On an otherwise uneventful afternoon at Old Nan’s Manor, the sudden, forceful opening of the front door heralded the arrival of a figure that caused an immediate stir—not of excitement, but of a tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. Artemis Entreri, a name synonymous with danger and a reputation that preceded him like a shadow, stepped into the Manor.
I, Mr. Loman Muckbuckle, found myself momentarily frozen, my usual welcoming demeanor faltering under the weight of his imposing presence. The legendary assassin, walked past me as if I were little more than part of the Manor’s extensive collection of tapestries. His indifference stung, yet part of me was relieved not to be the focus of his cold, calculating gaze.
Dressed in dark leathers that seemed to absorb the light around him, Entreri moved with the silent grace of a predator. His features were sharp, his eyes a piercing grey that missed nothing. He carried himself with an assurance born of countless confrontations and narrow escapes. The infamous jeweled dagger and sword, ever-present at his sides, spoke silently of battles fought and lives taken.
The discomfort I felt in his presence was unlike any other. It wasn’t just fear—though, let’s be honest, the man is terrifying—it was the knowledge of what he represented: a life lived in the shadows, where loyalty is often bought and sold, and trust is as rare.
As Entreri made his way through the Manor, seemingly oblivious to the curious and wary glances cast his way, his silhouette vanished from my eyes, leaving behind a trail of whispered speculations and unease. I couldn’t help but wonder at the nature of his visit. People like Artemis Entreri didn’t just appear without reason.
Perhaps he was here on some secretive errand, I mused, the kind that whispered of shadowed alleyways and deals sealed with more than a handshake. Old Nan, for all her secretive ways, had connections that spanned the realms; could it be that Entreri sought her wisdom or, more intriguingly, her network?
Or maybe, my imagination now running wild, he was in pursuit of a legendary artifact, one of those rumored to be under Old Nan’s protection. The Manor, after all, was home to many secrets and treasures, hidden away from prying eyes and grasping hands. Entreri, with his reputation for accomplishing the impossible, might just be daring enough to seek such a prize.
Then there was the possibility, however unlikely, that his visit was personal. The thought gave me pause. The world saw Artemis Entreri as an assassin, a master of blades and shadows, but what did Old Nan see? Was there a connection, a thread of history between them that defied the obvious narrative?
With a final glance towards the direction Entreri had disappeared, I shook off the lingering discomfort and turned back to my duties, the unanswered questions about his visit folding away into the countless mysteries that Old Nan’s Manor held close to its heart.
Some stones are better left unturned, especially those shrouded in darkness.
A Mosaic of Shadows
Artemis Entreri (once known as Barrabus the Gray) was a ruthless assassin and the former arch-nemesis of Drizzt Do’Urden. He lived an empty life, devoid of any kind of pleasure, existing only to kill. Despite the passage of years, around his 40th birthday, Artemis retained a lean athleticism that belied his true age, a trait perhaps attributed to the shadows he had danced with and the violence he had embraced. Beneath this carefully constructed facade, however, simmered a deep well of anger, a sentiment he came to recognize only with the influence of Idalia’s flute. A profound disdain welled within Artemis for those who were willing to harm or betray their own children for personal gain or self-preservation – a sentiment rooted in his own childhood experiences. These depths of his emotions showcased the complex layers of his character.
A Shrouded Past
Artemis Entreri 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 woman named Shanali. He was constantly abused from his “father,” Belrigger, and his uncle Tosso. Eventually, his mother sold him to a pedophile merchant; presumably, this is how he came to Calimport. This betrayal was enough to put a block on Entreri’s emotions. He hid from the world with a mental wall of cynicism and later anger.
In Calimport, he was taken in by the thieves’ guild ruled by Pasha Basadoni. Basadoni taught young Artemis the tricks of the trade, instructing him in the basics of fighting and helping him master stealth. As Entreri practiced, he flourished, becoming the most efficient and deadly assassin in Calimshan and perhaps all of Faerûn.
The Dance of Shadows and Steel
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.
A Symphony of Shadows
In 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.
In the Shadows of Fate
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.
Shadows Cast in Time
In the hallowed corridors of Old Nan’s Manor, where tales become whispers of the past, Artemis Entreri’s story continues to echo. A narrative spun with threads of courage, alliances, and the relentless pursuit of redemption, his legacy resonates as a tribute to the intricacies of the tale of life.
