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| hero(es)= [[Pythagoras-858]]<br>[[Juliet-178]]<br>[[Arganthone-056]] | | hero(es)= [[Pythagoras-858]]<br>[[Juliet-178]]<br>[[Arganthone-056]] | ||
| villain(s)= [[The Clown Emperor]]<br>[[Skollops ag-Warka]]<br>[[Sympus ag-Forgos]]<br>[[Radluhac ag-Wampyr]]<br>[[Director Darius]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Sebastian Steer]]<br>[[Snap-Dragon|The Snap-Dragon]] | | villain(s)= [[The Clown Emperor]]<br>[[Skollops ag-Warka]]<br>[[Sympus ag-Forgos]]<br>[[Radluhac ag-Wampyr]]<br>[[Director Darius]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Sebastian Steer]]<br>[[Snap-Dragon|The Snap-Dragon]] | ||
| featuring= [[Madame Tarsa]]<br>[[Jenny Everywhere | | featuring= [[Madame Tarsa]]<br>[[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|Jenny Everywhere]]<br>[[Santa Claus]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Cupida Hartnell]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Claus-025]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Mandragora-257]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Lord Thymon]]<br>[[Sneernobiel]]<br>[[Gorbazaglaz]]<br>[[CS-NA]]<br>[[Banker-059]]<br>[[Pessimist-242]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Pessimist's Fog Ship]]<br>[[Sigma-063]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Larrikin-1029]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Sellane ag-Narra]]<br>[[Karshassinwellshkhan III]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Ghost of Christmas Past|Past]], [[Ghost of Christmas Present|Present]], and [[Ghost of Christmas Future|Future]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Ebenezer Scrooge]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Mrs Hudson]]<br>[[Sherlock Holmes]]<br>[[Professor Moriarty]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Doctor Watson]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Mechanical Fortune Teller|The Mechanical Fortune Teller]]<br>[[Frog Mayor|The Frog Mayor]]<br>[[Baron Frankenstein]]<br>[[Boris Karloff]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Frankenstein's Monster#In Frankenstein's World|Frankenstein's Monster]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Millicent (The Time of the Toymaker)|Millicent]]<br>[[Jenny Everywhere#Geometron Jenny|“Geometron Jenny”]]<br>[[Wendy VII]]<br>[[Bibliophile-962]]<br>[[Philatel-426]]<br>[[Mechanical Sphinx|The Mechanical Sphinx]]<br>[[Herodotus-724]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Cupida Hartnell]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Aphrodite]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Celebration-665]]<br>[[Colonel-028]]<br>[[Sorceress Sally]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Marksmanship-522]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Tracker-764]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Imperial Imperator|The Imperial Imperator]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Vertolin]]<br>[[Trafero]]<br>[[Doctor Curious]]<br>[[The Frost King#Member of the Council|The Frost King]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Lord Nachtos]]<br>[[The Drink-Mixer]]<br>[[Alistair Neezley]]<br>[[Frederick]]<br>[[Barnabus Raffleby]]<br>[[Viltus (The Time of the Toymaker)|Viltus]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Conquest-932|Conquest]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Lord Nefarious]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[The General]]<br>[[Ghost of the First Premium Turkey]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Sexton Blake]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Inspector Lestrade]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Mycroft Holmes]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Horatio Ernest Topper|Horatio Topper]]<br>[[Lady in White|The Lady in White]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small><br>[[Stingy Jack]]<br><small>(mentioned)</small> | ||
| setting= [[Cupid Homeworld|The Cupid Homeworld]];<br>[[Workshop of Madame Tarsa|The Workshop of Madame Tarsa]];<br>[[Thrash|New Wellsia]], [[Dimension Epsilon Five]];<br>Victorian [[London]], [[Prime Universe]];<br>[[Madame Tarsa's Toybox]];<br>[[Castle Frankenstein]], [[Frankenstein's World]];<br>[[Interdimensional Black Market|The Interdimensional Black Market]];<br>[[New Subcinctus]], [[Universe (The Time of the Toymaker)|unnamed universe]]<br>[[Darkborough]], [[Jynx Dimension]] | | setting= [[Cupid Homeworld|The Cupid Homeworld]];<br>[[Workshop of Madame Tarsa|The Workshop of Madame Tarsa]];<br>[[Thrash|New Wellsia]], [[Dimension Epsilon Five]];<br>Victorian [[London]], [[Prime Universe]];<br>[[Madame Tarsa's Toybox]];<br>[[Castle Frankenstein]], [[Frankenstein's World]];<br>[[Interdimensional Black Market|The Interdimensional Black Market]];<br>[[New Subcinctus]], [[Universe (The Time of the Toymaker)|unnamed universe]]<br>[[Darkborough]], [[Jynx Dimension]] | ||
| length= 21 chapters<br><small>(+ Epilogue)</small> | | length= 21 chapters<br><small>(+ Epilogue)</small> | ||
