MoE contents list with summaries

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The Mansion of E by Robert M Cook :: contents-list with short summaries

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detailed chapter summaries

background information

thoughts on various plot points

This listing with brief summaries is designed to help remind people which chapter they're looking for if trying to locate a particular incident. To see a condensed version without the summaries of contents under each chapter-heading, Click here .

Note that under the actual strips, Rob's own notes are shown plain, while any comments by me are enclosed in [square brackets].

Part One: The Pots Room [16/07/2003 – 13/06/2004]

01: The New Arrival [16/07/2003 – 13/08/2003]
We witness Sylvester performing a Task. Rosemary arrives at the Mansion with Mortimer, and kills an encroaching Dornbeast. First sight of Mr Hand. Next morning the beaver shark begins chasing Mortimer.
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02: In Storage [14/08/2003 – 12/09/2003]
Rosemary and Sylvester go pot-hunting, and aquire helmets. First sight of Frederick, Myrrh and the Grubbs. Mortimer flees to the forest. Comshaw appears upstairs, learns that the Dornbeast was killed, returns to the Basement and tells Niddle and Camora that Humans are back.
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03: Going Down [15/09/2003 – 31/10/2003]
R&S take the elevator, the Operator attempts mind control, they knock out the Operator with a cold-iron frying pan, kill an adult Trog, and go round a time twistpoint. Comshaw, Niddle and Digger Odel head up the tunnel towards the forest. Mortimer dodges a killer tree, climbs a normal tree where he meets Nitfol, and is attacked by a tree-squid. Camora looks for Nevus.
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04: The Hall of Achievement [01/11/2003 – 22/01/04]
R&S visit the Hall of Achievement, use the Djinnoscope, avoid Hpthbvtw's party of Ghasts sent by the Council to look for Humans, and Rosemary mistakenly injures the sapient plant Fern. They encounter a giant wine-bottle containing the demons Chauncy and Edgar. The beaver shark chops down Nifol's tree. Mortimer and Nitfol hang on and stretch the squid, are catapulted into the air, meet Protus who gives the Zorper to Mortimer, then land in a Spyder web. Niddle is injured by warring factions in the tunnel, and is taken to Telic. Camora meets Hax, riding a Pale. Hpthbvtw guards the elevator, but Gorp and Phiga arrive and want to lick the unconscious Operator.
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05: Le Tree [23/01/2004 – 13/06/2004]
R&S visit Le Tree, Sylvester starts a fight by saying he owns it, Rosemary loses her sword fighting the Boogieman Percy, and Protus intervenes. Gobules from various factions join the party at the elevator, Ningle bites the Operator's tail, setting off an explosion which kills Hpthbvtw and alerts Myrrh, and a fire starts. A bucket chain is started to extinguish the flames, Sina takes over organising it, and all decide to run it through Crazy Rhid's place to the nearest well. The Spyder flings Mortimer to earth some distance away and goes after Nitfol, and Mortimer meets Snerk who takes him to an auction in the forest with Guttle, Nevus and Agita. Mortimer offers the Zorper for auction, presses a button and meets his future self. Hax transfers to Camora. First sight of Sprocket, Flange and Project Y. Sepfrbfrx reports to the Council, is sent to the bucket chain and is left to guard a cakeshroom by Sina, but Gorp and Phiga steal it. Bung gives a mushroom to Faddle. Comshaw's party re-enter the tunnel, where Niddle acquires the coming-and-going gem, and Comshaw takes down Skoil. Hpobfvfr summons here squad and arrives at Le Tree to arrest R&S. A fight starts between the Council's and Nevus's forces, and R&S are taken to see Spatchcock. Myrrh goes out to investigate, taking an umbrella.
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Part Two: Time and Space and Fleebs [14/06/2004 – 11/10/2005]

01: An Intermission [14/06/2004 – 06/09/2004]
Arthur the Weirdo reports on the Mansion beings to his superior Yasmine, who tells him that their mutual friend Tulip is dead. Blit and Noet encounter Vipthiboo, a Dornbeast pup and a ranting Kaylu automaton. Gorp and Phiga take the cakeshroom to Maw, Sepfrbfrx follows, and Nash attacks Maw's lair, watched by Mr Hand who summons the Metalmin Hector, then sends Sprocket and Flange to get a spare part for Hector. Mr Hand peels a scalpsucker off and Hector drops it down a chute. Fighting continues at Le Tree.
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02: The Grand Tour [07/09/2004 – 29/11/2004]
First encounter with Cap'n Hamster, in cage. First encounter with The Growth (Ahz and Skiv). First mention of Eyebolts Weirding. Wrawa recruits Leny and Kronk to help persuade Rhid to let them run the bucket chain through his place, and we learn how Trogs age. Genesis of Walking Rock, and first encounter with Fizmo and Kulkad in the Hot Zone research station. The Rock triggers an explosion which leads Fizmo to start climbing the stairs back up to the Cold Zone. Comshaw's party exit the tunnel into the forest and are given a message from Frowgler by Buzz and two Pales.
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03: The Nome War [30/11/2004 – 10/01/2005]
Digger Odel brings down the killer tree, and Umboz is wrongly credited with doing so and tasked with leading a raid on the north Gnoll village, so Mayor Koyeeb can get rid of him. Umboz explains the Nome/Gnoll War and the Sneech expansion to his daughter Vezza. Nitfol arrives with a Pale escort and tells them to flee with him.
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04: CROSSOVER: The Zayfaring Stranger [13/01/2005 – 15/03/2005]
Zay, a stranger from another strip, emerges from a portal into the Mansion, and Myrrh helps him move on. Background on Nellie Grubb, on Mansion layout and Panegates. Myrrh helps a trundlebug and acquires a sentient balloon.
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05: Business Dealings [17/03/2005 – 19/07/2005]
Myrrh's trundlebug lands on Rosemary's helmet. Snerk wins the auction for the Zorper, on behalf of Frowgler. Comshaw's party encounter Sina's sister Shona who is waiting to speak to Nevus; they discuss Gnoll reproduction, including giving Shona Finagling advice, and they acquire a scalpsucker. Wrawa recruits Odum. Spatchcock thinks R&S are industrial spies: Sylvester plays along and accidentally describes Comshaw as his employer. Fighting between the Council and Nevus factions at Le Tree continues. Thrash's party corner Niddle.
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06: Crazy Rhid [22/07/2005 – 23/08/2005]
Rhid refuses to let the bucket chain through his place, and he sets off munitions which injure Sepfrbfrx and blind Sina. Leny tries to insist, and Rhid kills him. Wrawa attacks Rhid, who runs off.
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07: Le Tree Lecture Series [25/08/2005 – 11/10/2005]
R&S leave Le Tree, and Snoot plants Squeeb in Sylvester's backpack. Discussion of Ghast and Motihaul regions and Infernal Engine Out West. Cap'n Hamster and his companions have escaped in a toy boat. Fighting continues around Le Tree. Speck warns R&S of the fire at the elevator so they decide to go the long way round via the Sneech Den. Camora offers to guide them, prompted by Hax.
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Part Three: The Widening Gyre [12/10/2005 – 14/07/2007]

