Character · Book 8, A Parade of Horribles

Pontiff

A level-83 Taurin Rhythm Rider whose vibrating mallet keeps the hail off, once a dancer Damascus sent back to the mercenary market for being a dick, who slapped Bucket Boy and now wants to make amends. Hired first by One Fine Pig, then by the Royal Court to drive heat six, he investigates the Desperado Club's new 'Nothing', tips the croupier a thousand gold and jumps in as a test — 'simply changing myself is not enough' — carrying Carl's message to Herot, and wakes in Sheol.

Segment appearances

• Chapter 19 — One Fine Pig; Penelope
• Chapter 20 — Prison Pocket and Party Foul
• Chapter 21 — The joey skin; into the pouch
• Chapter 22 — Last place; the princess throne
• Chapter 23 — Plenty of Plenty; Zev reads the script; a note from C&W&U
• Chapter 71 — Hungry Eyes: the goodbye; Bautista's tea
• Chapter 73 — The Garden of Deliverance; the ducts
• Chapter 74 — Human shells; Ad Infinitum
• Chapter 75 — Archie's boy; Imani's family; the Feast Hive
• Chapter 76 — Apartment 231; the peach beer
• Chapter 77 — Miriam at the piano; Pony
• Chapter 78 — Damien's announcement; under a thousand
• Chapter 79 — 715 deals; Britney in Carl's mind; the Nothing in quotes
• Chapter 80 — The final heat: the lobby
• Chapter 82 — Karl the dachshund; Team Sparkles ends
• Chapter 83 — The poleaxes; Britney kills Osvaldo; the Cadillac
• Chapter 85 — The Wheel of Fortune; 'Nothing' in quotes
• Epilogue — Epilogue: Sydnee Iglacia, Prime Minister Victory, Louis Santiago 2

Arc

A Rhythm Rider whose mallet stores its blow in a running child (ch. 19, ch. 21); he asks why Corcunda sleeps and wants Bucket Boy told something (ch. 20). Hired to drive heat six (ch. 71, ch. 73) — 'a miracle any of us are still alive' (ch. 78) — he goes into the club after the strippers, finds 'Nothing' in quotes and a mimic croupier, buys a portal-examination spell, and jumps in as the test with Carl's message for Herot (ch. 79, ch. 80). 'Has left the playing field and is no longer considered a mercenary' (ch. 82). He is in Sheol, arms crossed, when Louis wakes (epilogue).