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}}'''''The Time of the Toymaker''''' was a novel in the ''[[The Crew of the Copper-Colored Cupids (series)|The Crew of the Copper-Colored Cupids]]'' series, cowritten by [[Aristide Twain]] and [[Lupan Evezan]]. It served as the series' 2020 winter special. | }}'''''The Time of the Toymaker''''' was a novel in the ''[[The Crew of the Copper-Colored Cupids (series)|The Crew of the Copper-Colored Cupids]]'' series, cowritten by [[Aristide Twain]] and [[Lupan Evezan]]. It served as the series' 2020 winter special. | ||
As was customary for such a special, many characters and settings from previous installments of the series were thrown together into a Yuletide plot. This included a prominent supporting role for [[Jenny Everywhere | As was customary for such a special, many characters and settings from previous installments of the series were thrown together into a Yuletide plot. This included a prominent supporting role for [[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|Jenny Everywhere]]. | ||
==Contents== | ==Contents== | ||
=== Plot === | === Plot === | ||
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After they agree on this plan and Skollops departs, one of the Wellsians' [[Goblin]] slaves runs in to warn Sympus about two Cupids — Juliet and Arganthone — having been spotted flying towards the Wellsian fortress. Although a flying threat would normally be within Skollops's purview, Sympus, keen on Radluhac not noticing Skollops's absence, decides to handle the situation himself, using nothing less than heavy artillery. | After they agree on this plan and Skollops departs, one of the Wellsians' [[Goblin]] slaves runs in to warn Sympus about two Cupids — Juliet and Arganthone — having been spotted flying towards the Wellsian fortress. Although a flying threat would normally be within Skollops's purview, Sympus, keen on Radluhac not noticing Skollops's absence, decides to handle the situation himself, using nothing less than heavy artillery. | ||
==== Chapter 4 ==== | ==== Chapter 4 ==== | ||
[[Jenny Everywhere | [[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|Jenny Everywhere]] is walking through a snowy street in Victorian London, enjoying the Dickensian atmosphere to get into the [[Christmas]] spirit, when she sees a [[Fog Ship]] crash in front of her. She wonders if its occupant is her friend [[Pythagoras-858|Pythe]], but it turns out to be [[Juliet-178]] and [[Arganthone-056]], who explain that their Ship was shot down by the [[Wellsian]]s. | ||
After the two Cupids explain the purpose of their mission, Jenny opines that [[Madame Tarsa]] probably had some safeguard in place to resurrect herself in case anything happened ot her, which might be worth looking into. With the Fog Ship unable to take off again, she agrees to [[shift]] the two of them back to the [[Workshop of Madame Tarsa]] and join them on their investigation beyond that. | After the two Cupids explain the purpose of their mission, Jenny opines that [[Madame Tarsa]] probably had some safeguard in place to resurrect herself in case anything happened ot her, which might be worth looking into. With the Fog Ship unable to take off again, she agrees to [[shift]] the two of them back to the [[Workshop of Madame Tarsa]] and join them on their investigation beyond that. | ||
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Back in the [[Workshop of Madame Tarsa]], [[Arganthone-056]] attempts to get the [[Mechanical Fortune Teller]] to tell them whether or not [[Madame Tarsa]] had any failsafes in place. However, after it transpires that the Fortune Teller is programmed to never give a straight answer to a question, an irritated Arganthone stomps off to join their companions, who have already made their way to the [[Madame Tarsa's Toybox]]. | Back in the [[Workshop of Madame Tarsa]], [[Arganthone-056]] attempts to get the [[Mechanical Fortune Teller]] to tell them whether or not [[Madame Tarsa]] had any failsafes in place. However, after it transpires that the Fortune Teller is programmed to never give a straight answer to a question, an irritated Arganthone stomps off to join their companions, who have already made their way to the [[Madame Tarsa's Toybox]]. | ||
After catching up with them through the initial stage of the Labyrinth inside, Arganthone rejoins [[Juliet-178]] and [[Jenny Everywhere | After catching up with them through the initial stage of the Labyrinth inside, Arganthone rejoins [[Juliet-178]] and [[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|Jenny Everywhere]] on the outskirts of [[Wild West Town]], where they are greeted by the [[Frog Mayor]] of the town. The Mayor is initially mistrustful of them due to the bad behaviour of the two previous Cupid visitors of the labyrinth, [[Pessimist-242]] and [[Larrikin-1029]], but after he is reassured that not all Cupids are as irksome as that duo, he advises them to seek out the oldest toy in the Labyrinth, currently residing in the [[Christmas Toyland]], as she might know some of Tarsa's secrets, even if the Mayor does not. | ||