01: Strangers in the Night [12/10/2005 – 19/10/2005]
Yasmine has an encounter with Protus in the Mansion, and he helps her on her way by dropping her in the ruins of Eetown.
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02: Frowgler the Horned Frog [20/10/2005 – 02/11/2005]
Shona meets Frowgler in the woods. They discuss tree-warping and the creation of pocket worlds.
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03: Auction Aftermath [03/11/2005 – 20/11/2005]
Snerk makes a run for it with the Zorper, collides with Shona, and sets off the Zorper. Agita, Nevus and Guttle quarrel. Mortimer kisses Agita to distract her, and Mimsy ties Guttle up with tendrils. Mortimer sneaks off with his payment and falls down a hole. Agorn watches all.
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04: Good Rhiddence [21/11/2005 – 15/12/2005]
An injured Rhid runs, pursued by Kronk. Sina has been blinded by the blast that killed Leny but she takes charge and sends people from the bucket chain to do different jobs.
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05: Guidance [16/12/2005 – 03/01/2006]
R&S pretend to be Forest Nomes, and hire Camora as a guide. Discussion about "God", and trouble with Candle Monks.
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06: Thrash [05/01/2006 – 18/02/2006]
Comshaw tracks Niddle and joins up with Ig; they discuss Pales and Poking, before arriving at the mound called The Pit. The Pit lets off a burst of rainbow Fire. They find Niddle, Thrash and his Pales. The scalpsucker gets thrown around and flung into the forest. Thrash and his Pales leave.
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07: The Hole Thing [20/02/2006 – 01/04/2006]
At the bottom of his hole, Mortimer finds a scalpsucker (a different one) and sends her to get help. He discovers he is in the basement of a ruined World 'o Pots, gets covered with sphagnum dust and sploo, and meets his brother Rufus.
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08: Sittin' in a Tree [02/04/2006 – 27/04/2006]
Umboz collects the healer Piu, in case she is persecuted for her connection with him. They agree to marry and she comes away with him and Nitfol, just missing the Mayor's goons who have come to arrest her.
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09: Back and Forth [28/04/2006 – 20/05/2006]
Shona and Snerk land in Eetown fifty years ago, just before the Crash. They witness Myrrh arguing with Ilsa, a member of a militant anti-Earl group. Myrrh tries to grab Shona and is transported forwards when Shona and Snerk return to their own time. She tries to remove her control collar, probably setting off the Fire from The Pit, then meets Frowgler and discusses the collar, the workings of magic and her relationship with Frederick. Frowgler tells her that when she returns to her own time Earl Philbert will be dead. She snaps back and learns Philbert is in hospital, then uses mind-control on Ilsa to make her her servant.
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10: Candle Monks [28/05/2006 – 09/06/2006]
The Candle Monks call Camora the Evil One because she knocked over a candle. Discussion of Basement sects, especially Ludwigites. Clochard begins tailing them.
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11: Dropping Out [10/06/2006 – 16/07/2006]
Rosemary and Camora visit a lavatory. Meanwhile Protus takes Sylvester out of time. He seens snapshpots of present and future events, including a lorry driven by a horned figure, which is related to something Protus has lost. Protus needs his help to find it.
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12: Bad Rubbish [18/07/2006 – 04/09/2006]
[End overlaps start of Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions] `
Sina's team dismantle booby-traps in Rhid's place. Wrawa and Hiblehoy take Leny's body to be rendered. Fighting between the Nevus and Council factions continues, and Fizmo is still climbing.
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13: After Thrash [05/09/2006 – 30/10/2006]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1112 –#1154]
The Fire from The Pit has left Niddle with clairvoyant knowledge, including where Mortimer is. They discuss Finaglers, and set out looking for Mortimer. Snerk finds the Spyder, dead. Myrrh sees the Fire from The Pit which she saw up close when fifty years younger: she still has her balloon.
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14: Rufus [01/11/2006 – 27/12/2006]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1161 – #1195]
Rufus has been living under World o' Pots, spying on mysterious comings and goings at the Mansion, possibly involving Mr Hand. He and Mortimer discuss the aftermath of the Crash, and the comic in which Frowgler is a character. Eunice turns up, stuns Mortimer and takes Rufus to meet "God" at The Spire.
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15: Snerk Meets the Boss [28/12/2006 – 05/01/2007]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions in between strips #1195 – #1221]
Snerk meets Frowgler and gives him the Zorper. Frowgler has been injured in an explosion which hasn't happened yet. He sets off the Zorper, causing the explosion in which he will be injured.
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16: Closing In [06/01/2007 – 25/01/2007]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1221 – #1235]
Clochard looks for Digger Odel. Camora explains Basement politics to R&S. Hpobfvfr searches for Hpthbvtw and gets mixed up with Sina's group.
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17: Conflagration [26/01/2007 – 26/03/2007]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1242 – #1297]
R&S argue their way past the guards on Sidestep Hall and go to Izchak's shop to buy a replacement for Rosemary's lost sword. Hpobfvfr breaks through a net which is blocking the exit from Rhid's place and goes to the elevator, and the Operator starts to hypnotise her. He flares power through the bucket chain, making them an extension of himself. Myrrh realises that the Sneeches are gone, then presses a button to summon the elevator, causing the Operator to retract back into it, taking the fire with him, but not before he has kidnapped Hpobfvfr and cracked Chauncy and Edgar's bottle.
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18: Chauncy & Edgar [27/03/2007 – 24/04/2007]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1304 – #1325]
Chauncy and Edgar escape, kill a Helipath and go looking for Rosemary. Niff and Folla witness the escape and flee to the forest.
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19: Remnants [25/04/2007 – 21/05/2007]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1332 – #1353]
Sina sends many of her party home to sleep. She and Skuy go to get help for Sepfrbfrx, and meet Catmorlo. Fighting continues and now Chauncy and Edgar are loose.
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20: The Lady and the King [22/05/2007 – 09/06/2007]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1360 – #1367]
The Operator, who we learn is a king back home in his own place, tries to seduce Myrrh by offering her eternal youth for Frederick. He is still trying to take Hpobfvfr over, and to find out what Protus is hiding. Myrrh goes to see where the Sneeches have gone.
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21: No Gnoll is an Island [11/06/2007 – 14/07/2007]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1374 – #1409]
Comshaw, Niddle and Ig witness the blast caused by Frowgler setting off the Zorper. They smell a skunk shark, and climb up onto a ruined fountain to hide from it, talking about maths. Niddle still has the glowing crystal but the others don't see it.
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Part Four: The Road Less Travelled [16/07/2007 – 26/02/2010]

01: Izchak [16/07/2007 – 30/08/2007]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1416 – #1451]
R&S go to Izchak's weapons shop and Rosemary acquires a pole weapon which was inside an impregnable Ettin-made box, but which just opens up for her. Chauncy and Edgar break in and she uses the weapon to teach them what pain is and that their victims are real creatures. She has done this before with other demons. Sylvester sends them to Myrrh to ask for help finding a new home. Sylvester dubs the weapon "the Can-Opener".
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02: Upernavik [31/08/2007 – 26/09/2007]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1458 – #1479]
Upernavik, the head of male Motihaul security, sends Whisp to tail R&S, and agrees with his female counterpart to seal off the gates of Sidestep Hall.
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03: The Gibber [27/09/2007 – 11/11/2007]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1486 – #1515]
R&S encounter The Gibber and its guardian Anathama. The Gibber gives them both very large Truths. We learn about the Breach. After they leave, The Gibber tells Anathama that it/they is/are dying.
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04: Hop Skip and Several Jumps [02/11/2007 – 08/01/2008]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1520 – #1581]
Sina's team now know that Chauncy and Edgar are loose, and start to fortify Rhid's place. Nevus is back in the Basement and is angry to learn that a war has been started in his name. Umboz, Vezza, Piu and Nitfol and their Pale escort cross the ravine en route to the Pale camp. In The Spike, the Fixit Cox reports to Dorian, then tells young Vix to run if she gets the chance. He talks about the Crash, and we learn that Mr Hand is in cahoots with The Spike. Frowgler has been injured in the blast he set off. Arthur the Weirdo gets very drunk in memory of his friend Tulip.
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05: Skibble's Place [09/01/2008 – 01/03/2008]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1594 – #1636]
R&S arrive at Skibble's place and discuss families, and names, and the high level of technology in the Basement. Cerbis offers them a token for the Summoner. Nevus is still trying to get through the fighting to his office, but Agita is home, while Guttle is still in the tunnel, very angry. Anathama and Clochard combine to look for Digger. Anathama saw Sylvester as a child when she was a whelp: now she is old and Sylvester is clearly still quite young.
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06: The Three Great Riddles [03/03/2008 – 04/06/2008]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1643 – #1725] `
Trailed by Whisp, R&S arrive at the Riddle Grotto and summon the Riddler. Camora sees the Summoner device change shape. Hax hacks her brain and gains control. The Riddler speaks to them and allows R&S to cross. They pay Camora and say goodbye. We learn about Herediscans, and Aunt Eva's career as a gambler. Hax takes Camora into a room behind a hidden panel.
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07: Decisions Decisions [05/06/2008 – 05/07/2008]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1732 – #1760]
Wrawa crashes out. Thrash agrees to collaborate witn Frowgler, who is helping the Pales to get what they want. Scrof and Louch discuss the situation of the forest Gnolls. Mayor Koyeeb prepares to attack them. Heading home from the forest, Shona learns what's been happening at Rhid's place from Niff and Folla and two female Motihauls.
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08: The River of Fire [07/07/2008 – 26/11/2008]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1767 – #1899]
The Gnoll Blit is summoned to the Observatory, where he looks at the River of Fire and tells the Observer what he sees. Whisp bounds across the Riddle Grotto to follow R&S, who discuss the workings of magic. As they near the River they see visions of people from their lives. Rosemary enters psychic communion with the soul of the Tree that sustains the Basement, and it gives her a seed to hide in her Poke-Kit and then forget she has.
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09: Loose Ends (Basement Edition) [27/11/2008 – 07/01/2009]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1906 – #1939]
We learn that Bung is an important figure. Anathama and Clochard meet Digger, who takes them to his lair where they meet Bokonon, whom they had believed lost. Nevus reaches home and 'phones the Council. Some people can't get home because Sidestep Hall is sealed, so Hiblehoy brings Wrawa to Rhid's former place to sleep.
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10: Loose Ends (Mansion Edition) [08/01/2009 – 02/03/2009]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #1946 – #1995]
Amos puts Arthur to bed. Mr Hand reviews the aftermath of the battle, and repairs Hector. Patrick, the local sheriff, speaks to Nellie in order to check up on who Rosemary is and how she got there. He leaves instructions for Sylvester to report to him.
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11: Loose Ends (Forest Edition) [03/03/2009 – 21/04/2009]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #2002 – #2044]
Umboz and co. arrive at the Pale camp. Nitfol talks to the Nexus, the Pale leader, and they all conclude that he, Nitfol, should try to replace Koyeeb as mayor. The Nexus's plan involves rare material from the forest. The skunk shark is still keeping Comshaw's party confined to the fountain. Yasmine hears Mortimer, who has been left in a hut that used to belong to Dorian.
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12: Urwyn and the Elevator [22/04/2009 – 03/08/2009]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #2051 – #2149]
Shona arrives at Rhid's former place. Many people are arriving to help, and Sina's team are opening up hidden side chambers and thinking of turning it all into a new residential hall. Shona turns down the chance to work for Sina. The upper-class Shallow Wyrm Urwyn volunteers to help and is sent to watch the elevator. On the way he, Finimbrun and an unknown person called Huff get mixed up in a mechanical kraken-shaped advertising float. At the elevator Urwyn makes an emotional connection with the Deep Wyrm Ploot, is joined by his working class friend Zugo, and is secretly watched by another Wyrm. Othara arrives to explore the new chambers at Rhid's former place. The Operator uses Hpobfvfr to fetch the cold-iron pan which he then uses to probe his prison, then sends her to try to kill R&S.
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13: The Great Chasm [04/08/2009 – 26/02/2010]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 1 :: Distractions strips #2158 – end]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 2 :: Upheavals strips start – #2348]
Two Fixits nicknamed Age and Beauty deliver materials needed to shore up the River of Fire, using a lorry which runs on subterranean roads. The Fixits, Mr Hand and Project Y are all connected. R&S discuss Poke-Kits, and the Ettin/Sneech war, and the history of Humans in Yurpsland, and local politics, and alternate worlds seen through Panegates. We learn that Ilsa worked for the Mansion and (from the sound of it) continued to be mind-controlled by Myrrh. They come to the Chasm where they meet Theophan the Recluse and learn about Gobule childhoods, and about adult male Trogs who jump before losing their minds. Camora, controlled by Hax, fires a blunderbuss which stuns Rosemary, then retreats back behind the walls. Kronk, chasing Rhid, accidentally pushes R&S off the edge, and Hpobfvfr smells where they went and turns back from following them. Rhid is pulled behind another panel by Digger Odel. Whisp realises Camora disappeared behind a panel, and goes to report. Hax disengages from Camora: she recovers faster than he expected, and tries to grab him as he flees.
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Part Five: Mechanisms in the Dark [27/02/2010 – 16/07/2013]

