Motif · Book 4, The Gate of the Feral Gods

The Skull Empire

One of the oldest and largest Syndicate governments, orcish, mawkish, and — through Prince Maestro's show and his boast that his family's Skull Clan has won six of the last ten Faction Wars — the first outside power to take a personal dislike to Carl. King Rust is in Earth orbit by the end of the book.

Segment appearances

• Chapter 14 — Maggie
• Chapter 19 — Orren
• Chapter 28 — Emberus
• Chapter 31 — Emberus, summoned
• Chapter 33 — Phase three
• Chapter 34 — Seeding the pond

Progression

Both princes sponsor Maggie My, a scroll to choose a god and a Celestial Grenade to summon Algos on Carl; their sister's emergency box counters it (ch. 14). Plaintiff #1 in the suit over the Gate, whose mother's portrait Carl now carries; a Skull Empire company's share in his inventory moves his case to a different court (ch. 28, ch. 34). The King's Point castle is the announced target (ch. 33, ch. 34); the Empire's last-minute injunction fails (ch. 34); 'King Rust's children are all trying to murder each other' (epilogue). Carl throws the Maestro's grenade at Quan Ch instead (ch. 31).