Herzgo Alegni

Herzgo Alegni was a shadovar tiefling who first appeared in the R.A. Salvatore novels "Gauntlgrym", "Neverwinter" and "Charon's Claw".

Personality
Alegni was a power hungry shadovar working for a noble of the returned City of Shade. His beneficiary Draygo Quick, a warlock, directed his movements in the Netherese bid to secure the reforming city of Neverwinter and increase their influence in the region.

Among Alegni's subordinates were an assassin who went by the name of Barrabus the Gray. Barrabus was actually the assassin from Calimport, Artemis Entreri and nemesis of Drizzt Do'Urden. Artemis' allegiance, though, was a result of Charon's Claw's hold over him. Alegni's son, Effron, also worked for him as he was an apprentice of Draygo Quick. The warlord despised his son's deformity and weakness but, a mutual hatred of Dahlia Sin'felle and orders from Quick kept them in partnership.

Equipment
Alegni originally carried Charon's Claw and used this weapon in concert with a tuning fork-like object to control Artemis by striking the fork against Claw. He used this on the assassin during their first meeting in Gauntlgrym.

History
While securing his hold in Neverwinter, Alegni used Artemis to convince the local lord to rename a prominent bridge and landmark to the "Herzgo Alegni Bridge". This name only lasted for a few days before the Primordial contained within the ancient Forge of Gauntlgrym was set free by the dwarf, Athrogate. The primordial's awakening caused Neverwinter to be devastated, and Alegni fled with Barrabus.

Prior to the events in Neverwinter, the elf, Dahlia Sin'felle, was raped by Alegni while very young; the tiefling also murdered her mother. Soon after, Dahlia discovered that she was carrying Alegni's child. After the child's birth, Dahlia sought out Alegni, and upon finding him, presented the child to him as she stood upon the edge of a cliff looking down upon the tiefling. After receiving Alegni's full and undivided attention, Dahlia threw the child from the ledge of the cliff. The child has likely survived because in the second book of the Neverwinter Saga appears a tiefling warlock, Effron, who has a permanently-not-working arm, and is very familiar with Alegni. Even by the conversation between Alegni and his master Draygo Quick one can assume that Effron is Alegni's son. This is confirmed at the end of "Charon's Claw".

Alegni returned to Neverwinter to find the people had begun rebuilding the city once again and, used his history and connection to the Shadovar to insert himself as protector of the city, which was still harried by the Thayan forces. He knew of an eminent assault on the city and, joined the battle against the Thayan forces at just the right moment to paint himself as a hero of Neverwinter.

After Sylora Salm is killed by the combined forces of Drizz't, Dahlia, and Entreri Alegni's hold on the city begins to weaken as the people realized his protection was a ruse to seize power. His succubus associate (and sometimes lover) Arunika also saw the forces mounting against Alegni. Because of this she moved against him; her allegiances were with the Abolethic Sovereignty. Thus, when Drizz't, Dahlia, and Entreri enacted their plan to kill the tiefling warlord, neither the folk of Neverwinter, nor Arunika moved to assist him. During the battle which ensued, Alegni was mortally wounded and the sword Claw was recovered by Drizz't. As Alegni received his mortal wounds he was shadow stepping back to Shade.

Although Alegni was assumed dead, upon his arrival in Shade Draygo Quick and several clerics were able to return him to health. Quick ordered him to return as soon as he was able because the loss of a Netherese Artifact is considered an unforgivable crime. His only course of action would be to return the sword or die trying. The shadovar tracked Charon's Claw to Gauntlgrym where Drizz't and his companions were planning on throwing it into the Primordial pit; their hope being that the action would sever it's hold on Artemis; the trio was convinced that the action would also kill him. Alegni arrived in time to prevent the swords destruction but, he failed to do so and, was finally killed by the efforts of all three adventurers. Effron, however, managed to escape.