==== Chapter 7 ==== | ==== Chapter 7 ==== | ||
Having been brought up to speed and ferried to the [[Workshop of Madame Tarsa]] by [[Pythagoras-858]], [[Sherlock Holmes#In the Prime Universe|Holmes]] is able to deduce that Tarsa's aggressor must have had some means of teleporting in and out of the room, and observes that they stole Tarsa's [[Madame Tarsa's cane|cane]], which is neither in her hand nor anywhere to be found in the Workshop. Pythe comes up with a slightly alternative hypothesis: that Tarsa was attacked by one of her own creations (who thus didn't need any teleporting abilities to get ''in''), who subsequently escaped using the powers of Tarsa's cane. | Having been brought up to speed and ferried to the [[Workshop of Madame Tarsa]] by [[Pythagoras-858]], [[Sherlock Holmes#In the Prime Universe|Holmes]] is able to deduce that Tarsa's aggressor must have had some means of teleporting in and out of the room, and observes that they stole Tarsa's [[Madame Tarsa's cane|cane]], which is neither in her hand nor anywhere to be found in the Workshop. Pythe comes up with a slightly alternative hypothesis: that Tarsa was attacked by one of her own creations (who thus didn't need any teleporting abilities to get ''in''), who subsequently escaped using the powers of Tarsa's cane. | ||
==== Chapter 8 ==== | ==== Chapter 8 ==== | ||
Meanwhile, inside the Toybox, [[Jenny Everywhere | Meanwhile, inside the Toybox, [[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|Jenny Everywhere]], [[Juliet-178]] and [[Arganthone-056]] reach the [[Christmas Toyland]]. After passing through a simple wooden door, they are greeted by the strange and festive sights of the place. Interrogating a living puppet [[Elf]], they are told to ask the conductor of a nearby Toy Train to take them to “the old dollhouse at the top of the hill”, where the Oldest Toy in the Labyrinth allegedly lives. They buy tickets at a discount from the jack-in-the-box ticket-seller and enjoy the scenic train ride, during which they look upon various strange Christmassy landmarks including the [[Star Atop the Tree]]. Finally, at the end of the train tracks, they reach the life-sized “dollhouse”. | ||
==== Chapter 9 ==== | ==== Chapter 9 ==== | ||
[[Pythagoras-858]] and [[Sherlock Holmes#In the Prime Universe|Sherlock Holmes]] land near [[Castle Frankenstein]] in [[Frankenstein's World|a new universe]]. Holmes is initially disbelieving, thinking of [[Baron Frankenstein]] as simply a fictional character, and, when he is introduced to Holmes, the Baron has a symmetrical reaction, but after Pythe provides the due explanations about the nature of the [[Multiverse]], the two eccentric geniuses turn out to get along well. After a spot of conversation on the nature of Frankenstein's experiments, he gives them his guesses (based on his experiences with [[Frankenstein's Monster|his monster]]) as to what [[Madame Tarsa]]'s rebellious toy might do next. Building from the Baron's insight, Pythe drags Holmes off to the [[Interdimensional Black Market]]. | [[Pythagoras-858]] and [[Sherlock Holmes#In the Prime Universe|Sherlock Holmes]] land near [[Castle Frankenstein]] in [[Frankenstein's World|a new universe]]. Holmes is initially disbelieving, thinking of [[Baron Frankenstein]] as simply a fictional character, and, when he is introduced to Holmes, the Baron has a symmetrical reaction, but after Pythe provides the due explanations about the nature of the [[Multiverse]], the two eccentric geniuses turn out to get along well. After a spot of conversation on the nature of Frankenstein's experiments, he gives them his guesses (based on his experiences with [[Frankenstein's Monster|his monster]]) as to what [[Madame Tarsa]]'s rebellious toy might do next. Building from the Baron's insight, Pythe drags Holmes off to the [[Interdimensional Black Market]]. | ||
==== Chapter 10 ==== | ==== Chapter 10 ==== | ||
Received by the Oldest Toy in the Labyrinth, a [[Millicent (The Time of the Toymaker)|worn teddy bear]], [[Jenny Everywhere | Received by the Oldest Toy in the Labyrinth, a [[Millicent (The Time of the Toymaker)|worn teddy bear]], [[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|Jenny Everywhere]], [[Juliet-178]] and [[Arganthone-056]] explain [[Madame Tarsa]]'s predicament. The teddy bear confirms that Tarsa entrusted her with some of her secrets, and, taking out a seemingly blank book from a shelf, she uses a secret sigil to make one page become legible. The page contains a rhyming riddle which speaks of some “key” which must be retrieved from a “distant star” and could be used to reanimate Tarsa. With the teddy bear unable to shed any further light on the mysterious writing, the three travellers agree to try and see if they can find out anything more about this key in the archives of other, learned civilisations. They select as their first target the “forbidden wing of the [[Euclidean Plane]]'s Pentagon”, into which Arganthone broke once before, “for a [[Scarlet Wings]] mission back in ’84”. | ||
