Belhifet



Belhifet is a Baatezu with twisted horns similar to a kudu. He is the main enemy in the computer role-playing game Icewind Dale, and dual wields falchions in battle against the player.

In the events of the Icewind Dale story, Belhifet sought to conquer the home plane from which he was banished. To do this, he required an army. The answer to this lay under the temple of the war god, Tempus, in the town of Easthaven. It was there that long ago, a cleric named Jerrod, sacrificed himself to seal a portal to Baator, creating the landmark of Jerrod's stone. So Belhifet decided that his first step of his conquest of the North would be to secure the town of Easthaven, after which he would destroy Jerrod's stone and reopen the portal. Doing so would beset devils upon Icewind Dale, and the souls of the humans that would certainly be slain would be recruited into Belhifet's army.

Disguising himself as Poquelin, a cleric of the god of suffering, Ilmater, Belhifet began a recruitment drive for the army needed to conquer the North. Among these recruits are Ilmadia (a female elf renegade), Malavon Despana (a drow sorcerer), Marketh (a bandit) and Saablic Tan (a Red Wizard of Thay). Belhifet also recruited many of the humanoids that inhabited the wilderness of the North, including orcs and goblins. During his travels, Belhifet also discovered the evil magical artifact, Crenshinibon. For his base of operations, Belhifet chose the abandoned dwarven stronghold, Dorn's Deep, where his forces could acquire needed equipment for war.

However, Belhifet quickly discovered that a demon had designs for the North—the marilith Yxunomei, who commanded the yuan-ti forces of Dragon's Eye. Belhifet and Yxunomei had an ancient vendetta that was the reason that Belhifet was banished from Baator by his superiors. Yxunomei followed Belhifet to the material plane in order to destroy him. It is unknown whether she also was banished from their home plane. Much like Belhifet, Yxunomei was also building up an army: hers to return the Dale to the poisonous swampland it was once, presumably to cause mass destruction and recruit souls like Belhifet wanted to do by destroying Jerrod's Stone. It is never stated exactly how Belhifet planned to deal with Yxunomei, although it is assumed that he planned to destroy her before invading Easthaven, in case she should attempt to hinder his plans. However, before Belhifet could slay Yxunomei, others beat him to the punch.

The heroes of the Ten-Towns (as they came to be known) managed to kill Yxunomei and much of her forces, but they realized that there was something deeper happening. Eventually reaching Dorn's Deep, the adventurers managed to reach Belhifet and confront him. Belhifet managed to flee and, in the process, capture Easthaven in preparation for opening the gate to Baator. Belhifet also used Crenshinibon to seal the temple of Tempus in its Cryshal Tirith. However, the heroes managed to penetrate the crystal tower surrounding the temple and defeat Belhifet before the gate was opened. According to the story, Belhifet was banished to Baator, not killed. He would not be able to walk Faerûn again for another hundred years.

In the story of Icewind Dale II, the legacy of Belhifet continues. During his time on Faerûn, Belhifet managed to impregnate the elf Ilmadia, who gave birth to daemonfey twins, Isair and Madae.

Behind the scenes
The voice actor for Belhifet in Icewind Dale is David Ogden Stiers.