Drizzt Do'Urden

Lore & Background

Drizzt was born in Menzoberranzan as the third son of Matron Malice and the weapons master Zaknafein. While his father secretly taught him martial skills and an innate moral code, Drizzt refused to participate in a raid against surface elves, helping an elf child escape instead. When discovered, Zaknafein was sacrificed in his place. Drizzt cursed his family, fled into the Underdark, and acquired a statuette to summon his panther, Guenhwyvar. After fighting off the spirit-wraith of his father in Exile, he traveled to the surface, where he met the blind ranger Montolio Debrouchee. Learning that he had unknowingly followed ranger principles all along, Drizzt adopted Mielikki as his patron goddess. He eventually found a home in Icewind Dale with Bruenor Battlehammer and Catti-brie.

In Their Own Story

Drizzt's chronology begins with The Dark Elf Trilogy (Homeland, Exile, Sojourn), followed by The Icewind Dale Trilogy (The Crystal Shard, Streams of Silver, The Halfling's Gem). In The Crystal Shard, he meets Wulfgar and Regis to stop the mage Akar Kessel. Subsequent adventures include the Legacy of the Drow series, where a drow attack on Mithral Hall occurs, and Passage to Dawn, which sees the return of Wulfgar from the Abyss. In The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Drizzt encounters the orc Obould Many-Arrows. Throughout these events, he frequently clashes with Artemis Entreri, his combat equal and recurring antagonist.

Reader's Guide

Drizzt serves as a vehicle for exploring racial prejudice and the conflict between nature and nurture. Salvatore uses him to show that morality is a choice, not an inheritance of drow blood. Key themes include Drizzt's fear regarding potential offspring with Catti-brie facing hostility from both races, and his struggle with the lifespan discrepancy between himself and her. His character represents the romantic hero who holds to ideals despite misunderstanding.

Did You Know?

• Drizzt was created on the spur of the moment because author R. A. Salvatore could not use an existing character in The Crystal Shard.
• When asked to name the new character, Salvatore replied he couldn't even spell 'Drizzt Do'Urden'.
• All novels featuring Drizzt have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list.
• Drizzt's patron goddess is Mielikki, whom he adopted after realizing he had been following ranger principles his whole life.

Origins and Accidental Creation

R. A. Salvatore created Drizzt on a whim in 1987 after publisher Mary Kirchoff informed him that one of his characters for The Crystal Shard could not be used. Under pressure, he invented a dark elf sidekick named Drizzt Do'Urden, admitting he did not know how to spell the name at the time. He cites J.R.R. Tolkien and classical literature as influences, describing the character as a cross between Daryth from Darkwalker on Moonshae and Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings.

Defiance of Drow Tradition

Drizzt's conflict with his heritage is central to his story. He refuses the evil ways of Menzoberranzan, where his mother Matron Malice leads House Do'Urden. His father, Zaknafein, taught him to fight against these traits. After sacrificing himself for Drizzt, Zaknafein's spirit returns in Exile but is defeated. Drizzt's decision to help an elf child during a raid marked his break from drow society, leading to his exile and eventual acceptance of Mielikki as his goddess.

Literary Journey and Media Adaptations

Drizzt appears in The Icewind Dale Trilogy, The Dark Elf Trilogy, the Legacy of the Drow series, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Transitions, and Neverwinter Saga. Short stories include "The Dowry", "Dark Mirror", and "Comrades at Odds". All novels featuring him made The New York Times Best Seller list. Adaptations include graphic novels by Devil's Due Publishing and video games such as the Baldur's Gate series and Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone.

Thematic Exploration of Prejudice

Salvatore uses Drizzt to address racial prejudice, particularly in The Dark Elf Trilogy. Drizzt worries that children with Catti-brie would face hostility from both humans and drow. He also struggles with the lifespan difference between himself as an elf and Catti-brie as a human. His unusual personality creates conflict that allows for stories about courage and friendship, as he fights against the dark traits inherent in his people.