==== Chapter 11 ==== | ==== Chapter 11 ==== | ||
[[Pythagoras-858]] and [[Sherlock Holmes#In the Prime Universe|Sherlock Holmes]] arrive in the [[Interdimensional Black Market]] to find it strangely empty. The only thing they come across is a dramatically-convenient tumbleweed which turns out to itself be one of [[Madame Tarsa]]'s creations, “[[Tarsa’s Terrifically-Well-Timed Tumbleweed|Tarsa’s Terrifically-Well-Timed Tumbleweed, For All Your Dereliction-Conveying Needs]], (…) supposed to be sold in a special holiday package with the [[Convenient Chirping Crickets]]”. | [[Pythagoras-858]] and [[Sherlock Holmes#In the Prime Universe|Sherlock Holmes]] arrive in the [[Interdimensional Black Market]] to find it strangely empty. The only thing they come across is a dramatically-convenient tumbleweed which turns out to itself be one of [[Madame Tarsa]]'s creations, “[[Tarsa’s Terrifically-Well-Timed Tumbleweed|Tarsa’s Terrifically-Well-Timed Tumbleweed, For All Your Dereliction-Conveying Needs]], (…) supposed to be sold in a special holiday package with the [[Convenient Chirping Crickets]]”. | ||
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The Tumbleweed points them to where everybody's gone: they have gathered to watch a fight that's broken out in the centre of the Market between the [[Queen of the Black Market]] herself and her [[Wraith]]s on one side, and a [[the Clown Emperor|mysterious magical clown]] and his endless army of smaller duplicates of himself on the other. Realising that the head Clown is wielding [[Madame Tarsa's cane]], Holmes walks calmly into the commotion, using his skills at ''[[baritsu]]'' to dodge the clumsy attacks of the smaller clowns and Wraiths, and manages to trip the Clown. However, he uses the cane to teleport before any information can be extracted from him. The panting Queen confesses that she knows nothing about her attacker either. | The Tumbleweed points them to where everybody's gone: they have gathered to watch a fight that's broken out in the centre of the Market between the [[Queen of the Black Market]] herself and her [[Wraith]]s on one side, and a [[the Clown Emperor|mysterious magical clown]] and his endless army of smaller duplicates of himself on the other. Realising that the head Clown is wielding [[Madame Tarsa's cane]], Holmes walks calmly into the commotion, using his skills at ''[[baritsu]]'' to dodge the clumsy attacks of the smaller clowns and Wraiths, and manages to trip the Clown. However, he uses the cane to teleport before any information can be extracted from him. The panting Queen confesses that she knows nothing about her attacker either. | ||
==== Chapter 12 ==== | ==== Chapter 12 ==== | ||
Arriving in the snowy [[Euclidean Plane]], the trio of [[Jenny Everywhere | Arriving in the snowy [[Euclidean Plane]], the trio of [[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|Jenny Everywhere]], [[Juliet-178]] and [[Arganthone-056]] head for the [[Geometron Citadel]]. However, as soon as they get close, patrolling [[Triangry|Triangries]] and [[Octaser]]s chase them off, believing this to be yet another attempted invasion of their world from the [[Crew of the Copper-Colored Cupids|Crew]]. They return holding a white flag (or, rather, a white leaf), calling for a Christmas truce and bringing a captive [[Ambagesque]] as a present and token of goodwill. While one of the guards goes to ask their superiors, the visitors and the guards begin to engage in a good-natured snowball fight. When the emissary of the Geometron Council return, they grudgingly allow the Cupids to search the Geometrons' records. Unfortunately, after much searching, it turns out the only sentence in the Geometrons' “file” on Tarsa is “The Cupids may have information about her”. Deciding they might as well take this at face value, however, the three resolve to head to the [[Cupid Homeworld]] and ask [[Bibliophile-962]] whether the [[Cupid Archives]] might hold relevant data. | ||
==== Chapter 13 ==== | ==== Chapter 13 ==== | ||
The [[Queen of the Black Market]] invites [[Pythagoras-858]] and [[Sherlock Holmes#In the Prime Universe|Sherlock Holmes]] to have lunch with her. As they eat, they discuss what the Queen and the Cupids know of [[Madame Tarsa]] and their guesses about [[the Clown Emperor|the Clown]]. Pythe notes that he believes there is only one Clown who multiplied himself using the power of the cane, as self-duplication is an ability which Tarsa displayed in the past; he hypothesises that the Cane is an [[Artefact of Power]]. However, the conversation turns out to have been overheard by [[Skollops ag-Warka]], who bursts into the tent where the three have been eating, demanding to learn more about such Artefacts. | The [[Queen of the Black Market]] invites [[Pythagoras-858]] and [[Sherlock Holmes#In the Prime Universe|Sherlock Holmes]] to have lunch with her. As they eat, they discuss what the Queen and the Cupids know of [[Madame Tarsa]] and their guesses about [[the Clown Emperor|the Clown]]. Pythe notes that he believes there is only one Clown who multiplied himself using the power of the cane, as self-duplication is an ability which Tarsa displayed in the past; he hypothesises that the Cane is an [[Artefact of Power]]. However, the conversation turns out to have been overheard by [[Skollops ag-Warka]], who bursts into the tent where the three have been eating, demanding to learn more about such Artefacts. | ||
