| Balrons | |
|---|---|
 Balron, from Ultima III manual | |
| Also known as: | Balrogs (Akalabeth), Orcus, Devils (Ultima III) |
| First appearance: | Ultima I |
| Last appearance: | Ultima IV/Underworld I |
Balrons -- the kings of the daemons! There is no foe more fear-inspiring than these rulers of hell and darkness... even the mighty dragons fear them. Their sheer presence is enough to cause any life around them to wither and die. Normally, balrons command hordes of lower daemons into battle, but when they take up the fight themselves, they are nearly unbeatable. Capable of debilitating magicks and equipped with tough skin and unearthly strength, the balron is a horrible enemy, to be avoided at all costs.
Thankfully, only rarely are they seen in our lands, and more often underground than on the surface world.
After their first appearance in Ultima I, balrons appeared in Ultima II, Ultima III and Ultima IV. Although they didn't appear by name after this, the Slasher of Veils in Ultima Underworld I may provide evidence that balrons still exist, but tend more towards flinging their underlings into battle.
Lore
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.
- from The First Age of Darkness (Ultima I)
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.
- from The Second Age of Darkness (Ultima II)
It 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.
- from The Book of Play (Ultima III)
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.
- from The History of Britannia (Ultima IV)
Notable examples
The Slasher of Veils
- The Slasher of Veils in Ultima Underworld I. This daemon, while not explicitly stated, is almost with deadly certainty a balron, because of its unbelievable power. The Avatar has to use a lengthy ritual to banish it into the Void. Otherwise, all of Britannia would perish, since no mortal spell or weapon could kill it. Armageddon could destroy it however, which most likely was a bug.
Trivia
- Balrons are clearly inspired by balrogs, from the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.