nemesis and most powerful and dangerous foe of the drow renegade, Drizzt Do'Urden
, though Errtu has described himself as 'he who hates Drizzt
most'.
Despite that, Errtu is intelligent, and a capable tactician. The simple fact that, unless something greater destroys him in the Abyss (which is unlikely), he will exist for almost eternity, allows him to have considerable patience if it will be rewarded with a considerable increase in power.
He's also able to think laterally, and work around his problems. In Passage to Dawn, he released himself from a wizard's circle by using an anti-magic stone he kept in a bag, a leftover from the Time of Troubles. This dispelled the summoner's protective magic circle, which was otherwise flawless, and likewise disabled Errtu's magical abilities. However, Errtu, massive as he was, did not need them to kill the summoner.
He has been known to cooperate with other evil beings, gaining allies or even being them. In The Crystal Shard he chooses to ally himself with the wizard
Akar Kessel, on the promise that when Kessel died (which wouldn't be long in Errtu's view, even if Kessel died of old age), he would gain Crenshinibon. In Siege of Darkness, he became a reluctant ally of the drow goddess Lolth
— at first because she could obliterate him if he didn't cooperate, and later because she offered him a chance to gain total, personal revenge on Drizzt. A few times he offers subordinate posts to lesser demons to ensure their aid.
and Obould Many-Arrows
, Errtu holds an intense hatred of Drizzt Do'Urden
, a drow outcast. Unlike Entreri, whose rivalry was based on pride and discovering who was the best, Errtu is motivated by sheer malevolence and revenge. Drizzt defeats Errtu twice in the course of his adventures.
The first time, when Errtu was serving as Akar Kessel's general, Drizzt summoned Errtu, to pose as a drow scout and inquire about Crenshinibon. When Errtu discovered Drizzt's ivory unicorn pendant, he attacked the drow, surrounding himself with flames and using his whip to catch Drizzt and pull him into the flames. Upon contact with Drizzt, the flames were extinguished—due to the magic of the as-yet unnamed scimitar Icingdeath. In a confused moment for both of them, Drizzt slashed Errtu with Icingdeath—causing the balor real pain and the blade's magic even freezing the tissues at the edge of the wound. Errtu was shocked—having never even heard of a weapon with that effect—and was stabbed in the stomach before he could recover. The scimitar's magic won out, destroying Errtu's material body and banishing him for a hundred years. As his body dissolved, Errtu reminded Drizzt of their long lifespans and promised revenge.
The second time proved much harder for Drizzt, as the balor had gained the artifact Crenshinibon
, and the balor had used it to build a stronghold in the Sea of Moving Ice, a body of water west of Icewind Dale and dotted with icebergs. Despite his dislike of cold, Errtu chose the place because of its natural barriers. He opened a gate to the Abyss and let innumerable lesser fiends through, as well as more powerful demons. Drizzt and his friends managed to fight their way through, and confronted Errtu in an ice cave.
This time, Errtu had space to fly, and repeatedly teleported around the room, using his flames to melt nearby ice and fill the floor with water—in which he would periodically thrust his lightning-bladed sword to shock the companions.
Drizzt and his friends would have died, if Wulfgar had not joined in the fight. Together, the companions managed to bring Errtu out of the air, where Drizzt could strike with Icingdeath.
's Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, its name being listed among the others in the appendices of the Dungeon Master Guide. As originally envisioned, there were only six Type VI Demons in existence, with each having its own individual name, unlike lesser demons (Types I through III and lower) which had only a species name (Type III being Glabrezu, for example.) The other five were Ndulu, Ter-Soth, Alzoll, Wendonai, and the greatest of all was named Balor. Both the description of the creature, with its fiery aura and sword and flaming whip, and the name "Balor" itself (taken from Irish mythology, see Balor
) were intentionally reminiscent of the Balrog
from The Lord of the Rings
. Starting with Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition, in the Outer Planes Appendix of the Monster Compendium, the Type I - VI designation of Demon types was dropped, and the name Balor was then used to refer to that entire breed of demon as a whole, and their numbers were increased dramatically from only six in existence to perhaps hundreds of thousands, and they were usually no longer given individual names in print, instead merely being referred to as "a Balor demon" or the like, and their individual significance was drastically reduced. As the novel in which Errtu was introduced as a character was written during the time of 1st Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Salvatore adhered to 1E AD&D conventions and chose one of the existing names to use for the demon. Incidentally, Drizzt's slaying and banishment of Errtu would have been a much more notable event in the original context of the novel, as Errtu was one of the only six Type VI Demons in existence, as opposed to being merely one of an innumerable horde of similar creatures which it later became.