==== Chapter 14 ==== | ==== Chapter 14 ==== | ||
In the [[Cupid Homeworld]], at the Cupid Post Office, [[Lord Thymon]] discusses the toys he is looking forward to receiving (unaware of the troubles with Madame Tarsa) with [[Philatel-426]]. Soon, they receive the visit of [[Jenny Everywhere | In the [[Cupid Homeworld]], at the Cupid Post Office, [[Lord Thymon]] discusses the toys he is looking forward to receiving (unaware of the troubles with Madame Tarsa) with [[Philatel-426]]. Soon, they receive the visit of [[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|Jenny Everywhere]], [[Juliet-178]] and [[Arganthone-056]], here to introduce Jenny to Thymon as they promised to, while they were in the Homeworld. After doing so (with the two extradimensional entities getting along surprisingly well), they go find [[Bibliophile-962]] at the [[Cupid Archives]]. He does not know of any in-depth documentation about [[Madame Tarsa]] other than a few short Fact Files based on the Cupids' recent experiences with her, but agrees to help them look for such materials in the depths of the Cupid Archives. | ||
This proves a more dangerous operation than expected, as the entrance to the Archives is guarded by a [[Mechanical Sphinx]] (originally built by [[Cupida Hartnell|the Creator]] to protect the Archives from [[Chronon Flea]]s). After expending a lot of effort getting past the Sphinx without waking it up, they realise the Sphinx is actually awake, but let them through as a Christmas present — on the condition that they get ''it'' an actual gift once Tarsa is thawed out, which they awkwardly promise. They don't find anything directly relevent, but ''do'' find something that reminds Bibliophile of his adventures with [[Tracker-764]] involving the [[Consistency Imperium]]. With Bibliophile remembering that, at its height, the Imperium had “a grand library [which] must have contained the histories of thousands of lost civilizations”, they decide to go back to the planet [[Subcinctus]] to see if any of those records survived. | This proves a more dangerous operation than expected, as the entrance to the Archives is guarded by a [[Mechanical Sphinx]] (originally built by [[Cupida Hartnell|the Creator]] to protect the Archives from [[Chronon Flea]]s). After expending a lot of effort getting past the Sphinx without waking it up, they realise the Sphinx is actually awake, but let them through as a Christmas present — on the condition that they get ''it'' an actual gift once Tarsa is thawed out, which they awkwardly promise. They don't find anything directly relevent, but ''do'' find something that reminds Bibliophile of his adventures with [[Tracker-764]] involving the [[Consistency Imperium]]. With Bibliophile remembering that, at its height, the Imperium had “a grand library [which] must have contained the histories of thousands of lost civilizations”, they decide to go back to the planet [[Subcinctus]] to see if any of those records survived. | ||
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[[Skollops ag-Warka]] reveals that he has used [[Wellsian]]s' native psychic ability to take control of the [[Queen of the Black Market]]'s army of [[Wraith]]s, and demand to be given an [[Artefact of Power]], such as the [[Whistle of the Witch Varganax]]. However, [[Wendy VII]], the Queen's girlfriend, come to visit her, manages to sneak up behind the Wellsian without him or his Wraiths realising, thanks to the [[psychic dampener]] hairclip she is wearing. The Wellsian is forced to instead negotiate for his freedom and the Whistle, and agrees to give them the current location of [[the Clown Emperor|the Clown]] in exchange for the Whistle to take back to [[Radluhac ag-Wampyr|Earl Radluhac]]. | [[Skollops ag-Warka]] reveals that he has used [[Wellsian]]s' native psychic ability to take control of the [[Queen of the Black Market]]'s army of [[Wraith]]s, and demand to be given an [[Artefact of Power]], such as the [[Whistle of the Witch Varganax]]. However, [[Wendy VII]], the Queen's girlfriend, come to visit her, manages to sneak up behind the Wellsian without him or his Wraiths realising, thanks to the [[psychic dampener]] hairclip she is wearing. The Wellsian is forced to instead negotiate for his freedom and the Whistle, and agrees to give them the current location of [[the Clown Emperor|the Clown]] in exchange for the Whistle to take back to [[Radluhac ag-Wampyr|Earl Radluhac]]. | ||
==== Chapter 16 ==== | ==== Chapter 16 ==== | ||
