Bregan D'aerthe

Bregan D'aerthe is a fictional group in the Dungeons & Dragons-based Forgotten Realms setting. The group is a drow mercenary band based in the drow stronghold of Menzoberranzan and appears in many R. A. Salvatore novels. Founded by Jarlaxle Baenre as a means for houseless rogues to survive in Menzoberranzan, the group has thrived and expanded greatly since its inception. Due to its array of skilled soldiers and its many connections with the outside world, Bregan D'aerthe is a valued ally of many powerful drow houses. More than once in various novels, it has been remarked that Jarlaxle is one of the most protected drow in the Underdark due to the competent soldiers he surrounds himself with. This band of societal malcontents consists of approximately 150 members (though at times known to employ many more, having nearly one thousand agents at work with the Calimport initiative), mainly houseless males. Bregan D'aerthe has been very influential in the chaotic happenings of Menzoberranzan and has connections with Blingdenstone and has agents in Ched Nasad as well as major cities on the surface, most notably Luskan, Waterdeep, Calimport, and Heliogabalus. It was led by Jarlaxle Baenre, up until Servant of the Shard and is currently led by the drow psionicist Kimmuriel Oblodra. "'...no house desired conflict with Bregan D’aerthe. It was the most secretive of bands, few in the city could even guess at the numbers in the group, and its bases were tucked away in the many nooks and crannies of the wide cavern. The company’s reputation was widespread, though, tolerated by the ruling houses, and most in the city would name Jarlaxle among the most powerful of Menzoberranzan’s males.' - Starless Night""'...in Menzoberranzan, Jarlaxle and his spying network, Bregan D’aerthe, had no equal.' - Starless Night"

Notable Members

 * Jarlaxle Baenre
 * Artemis Entreri
 * Dinin Do'Urden
 * Kimmuriel Oblodra
 * Rai-guy Bondalek
 * Berg'inyon Baenre
 * Valas Hune

Exile
In Exile, Bregan D'aerthe is introduced as the band of mercenaries for hire led by the opportunistic Jarlaxle Baenre. In the novel, Jarlaxle sells his services to both House Do'Urden and House Hun'ett while the two houses wage a secret war against each other. Although neither house has the favor of Lolth, House Hun'ett finally attacks House Do'Urden with the help of Bregan D'aerthe soldiers, who switch sides as soon as Matron Malice Do'Urden agrees to pay Jarlaxle any amount to save her house from destruction. In the meantime, Drizzt Do'Urden finds his way to the svirfneblin city of Blingdenstone, whose councilor Firble becomes known as one of Jarlaxle's contacts the outside world. When Malice fails to kill Drizzt and restore honor to her house, Bregan D'aerthe helps House Baenre in destroying House Do'Urden; however, Jarlaxle manages to convince Dinin Do'Urden to join his band.

The Legacy
In The Legacy, Vierna Do'Urden forces Jarlaxle and Bregan D'aerthe to help her capture Drizzt so that she can sacrifice him to Lolth. When Dinin Do'Urden refuses to go after Drizzt, Vierna turns him into a drider, which convinces Jarlaxle that he has no choice in the matter. Drizzt soon gets trapped by Vierna, Bregan D'aerthe, and Artemis Entreri, who helps capture Drizzt so that they may determine who is the better fighter. While Entreri helps Drizzt escape so that they may fight without interruption, Jarlaxle orders his soldiers to prevent Drizzt or his friends from returning to Mithral Hall for reinforcements. As Drizzt and Entreri face off against each other, Catti-brie, Bruenor Battlehammer, Regis, Wulfgar, and Guenhwyvar battle through the ranks of Bregan D'aerthe soldiers as they try to find and rescue Drizzt. Ultimately, Drizzt defeats numerous Bregan D'aerthe soldiers, defends against Jarlaxle's attacks, and slays Vierna, but ultimately lets Jarlaxle go after he convinces Drizzt that his actions have been only to ensure his own survival.

Starless Night
In Starless Night, Drizzt Do'Urden decides to return to Menzoberranzan due to his guilt over the loss of Wulfgar. When he does return, however, he is captured by Bregan D'aerthe, who turns him over to House Baenre, while Artemis Entreri, who we learn has survived his encounter with Drizzt, and Catti-brie, who followed Drizzt to Menzoberranzan, are held in the custody of Bregan D'aerthe. In a strange twist of events that epitomizes the chaos that is Jarlaxle Baenre, Entreri and Catti-brie are given hints by the mercenary as to how they might free Drizzt so that the three of them may return to the surface.

