Asmodeus Poisonteeth
Asmodeus Poisonteeth was a deadly male adder who resided in greater Mossflower Woods. The snake was said to be the last in a long line of giant adders who lived in a sealed network of tunnels in the Quarry, however it was later rumored that he had sired descendants. Asmodeus was incredibly dangerous, often embarking on silent hunts and surprising creatures who were secreted in the same hiding place. He had round, glittering, bead-like black eyes that remained open even while he slept.
Asmodeus was a collector of trophies from his fallen victims, including foxes' tails and woodpigeon feathers. His crowning achievement was the theft of the sword of Martin the Warrior from King Bull Sparra while killing Greytail in the process. Proud of his prize, Asmodeus took the weapon back to his lair and treasured it closely.
Seasons later, during Cluny the Scourge's war against Redwall Abbey, Matthias tracked the sword's location to Asmodeus' lair. After enlisting the aid of Log-a-Log, Guosim, and the Guerilla Union of Shrews in Mossflower, he successfully sneaked into the quarry and retrieved the sword for Redwall while Asmodeus slept.
Asmodeus awakened before they could escape unnoticed, and he pursued them through the tunnels in an effort to take back the sword into his possession. Cornering Matthias and Log-a-Log in a cul-de-sac, he hypnotized both of them, convincing them to stand down their weapons. The adder was poised to kill the pair, but Matthias experienced a vision of Martin the Warrior, who broke him out of his trance. Matthias struck, beheading the snake.
Asmodeus' Known Victims
[edit]| # | Name | Species | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chickenhound | Fox | Maimed |
| 2 | Greytail | Sparrow | Killed |
| 3 | Ragear | Rat | Killed |
| 4 | Redtooth | Rat | Corpse consumed |
| 5 | Mingo | Shrew | Eaten |
| 6 | Guosim | Shrew | Killed |
Legacy
[edit]- Asmodeus' maiming of Chickenhound makes him indirectly responsible for the events of Mattimeo.
- It was rumored that Baliss the Slayer had Asmodeus' blood running through his veins.
Nelvana Redwall TV Series
[edit]While the color of his scales was never described in Redwall, Asmodeus was shown to be a grayish-green adder with a beige, striped underside and a black stripe on top in the Nelvana Redwall TV Series. He also had yellow eyes instead of black ones.
The Lost Legends of Redwall
[edit]
In The Lost Legends of Redwall: The Scout Act III, Asmodeus uses Portman's Slough as one of his hunting grounds. Liam Rivermouse and Sophia Ryemaid avoid him en route to Redwall Abbey.
Trivia
[edit]- Watch Brian Jacques discuss Asmodeus, who he describes as "the embodiment of evil", here.
- The name "Asmodeus" is derived from the Biblical demon of wrath, Asmodai, who is also known as Asmodeus, the prince of hell.
- Watch Brian Jacques discuss the origin of Asmodeus' name on his 2008 tour.
- The shrews referred to Asmodeus as "Giant Ice Eyes."
- "Asmodeus Poisonteeth" was featured as an answer in a 2018 episode of Jeopardy.
- In the Nelvana Redwall TV Series episode Cluny the Scourge - part I, Asmodeus was seen by infant Matthias and Myrtle as they journeyed to Redwall Abbey.