[[Jenny Everywhere | [[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|Jenny Everywhere]], [[Juliet-178]] and [[Arganthone-056]] arrive in the ruins of the [[Consistency Palatium]], on the last remains of what was once the planet [[Subcinctus]]. It initially appears deserted, but they soon find their way to the city that the survivors of the [[Consistency Imperium]] are building as a refuge for individuals who lost their homes to the [[Rift]]s, [[New Subcinctus]]. | ||
Identifying themselves as friends of [[Tracker-764]], [[Marksmanship-522]] and [[Bibliophile-962]], they easily get themselves taken to the city's visionary leader (and former head of the [[Consistency Imperium]]), [[Vertolin]]. After the appropriate greetings, he takes them to what remains of the archives. Unfortunately, though they do have some information on Madame Tarsa, it teaches them nothing that they don't already know. Jenny suggests that they head to the [[Interdimensional Tavern]] next to simply ask around for relevant information. | Identifying themselves as friends of [[Tracker-764]], [[Marksmanship-522]] and [[Bibliophile-962]], they easily get themselves taken to the city's visionary leader (and former head of the [[Consistency Imperium]]), [[Vertolin]]. After the appropriate greetings, he takes them to what remains of the archives. Unfortunately, though they do have some information on Madame Tarsa, it teaches them nothing that they don't already know. Jenny suggests that they head to the [[Interdimensional Tavern]] next to simply ask around for relevant information. | ||
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Having received the coordinates from [[Skollops ag-Warka]], [[Pythagoras-858|Pythe]] and [[Sherlock Holmes#In the Prime Universe|Holmes]], joined by [[Wendy VII|Wendy]], end up in [[Darkborough]], the gloomy capital city of the planet [[Shenanig]] in the [[Jynx Dimension]], which is under the rule of an evil sorcerer called [[Sebastian Steer|Emperor Steer]]. It is night, past the Imperial curfew; the streets are foggy and deserted. Spotting a lone top-hat-wearing figure in the fog, Holmes tackles him to the ground — but it turns out to be [[Doctor Curious]], an eccentric mad scientist with whom the [[Crew of the Copper-Colored Cupids]] have had dealings in the past, rather than [[the Clown Emperor|the Clown]]. The Doctor does however state that he met the Clown an hour earlier, heading towards the [[Imperial Castle]]. | Having received the coordinates from [[Skollops ag-Warka]], [[Pythagoras-858|Pythe]] and [[Sherlock Holmes#In the Prime Universe|Holmes]], joined by [[Wendy VII|Wendy]], end up in [[Darkborough]], the gloomy capital city of the planet [[Shenanig]] in the [[Jynx Dimension]], which is under the rule of an evil sorcerer called [[Sebastian Steer|Emperor Steer]]. It is night, past the Imperial curfew; the streets are foggy and deserted. Spotting a lone top-hat-wearing figure in the fog, Holmes tackles him to the ground — but it turns out to be [[Doctor Curious]], an eccentric mad scientist with whom the [[Crew of the Copper-Colored Cupids]] have had dealings in the past, rather than [[the Clown Emperor|the Clown]]. The Doctor does however state that he met the Clown an hour earlier, heading towards the [[Imperial Castle]]. | ||
==== Chapter 18 ==== | ==== Chapter 18 ==== | ||
At the [[Interdimensional Tavern]], a listless [[Jenny Everywhere | At the [[Interdimensional Tavern]], a listless [[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|Jenny]], [[Juliet-178|Juliet]] and [[Arganthone-056|Arganthone]] fail to find out any new information about Tarsa. They end up returning to the rhyming riddle, and Juliet has a flash of inspiration. She realises that the star mentioned is not a literal star, but the [[Star Atop the Tree]] they saw in the [[Christmas Toyland]], inside which the “key” is surely hidden. The three rush to their repaired [[Fog Ship]], headed back for [[Madame Tarsa's Toybox]]. | ||
==== Chapter 19 ==== | ==== Chapter 19 ==== | ||
Inside the [[Imperial Castle]], the Chamberlain, [[Barnabus Raffleby]], reflects on his career, which consisted of thirty-six fairly comfortable years under the old [[Dark Lord]] [[Lord Nefarious|Nefarious]], followed by a few months of hell frantically trying to rein in the new Emperor, [[Sebastian Steer]]. It seems that this is all over, for a new Dark Lord has taken over the throne, trapping Steer in a broom closet, bound with magically unbreakable ropes: [[the Clown Emperor]]. Raffleby is, of course, locked in there with him, but still finds it a comfort to see Steer in a position of weakness for the first time in months. | Inside the [[Imperial Castle]], the Chamberlain, [[Barnabus Raffleby]], reflects on his career, which consisted of thirty-six fairly comfortable years under the old [[Dark Lord]] [[Lord Nefarious|Nefarious]], followed by a few months of hell frantically trying to rein in the new Emperor, [[Sebastian Steer]]. It seems that this is all over, for a new Dark Lord has taken over the throne, trapping Steer in a broom closet, bound with magically unbreakable ropes: [[the Clown Emperor]]. Raffleby is, of course, locked in there with him, but still finds it a comfort to see Steer in a position of weakness for the first time in months. | ||