Siege of Darkness
In Siege of Darkness, Bregan D'aerthe plays a minor role in the drow assault on Mithral Hall. For the most part, Jarlaxle's soldiers act as forward scouts for the drow army and help in relaying information concerning the battle back to Jarlaxle and Matron Baenre. However, as usual Jarlaxle's loyalties lie wherever Bregan D'aerthe profits most, and when the assault takes a turn for the worst, he is the first to retreat, taking Berg'inyon Baenre with him.

The Silent Blade
In The Silent Blade, Bregan D'aerthe expands its influence to the surface and recruits Artemis Entreri to be the face of Bregan D'aerthe in Calimport. With the help of two new lieutenants, Kimmuriel Oblodra and Berg'inyon Baenre, not only does Bregan D'aerthe defeat and capture the Calimshan Basadoni guild, but at the same time Jarlaxle discovers that Drizzt Do'Urden and his companions are taking the powerful artifact,Crenshinibon, to Cadderly Bonaduce so that it can be destroyed. However, before they can do so, Jarlaxle hires a doppleganger to impersonate Cadderly and takes the artifact from the companions. The novel ends with Crenshinibon in the hands of Bregan D'aerthe, and with Artemis Entreri back in full form as an ally to Jarlaxle.

Servant of the Shard
In Servant of the Shard, Artemis Entreri finds himself struggling to survive the power plays within Bregan D'aerthe. Knowing that his only ally is Jarlaxle Baenre, he decides to veer the mercenary's ambitions towards conquering Dallabad Oasis, a stronghold led by Kohrin Soulez. After putting Bregan D'aerthe in a strong position within Calimport, Jarlaxle moves to take control of Dallabad and constructs a crystal tower, one of Crenshinibon's ambitions. Although this places Bregan D'aerthe in a prime position of power, Jarlaxle's lieutenants do not enjoy the having so many responsibilities on the surface and believe Jarlaxle has succumbed to the mental intrusions of Crenshinibon. However, before they can complete their coupe, Entreri intervenes, stealing Crenshinibon and convincing Jarlaxle that he has erred. Then out of pure spite for the artifact, Entreri decides it must be destroyed, but before they can do so, Kimmuriel Oblodra, Rai-guy Bondalek, and Berg'inyon Baenre, the new leaders of Bregan D'aerthe, engage them in several fights. In the end, Entreri slays Berg'inyon, and Rai-guy is killed right when he gets a hold of Crenshinibon; however, Kimmuriel stays back once the fights begin and makes an agreement with Jarlaxle for him to lead Bregan D'aerthe while Jarlaxle spends some more time on the surface.

Road of the Patriarch
In Road of the Patriarch, Jarlaxle Baenre and Artemis Entreri try their luck in the kingdom of Damara and the wastelands of Vaasa. Attempting to rise in power among the kingdom of the paladin king, Gareth Dragonsbane, and the similarly powerful Citadel of Assassins. When Artemis and Jarlaxle proclaim the start of their new kingdom in Vaasa, King Gareth rushes out to defeat them, while Jarlaxle looks to Bregan D'aerthe to help defend their castle. However, once Gareth arrives, Jarlaxle and Kimmuriel decide that while they could defeat Gareth, the gains would not be adequate for the losses, but when Jarlaxle and Kimmuriel leave to Menzoberranzan, Artemis stays back and gets captured by Gareth, forcing Jarlaxle to think of how to save him from his predicament. Bregan D'aerthe decides to infiltrate the Citadel of Assassins, slaying many soldiers and disabling the rest before making a deal with Knellict that he and the Citadel shall serve Bregan D'aerthe and then proceeds to shapeshift one of the human wizards to look exactly like Knellict so Jarlaxle may present to Gareth what appears to be the head of Knellict. After his outrageous appearance before King Gareth's court, Jarlaxle takes Artemis and their dwarf friend, Athrogate, out of Damara to Memnon in Calimshan, leaving Bregan D'aerthe with more ties to the surface along with several artifacts obtained by Jarlaxle that give them power over Castle Perilous in Vaasa.