Character · from book 2

Ringmaster Grimaldi

Redstone Grimaldi, dwarf ringmaster of the Over City's beloved travelling circus, transformed by Scolopendra's cloud into a level-85 Pestiferous Vine filling the centre ring of his own big top — and, through spores and worms, keeping his transformed family alive and obedient. An Elite and a city boss; the love of Signet's life. Carl poisons him, un-poisons him, and talks to him from the inside.

Race and class, since book 2: Pestiferous Vine

First appears: Book 2

Series arc

Through book 7

Herman is the third of the three ogre strongmen from Grimaldi's circus (B7 ch. 13).

Through book 2

Introduced as a sign (B2 ch. 10) and a bush the size of the ring: Redstone Grimaldi, Pestiferous Vine, Elite, level-85 city boss, who keeps his transformed family alive because that is what family means. Carl poisons him, sells the poisoning to the producers, heals him (B2 ch. 11), and then talks to him from inside — 'No, son. This is nothing like that' — until the ringmaster un-banishes Signet, the woman he loves, who has been attacking the circus every night for centuries. A stairwell stands where the tents were (B2 ch. 12); no loot, so Carl wonders if he is dead.

Through book 3

Remembered from the Over City: the mold lions of his circus, and a city boss sitting on a stairwell (B3 ch. 16, B3 ch. 24, B3 ch. 29).

Through book 5

Alive with Signet, his story mostly done: he freed the circus and she took him with her (B5 ch. 14); Holger tells how she first met him and left the village with him (B5 ch. 16). Planted at an all-tree node, one with the tree (B5 ch. 63); Signet's first regret (B5 ch. 74).

Through book 6

Signet's ringmaster, remembered when the All Tree comes up (B6 ch. 32).

Where they appear

Book	Chapters they are in (of the book's)	Where
2 — Carl's Doomsday Scenario	9/26	4, 6–12, 21 · the book's own page
3 — The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook	3/35	Ch. 16, Ch. 24, Ch. 29 · the book's own page
5 — The Butcher's Masquerade	9/78	13–14, 16, 25, 48, 57, 62–63, 74 · the book's own page
6 — The Eye of the Bedlam Bride	1/74	Ch. 32 · the book's own page
7 — This Inevitable Ruin	1/89	Ch. 13 · the book's own page

By book

Ringmaster Grimaldi in book 2 — Carl's Doomsday Scenario

Introduced as a sign (ch. 10) and a bush the size of the ring: Redstone Grimaldi, Pestiferous Vine, Elite, level-85 city boss, who keeps his transformed family alive because that is what family means. Carl poisons him (ch. 10), sells the poisoning to the producers, heals him (ch. 11), and then talks to him from inside — 'No, son. This is nothing like that' — until the ringmaster, through Carl's mouth, un-banishes Signet — the girl he took in as a child, now 'my love' — who has been attacking him every night for centuries. A stairwell stands where the tents were (ch. 12); no loot, so Carl wonders if he is dead.

Ringmaster Grimaldi in book 3 — The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook

Remembered from the Over City: the mold lions of his circus, and a city boss sitting on a stairwell (ch. 16, ch. 24, ch. 29).

Ringmaster Grimaldi in book 5 — The Butcher's Masquerade

Alive with Signet, his story mostly done: he freed the circus and she took him with her (ch. 14); Holger tells how she first met him and left the village with him (ch. 16). Planted at an all-tree node, one with the tree (ch. 63); Signet's first regret (ch. 74).

Ringmaster Grimaldi in book 6 — The Eye of the Bedlam Bride

Signet's circus ringmaster husband, turned into a vine by Scolopendra and now connected with the All Tree, which grows through all the worlds at once (ch. 32).

Ringmaster Grimaldi in book 7 — This Inevitable Ruin

Herman is the third of the three ogre strongmen from Grimaldi's circus (ch. 13).