==== Chapter 20 ==== | ==== Chapter 20 ==== | ||
Returning to the [[Christmas Toyland]], [[Jenny Everywhere | Returning to the [[Christmas Toyland]], [[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|Jenny]], [[Juliet-178|Juliet]] and [[Arganthone-056|Arganthone]] are given a message from [[Millicent (The Time of the Toymaker)|the Oldest Toy in the Labyrinth]] as soon as they arrive. The teddy bear gives them the climbing gear they'll need to reach the [[Star Atop the Tree]], confessing that she always did suspect there was something special about the item. | ||
Falling off partway through their climb, the trio end up being taken in by [[the General]], a living nutcracker soldier who lives in the base of the trunk of the giant Christmas Tree. After they explain their predicament, the General lets them into a spiral staircase inside the trunk that takes them straight to the top of the tree. There, they meet a small räuchermann who tells them that the [[Snap-Dragon|Guardian of the Star]] will awaken if they meddle with the Star, before departing without elaborating. The trio decide to take the chance, and pry the two halves of the star apart, causing a release of magical energy. Inside the ornament, they find a small toymaker's mallet sitting on a purple velvet cushion. | Falling off partway through their climb, the trio end up being taken in by [[the General]], a living nutcracker soldier who lives in the base of the trunk of the giant Christmas Tree. After they explain their predicament, the General lets them into a spiral staircase inside the trunk that takes them straight to the top of the tree. There, they meet a small räuchermann who tells them that the [[Snap-Dragon|Guardian of the Star]] will awaken if they meddle with the Star, before departing without elaborating. The trio decide to take the chance, and pry the two halves of the star apart, causing a release of magical energy. Inside the ornament, they find a small toymaker's mallet sitting on a purple velvet cushion. | ||
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[[Pythagoras-858]], [[Wendy VII]] and [[Sherlock Holmes#In the Prime Universe|Sherlock Holmes]] let themselves be captured at the gates of the [[Imperial Castle]] and are taken to the Imperial Throne Room, where they find [[the Clown Emperor]] sitting on the throne, wearing a cape and top hat. They talk, with the Clown confessing that he's already grown bored with being a [[Dark Lord]], but doesn't know what else to do to alleviate his boredom. | [[Pythagoras-858]], [[Wendy VII]] and [[Sherlock Holmes#In the Prime Universe|Sherlock Holmes]] let themselves be captured at the gates of the [[Imperial Castle]] and are taken to the Imperial Throne Room, where they find [[the Clown Emperor]] sitting on the throne, wearing a cape and top hat. They talk, with the Clown confessing that he's already grown bored with being a [[Dark Lord]], but doesn't know what else to do to alleviate his boredom. | ||
Meanwhile, in the [[Workshop of Madame Tarsa]], [[Juliet-178]], [[Arganthone-056]] and [[Jenny Everywhere | Meanwhile, in the [[Workshop of Madame Tarsa]], [[Juliet-178]], [[Arganthone-056]] and [[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|Jenny Everywhere]] agree to let Juliet be the one to “break the ice” with the mallet. [[Madame Tarsa]] is freed in a flash of light and a hail of ice-fragments. She confirms that she was frozen by an intruder who was trying to steal the half-built toy she was working on, in order to acquire the [[Power of Creation]]. | ||
The intruder, as Pythagoras finishes deducing at that very moment, was [[Sebastian Steer]] himself, who, unable to complete the creation of the living toy in the correct fashion, resorted to imbuing it with part of his own soul, hence the Clown's “villainous” instincts which clash with his appearance and his actual personality. Going over all of this results in the Clown falling prey to an identity crisis, until Pythe points out that instead of trying to match himself up to his “father”, he should focus on the legacy of his “mother”. Inspired, he uses the power of [[Madame Tarsa's cane]] one last time to teleport himself, Pythe, Wendy and Holmes to the Workshop — ''sans'' cape and top hat. | The intruder, as Pythagoras finishes deducing at that very moment, was [[Sebastian Steer]] himself, who, unable to complete the creation of the living toy in the correct fashion, resorted to imbuing it with part of his own soul, hence the Clown's “villainous” instincts which clash with his appearance and his actual personality. Going over all of this results in the Clown falling prey to an identity crisis, until Pythe points out that instead of trying to match himself up to his “father”, he should focus on the legacy of his “mother”. Inspired, he uses the power of [[Madame Tarsa's cane]] one last time to teleport himself, Pythe, Wendy and Holmes to the Workshop — ''sans'' cape and top hat. | ||
