Chapter 17 of 26 · Book 2, Carl's Doomsday Scenario

Chapter 17 — GumGum

Book: Carl's Doomsday Scenario · Previous: Chapter 16 — The Silk Road · Next: Chapter 18 — Miss Quill · Floor: Floor 3 — The Over City · Series: the series

Opening

I examined the corpse of the elf.

Summary

In the alley: GumGum dead with her chest open, three krasue — flying heads trailing their organs — fleeing Donut's light, and a city elf in a fake military shirt announcing the final battle before Carl kicks him in the testicles and Donut takes his head off. Vicente of the 201st Security Group, Magical Ops; a Meat Hooks scroll that had summoned Mongo; a Gate Pass signed by Magistrate Featherfall and a Mysterious Letter in necroscript on the orc; Mordecai suspects 'a lich problem.'

Fan boxes: Donut's is the Instagram photo of Bea on Brad the Chad's lap, and she loves it; Carl finds he no longer cares, and says so to the ceiling. His is a xistera, the jai-alai scoop for the skill the hobby potion gave him — he destroys an orange against the saferoom door and retires the slingshot. Mordecai explains the city elves' angel cult and Apito, the Oak Mother. Donut decides they are finishing the quest. Fitz tells GumGum's mother's story; the magistrate is a black cleric who can control the undead. A dead woman lands on the roof with 'No, you won't' carved in her back.

Characters

• GumGum — Killed; her inventory.
• The 201st Security Group — Vicente, beheaded; the cult explained.
• Bea — The photograph.
• Carl — The xistera; 'You really think I'd care about that? Nice try.'
• Princess Donut — 'Promise me you won't let me die alone like GumGum's mom.'
• Fitz — GumGum's history; the magistrate.
• Mordecai — Apito, the skyfowl, the city elves.

Locations

• The One-Eyed Narwhal — The fan boxes; the body on the roof.

Motifs

• The xistera — Arrives.
• Fan boxes — Bea's photo and the scoop.
• The krasue — First seen.
• The Oak Fell — The theology behind it, per Mordecai; the name comes in ch. 20.
• The Mysterious Letter — Found.