Jarlaxle

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Jarlaxle appears prominently in the book Servant of the Shard (2000), which is part of The Hunter's Blades Trilogy. Unlike Drizzt, who left Menzoberranzan to escape evil ways, Jarlaxle is featured in a narrative where he and Artemis Entreri serve as the main characters. This occurs after the events of The Spine of the World (1999), which focused on Wulfgar, and before Sea of Swords (2001) covers the companions' reunion. In this timeline, Jarlaxle is established as a significant figure capable of standing alongside or against Drizzt. The source notes that Artemis Entreri is Drizzt's equal in combat and they clash due to conflicting views; Jarlaxle enters this dynamic during the Servant of the Shard storyline. He represents a drow who remains active in the broader Realms, involved in the same high-stakes conflicts involving the Crystal Shard and the Companions of the Hall that define Drizzt's saga.

In Their Own Story

In 2000, R. A. Salvatore published Servant of the Shard, a novel where Jarlaxle shares main character status with Artemis Entreri. This book is situated chronologically between The Spine of the World (1999) and Sea of Swords (2001). During this period, Drizzt was not the sole focus; instead, the narrative centered on Jarlaxle and Entreri as they navigated a world where the Crystal Shard had been buried under snow and later resurfaced to aid the demon Errtu. While the Companions of the Hall dealt with Wulfgar's separation and the search for his lost warhammer Aegis-fang, Jarlaxle operated in the background or foreground depending on the specific plotline, interacting with the forces threatening the region. His presence is noted specifically as a counterpoint to Drizzt's journey through The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, highlighting the diverse cast of drow and humans involved in these conflicts.

Reader's Guide

To find Jarlaxle in R. A. Salvatore's works, look primarily to Servant of the Shard (2000), where he is a main character alongside Artemis Entreri. This volume is part of The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, following The Spine of the World and preceding Sea of Swords. He is not mentioned as appearing in the earlier Icewind Dale or Dark Elf trilogies as a main focus, but his role becomes central in this specific era of the Forgotten Realms chronology. Readers interested in drow who operate outside Menzoberranzan's strictures should note that while Drizzt fled to the surface, Jarlaxle is featured in stories involving the Crystal Shard and the demon Errtu during the late 1990s and early 2000s publication window. His interactions are defined by his relationship with Artemis Entreri, who serves as Drizzt's combat equal.

Did You Know?

• Jarlaxle shares main character status with Artemis Entreri in the novel Servant of the Shard, published in 2000.
• The book featuring Jarlaxle as a protagonist is part of The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, released between The Spine of the World (1999) and Sea of Swords (2001).
• In Servant of the Shard, Jarlaxle operates in a storyline involving the Crystal Shard and the demon Errtu, occurring while Drizzt is separated from his companions.
• Artemis Entreri, who shares the spotlight with Jarlaxle in this series, is described as Drizzt's equal in combat due to their conflicting views.