Balrons

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Balrons
Balron
Balron, from Ultima III manual
Also known as: balrogs (Akalabeth)
orcus (Ultima III)
devils (Ultima III)
First appearance: Ultima I
Last appearance: Ultima IV

Balrons are a type of daemonic creature that appeared in old Sosaria and in early Britannia as it came out of the Age of Darkness. They are amongst the most formidable of the hellborn and have been known to command legions of devils and other foul beings. They appear in Ultima I, Ultima II, Ultima III and Ultima IV.

Description[edit]

The balron has been consistently described as having an appearance similar to that of other daemons – with a thick, leathery hide and wings upon which it may fly. What sets balrons apart from their lessers, however, has long been their mastery of the magic arts. Balrons are renowned for their use of powerful spells on the battlefield and have been observed hurling balls of fire and poison at their victims. The balrons' potent ability to mystically lull their foes into slumber is especially debilitating, as it leaves those who succumb to it vulnerable to further violence. During the the time of Minax's interference with Earth, artifacts known as green idols existed, which could be used to counteract this disastrous effect. Such devices, however, eventually ceased to become available, leaving explorers facing these creature to rely on the powers of certain potions or a well placed An Zu spell.

After their initial appearance in Ultima I, balrons appeared in Ultima II, Ultima III and Ultima IV but seemingly faded from the material world as it moved into the Age of the Avatar. Although immensely powerful daemons such as the Slasher of Veils and Arcadion have still appeared to Britannia and its people, it remains unknown what has happened to the once populous balrons of old.

Lore[edit]

Balrog.gif
Huge, leather-skinned daemon lords, the Balron are perhaps the most fearsome of the evil minions of Mondain. Armed with vicious barbed whips and the ability to cast devastating fire balls at their victims, these winged scions of Hell have proved to be the nemesis of the flower of Sosarian knighthood.
Easily recognizable with its great leathery wings, the wretchedly evil balron ensures the success of its Herculean strength by using a sleep spell to render its victims helpless. Some have hypothesized that the spell is not real but that the fetid, putrid breath of the creature is so horrible that humans cannot resist the urge to escape it immediately by falling asleep.
If thou attempts to overcome these mightly warriors of the Dark, then thou hadst best be protected by all means possible. Anything less will mean thy instant destruction. These archfoes are so filled with evil, that they can hurl poisoned magic bolts from across the arena. The slightest hit may poison thy character and sap their vitality.
BalrogNES.jpg
It is believed by some that all of these Marshals of Evil were destroyed when the Triad fell. If any do exist, it would be better for one to Quit life itself than to face the fury of a Balron. The ancient scrolls describe them as flying creatures which cast devastating fireballs as well as weave massive enchantments that once felled entire armies.
I was getting pretty cocky until I came up against my first balron.

He swooped down from the sky, his leathery wings blowing gales of wind at me. Horns grew from his head and his eyes glowed yellow. Six-inch-long fangs protruded from his mouth and his smile revealed rows of razor sharp teeth. That smile sent chills down my spine.

– from Ultima: The Avatar Adventures (Ultima IV)

Trivia[edit]

Gallery[edit]

See Also[edit]