01: Sitting in a Tree [27/02/2010 – 04/06/2010]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 2 :: Upheavals strips #2355–#2443]
Comshaw and co. set off to find Mortimer. Yasmine does find him, realises that he shows signs of magical ability, especially with animals, and tells him to speak to Frederick about it. Mortimer, still looking for Nitfol and the Spyder, encounters Frowgler and is given directions. He finds Myrrh's umbrella. Comshaw's party pick up the scent of both Mortimer and Frowgler. Fizmo reaches the surface, discards her hazmat suit and meets Frowgler, who gives her a hat, warns her about Fixits and tells her to join Nitfol at the Pale camp. R&S are alive, having landed in a specially-padded branch of the Tree deep below.
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02: Lying in a Hole [05/06/2010 – 16/09/2010]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 2 :: Upheavals strips #2450 – #2548]
First Mortimer, then Comshaw and co, pass the dead Spyder, with Agorn trailing them. R&S follow a gantry and chute that takes them across the Chasm to a sealed chamber where they meet the adult Trogs Hamble and Villipend. Villipend is paranoid and attack them; in the fight Sylvester fires a taser and accidentally hits Hamble, and Squeeb falls from his backpack unnoticed. Sylvester opens a door using a Herediscan and they leave, trailed by Villipend, and come to an area of Ettin machinery. Mortimer finds the crater caused by Frowgler setting off the Zorper; the Zorper is lying in the bottom. Comshaw's party catch up with him, then Snerk joins them, being chased by the beaver shark: Mortimer summons Flutterbys to distract it. Niddle's crystal interacts with the Zorper and sets off a twistpoint blast which sends Niddle and Comshaw home to Camora, and Ig to his girlfriend's place, whisks Snerk to a mystery research facility where Saurs are kept in a controlled artificial wood (where he meets Zill), and drops Mortimer and the shark through the ground in time to land on Villipend and kill him just as he attacks R&S. Rosemary knocks the shark and Villipend into the Chasm. Comshaw hears about Hax from Camora, and goes to warn everyone. Meanwhile the Zorper has dropped through a hole, but Agorn finds the gem lying in the crater, and also a way down.
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03: Spanner in the Works [17/09/2010 – 15/01/2011]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 2 :: Upheavals strips #2555 – #2668]
R&S&M walk through the Ettinworks, which crackle with electricity, and edge around a Sneech mechanism with Mortimer taking the lead. They come to a tower-like underhub containing spiralling ramps which switch about through twistpoints, and find a signpost written on recently by Nirvana Clepe, a former employee who is meant to be hundreds of miles away. They realise they all separately met Protus today. They obey a sign and don't touch a monolith which, after they leave, turns out to be a variable Panegate through which we see the Mansion, then the SubShafts, then a Dornbeast. Frowgler emerges and enters a smaller entrance where one of his team is waiting. R&S&M discuss Ettin achievements, and come to monolith that says "Touch me". Mortimer does, with the umbrella, and R&S are zapped. Rosemary becomes childlike and hypnotically susceptible, and Sylvester loses his memory. Mortimer is now in command. They touch the monolith again and a Woosher lift comes for them and takes them up. Nevus's troops try to ambush Comshaw: he knocks them down and tells Skradt to take him to Nevus. Skradt considers becoming a Poker. Comshaw tells Nevus that R&S are Human and that Stylvester is The Earl, and demonstrates the existence of Fixits by knocking one off a Motihaul's head: Spatchcock's Boogie guard grabs it and it dies. Comshaw and Skradt go to report to the Council.
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04: Closing Out an Era (The Ettinworks) [18/01/2011 – 04/06/2011]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 2 :: Upheavals strips #2674 – #2807]
Travelling on the Woosher, R&S&M pass a woman who is not Nirvana Clepe, writing on the signs, and dub her Mz Teree. They go up and down more ramps, through twistpoints, and see a love-heart which suggests that Mz Teree's initials are AS. At the crown of the underhub they find evidence of human habitation, and climb a stair which leads to a junction where Mortimer finds a wand Glowgem for his umbrella. They ascend to the level of the Sneech den using a musical levitator, and Rosemary meets Tand on the way, who gives her a message for Ahz and Skiv. Skradt is seriously thinking of becoming a Poker. The Council hears reports from Snerd on Sina's new hall, and Comshaw strikes a Fixit from the head of a Gnoll in front of them. They agree to keep the fact that they now know about Fixits secret until they can capture a live one. Comshaw tells them Sylvester is the Earl. Later he removes a Fixit from a Jibjib. Hpobfvfr is climbing upwards, looking for R&S.
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05: Closing Out an Era (The Sneech Den) [06/06/2011 – 16/12/2011]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 2 :: Upheavals strips #2814 – #2994]
R&S&M enter the Sneech den, where the growths are much less active than usual. The Glowgem exerts a hypnotic influence on R&S, under which M&R agree their relationship will be platonic. Rosemary makes rag boots for Mortimer. Sylvester gives names to a group of Fern-like carnivorous plants, and Agorn falls through the crater flooor to land at their feet. The Hitchhiking Gem has attached itself to his spear. Sina learns about the Fixits and sends Maggle and Kronk to hunt more of them. Sina, Sprocket and Wittol (their Finagler) marry, which will break up the Sprocket/Flange working partnership and cause problems with Project Y. Comshaw and Skradt visit the Eyebolts in Root Hall, and Agita's office, where they remove a Fixit from an Eyebolt named Ogdoad. Agita later pairs Ogdoad voluntarily with a Fixit named Arnix, to act as a liaison with God.
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06: Twilight [17/12/2011 – 09/06/2012]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 2 :: Upheavals strips #3001 – #3174]
R&S&M reach the end of the Sneech den and find a self-propelling Sneech "Dohickey" which has been left as a gift for them. It steers them round the hole left by Chauncy and Edgar, from which two Basement soldiers (Matagam and Geoff) emerge, tracking where the demons went. They pass the entrance to the Council's new tunnel, and exit into a Mansion room for which Sylvester has lost the key. Meanwhile Hpobfvfr bashes a hole into the Sneech den, and addresses Agorn as "citizens" because she can sense the Hitchhiking Gem. She catches up to the Humans but then is overtaken by Ghast soldiers who've been tailing her, who order her to stand down, breaking the Operator's hold on her. They try to arrest R&S&M but Myrrh arrives and scares them off. S&M realise Rosemary has been accidentally enthralled by Mortimer and his Glowgem, but Mortimer manages to manoeuvre her out of it. Rosemary is introduced to Myrrh, realises she is a demon and is very wary: they come to an accommodation and Myrrh retrieves the trundlebug from Rosemary's helmet, then goes to speak to Frowgler in the Sneech den. Mortimer goes to speak to Frederick, who confirms that he is a wizard but won't teach him. R&S leave the Dohickey in the Quiet Room and visit the armourty, where there is a working Zap Trident which is worth a lot of money. Mortimer updates them on his encounter with Frowgler, and they make a bar for the Basement door.
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07: Career Paths [11/06/2012 – 16/02/2013]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f part 2 :: Upheavals strips #3181 – end]
[Overlaps Sundays in the SubShafts :: Backstage strips start – #3424]
Agorn arrives back in civilisation and posts the Hitchhiking Gem down a hatch to the SubShafts. He goes to Root Hall where he is passed by an Eyebolt with a probable Fixit, and speaks to a mysterious high-up who approves of what he and his boss (Digger Odel) are doing and gives him Class Eight clearance, but a clerk tampers with it en route. Agita warns him about Fixits, and he gives her an edited version of what he saw while tailing Mortimer. He dodges an arrow fired by Fanga (and intended for Bromir), and reports to Digger Odel, who is working with Frowgler and knows about Fixits, then talks to his son Furphy about the world changing. The Jibjibs Ruck and Smew ferry Shallow Wyrms including Zugo. A Shallow Wyrm of no ring, named Sneckdraw, spies on the rings and is chased by helmeted Wyrm guards, but escapes on a bat, and reports to the Ring of the Newborn Word that Zugo arrived at the Ring of the Uppermost Spire. Sina's new hall is named Leny Hall. A Fixit named Astex is on good terms with Frowgler. Amos and Mortimer discuss magic. Fizmo arrives at the Pale Camp. Rufus wakes in the Spike, having been recruited by God, and persuades Eunice to be his Chief Assistant.
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08: The End of the Day [18/02/2013 – 16/07/2013]
[Overlaps Sundays in the SubShafts :: Backstage strips #3431 – end]
Rosemary passes an electronic test and is hired as Taskmistress and given a uniform. Sylvester introduces her as "Rosemary Dapple" to Nellie, who tells them about the group she and Frederick, Amos, Olaf and Olaf's late partner Mamie belonged to before the Crash. There is a "Women's Circle" at the Temple, and Eunice is a member. Rosemary is formally introduced to Frederick and Amos. R&M&S set up a siege pot. Rosemary speaks to the Dohickey as an ally in defending Sylvester: so does Frowgler. Rosemary goes to sleep and has an astral projection in which she whacks the Operater with a mallet. Myrrh visits whoever lives in the corridor off the underhub. Rufus has been professionally assessing the Spire and has found it wanting. Hamble revives, seizes Squeeb and considers climbing back up the chute to the main Basement. Out West, a paramilitary leader called Tansy swears to hunt Rosemary down. Lilith and Dorothea set off for home.
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Part Six: On My Way to Town [28/07/2013 – 16/11/2018]

