To demons, brutality was a virtue. But brutality this cold and indifferent, the kind that treated others as if they did not exist, was something even demons could not accept. After all, the same fate could befall them! How could they not be afraid? How could their hearts not turn cold?
Yet interestingly, not only did the demons not riot or secretly defy Solam's orders, they instead became utterly terrified and obedient. Whatever they were told to do, they did it. They obeyed without question.
On the Faerun Continent, one of Bane's famous followers had once said this: Virtue could earn you the respect of the people, but only fear could allow you to truly rule them! When your orders went against the people's wishes, they would abandon their former respect without hesitation. But fear would not. Fear would only make your people tremble as they obeyed every command you gave!
That statement would be somewhat biased in the material plane, because mortals all possessed flashes of humanity. No one could be completely controlled by fear. But when applied to demons, it was perfectly fitting! These creatures, formed from the worst parts of human nature, had no redeeming qualities to speak of!
They accepted fear and embraced fear. It was their instinct!
So after Solam displayed unprecedented coldness and cruelty, no demon dared defy his will!
Thus, even as they were beaten until they wailed for their parents, suffering countless deaths and injuries, the cowardly Dretches—who possessed not a shred of courage—could only tremble as they picked up the thigh bones of those who had died before them as weapons. With cries that sounded both like weeping and laughter, they continued charging toward certain death.
Simply put, these Dretches had all gone mad. Solam's utterly still, utterly emotionless gaze had