Balor (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, a balor is one of the most powerful types of tanar'ri demons. Of all the inhabitants of the Abyss, balors are second in power only to the demon lords, klurichirs, and myrmyxicus...
, a true tanar'ri (chaotic evil demon) in the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, chiefly in the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
. Errtu was featured as a villain of the first book in the Icewind Dale
Icewind Dale
Icewind Dale is a computer role-playing game developed for Windows by Black Isle Studios and published by Interplay Entertainment. Released on June 30, 2000, it takes place in the Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms campaign setting, and is based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition...
trilogy, The Crystal Shard by R. A. Salvatore, and the main villain of Passage to Dawn, the final book in Salvatore's Legacy of the Drow
Legacy of the Drow
The Legacy of the Drow is a New York Times best selling fantasy series. It is the third series by R. A. Salvatore following the adventures of the Forgotten Realms character Drizzt Do'Urden.This series is followed up by the Paths of Darkness series....
series. Second to the assassin Artemis Entreri
Artemis Entreri
Artemis Entreri is a fictional character in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Entreri is depicted as a ruthless assassin and the arch-enemy of Drizzt Do'Urden, the protagonistic dark elf. He is the creation of author R. A...
and Obould Many-Arrows, Errtu is the greatest nemesis and most powerful and dangerous foe of the drow renegade, Drizzt Do'Urden
Drizzt Do'Urden
Drizzt Do'Urden is a fictional character in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Drizzt was created by author R. A. Salvatore as a supporting character in the Icewind Dale Trilogy. Salvatore created him on a whim when his publisher needed to...
, though Errtu has described himself as 'he who hates Drizzt
Drizzt Do'Urden
Drizzt Do'Urden is a fictional character in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Drizzt was created by author R. A. Salvatore as a supporting character in the Icewind Dale Trilogy. Salvatore created him on a whim when his publisher needed to...
most'.
Appearance
Errtu is some twelve feet tall, covered in red scales, with a large pair of bat-like wings and a tail, and is frequently described as having a "horned, ape-like head" (Salvatore 2007) and a "canine maw" (Salvatore 2007). When he's in the throes of lust for power, he drools an acidic saliva. Errtu's voice is gravelly, guttural, and harsh. He is the ruler of a layer of the Abyss characterized by the growth of giant mushrooms, and even has a throne carved into the stalk of one. In battle, Errtu usually uses a many-tailed whip, a sword of lightning, and his considerable magic, wits, and demonic strength.Personality
Errtu's motivations are primarily that of the average demon's — his own power, his own survival, and the chance to cause havoc in the Prime Material Plane. He is concerned entirely with himself and his own quest for power and control, and his selfishness leads him nearly to paranoia — in his view, anything that goes wrong is a conspiracy against him. Given Errtu's native environment, and the temperament of its denizens, this is an excellent survival trait and not too far off the mark.Despite that, Errtu is intelligent, and a capable tactician. The simple fact that, unless something greater destroys him in the Abyss (which is unlikely), he will exist for almost eternity, allows him to have considerable patience if it will be rewarded with a considerable increase in power.
He's also able to think laterally, and work around his problems. In Passage to Dawn, he released himself from a wizard's circle by using an anti-magic stone he kept in a bag, a leftover from the Time of Troubles. This dispelled the summoner's protective magic circle, which was otherwise flawless, and likewise disabled Errtu's magical abilities. However, Errtu, massive as he was, did not need them to kill the summoner.
He has been known to cooperate with other evil beings, gaining allies or even being them. In The Crystal Shard he chooses to ally himself with the wizard
Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)
The wizard is one of the standard character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A wizard uses arcane magic, and is considered less effective in melee combat than other classes.-Creative origins:...
Akar Kessel, on the promise that when Kessel died (which wouldn't be long in Errtu's view, even if Kessel died of old age), he would gain Crenshinibon. In Siege of Darkness, he became a reluctant ally of the drow goddess Lolth
Lolth
Lolth is a fictional goddess in the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Lolth , the Demon Queen of Spiders, is the chief goddess of drow elves...
— at first because she could obliterate him if he didn't cooperate, and later because she offered him a chance to gain total, personal revenge on Drizzt. A few times he offers subordinate posts to lesser demons to ensure their aid.
