Motif · Book 4, The Gate of the Feral Gods
Faction Wars
The ninth floor's war, named by Prince Maestro on his own show: nine factions, the Skull Clan victorious six times in the last ten, the Blood Sultanate almost always the first eliminated, and a War Leader's seat the prince intends to take.
Segment appearances
Progression
Mordecai's full account over Katia's map: nine petals around Larracos, fifteen thousand troops each, gear bought from crawlers once the sixth floor opens, mercenaries hired deep in the city, no fighting until the crawlers arrive, tourists who respawn and NPCs who do not, the King's Point for the last winner (ch. 24). Seven factions sue over the Gate and lose (ch. 28); Priestly's account of the city's end (ch. 33); half the armies hidden in Larracos when Carl floods it (ch. 34).