Motif · Book 8, A Parade of Horribles

The nine-tier attack

Scolopendra's nine attacks, begun when the final heat's matchups make Carl scream at the ceiling: a wheel of nine sins, thirty hours apart unless she is upset — one, the Beast of Burden Sin, Transformation (Carl a dachshund, Chris a werewolf); two, the Sin of Consumption, worms. Kill her or abandon her and the rest fire at once. Sydnee Iglacia: in the old histories the attacks are Control, A Parade of Horribles, This Inevitable Ruin, Bedlam.

Segment appearances

• Chapter 81 — Scolopendra's first attack: the Beast of Burden Sin
• Chapter 92 — Chaco on Lamashtu; the AI's history in four parts; Vengeance
• Chapter 95 — Inside Scolopendra; Club Scolopendra; 'I killed him'
• Epilogue — Epilogue: Sydnee Iglacia, Prime Minister Victory, Louis Santiago 2

Progression

Released when the last heat's matchups make the AI scream: nine sins, thirty hours apart unless she is upset (ch. 81). One, Transformation — a dachshund, a goblin, a werewolf, a starfish (ch. 81, ch. 82); two, Consumption — worms in a tourist and a tapir (ch. 95); three spun up and never fired (ch. 96, ch. 97). Prepotente's crystal shields a building from them (ch. 82); safe rooms do not (ch. 95). Kill her or abandon her and the rest come at once (ch. 94, ch. 98). Sydnee Iglacia: the original was the Eulogist's, partly social — Control, A Parade of Horribles, This Inevitable Ruin, Bedlam (epilogue).