Jarlaxle Baenre is a fictional character in the Dungeons & Dragons-based Forgotten Realms setting. He first appeared in the 1990 novel, Exile, by R. A. Salvatore as the charismatic and opportunistic drow leader of the mercenary band, Bregan D'aerthe. The character has appeared again in subsequent novels including the more recent Promise of the Witch-King, in which Jarlaxle takes the role of one of the main protagonists. He also has a cameo in the CRPG Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, in which he tricks the PC into stealing gems for him from an undead lich.

Appearance
Slender and tightly muscled, Jarlaxle is the dandy of Menzoberranzan. He chooses the brightest colors for his clothes and wears a cape that shines in every color in both the visible and infrared spectrums. Jarlaxle commonly wears high boots and bracelets that can be made to be loud or silent at his discretion. He also wears a magical eye patch that protects his mind from magical and psionic intrusions and allows him to see through walls and other solid objects. He often shifts the patch from eye to eye to keep others guessing as to its powers. Another staple item is his wide-brimmed hat, plumed with a diatryma feather and worn atop his clean-shaven scalp. Jarlaxle's shaven head is a symbol of his place in Menzoberranzan. In a society where rank and position are indicated by hair style (e.g., male drow nobles all have haircuts specific to their houses), Jarlaxle has no hair to illustrate that he considers himself removed from the society of Menzoberranzan.

Personality
More than anything, Jarlaxle is an opportunist. His wealth is considerable, but official station in drow society means nothing to him. He has found the best way for a male to survive and prosper in the matriarchal drow society, and was audacious enough to take his life in that direction. Always calm and graceful, Jarlaxle enjoys flaunting his independence and is proud of the fact that the noble houses come to him for aid. In the city of Menzoberranzan, intrigue and double-dealing are a way of life, and no one plays them better than Jarlaxle does. As a male outsider in the city, Jarlaxle has much information few others beyond Lolth's priestesses are likely to have access to. For enough money, Jarlaxle and his band might ally with Gromph Baenre and the Spider Mage to set about changing Menzoberranzan's Lolth and female-dominated society and to squeeze as much adventure and pleasure from life as he possibly can.

He has a very charismatic personality, always willing to talk his way out of situations rather than resort to force of arms. And talking is what Jarlaxle does best. His words easily work past the handicap of his race's evil reputation, able to turn potential enemies into allies. One of the most interesting things about Jarlaxle is, other than to save his life, he would prefer not to kill anyone as long as he could manipulate the person to serve his interests, even in an obscure way.

Combat Tactics
When forced into combat, Jarlaxle will throw an unlimited supply of magic daggers conferred to him by his bracers. One in every three or so daggers is an illusion, but can still be fatal if it is believed to be real. The daggers will magically disappear after a short period of time, returning themselves to his magic bracers. He is renowned for having a seemingly unlimited supply of magical tricks, including an eye patch that prevents magical and psionic intrusion; a hat with a large feather that can be used to summon a diatryma (a large bird native to the Underdark); a many-hued piwafwi that displaces light, thus hindering ranged attacks; a varied array of magical wands; two artifacts (from a lich named Zhengyi), which have the power to raise humans from the dead and employ the help of a powerful dracolich; and many other unknown magical items.

Jarlaxle's belt is a rope of climbing, extending to whatever length is needed. He also has a wide array of extra-dimensional devices, including a button on his vest that turns into a bag of holding, and a black piece of cloth in the tip of his hat, a portable hole, that when pressed against a surface will create a hole in it. Jarlaxle has trinkets that grant him immunities to many things. (He always seems to be prepared for any situation.)

In situations where his daggers are of no use, he can magically extend the blades, transforming them into longswords, not to mention the array of weapons (including a small warhammer, used in Servant of the Shard) that he keeps miniaturized in the sweat band of his outragously large hat. He is extremely skilled in the two long blade fighting style commonly used by the drow, though when mismatched with less skilled opponents he has been known to use the less effective but visually showy "swashbuckling" style to distract them.

History
Jarlaxle on the cover of Servant of the ShardJarlaxle, who led the mercenary band Bregan D'aerthe, seems to hold a grudging loyalty to the ruling family of Baenre; One that raises questions about his relationship to them. He eventually gave up his leadership of Bregan D'aerthe to the powerful drow psionicist Kimmuriel Oblodra and now travels the lands of Faerûn with his new companion, Artemis Entreri. It is revealed at the end of Servant of the Shard that his full name is Jarlaxle Baenre and that he is the third son of Yvonnel Baenre and was once sacrificed to Lolth. It is customary for the third sons of drow noble houses to be sacrificed to Lloth to reduce infighting; therefore, Jarlaxle was probably sacrificed for this reason. This has brought up many speculations by online communities that he was brought back by Lolth herself because she sensed the great chaos he could make, or that he is undead and disguised. One theory suggests that Jarlaxle was Matron Baenre's zin-carla, or "spirit-wraith." The Dark Elf Trilogy poses some evidence against this, as a spirit-wraith must be dominated by the will of the summoning priestess, the strain even aging the priestess more than she normally does in centuries. Furthermore, a spirit-wraith seems to be used only for a finite length of time, to accomplish a specific end. Jarlaxle (when his magical eye patch is not in use) can be affected by psionics, while undead creatures (like the spirit wraith) cannot. Besides, when Zaknafein was a spirit-wraith, it took all his will just to speak and control his own actions, while Jarlaxle speaks and even has a sense of humor. In addition, he is not a ruthless killer like Zaknafein the spirit-wraith was and even prefers not to kill if it is to his advantage. Another theory is that Jarlaxle could have indeed been sacrificed, but resurrected, a possible feat of magic in Faerûn, as hinted by some of Jarlaxle's flippant responses, ("I have been to the Abyss. Hardly worth a return visit.").

Recently the book Road of the Patriarch tells us that Jarlaxle was thought to be blessed by Lloth, making him immune to Matron Baenre's sacrifice to Lloth, and also making him immune to the plots of Matron Mothers, as they would be attacking one who has been blessed as such. It also is hinted at that a few drow are beginning to suspect that Jarlaxle is no longer blessed by Lloth.

Jarlaxle is an extremely cunning and devious drow, confident and unshakable no matter the situation. His true intentions are never fully revealed and seem to thrive on causing chaos. The reason for him leaving behind his leadership of Bregan D'aerthe is truly unknown, though it seems he wishes to experience the same joys Drizzt has. Even though he takes no active part in the activities of Bregan D'aerthe he still keeps in regular contact with the band's new ruler, Kimmuriel Oblodra.

He hopes to bring some meaning to the life of his traveling companion, Artemis Entreri. Jarlaxle has collected many mysterious magical items that once belonged to the Witch King Zhengyi, whose powers may prove to be more useful than expected.

Jarlaxle was also a good friend of Zaknafein Do'Urden, and often shows the dead elf a great deal of respect.