Well, not exactly a *softy*. We know he's arrogant and ambitious, and
more than willing to kill when it comes down to a fight. Yet I find
myself wondering more and more whether he has actually used Blackwand
to destroy anyone's soul.
Vlad, of course, thinks Morrolan has, or would, perhaps because Vlad
has committed Morganti murders himself, and figures that Morrolan is
so much more badass than he himself is that it goes without saying
that Morrolan would de-soul someone he was enraged at.
Yet I note that there is strikingly little evidence in that direction
(although I admittedly have not searched that intensely yet). Loraan
is a prime example, of course. [1] There's others as well, I think -
the Sorceress in Green is another example, whom he didn't even kill
permanently [2].
In "Yendi", when Vlad is wondering whether Norathar & Cawti would have
survived if Aliera & Morrolan had arrived in slightly different
places, Morrolan does say that "I'd have used Blackwand", and Vlad
shudders, thinking that Morrolan would have destroyed Norathar's soul.
But besides all of the ways that Vlad has been wrong before, in this
case Morrolan might have meant that since Blackwand was a sorcerous
tool as well as a conventional weapon, he'd have cast a spell using it
that would have made sure that Norathar died, perhaps unrevivifiably -
but not necessarily destroyed her soul.
At any rate, this notion seems more plausible in light of Morrolan's
efforts to bend over backwards to temper (or soften, heh) his own
nature. He has stringent non-permanent death rules set up for dueling
in his domain, he only slaughtered a village of people because they
had in fact committed a slaughter themselves, and he did in fact hire
Lady Teldra, which gives him a whole lot of niceness points.
Of course, he would probably never come out and *say*, "I don't
usually destroy people's souls" because he thinks defending his
actions is undignified. So Vlad probably thinks a whole lot more
soldiers were desouled at the battle of Baritt's Tomb than is actually
the case.
Or have I overlooked something?
[1] Yet another Loraan scenario - Blackwand swallows his soul, and
Morrolan says "No! Bad girl! Let it go!". The soul is released,
but is so mangled from having been inside a Morganti sword that
normal revivification fails.
[2] Incidentally, I wonder if Baritt has any friends or descendants
who would make any effort to kill the Sorceress in Green dead
permanently, once her role in his death came to light?