01: Rise and Shine [28/07/2013 – 26/11/2013]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f :: Awakenings strips start – #3698]
Morning dawns. Mortimer makes the decision to take up his umbrella-wand, and magic with it, and tells a wall of electro-spikes that he has grown up and got a job. Rosemary is introduced to her impressive new quarters. Much ado about Glowgems. Frederick and Myrrh set out to get properly married. We see that Yasmine wears a mask because she might be recognised in Audravania. Mention of a tower at the Mansion that no-one can access. Much talk about the fortifications and other security arrangements. Sylvester does not know where Rufus is. He briefs Rosemary about the Mansion working like a self-servicing mechanical organism which is slowly running down, and takes her to meet the Spindizzies.
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02: Fishing Around [27/11/2013 – 22/03/2014]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f :: Awakenings strips #3704 – #3810]
Rosemary is introduced to the Spindizzies, who initially fear that that means Prunella is dead, and a Spindizzy named Emily is assigned to Rosemary. They have been blocked from telling what the Can-Opener is made of, but they make a sort of hologram of it and a sparring partner for Rosemary. They have hologram patterns for many tools, including Ettin ones: but most of those are encrypted. They know where Rufus is: Sylvester recognises their description as the Spike. We learn that Schmedley is acquainted with Frowgler, and that the Spindizzies penetrate into the Basement and talk to Sprocket. Rosemary and Sylvester go to fish and gather seaweed, and Cap'n Hamster and his crew reach the sea and accost Old Man Larssen in his boat.
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03: A Change in the Scene [24/03/2014 – 12/07/2014]
[Overlaps Sundays in SubShaft 44f :: Awakenings strips #3817 – end]
[Overlaps Sundays in the SubShafts :: Meanwhile strips start – #3915]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nests strips start – #3921]
Nitfol, Fizmo and Thrash's team enter the woods to fetch material for Nitfol's power play. Yasmine's fleebs flee. Rosemary is introduced to Arthur and Fantod at breakfast. Frederick and Myrrh retire, after satisfying Arthur's curiosity by revealing Myrrh's demon form: Frederick retiring makes Mortimer the new regent. Rosemary stows the Can-Opener for the moment: detailed description of Barrackstack. Sina and Sprocket question a Spindizzy about the Earl. Rosemary is given the manual for the Poke Kit and nearly remembers the Tree storing a seed in it. Sylvester warns Rosemary not to reveal her location in her letter to Aunt Eva, and we learn about the paramilitary organisation called The Quincunx and its leader, Tansy. Rosemary, Sylvester, Mortimer and Arthur/Fantod (who are going to have a candle lit for Tulip at the Temple) gather at the Gatestone before setting out for the village.
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04: Barriers and Gates [14/07/2014 – 27/11/2014]
[Overlaps Sundays in the SubShafts :: Meanwhile strips #3922 – end]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nests strips #3925 – #4053]
Buzz is searching for Snerk. Sylvester's party head for the village, discussing the now rather ropey fortifications, the fact that Sylvester could if he so wished marry for money and the post-Crash re-growth of Eetown. Clothes were taken from the local tailor: maybe including the hat Frowgler gave to Fizmo? We learn how Omega indoctrinated the villagers to fear education and change. They arrive at the Temple and talk to Juniper, and we learn about the Polarites. Frowgler thwarts a Nome raid on the Gnolls. Frederick and Myrrh are in a restaurant elsewhere.
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05: Eetown – The Temple [28/11/2014 – 25/08/2015]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nests strips #4060 – end]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Tasks strips start – #4323]
Rosemary is introduced to various worthies at the Temple. She warns them she will be taking over Myrrh's duties as physical guard, as well as being Taskmistress, and offers to help the local Sheriff. Discussion of non-Human adherents of the Brush. Separate discussion at the Town Rock about Weirdo mind shapes, and H&S being split into factions. In the village, Mortimer is followed by a "fan club" of young girls. They discuss Polarite culture with Peter Nigultrum, and Sylvester privately warns him somebody may be hunting Rosemary. Terin Flem and Dirge (previous and current Guardians) are keeping an eye on Eunice, and are aware that officially they should report Mortimer. Someone else, possibly the Flittermouse, is watching Enice and Rufus. Elsewhere, Myrrh wrestles with robots for amusement.
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06: Eetown – The State [26/08/2015 – 20/11/2015]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Tasks strips #4330 – #4421]
R&S&M visit the town clerk, Sherman Gray, to notify the government of Rosemary's presence and the change of Regent. We learn about a Coradine ship visiting Woldercan, a port on the west coast of Yurpsland. Sherman sees that Mortimer stows his umbrella in a weapons-holder, and looks it up in a book of Official Threats. Myrrh has her own entry. We learn about various government departments with harmless-sounding names that are actually high-level information processors. At the pub, Mortimer and Sharona split up, then Saffron gives them some of her new Pudding Liquor, secretly watched by Frowgler: Sylvester passes out and Rosemary starts seeing glowing flutterbys.
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07: Revelations [30/11/2015 – 27/05/2016]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Tasks strips #4428 – end]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Shabash and Rowbynn strips start – #4602]
R&S wake to find themselves on Alwin Island, still rather stoned, along with the pub cat. It wasn't Eunice or Saffron that drugged them. R&S are stuck on the island until they sober up enough to manage a rowing boat. Sylvester talks Rosemary through the history of the area, including the Dawn Wars. The Mansion of E was originally the Tower of Ett[in]s. Legend says the First Earl fought living Ettins: this is unlikely, but an Ettin skull was found there. It was several generations before his descendants moved into the Tower, instead of just camping around it. We get a potted family history: Milo ended slave-trading and defeated neighbouring powers, as well as being a famous philosopher and tactician; Dorn I made the family prosperous by selling Dornbeasts; Dorn II's boyfriend Heffston founded the library; Wilhelmina decorated Alwin Island as a memorial to her dead husband, and her sister Arianya of the Bracken was a hugely famous witch. Wilhelmina's son Linus introduced the first thaumnodes to the area, was the first to explore the Basement and designed and grew the Tree, and Fern and her sisters.
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08: Naming Names [30/05/2016 – 23/12/2016]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Shabash and Rowbynn strips #4609 – #4812]
More family history. Linus died planting the Tree and was succeeded by the money-grubbing Griffington, who went into robotics and battle tanks, and was succeeded by Angus and Angus's brother Cyrus, who destroyed the Tower of S and conquered several neighbouring statelets. Audra and her uncle Cyrus made further conquests, set up the Northwoods Alliance and fought Yorik Yurp, but lost, dying when Audra poked the Hot Zone in a last-ditch attempt to gain a technological advantage. The unification of Yurpsland made it easier for her son Ludwig to patent and sell his inventions. Ludwig's son Ernest was a playwright, forger and philanderer, and his son Philbert was a philanthopist who founded a chain of Lovelace orphanages. When Philbert died in a racing accident Quincy, who was not very bright but was sincere and good and diligent, was left to take the family and the area through the Crash. Then came Willoughby, who died in the Noodle Incident. Finally, Sylvester asks to see what Rosemary stole and hid in her Poke Kit, before he can make any further plans.
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09: Wreaking Havoc [26/12/2016 – 07/07/2017]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Shabash and Rowbynn strips #4818 – end]
Rosemary shows Sylvester the HJ42/Zorper, which was in her Poke Kit. It was brought back from the Infernal Engine by an archaeological expedition and displayed in exhibitions, but she believes it to be a legendarily destructive device called the Chaos Key. She stole it to prevent Tansy Rugen, the leader of the Quincuncx paramilitary group, from getting hold of it, and it whisked her to Audravania. We hear how after she left home Rosemary drifted to Jonetown, rescued Edwird from thugs and became his housekeeper, met and overcame the demon Scratch and got recruited by Hack'n'Slash as a result. Mention of The Hermit at the SAR, who is either a demon or a wizard. Some discussion of Ilsa and her daughter Druscilla, and of the fact that two things Protus showed Sylvester have already come true, so Rosemary may encounter Tansy soon. Olaf arrives in his boat and gives them a lift: we learn that he makes thaumtools, and can tell that the magic is slowly returning. He has seen Protus, who was going on about somebody named Winnifred, and he thinks the Ichyoids are up to something. Violet Hopkirk is discontented and thinking about the changes of personnel at the Mansion. First encounter with Aloysius and his friend Ash, Violet's brother. Frowgler talks to Vyon, the Flittermouse, and gives her a Laughter Marble, which she later tosses to Aloysius.
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10: Into the Woods [10/07/2017 – 03/11/2017]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Leny Hall strips start – #5125]
At the Spires, Frederick amazes everyone with his appetite, and Svetlana is assigned to guide him. He alarms her with his curiosity. Myrrh visits her friend Jones, then undertakes a trial of strength. Mortimer has been dropped in the woods, where he meets Nitfol's party: he is relieved to see Nitfol is alive but still feels guilty about the destruction of his home tree, and Fizmo thinks his owing Nitfol a favour will be useful and he might help them pass the barrier at the Edge of their world. R&S land onshore and discuss Olaf's thaumatological experiments: Sylvester thinks he is trying to bring the magic back. Aloysius is hanging around Larssen's place.
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11: New Openings [06/11/2017 – 02/02/2018]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Leny Hall strips #5132 – #5215]
Olaf discovers Aloysius nosing about in his workshop, identifies him as an Animal Empathist and takes him on as a pupil. Frederick continues to ask awkward questions, this time of a Spire archivist. Mortimer explains libraries and Spindizzies to Nitfol and Fizmo, and confirms that Thrash knows he is a wizard. Spyders begin to creep up on them.
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12: The New Level [05/02/2018 – 01/05/2018]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Leny Hall strips #5222 – end]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips start – #5299]
Arthur and Melba retreat behind a bush. R&S return to Eetown, and receive a message by flutterby telling Sylvester to open the Training Gate at the Mansion urgently. He and Rosemary will rush through the rest of their business in town. Mortimer uses magic to fight off a mass Spyder attack. He, Nitfol and Fizmo establish that they all work for or with Frowgler. Svetlana gets promoted so she can continue to work with Frederick. Olaf intends to take Aloysius to speak to Amos about magic.
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13: Thicket [02/05/2018 – 16/11/2018]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips #5313 – #55022]
Mortimer establishes that Nitfol and co. are seeking the Crystal Thicket as part of a plan to unseat Mayor Koyeeb, that they're doing so because Koyeeb is a bad leader and that they aren't planning to kill him, so he agrees to help. He explains Panegates, and Fizmo talks about how she and Kulkad were hired to go down into the Hot Zone in suits and monitor a sort of stone growth, and she and Nitfol discuss walking, and talking, rocks, and Nitfol's ancestor Nikmo who tried to bring a talking rock to the surface. Myrrh undertakes physical and mental challenges, watched on-screen by Spire monitors. Frederick explains his duties as Regent to a Senior Archivix, and they discuss Spire monarchs and what happens to monarchs who try to change things, such as Vasily II, whose death was early and convenient; and the ways in which history gets re-written, with particular reference to the Noodle Incident. Ace meets with Diamond in Jagger Junction: they find her boss Shadwell murdered at his desk, and Diamond hires Ace to get her out of town alive. First they retrieve the ornament called a Zoinkglobe which Ace was there to collect, and leave a diferent one in its place. Sherman P Gray, postmaster and government clerk, suspects Mortimer is a wizard. Violet Hopkirk sneaks out of the village and goes to the Mansion garden to speak to Nellie Grubb.
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Part Seven: Seats of Power [19/11/2018 – 01/12/2021]

