Motif · Book 6, The Eye of the Bedlam Bride

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 4 — Old Havana
• Chapter 12 — Shadow Boxer
• Chapter 13 — Milk and potatoes
• Chapter 19 — What's in the box
• Chapter 36 — Nekhebit
• Chapter 54 — Demon Eviction
• Chapter 72 — Falling Up
• Epilogue — Homecoming Queen

Progression

A jerk from the Skull Empire as an insult (ch. 4); the cheat who helped Maggie My, with the orcs' help, and the bribed admin who still has a job (ch. 12, ch. 13); a scroll of worship from Princess Formidable's sponsor box (ch. 19); Crown Prince Stalwart at the table — 'We know who you are, you fucking imbecile' — and Juice Box wearing his face with an arrow in the eye (ch. 21, ch. 22); Stalwart's codpiece (ch. 21) and 'Captain Enormous' (ch. 35); a Skull Empire orc among the adjutant candidates (ch. 36); Formidable's failsafe (epilogue).