Character · Book 8, A Parade of Horribles

Chaco

Host of the Prize Carousel: a winged, wolf-headed Song Bard, level 66, 'giver-of-prizes, slayer of gods, former Crawler champion,' in a checkered leisure suit. Mordecai throws a chair at him on sight. 'I was just doing what his manager told me to do. If I hadn't done it, he'd have died. And then we'd all have lost her. We'd have lost Odette.'

Segment appearances

• Chapter 88 — Interlude: Quasar; the eleventh floor — twenty-three crawlers; Chaco's parade
• Chapter 92 — Chaco on Lamashtu; the AI's history in four parts; Vengeance
• Chapter 93 — The arena: 'I choose Scolopendra'
• Epilogue — Epilogue: Sydnee Iglacia, Prime Minister Victory, Louis Santiago 2

Arc

'voluntold' Grand Master of the parade, in a tuxedo and top hat on Lamashtu the donkey (ch. 88, ch. 92). He breaks down on the route — 'This was my last season. I was almost free, and I’m so fucking scared' — and the AI rips both his wings off; Carl heals him under its gaze (ch. 92). He blinks away afterwards (epilogue).