Adders of Mossflower

[Tiria Wildlough]

@ToR: You know how you said that shrews are by far the most terrified? Why is that? 

[James Gryphon]

@ToR: You know how you said that shrews are by far the most terrified? Why is that? 

Probably this is because of how Log-a-Log reacts to Asmodeus in Redwall; he's immediately helpless the moment the snake lays eyes on him, and Matthias has to practically drag him along to try to get to safety.

All other creatures expressed fear at the sight of him too, but most of them put up some fight (like the sparrows) or at least made some attempt to escape (like Matthias); I believe the shrews are the only ones we see that are completely paralyzed.

[Tiria Wildlough]

Oh well, I guess...
I did think of that.
Thanks for telling me!

[Taggerung_of_Redwall]

James Gryphon is right concerning Log-a-log.

However, the fear of shrews to adders is much larger and widespread than a single character.
Consider the incident in Doomwyte, where the Guosim under Tugga Bruster suddenly become terrified and stricken with fear and throw themselves to the ground and refuse to move when Baliss the Slayer moves through. Even after the adder had long passed, the shrews, all brave if small warriors and who were in the midst of a war with painted ones, remained terrified.
In general, shrews are remarkedly to be quite afraid of snakes, mainly adders.
In Redwall, all the Guosim were terrified of the thought of going anywhere near the Quarry. Guosim and Log-a-log went, and even Log-a-log, great chieftain and warrior as he was, was stricken by Asmodues with fear.

[Coobreedan]

I told one of my friends (he was seven lol) about Asmodeus and after I told him he was like:

O_O Wow.

Then he started jumping up and down going:

AWWWWWWSOOOOMEEEEEEEEEEEE! Let's unlock him!

He thought he was a SSBB character

[Skalrag of Marshank]

You think maybe the shrews are the most afraid of the adders is because they live in the forest, so more of them are eaten.

[Coobreedan]

Yeah... Imagine an adder lurking around at night around the shrews homes....
Asmodeussssssss...
*Shrew is dreaming lovely dream, and thus is smiling*
Asmodeusssss sssssees you are enjoying your dream....I can make it lasssst forever.....
CRUNCH!

[Tiria Wildlough]

That's creepy. 

[Skalrag of Marshank]

One of those cool, yet creepy Asmodeus moments.

[Nightfire]

SSsssssss.....

[Lutra]

Simply saying Assssssmodeussssss is creepy.    Wouldn't that scare  you no matter which creature you were?

[Nightfire]

Saying Assssmodeussssss is not the only creepy thing. What about saying Balissssss? Or Zasssssssalisssssss? Or Harsssssacssssss? or Ssssssssesssssstra?

[Skalrag of Marshank]

Agh. I think the reason those names are so creepy is because, since they're snakes, they draw out the s's, and the names sound creepy when they're said so sibilantly. (I don't know if that's even a word, but, yeah, whatever...)

[White One6193]

Agh. I think the reason those names are so creepy is because, since they're snakes, they draw out the s's, and the names sound creepy when they're said so sibilantly. (I don't know if that's even a word, but, yeah, whatever...)

It is, actually. Asmodeus is the name of a demonic tempter in the Catholic Apocrypha... Learned that from Brian himself! I personally think that Asmodeus is best villain of the entire series. Not only because he nearly defeats Matthias, but also because he sets up the events of Mattimeo.

[Coobreedan]

Exactly.