01: Flight [19/11/2018 – 04/02/2019]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips #5509 – #5571]
R&S set off for home. Mortimer's party come under attack from rock-throwing Tree-Squid, whom Thrash fights. Violet tells Nellie she'd like to apprentice as a gardener. Diamond and Ace talk their way out past Shadwell's incompetent guards, and his more efficient agents Stirscrim and Trymund, and look for a subtle way out. Frederick talks to Anushka about family and tells her to tell her children she loves them
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02: Entangled [05/02/2019 – 03/05/2019]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips #5584 – #5661]
The Umboz party are getting along very well at the Camp. Nellie promises to talk to Amos and Sylvester about taking Violet on as an apprentice. Ace and Diamond head underground, where they have to fight a Nome gang led by Roquat; Diamond warns Ace that they are in a sense inside the trailing edge of the Infernal Engine. Svetlana gets a uniform upgrade, while Frederick talks to a wry official named Alena. Nitfol's party hack their way through brambles under his leadership and come to a crystal boundary-marker: they can see more Ettin-made crystals in the distance. R&S approach Terin Flem.
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03: No Turning Back [06/05/2019 – 01/08/2019]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips #5675 – #5752]
Nitfol's party reach an area where the Panegate from the Mansion would open, but the Crystal Thicket is humming. The Nomes both collapse, although Thrash is able to revive Fizmo by touching her with his sickle. Svetlana has mixed feelings about her promotion, but likes her new uniform. Terin Flem is nostalgic because in her travels, Rosemary visited the village he came from. R&S are heading away from Terin and back to the Mansion when a long-haired woman in an E-family uniform and a witch's hat appears before them, is recognised by Sylvester and disappears again. Diamond dyes her hair brown and dresses down as a drudge. Myrrh completes her test.
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04: Fallout [02/08/2019 – 30/10/2019]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips #5759 – #5848]
Myrrh arrives at the office of an Eyebolt sage, who urges her to ask a question. Fizmo and Nitfol revive so long as they clutch Pale tools: Thrash confirms that all Pale tools are wands, sort-of. Thrash's assistants are given names. Sylvester identifies the long-haired witch as Georgette Spelvin, an old flame from his university days although not a fellow student, and one who would have made a good Lady of E, since she was a trained hostess. Georgette encounters Violet and threatens her to keep silent, but Violet tells Terin Flem about Georgette, and about wanting to be Nellie's apprentice. Diamond passes as Ace's drudge, and they discuss family history and the Infernal Engine. Frederick offers to do whatever Svetlana would like.
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05: Going Home [04/11/2019 – 27/12/2019]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips #5855 – #5899]
The Eyebolt, whose name is Simplicity, warns Myrrh of a possibly-hostile force in Yurpsland that is enormously more magically powerful than the Operator, either very high up or very deep down. Mortimer and Thrash find their flower, and Mortimer realises that Threnody hoped to train Lilith as an Oracle, before she went on her travels with their mother; but the crystals flare and they may all be trapped. If Georgette returns, Sylvester wants to talk to her, as she may prove an asset. Comshaw and Skradt call on Sylvester at the Mansion. Blas accosts Ace, who left a previous job while Blas owed him a debt. Frederick and Svetlana discuss newspapers, take a lift and meet Ivana.
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06: Diplomacy [30/12/2019 – 13/02/2020]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips #5909 – #5958]
Blas is angry because Ace left him some unpaid-for gifts, and it makes him look like he's selling out to the Humans, whom he calls hulks: he needs to pay him in front of witnesses. Svetlana is alarmed to discover that verbal requests from her (e.g. that Ivana not hurt Frederick) now count as official. The Mortimer/Nitfol party are trapped by the magical discharge from the crytals. Comshaw had to come via the forest now that Myrrh has barred the door: Sylvester explains about "Earl" being a hereditary position. Simplicity and Myrrh establish that Myrrh does not wish to return to Zark.
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07: Exit Strategies [24/02/2020 – 26/06/2020]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips #5986 – #6084]
Myyrh tells Simplicity that in Zark, she was a low-level functionary in a rigid hierarchy, and after she was sucked through a hole in reality into this place she became far more free, even with the collar Frederick put on her. She must keep Frederick alive to anchor her here, and find another anchor for when he dies. Simplicity reveals that her function is to answer questions, but her desire is to protect the city and its people. Meanwhile Frederick and Svetlana are taken to a quarantine area where Frederick will be comfortable but not able to interact with Spire citizens. It is revealed that he and Myrrh arrived at the Spires by no known route: they just appeared. Ivana reveals herself as an interrogator with a big needle, but doesn't use it, and once Myrrh joins them Frederick voluntarily offers to show Ivana how they got there. Myrrh and Svetlana get on surprisingly well, and Myrrh is interested in Svetlana's training. First sight of mysterious listener in high-tech chair. Frederick starts to feel a build-up of magical power. Mortimer sees an unusually large and stripey flutterby. Blas agrees to send payment to Ace publicly via the Herald's Guild.
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08: High Level Meetings [29/06/2020 – 09/10/2020]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips #6098 – #6188]
Ace and Diamond reach the Sourworks, which are suspiciously quiet. Rosemary demonstrates the Poke-Kit to Comshaw, who would like one, and they reach the Panegate to the Thicket. Svetlana is promoted again so she can hear a conversation about tesseracts: Frederick starts to explain Panegates and asks Ivana whether the Spire's detectors could detect a tesseract which was already open, rather than newly opening. A wave of psychic noise, caused by two very powerful entities communicating, washes over them and Myrrh clings to Frederick as she temporarily destabilises and reverts to demon form. Once the wave settles Frederick goes on explaining Panegates. We see a Charcoal Sneech discussing the power wave with a Spire person in a Hazmat suit. Natalya Mitrofanova joins Frederick's party and sends Ivana away as the situation now falls under diplomacy rather than security. She wishes to send Svetlana to Audravania with Frederick as an observer and consul. Violet is reconciled with her mother, while Snerk and Zil investigate escape from the Saur habitat. Fixits are running about in their own place. First sight of a battered-looking female Motihaul, who will appear again. Niddle has a vision of Wrawa, summoning whatever she was summoning in the parallel Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strip.
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09: It All Comes Together [13/10/2020 – 19/02/2021]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips #6202 – #6318]
Svetlana agrees to go to Audravania, and has her antennae upgraded. The mysterous watcher at the Spires has a female-shaped Metalmin named Vasilisa: in front of them is a vast chamber in which some presence communicates in words formed from tendrils of green light, like the thing below the Hot Zone at the Mansion that communicates in white light. We get a flashback to a date Myrh went on earlier that day with a character from a different webcomic. The Operator thinks she has visited the Spires before anybody was ready, aside from a male person he plans to contact. Mortimer sends a note to Sylvester by flutterby, and the Mortimer and Sylvester timelines merge back together with Sylvester's group going through the Panegate to the Thicket to rescue Mortimer's group. Mortimer has accidentally hypnotised Fizmo, and needs to de-fluence her. Sylvester wants them all to come with him to speak to the Council in the Basement. Ace and Diamond discuss the Sourworks, and the fact that Ace's grandmother or someone she knew used to toil in one in East Arcadia. Tand thinks there may be two "mask things".
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10: Unexplored Territory [22/02/2021 – 28/05/2021]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips #6325 – #6416]
The Nitfol/Comshaw party agree to accompany Sylvester to the Council. Fizmo is stunned and offended by how much the Earl owns. Sylvester offers her and Nitfol new clothes and they learn for the first time that there are Nomes elsehwere in the world. Conversation about the Other family and exploring in general: Wrawa, still in a trance, wishes to employ Othara. Digger Odel, whose real name we learn is Rodolph, talks to a Shallow Wyrm named Vim about the recent power-surge. Ace and Diamond exit the Sourworks and learn they had been emptied for the arrival of some bigwig. Natalya and Frederick discuss the fact that the Mansion seems to have been omitted from recent recorded history, even when Eetown itself was booming. There are machines under the Spires too dangerous for Humans to approach, and a deep-down ruler (not the official one) who may or may not be the person in the techno-chair.
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11: New Clothes [01/06/2021 – 03/09/2021]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips #6423 – #6514]
Diamond and Ace head away from the path of the Infernal Engine: Diamond's admitted dream is a comfortable home of her own, but in secret her dream is to destroy the Infernal Engine. Sylvester's party discuss Gnolls and Trogs elsewhere, and the Basement Trog life-cycle, and the Plunge, and the fact that Nomes may wish to buy hats from Genrick Gaberdine the tailor, but they'd need to set up a currency exchange. Nitfol and Fizmo get new outfits, and Rosemary and Fizmo discuss Fizmo's relationship with Nitfol. Natalya states that the House of Rossum officially rules the Spires: yes, some day she might talk to Frederick unofficially. He feels it's important that Svetlana come to Audravanaia, but specifies that she not be required to go into dangerous areas of the Mansion.
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12: Advice and Council [07/09/2021 – 01/12/2021]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips #6521 – #6577]
Rosemary advises Fizmo, who is unnerved at the idea of wearing posh clothes forever. Comshaw briefs Sylvester on the Council members. Frederick opens a Panegate and Svetlana crosses through to the Mansion. Diamond and Ace discuss magic. Protus still has the HJ42 (at the same time that Rosemary does!).
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Part Eight: New Days [30/10/2022 – present]

