Character · Book 2, Carl's Doomsday Scenario

Ringmaster Grimaldi

Redstone Grimaldi, dwarf ringmaster of the Over City's beloved travelling circus, transformed by Scolopendra's cloud into a level-85 Pestiferous Vine filling the centre ring of his own big top — and, through spores and worms, keeping his transformed family alive and obedient. An Elite and a city boss; the love of Signet's life. Carl poisons him, un-poisons him, and talks to him from the inside.

Segment appearances

• Chapter 4 — Knives from a window
• Chapter 6 — Signet
• Chapter 7 — The lion's heart
• Chapter 8 — Water Lily
• Chapter 9 — Heather the Bear
• Chapter 10 — The big top
• Chapter 11 — The pitch
• Chapter 12 — Mongo holds the pyramid
• Chapter 21 — Katia

Arc

Introduced as a sign (ch. 10) and a bush the size of the ring: Redstone Grimaldi, Pestiferous Vine, Elite, level-85 city boss, who keeps his transformed family alive because that is what family means. Carl poisons him (ch. 10), sells the poisoning to the producers, heals him (ch. 11), and then talks to him from inside — 'No, son. This is nothing like that' — until the ringmaster, through Carl's mouth, un-banishes Signet — the girl he took in as a child, now 'my love' — who has been attacking him every night for centuries. A stairwell stands where the tents were (ch. 12); no loot, so Carl wonders if he is dead.