Baliss the Slayer

Baliss is the feared and legendary snake in Doomwyte who is also blind. But this disability helps enhance his other senses such as smell and hearing. It is said that there has not been a adder so feared since Asmodeus. Baliss is brought into the story when Korvus Skurr makes a thoughtless pact with him so he can install fear into the Redwallers. This foolish pact also turns Korvus's snake turban, Sicariss, against him as the reward for the snake if he does his job is the meal of all the reptiles in the Doomwyte lair.

But the plan goes wrong when Baliss gets impaled by Corksnout Spikkle's spikes while he was disposing of a dead raven's body. Baliss gets the scents mixed up and snoutbutts Corksnout in the bottom, embedding a considerable number of spines in Baliss's head. Having no means to get them out, Baliss tried shaking and butting against trees to get rid of the spine, which only worsened the injuries. The injuries later become infected and pus starts to leak out of his blind eye, nostrils and mouth. He blames all his troubles on Korvus Skurr since it was he who made a pact with him.

Seeking revenge, Baliss finds the Doomwyte lair with the help of an unwilling crow, and starts to act on his revenge. He also seeks cold water, which helps alleviates the pain from the spikes. The only cold water around where he is is a deep lake in the back of the lair, Korvus's personal cave, but a large fish similar to the catfish lives there and goes by the name of Welzz. As he sticks his head in, he gets attacked by Welzz and they both fight. Baliss gets the better of Welzz when he completely lifts Welzz out of the water and onto the ground. He kills Welzz via poison bite, but Korvus had escaped during the fight.

As Baliss is crossing the lair back towards the entrance, the entire cave collapses and he is crushed to death.