01: The Old Chap [30/10/2022 – 02/05/2023]
A long time in the future, Grekcora (Fuzz) and Nart (Smyt), would-be Oracle and Guard but currently children, ask the mini-Metalmin 3375, now known as The Old Chap, to tell them a new story, and he tells them the adventures of the Eman family. Ace and Diamond set out from Jagger Junction, and we see that it was Uffer, a Nome Highscaler with a crush on Diamond, who killed Shadwell. Diamond is being hunted for. Sylvester re-opens the door to the Basement and meets Hpobfvfr, who has come to ask for help finding out where the Sneeches went. Comshaw thinks he saw one of the playbills on the wall change.
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02: Tunnel Vision [04/05/2023 – 18/06/2024]
[Overlaps Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath strips #6771 and #6805]
Skradt and Hpobfvfr can sense that the Mansion corridor leading to the Basement has been cleansed of scent traces in some way that suggests the Sneeches passed through and wiped all trace of their passing: Sylvester thinks they may have gone to a Panegate. Sylvester recruits Hpobfvfr to his Council party. The Pale Nexus probably knows how the first Earl overcame the Ettins. Discussion of the morality of killing. They go by the Council tunnel: when Comshaw came before he used a twistpoint. Comshaw would like Hack'n'Slash training and Skradt would like to go to university. Discussion of glowgems and the Engine below the Hot Zone: this leads to the idea that their world is being managed by a great but possibly incompetent power. It could be "God" and he could be in an inaccessible bit of the Mansion. A stair in the tunnel is haunted by a noisy apparition, which Mortimer orders to be silent. Sylvester's party stop at Le Tree. In the future, The Old Chap denies knowing the futures of Grekcora and Nart, but we see that they will be together as Oracle and Guard, and that Grekcora will become a great and martial Oracle and magicker.
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03: Deeper Diplomacy [20/06/2024 – 28/12/2024]
Sylvester asks Snoot to pass on to Nevus his apologies for yesterday's disruption, some valuable paper as compensation, and his wish to meet with Nevus in the future. He then offers Snoot the job of Chief Butler at the Mansion. Telic continues to experiment on Rhid, with his permission, and Agorn and Furphy succeed in getting the Jibjib eggs away from their pursuers. Louch and Frotz, both keen to get away from their own societies, meet in the forest and agree to find the tunnel and go down into the Basement together to look for relatives. Frotz feels he has a debt to repay, after his prayers were answered and an apparition (Frowgler wearing a pumpkin head) saved him from the raiding party against the Gnolls. Niddle talks to Camora about his vision of powers from below passing by and of Wrawa (although he doesn't know her name) communing with them: meanwhile the Placettes feel him do it, and Father Vim feels them feel it. Arriving at the Council's gate, Sylvester and Comshaw discuss getting Hesper together with the Mansion's armourer Sheldon, and Hpobfvfr discusses the rarity of Pales in the Basement with Eyebolt Fidginfain and Gobule Doss. In the far future, we see Frizzlegarb and 3375 find their island: on the island is a little table laden with Thanksgiving food which was made, probably in the distant past, by a Gobblem smith, and is visited even further into the future by an adult Grekcora and Nart. Frowgler is meant to give a speech, but sneaks off for a nap. Sylvester's party are being monitored by both Rufus and The Tree: the latter relays images which are watched by The Great Riddler and a tentacled whatnot.
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04: Aimless Wandering [31/12/2024 – present]
After a brief return to the future in Datuhkazu Hollow, this chapter concentrates on a present thread in which a demon named Marilith demands the return of a favour from Lenore and orders her to tell the truth about why she made a deal with her (Lenore says Myrrh is more dangerous), and they walk through the streets of the capital together, discussing Myrrh, and Jones, and the fact that Lenore has no established lover to come looking for her. In Datuhkazu Hollow, Takapeny refers to legends of a Lady Laynorr who was assigned tasks (and for whom it worked out OK).

