Boris Devilboon
| Boris Devilboon | |
|---|---|
| Dead Boris | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Colors |
  |
| Species |
Zombie Formerly Human |
| Jobs | Wizard, Minion |
| Birth, Life & Death | |
| Birthplace | Empire of Madara, Dominaria |
| Lifetime | War with Phyrexia |
| Born | Before 3320 AR |
| Death | 3607 AR (aged 288 years or older) |
| Sources | |
| Assassin's Blade, Emperor's Fist, Champion's Trial | |
Boris Devilboon, later known as Dead Boris, was a wizard and a minion of the imperial assassin Ramses Overdark.[1]
Description
Boris Devilboon was a slight, oily-haired man dressed in cobalt and crimson robes. He had a fawning and obsequious manner and a thin spiky mustache that he kept waxed, giving a semblance of rat whiskers to an already verminlike face. He followed Ramses loyally, even though the assassin treated him poorly. Boris could create tiny creatures made of flames which he called his "little friends," and could predict the future via the medium of vague rhyming verses. [2]
After he was turned undead, Boris Devilboon's neck and hands were mottled and splotchy, a chaotic mixture of shades ranging from dark ashen gray to rich aubergine. The flesh on Boris's face was gone, replaced by a layer of thick, crazed black glass that was smooth on the surface but riddled with tiny hairline cracks below. His oily hair was not stiff and brittle, and strands of it crumbled and fell as he floated above the floor. His eyes were open, but the sockets were empty holes, windows to a dark and terrible place where light had never been. He retained his ratlike features and his ridiculous mustache.[2]
Biography
Overdark was annoyed by the inaccuracy of Boris's predictions and killed him, then resurrected him, vastly improving the mage's abilities. It didn't matter much, however, as Tetsuo Umezawa wanted vengeance from Overdark and killed all the assassin's minions that stood in his way. Devilboon summoned an entire army of "little friends" that were made of rotting flesh, tar, and offal instead of hot lava. Tetsuo destroyed his undead form, dispelling his summonings as well.[3]
Behind the scenes
According to the story "Dual Loyalties" from the Distant Planes anthology, Boris Devilboon was a creature that could be seen as the boogeyman for demons. He liked mischief, such as stealing his victims' horns.[4] As an explanation, the Madaran character might have named himself after the boogeyman. As early as 3335 AR, Hazezon Tamar used "By Boris's beard!" as one of his many colorful expressions.[5] As a wizard, Boris Devilboon could be a few hundred years old by the time of the events on Madara. It's also noteworthy that his art does not depict him as bearded, only mustachioed, but he may have had a beard earlier in life.
Story appearances
In-game references
- Represented in:
References
- ↑ Boris Devilboon the wizard appeared in Assassin's Blade, Emperor's Fist and Champion's Trial.
- ↑ a b Scott McGough (2002) - Assassin's Blade, Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Jay Annelli (January 4, 2024). "Killed by Tetsuo Umezawa". Twitter.
- ↑ Glen Vasey, Kathy Ice (ed.) (1996). "Dual Loyalties". In Distant Planes, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-0061053139.
- ↑ Clayton Emery (2001). Johan, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 0-7869-1803-9.