A Parade of Horribles
by Matt Dinniman
Contents
Chapter 24
Overview
Carl dismisses Akuma's demand to kill two teams blindly, but the chapter quickly shifts to a more urgent problem when Dong collapses and the AI reveals a new quest tied to Corcunda's split identity. Carl and Donut learn that reuniting Corky and Porky through a fleshmancer could remove Corcunda from the Lady Dominators and earn valuable stand-ins for the eleventh floor.
The bigger twist is that Dong's apparent attack is likely caused by his sapient sock, which seems to be sustaining and possibly addicting him. That discovery turns Dong from comic side character into a serious liability and priority, while the AI hints that Corcunda's restoration may matter far beyond this race.
Summary
Carl broods over Akuma's secret note, remembering the war mage's past betrayals and trying to connect Akuma to Samantha, her daughter, the Scavenger, Emberus, and other mysteries from earlier floors. Carl recognizes the phrase "Pineapple Cabaret" from a previous AI banishment option and decides he will not deliberately kill two teams for Akuma without understanding the reason.
Shouting from outside interrupts Carl's thoughts. Dong Quixote has collapsed near the Lady Dominators' garage, and Bucket Boy can tell only that Dong is suffering from a hidden ailment. While Genesis and Rapture mock him from inside, Carl and the others bring Dong back toward safety. At that point, the AI declares the first Dong-Corcunda reunion quest complete and immediately issues a second quest: Carl and Donut must reunite Corcunda's two magically split halves, Corky and Porky, with a fleshmancer before the floor ends. Doing so would remove Corcunda from the Lady Dominators' race team and earn Carl and Donut two stand-ins for the eleventh floor.
The AI explains that Corcunda was split long ago into two personalities with diverging lives: Corky stayed at the club, danced, and became close to Dong, while Porky left to pursue singing and dislikes Dong. Splash Zone fills in the recent history, explaining that both halves once worked at the club, that Porky left after resenting Corky's bond with Dong, and that Corky later went searching for his other half. Donut immediately focuses on finding Porky's guild so the halves can be rejoined, while Dong, feeling better, confesses that he fought with Corky because he feared the restored whole Corcunda would no longer love him.
When Imani arrives, she finds no current external injury on Dong, but after comparing notes with Carl and Donut, she concludes the Lady Dominators probably did not curse him at all. Instead, Dong's sapient sock appears to be sustaining him and may have made him dependent on it, confirming earlier warnings about dangerous sentient weapons. Carl and Donut agree to keep this from Dong until they have a plan, because even the sock might panic. As Bigs, Samantha, Mongo, and Rend stagger back drunk, Carl watches Dong and resolves that protecting him and solving this new problem must now become a priority.
Who Appears
- CarlDistrusts Akuma, learns the new Corcunda quest, and decides protecting Dong is now a priority.
- DonutPushes to find Porky quickly so Corcunda can be restored and removed from the rival team.
- Dong QuixoteCollapses near the Lady Dominators, worries Corcunda hates him, and may be dependent on his sapient sock.
- ImaniExamines Dong, adds buffs, and realizes his ailment likely comes from the dangerous sentient sock.
- CorcundaRevealed to exist as split halves, Corky and Porky, whose reunion could free him from Lady Dominators.
- Splash ZoneAlerts the group to Dong's collapse and explains the history of Corky, Porky, and Dong.
- AkumaSends Carl a secret note asking him to kill two teams and meet at the Pineapple Cabaret.