Lenore and Marilith's story is broken up through a jumble of out-of-order vignettes of past, present and future. In the past, pre-Crash child!Frederick levitates building blocks on a table which looks Gobblem-made, watched by Quincy and Amos; and Quincy, Frederick and their younger brother Jasper go on the Sky Trek, ending at a temple or observatory from which Jasper leaves, angrily. Post-Crash, Child!Sylvester studies farming with Quincy; child!Lenore and Lilith watch a puppet performance by adolescent!Mortimer and examine a dead, shattered Metalmin in the Basement; and child!Lenore tries with limited success to levitate Frederick's blocks. Child!Lilith carries boxes for her mother, and learns cooking from her grandmother Agnes; and the same wrecked Metalmin which was dead to Lenore zaps teen!Mortimer, and then is deactivated by Rufus. Teen!Lenore and Lilith attend a local dance. Student!Nimue waits for a coach; student or soon-to-be-student Lenore reads a history of Whovian College; and Frederick and Myrrh greet Lenore on her graduation from Whovian. A young, battered Comshaw courts Camora, and adolescent Faddle, Niddle and Wittol attend Finagling classes. Adult but still past Niddle talks sympathetically to the Operator. Teen!Svetlana is picked on by her classmates. Child!Rosemary climbs the Gobblem tower; teen!Rosemary crews a ship; before joining H&S, backpacker Rosemary narrowly misses running into two H&S operatives one of whom is Tansy; adult!Rosemary juggles while Baldy holds her up; and we see that the Quincunx already existed when Tansy was a 12-year-old street rat. In the present, Ace and Diamond camp out and discuss trees, and her origin in the Infernal Engine. Edgar the demon is in a desert, possibly the Great Dry where many Pales live. Lilith is reluctant to return to the Mansion with Dorothea. Prunella tends magic flowers; Protus teaches a Fuzz to make fire; and Twiz shows Maw rooms full of rare salvage, while Speck sits down a hole eating debris from the battle. In the Bay of Runes the Beacons are ancient but still lighted and powered. A Nome in plate armour guards a vault, date unknown: he has a weapon similar to the Can-Opener. In the future, Gnoll nuns LizShella and AnoSima worship at SubShrine 44f.
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Sundays in the SubShafts [03/09/2006 – 28/09/2014]
Mainly concerned with events in SubShaft 44f with the three Gnolls Cully, Chunner and Crud; but also includes brief looks at Sundays in other SubShafts, in Root Hall etc., and feeds into the events of the Sunday in the Hollows strips.

Sundays in SubShaft 44f :: Distractions [03/09/2006 – 11/10/2009]
[Overlaps the end of Bad Rubbish to The Great Chasm strips #1099–#2218]
Skuy's boyfriend Cully is sent to SubShaft 44f to join Chunner and Crud, replacing Digger's friend Bokonon who had said he was going to climb to the top of the world and thumb his nose at God (we know he actually went back upstairs and rejoined Digger's team). Crud, a friend of Rhid's and the designer of the notorious Crudbean, appears crazy and in some ways he is, but he knows a lot about what's really going on in the SubShafts, talks privately to the machines that run them, and is hoping to train Cully as his replacement. While in the SubShafts the team are subjected to, and deal with, a variety of random magical phenomena, which in some way keeps everything in the Basement running smoothly. They are molested, on terms of dubious consent, by female Gnolls in a neighbouring SubShaft. We learn that Rhid is on close terms with the Sneeches, and that is is possible – and dangerous – for a character to become completely decolourised and turn into a white line-drawing. We learn about fast-growing plants called Framebreakers, about non-sapient Wyrm relatives called Squirms, and about a religious figure named Father Groat, contemporary with the Gnoll/Nome War.
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Sundays in SubShaft 44f :: Upheavals [18/10/2009 – 05/08/2012]
[Overlaps The Great Chasm to Career Paths strips #2220–#3229]
Indiividual Emergency Shelter pods, like giant steel eggs, appear in SubShaft 44f and open up, creating small sheltering canopies. Protus takes C&C&C out of time and shows them the galaxy. Discussion of a visit Crud and Skibble made to the Hot Zone. Appearance of a sentient dart which follows Cully. The three are temporarily dispersed, and while they are gone we see flowers and wildlife bloom in the SubShaft, the back wall opening and a huge Metalmin looking in. Meanwhile Cully and Chunner encounter Callithump, who swoomps Cully and the dart to another location where they meet Digger Odel's agent Tuttle. Tuttle gives them a task from Frowgler and sends them through the Remnent, an ancient, sapient Panegate-generator, to collect the HJ42 which has fallen through from the surface, and mind it till someone collects it. Cully slides down a chute back to 44f where the Taphand machine presses a button on the HJ42, causing it to ZORP Cully forwards to a much-improved future where the SubShafts are now SubShrines, and where Mr Flip gives Cully the code to get the Seed of the Tree from Rosemary's Poke-Kit (although Cully doesn't know that that's what it does). Cully snaps back to his own time. The pods close, shutting the three of them into steel eggs, and the SubShaft fills with water. The dart flies off, seeking controls which will drain the Shaft. As the Gnolls sleep in their pods, a Dreamfish swims past and generates a glowing fish-strand, which is sucked up into a pipe.
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Sundays in the SubShafts :: Backstage [12/08/2012 – 30/06/2013]
[Overlaps Career Paths to The End of the Day strips #3231–#3554]
The fish-strand is transported along the pipe to SubShaft 32g, and from there it is sent on to a machine called a mule-dispenser, where it is poured into the shell of a hamster-sized, beast-shaped Metalmin, and fuses with it to create a new, sapient entity. This new mule-Metalmin passes a series of tests to prove it is intelligent, then is welcomed onto a team of maintenance-bots, has education downloaded into it and is branded with the number 3375. Along with another mule it receives the Hitchhiking Gem which was dropped down from above by Agorn, and sends it lower down the SubShafts on a lift: but when the Gem hits the flood-waters below it sets off a water-spout which washes 3375 away and down a deep shaft towards the Hot Zone.
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Sundays in SubShaft 44f :: Awakenings [04/08/2013 – 04/05/2014]
[Overlaps Rise and Shine to A Change in the Scene strips #3556–#3857]
While Chunner sleeps Cully and Crud discuss Othar, who claimed to have swum the Serendipity Pool and met a talking frog in the future. Discussion of Brain, Heart and Spleen Ladders and of Temmy, who lives in the SubShafts and may be a failed female Finagler. The back wall of the SubShaft opens and drains the water into a deep shaft, so they all open their pods. Protus appears and claims the HJ42: after he leavs the Hitchhiking Gem falls from the chute onto Cully. Cully and Crud close their pods again in order to experiment with the controls, looking for a way to use them to explore the deep shaft behind them.
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Sundays in the SubShafts :: Meanwhile [11/05/2014 – 28/09/2014]
[Overlaps A Change in the Scene to Barriers and Gates strips #3860–#3996]
Agita's daughter Rishathra reads Human books, and Agita has a suspicious-looking green umbrella. Callithump has Difonia and Strode wired up to an experiment. A machine in SubShaft 44h spits out a metal dart which flies to 44f, out through the new gap at the back and down into the depths, past the watching giant Metalmins. It flies down a pipe to below the Hot Zone to meet an entity which communicates in tendrils of white light, similar to the green light later seen at the Spires near Vasilisa and the brown-haired watcher. This entity has collected debris which fell down its shaft, including Mule 3375, whom it "sends on ahead" in a flash of white light.
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SubShaft Celebrations [30/05/2018 – present]
A series of snapshots of events in and around the SubShafts. Most were presented as part of a regular series to mark public holidays during 2019, and a few were added at other times. A few canon points are raised: Callithump has made Strode her minion; Tuttle uses Callithump's electrical doorway-device to set off a power surge through the SubShafts, which Callithump is unofficially pleased about; and we see that Bloomers decorate a Bloom tree with flowers for their equivalent of Christmas.
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Saturdays in the Basement [03/05/2014 – present]
Follows various continuing events taking place in the Basement at the same time as the events of Part Six onwards of the main timeline.