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===Worldbuilding === | ===Worldbuilding === | ||
====Jenny==== | ====Jenny==== | ||
*This story features the [[Jenny Everywhere | *This story features the [[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|version of Jenny]] who once travelled with [[Pythagoras-858]]. | ||
*She notes that she could, with an effort of concentration, shift herself into a universe where she was already on precisely the kind of adventure she'd be in the mood for, but “doesn't like to force these things”. | *She notes that she could, with an effort of concentration, shift herself into a universe where she was already on precisely the kind of adventure she'd be in the mood for, but “doesn't like to force these things”. | ||
*Jenny loves ''[[A Christmas Carol]]''. | *Jenny loves ''[[A Christmas Carol]]''. | ||
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* The Ghosts of Christmases [[Ghost of Christmas Past|Past]], [[Ghost of Christmas Present|Present]], and [[Ghost of Christmas Future|Future]] visited the [[Cupid Homeworld]] the year prior to the events of the story. | * The Ghosts of Christmases [[Ghost of Christmas Past|Past]], [[Ghost of Christmas Present|Present]], and [[Ghost of Christmas Future|Future]] visited the [[Cupid Homeworld]] the year prior to the events of the story. | ||
* Locales in the [[Christmas Toyland]] include the [[Giftbox Mountains]], the [[Snapdragon Lake]] and [[Wrapping Point]]. | * Locales in the [[Christmas Toyland]] include the [[Giftbox Mountains]], the [[Snapdragon Lake]] and [[Wrapping Point]]. | ||
* [[Jenny Everywhere | * [[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|Jenny Everywhere]] once spent a vacation in [[Rio P’Brytje]] (as did [[Arganthone-056]], in their case as part of a [[Scarlet Wings]] campaign). Her recollection is that “it was a bit hard to relax constantly suspended on crumbling bridges hundreds of feet above pools of lava,” and also that “the room service was terrible — no toast!”. | ||
* [[The General]] claims that he commanded a battalion of nutcrackers in the “[[Great Peppermint War]]”. | * [[The General]] claims that he commanded a battalion of nutcrackers in the “[[Great Peppermint War]]”. | ||
* Arganthone fought the [[Ghost of the First Premium Turkey]] “back in ’92” and found it to be harder to defeat than the [[Snap-Dragon]]. | * Arganthone fought the [[Ghost of the First Premium Turkey]] “back in ’92” and found it to be harder to defeat than the [[Snap-Dragon]]. | ||
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* [[Thrash]] is seen, having been colonised by the [[Wellsian]]s following the events of [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Grand Multiverse Hotel (short story)|The Grand Multiverse Hotel]]''. The [[Crystal of Thrash]] is mentioned and its powers expounded upon. | * [[Thrash]] is seen, having been colonised by the [[Wellsian]]s following the events of [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Grand Multiverse Hotel (short story)|The Grand Multiverse Hotel]]''. The [[Crystal of Thrash]] is mentioned and its powers expounded upon. | ||
* [[Wild West Town]] and its [[Frog Mayor]], introduced in [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Toymaker's Labyrinth (short story)|The Toymaker's Labyrinth]]'', are seen again. | * [[Wild West Town]] and its [[Frog Mayor]], introduced in [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Toymaker's Labyrinth (short story)|The Toymaker's Labyrinth]]'', are seen again. | ||
* Also in reference to [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Grand Multiverse Hotel (short story)|The Grand Multiverse Hotel]]'', [[Jenny Everywhere | * Also in reference to [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Grand Multiverse Hotel (short story)|The Grand Multiverse Hotel]]'', [[Jenny Everywhere (38167th Universe)|Jenny Everywhere]] reminisces in Chapter 4 about a conversation she had with [[Pythagoras-858]] “en route to [[Hilbert's]]”, and in Chapter 14, [[Bibliophile-962]] reveals that he is currently writing up a chronicle of Jenny's adventures at Hilbert's for the [[Cupid Archives]]. | ||
* Jenny mentions “the Lords of Hell” in an apparent reference to [[PROSE]]: ''[[Jenny Everywhere and the Lord of Hell (short story)|Jenny Everywhere and the Lord of Hell]]''. | * Jenny mentions “the Lords of Hell” in an apparent reference to [[PROSE]]: ''[[Jenny Everywhere and the Lord of Hell (short story)|Jenny Everywhere and the Lord of Hell]]''. | ||
* [[Juliet-178]] relays to [[Vertolin]] that [[Tracker-764]] is now training to become a [[Scarlet Wings]] operative, a fact first mentioned in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Rifts Crisis Officially Over! (short story)|Rifts Crisis Officially Over!]]''. | * [[Juliet-178]] relays to [[Vertolin]] that [[Tracker-764]] is now training to become a [[Scarlet Wings]] operative, a fact first mentioned in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Rifts Crisis Officially Over! (short story)|Rifts Crisis Officially Over!]]''. | ||