History
Like Artemis EntreriArtemis Entreri
Artemis Entreri is a fictional character in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Entreri is depicted as a ruthless assassin and the arch-enemy of Drizzt Do'Urden, the protagonistic dark elf. He is the creation of author R. A...
and Obould Many-Arrows
Obould Many-Arrows
King Obould Many-Arrows is a fictional character from the Forgotten Realms series based on the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. He was created by the author R. A. Salvatore and is featured in The Hunter's Blades Trilogy and Transitions.-Description:Obould Many-Arrows is the king of the...
, Errtu holds an intense hatred of Drizzt Do'Urden
Drizzt Do'Urden
Drizzt Do'Urden is a fictional character in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Drizzt was created by author R. A. Salvatore as a supporting character in the Icewind Dale Trilogy. Salvatore created him on a whim when his publisher needed to...
, a drow outcast. Unlike Entreri, whose rivalry was based on pride and discovering who was the best, Errtu is motivated by sheer malevolence and revenge. Drizzt defeats Errtu twice in the course of his adventures.
The first time, when Errtu was serving as Akar Kessel's general, Drizzt summoned Errtu, to pose as a drow scout and inquire about Crenshinibon. When Errtu discovered Drizzt's ivory unicorn pendant, he attacked the drow, surrounding himself with flames and using his whip to catch Drizzt and pull him into the flames. Upon contact with Drizzt, the flames were extinguished—due to the magic of the as-yet unnamed scimitar Icingdeath. In a confused moment for both of them, Drizzt slashed Errtu with Icingdeath—causing the balor real pain and the blade's magic even freezing the tissues at the edge of the wound. Errtu was shocked—having never even heard of a weapon with that effect—and was stabbed in the stomach before he could recover. The scimitar's magic won out, destroying Errtu's material body and banishing him for a hundred years. As his body dissolved, Errtu reminded Drizzt of their long lifespans and promised revenge.
The second time proved much harder for Drizzt, as the balor had gained the artifact Crenshinibon
Crenshinibon
Crenshinibon is an evil, sentient artifact in the Forgotten Realms setting based on the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The item was featured primarily in the novels The Crystal Shard, Passage to Dawn, The Silent Blade, and Servant of the Shard by R.A...
, and the balor had used it to build a stronghold in the Sea of Moving Ice, a body of water west of Icewind Dale and dotted with icebergs. Despite his dislike of cold, Errtu chose the place because of its natural barriers. He opened a gate to the Abyss and let innumerable lesser fiends through, as well as more powerful demons. Drizzt and his friends managed to fight their way through, and confronted Errtu in an ice cave.
This time, Errtu had space to fly, and repeatedly teleported around the room, using his flames to melt nearby ice and fill the floor with water—in which he would periodically thrust his lightning-bladed sword to shock the companions.
Drizzt and his friends would have died, if Wulfgar had not joined in the fight. Together, the companions managed to bring Errtu out of the air, where Drizzt could strike with Icingdeath.
Origins
Errtu was the name of one of the original six Type VI demons in Gary GygaxGary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
's Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, its name being listed among the others in the appendices of the Dungeon Master Guide. As originally envisioned, there were only six Type VI Demons in existence, with each having its own individual name, unlike lesser demons (Types I through III and lower) which had only a species name (Type III being Glabrezu, for example.) The other five were Ndulu, Ter-Soth, Alzoll, Wendonai, and the greatest of all was named Balor. Both the description of the creature, with its fiery aura and sword and flaming whip, and the name "Balor" itself (taken from Irish mythology, see Balor
Balor
In Irish mythology, Balor of the Evil Eye was a king of the Fomorians, a race of giants. His father was Buarainech and his wife was Cethlenn...
) were intentionally reminiscent of the Balrog
Balrog
Balrogs are fictional demonic beings who appear in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. Such creatures first appeared in print in his novel The Lord of the Rings, though they figured in earlier writings that posthumously appeared in The Silmarillion and other books.Balrogs are described as...
from The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
. Starting with Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition, in the Outer Planes Appendix of the Monster Compendium, the Type I - VI designation of Demon types was dropped, and the name Balor was then used to refer to that entire breed of demon as a whole, and their numbers were increased dramatically from only six in existence to perhaps hundreds of thousands, and they were usually no longer given individual names in print, instead merely being referred to as "a Balor demon" or the like, and their individual significance was drastically reduced. As the novel in which Errtu was introduced as a character was written during the time of 1st Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Salvatore adhered to 1E AD&D conventions and chose one of the existing names to use for the demon. Incidentally, Drizzt's slaying and banishment of Errtu would have been a much more notable event in the original context of the novel, as Errtu was one of the only six Type VI Demons in existence, as opposed to being merely one of an innumerable horde of similar creatures which it later became.