Saturdays in the Basement :: Nests [03/05/2014 – 08/08/2015]
[Overlaps A Change in the Scene to Eetown – The Temple strips #3853–#4308]
Skuy leaves her dormitory and goes to live in Leny Hall. Boromir and Scarrow encounter a dying Gnoll, Deodand, who was part of The Gibber. Wrawa goes over the Plunge into the puffy tree, crosses the Chasm and joins Hamble and Squeeb: she has become psychic. Rhid is in Telic's hospital. Zugo is watching Urwyn. The dead Hpthbvtw is collected by Ghast medics and returned to the Pool whence he came. Hpobfvfr, floating in the Pool as she recovers, is advised to go talk to the Humans about the Sneeches, and that in general the Ghasts need to interact more with the world. There is talk among the Ghast stirrers about the SubShafts being alive.
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Saturdays in the Basement :: Tasks [15/08/2015 – 26/03/2016]
[Overlaps Eetown – The Temple to Revelations strips #4311–#4538]
Faddle recruits Shabash and Carmal to a mission for the Placettes, activating Ettin machines to make up for the loss of Sneech squeezings. They are overseen by somebody called Norton at the Spire, who is probably Rufus. Faddle and Carmal agree to further missions, for pay.
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Saturdays in the Basement :: Shabash and Rowbynn [02/04/2016 – 01/07/2017]
[Overlaps Revelations to Wreaking Havoc strips #4541–#4998]
Shabash gets lost and falls into a reservoir. She is rescued by a tentacled whatnot and then shooed away by a mini guardbot. She blunders into Telic's private garden, then his hospital wing, where Rhid is being treated. Rhid narrowly talks Telic out of vivisecting her. She is then pounced on by Rowbynn, a Shallow Wyrm who is an explorer interested in the physical and mental fusion used in Wyrm "Eating", and by Fixits when controlling their mounts. He forms a partial fusion with Shabash so they can talk telepathically, and even share their dreams.
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Saturdays in the Basement :: Leny Hall [08/07/2017 – 24/02/2018]
[Overlaps Wreaking Havoc to The New Level strips #5003–#5242]
Pergola has discovered a crack to the outide which could give Leny Hall its own forest exit, but also allow forest creatures in. She and Maggle discuss exploration, and plants, and the Crudbean incident. Sina and Sprocket are off talking to Spindizzies. Finimbrun is collecting up Rhid's giant dominoes.
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Saturdays in the Basement :: Nitid the Helipath [03/03/2018 – present]
[Overlaps The New Level to Tunnel Vision strips #5245–#6805]
Nitid the Helipath signwriter examines a graffito which shows the Quincunx sign with a rotated E in it, then visits the Favors Repository in the Hall of the Brush, which is full of represenatives of different sects. On the way he speaks to Fyke, an Ecadem religious fanatic who wants to build a tower to the sun, and while waiting to be seen he converses with Pizzle, who swaps a seed with him; with Irnissa; and with Mingent, who fills him in on current affairs. In the Repository he tells the Gnoll sage Febrifuge about prophetic dreams he has been having about Humans and Gnolls and Snoot, and Febrifuge advices him to speak to the Humans, and tasks him with returning a book to the Boogieman leader Crispin. Nitid speaks to a Boogieman named Bentley who talks about the SubShafts being alive, about the Ichyoids draping "tendrils" around and about the power wielded by the Placettes. We see that Timf and Pergola have got together; that Norton/Rufus is giving instructions to the Metalmins Hector, Nunsuch and Penfold; that Faddle and Carmal are working on machines in the Chamber of the Screaming Meemies and Carmal has been promoted to some kind of princess; that a battered female Motihaul whom we have glimpsed before is climbing some kind of shaft above Le Tree; that two Eyebolts named Evulgent and Fremescent are watching all traffic in and out of the Hall of the Brush; that Tand broke away from the same Growth that Ahz and Skiv are attached to; that Sneckdraw has a house high up in the rroof; that Shallow Wyrms are peering from holes all over the place and spying on people; that Hamble has crossed the Chasm and is watching people on the Hall side; that one of the Eyebolt skritchers is still Weirding; that Guttle is conspiring against Nevus and Agita; qand that Frowgler is working with one of the tentacled acquatic whatsits, who warns him that more people are recognising him.
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Smyt Celebrations [30/11/2015 – 05/10/2020 and 24/11/2022 – present]
Snapshots of life amongst the Smyts and other smallfry of the Basement, or in non-canon fantasies with Smyts and/or Fuzzes substituting for e.g. Chewbacca or Spiderman. Most were presented as part of a regular series to mark public holidays during 2015/2016, and some were added later. It has some canon significance, because we see that Smyts have quite an elaborate culture and that, despite the fighting we have seen, some of them live on good terms with Fuzzes and Shallow Wyrms and share festivities with them. We also see evidence of past wars between Smyt factions, and of funeral/memorial rites. Some scenes show Smyt life being conducted in the open air. A female Gnoll teaches a mixed class of Smyts, Fuzzes and a Trundlebug, suggesting Trundlebugs might be sapient; and Frowgler shoots out coloured sparks to amuse a crowd of Smyts and Fuzzes.
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Sunday in the Hollows [05/10/2014 – 07/11/2021]
The adventures of the miniature Metalmin 3375 who emerges into a Hollow in the far future, inhabited by an advanced Fuzz culture, and joins forces with the Fuzz adventurer Frizzlegarb.

Sunday in Summerfather Hollow [05/10/2014 – 27/11/2016]
3375 has been re-modelled into a mini-Humanoid Metalmin. He/it emerges into one of a series of Hollows in the future relative to Sylvester's time, linked by teleport booths, and there encounters a society of large, sophisticated Fuzzes. He teams up with Frizzlegarb. They pass statues of Humans but both Humans and Smyts are semi-legendary to Frizzlegarb's people. 3375 and Frizzlegarb are being hunted by Matachin and Mirador, who work for a master who "rants and dribbles". A Boonbot teleports them to Summerfather Hollow, and thus far away from someone named Dada who usually teaches Metalmins like 3375 to speak. Frizzlegarb openly admits working for someone called the Zero-Tasker. In Summerfather Hollow they meet up with Takapeny, who is secretly working with Twed, the female member of a sessile snake Growth: the snakes are working on something called the Summerfather Operation. All or most Hollows have a Central Device which they are working on, and an Ettin-style sealed door which they are trying to open. Their Oracles wear wizwitch hats made to a design they got from a cache of Human-made diagrams. 3375 gets a regular hat which is much admired. There is a drawing of Frowgler on the wall of Summerfather Hollow. In the absence of Dada they seek Haravmilca, the blood-sister of Frizzlegarb's foster-mother Struhaitta, to give 3375 a voice, and they go to travel to her via a device called the Hugrunner.
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Sunday in Cookiedice Hollow [04/12/2016 – 21/01/2018]
The Hugrunner drops Frizzlegarb and 3375 in Cookiedice Hollow, but almost immediately they are picked up by Anskatkwet, an old friend of Frizzlegarb's who is acting for a mysterious bigwig, and is piloting a stolen Armored Insertion Station. She has come to rescue them from whoever is hunting them, and to keep 3375 away from Dada who is tampering in some way with the bots he processes. The AIS will take them Aboveside and thence to Haravmilca, but Frizzlegarb must travel unconscious, knocked out by gas, or he'll be killed. A BureaucratBot interrogates them but accepts the idea that Anskat is acting for 3375, who has requisitioned the AIS. Another bot tries to arrest them but somebody elsewhere shuts off all power to prevent it from doing so, and the AIS descends with power off, rather roughly.
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Sunday in Datuhkazu Hollow [28/01/2018 – 07/11/2021]
They leave the AIS as fast as possible and it explodes behind them, and there is another blast behind them as they travel. Various factions of "nobs" are at war over how the Hollows should be run. At Haravmilca's place Anskat and Frizzlegarb make love while 3375 is processed, knowing it may be the last time they see each other, but the facility is attacked and loses power. They rejoin 3375, now able to talk, and are helped to escape by an Oracle named Prufrieda as Haravmilca's home is bombarded and she is interrogated by a soldier. Having escaped from the facility, Anskat goes to report to her boss, and Frizzlegarb and 3375 escape through a transport booth and end up in an open-air site by the shores of the Snapperchomp Sea where we know (although we don't see it at this point) that they will find a boat.
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After Frizzlegarb [31/12/2024 – present]
We see Haravmilca free and tinkering with her machines again, and Anskat resting by the Zero-Tasker machine, exhausted and regretful. It gives her some time off and we then see her watching her young daughter at play somewhere outside, where they are joined by Struhaitta, wearing black. Takapeny reports to Ms Twed the growth-thing, then visits the monks in Humsoc Hollow, where she learns archery and peddlebug-riding. Then she climbs a nestpillar to collect a female somebody.
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Mansionverse Gazeteer [25/07/2013 – 30/12/2018]
Snapshots of different countries all around the Known World, beginning with an overview of the Mansionverse solar system and the position of the Mansion relative to the Known World. Most were presented as part of a regular series to mark public holidays during 2018, and a few were added at other times.
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Yurpsland, Our Yurpsland [20/01/2020 – present]
Snapshots of different provinces and customs around Yurpsland. Most were presented as part of a regular series to mark public holidays during 2020, and a few were added at other times.
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A Far Distant Place [23/03/2015 – 25/12/2017]
A series of vignettes of life amongst weird creatures represented by geometric shapes. Most were presented as part of a regular series to mark public holidays during 2017, and a few were added at other times, and even from other websites where Rob has posted art.
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Guest art, fanart and supplementary illustrations by the author
Supplementary art by Robert, usually to commemorate public holidays and significant deaths, including background information and images of events which are not part of the canonical timeline; and fan-art of the Mansionverse characters produced by other artists.
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