Sylvester, who in theory is the owner of the Mansion of E, prepares to perform an important Task.

His brother Mortimer appears, along with new arrival Rosemary Ripley, who followed Mortimer home.

Rosemary kills a Dornbeast, which the three of them cook and eat. Sylvester deals with the leftovers. Everyone then goes to bed.

The next morning, Rosemary takes charge.

A shark displays the surprising ability of being able to chase Mortimer into the forest surrounding the Mansion.

Rosemary and Sylvester (R&S) climb to the top of one of the Mansion's towers, where Sylvester imparts some of his family's history.

R&S decide to get a pot.

R&S visit the E family storage area. There, they meet Sylvester's Great-Uncle Frederick, and don't meet GUF's bedmate, who is a Woman of Mystery. They encounter an equally-mysterious device which has been around for a long time, and pay a visit to the Pot Room, which doesn't have exactly what they need. After a brief stop to tool up, they proceed down in the direction of the Pots Room, which is in the Basement. Arriving at the entryway to said Basement, they have a brief chat with Comshaw the Gnoll about the deceased Dornbeast.

Comshaw reports this encounter to his fellow Gnolls Camora and Niddle, and then to "The Council". Camora announces her intention to go get some different help with the human "problem", while Comshaw and Niddle (C&N) decide now would be a good time to go visit the forest for a while.

R&S come to The Elevator and meet its Operator, who, while proving to be even more dangerous as he appears, has his nefarious scheme thwarted at the last moment by Sylvester's special frying pan, leaving him unconscious.

C&N run across "Digger" Odel, who has also been thwarted, in this case by a new guard, in his own attempt to visit the forest.

Mortimer is nearly lured in by a tree that plots to kill him, then climbs a more benign one.

At the end of the elevator ride, Rosemary beheads a Trog(lodyte) which mistakes her and Sylvester for lunch.

Camora visits the office of a Basement VIP named Nevus, and is rebuffed by Faldstool, an Eyebolt who is one of Nevus's underlings.

Sylvester explains to Rosemary about The Weirdo Who Lives In The Attic, who is lurking nearby. The Weirdo and his handpuppet Fantod watch the two of them depart.

Mortimer learns to his regret that the tree he has climbed is already occupied by a Nome named Nitfol, along with a hungry Tree Squid.

R&S pass through a room which creates a brief but unsettling loop in time, and then arrive in the E family's Hall of Achievement, where some more family history is relayed.

To near-universal surprise and unhappiness, the shark chasing Mortimer unexpectedly reveals itself to be a Beaver Shark, and brings down Nitfol's tree. The falling tree only makes it halfway to the ground, and Mortimer and Nitfol (M&N) ride the Tree-Squid's bungee-like tentacles the rest of the way, where a hostile welcoming committee awaits.

Rosemary is introduced to the Djinnoscope, which was built by Sylvester's mad-scientist ancestor Ludwig, and gives you what you need.

C&N&Digger find themselves in the middle of a border dispute.

Rosemary can't resist trying the Djinnoscope, but nothing seems to come of it; after an unfortunate revelation, she forces Sylvester into trying the device himself.

Courtesy of a slingshot effect, M&N go for an even longer trip together.

Niddle ends the border dispute, but at a high personal cost; Comshaw decides to take him to Telic the Healer.

A gift for Sylvester from the Djinnoscope allows R&S to breeze through what would otherwise be a difficult encounter with a group of dangerous human-hunting Ghasts.

M&N discover that certain physical laws have suddenly become indecisive.

Fleeing the Ghasts, R&S sketchily examine more of the exhibits in the Hall of Achievement, including Fern, who is the creation of the botanist earl Linus.

Camora meets Hax, a hat-shaped "Fixit" who rides a body and works for someone who goes by the name of God.

Protus the time-traveling Willygig arrives at M&N's location, and angrily presents Mortimer with a small white device with the cryptic name of HJ42.

While observed by a mysterious watcher known to some as Mr. Hand, Sylvester explains that he and Mortimer may have a guardian angel.

R&S find a giant bottle of wine which has been installed by The Council, and is a surprise to both of them. Leaving the bottle behind, they don't realize that it is inhabited by two rather singular individuals who recognize Rosemary and go by the names Chauncy and Edgar.

Waiting in line to see Telic, Digger reveals that he was alive during the "Nome War", and that he knew Comshaw's (in)famous war-leader grandfather, Compline.

The Ghasts come across the aftermath of R&S's visit to the Elevator. Their leader Hepthbav sends the others off on various missions while he stays behind.

Hax visits the Barter Hall in search of a gnollish fleeb-seller named Ratch.

A pair of scavenging Gobules named Gorp and Phiga arrive at the Elevator and, to Hepthbav's consternation, prepare to put the ceremonial bite on the Operator.

With an assist from Digger, Comshaw brings Niddle in to see Telic.

Cut free by Protus, M&N leave temporal suspension, fall, and land in the web of a mathematically-inclined Giant Spyder. The spyder displays an obsessive interest with Nitfol, and tosses Mortimer away.

In the Barter Hall, Camora catches up with Hax and demands that he and God help with the humans.

R&S step into what proves to be Le Tree restaurant, where they meet Snoot, an unflappable Motihaul who is the establishment's Maitre D'.

Two more Gobules, Mingent and Ningle join the growing mob at the Elevator, followed closely by two thuggish enforcers who work for another Basement VIP named Guttle.

Comshaw learns that his mother now works for Telic, while Telic prepares to administer Niddle's treatment, which proves to be, in more ways than one, a spectacular success.

Inside Le Tree, Rosemary has a puzzling conversation with Protus, and then a far more vigorous and satisfactory discussion with Le Tree's bouncer Percy the Boogieman.

Mortimer gets hung up and has a bit of a time out.

Hax uses an "aurilnode", the Basement equivilent of a telephone, to contact God, or the closest proximity thereof. He is told to help Camora.

While the others are quarreling outside the Elevator, Ningle takes a bite out of the Operator, setting off a major conflagration.

Snoot calls in Le Tree's reinforcements, but after Protus intervenes, Rosemary simply orders some treefruit. She and Sylvester discuss a little of her background.

Leaving Frederick asleep, the Woman of Mystery catches up on the general situation and decides to go for a stroll, which makes her neighbors Nellie and Amos Grubb nervous.

Comshaw, Niddle and Digger get back on the road.

Sepferb the Ghast, formerly one of Hepthbav's squad, reports about the humans to The Council, the members of which then get more bad news.

Hepthbav and one of Guttle's enforcers die as a result of the Elevator explosion.

A Gnoll named Faddle and a Gobule named Bung engage in discussion and impromptu trade.

R&S discover how good treefruit can taste.

A glowing hitchhiker latches onto an unsuspecting Niddle.

Hopobefever the Ghast eavesdrops on the other surviving members of Hepthbav's squad, as said squad members head for Le Tree.

Mortimer revives, and meets Snerk the Saur, followed closely by three far more important personages. One of them is a female Motihaul named Agita, along with the previously-mentioned Guttle and Nevus.

Hepthbav's squad tangles with the bouncers in Le Tree.

Mortimer learns that he is going to be conducting an auction, with the HJ42 as the prize. He demonstrates what it does, with stunning results.

Camora and Hax come to an arrangement, and settle in outside Le Tree and lurk, waiting for the two humans to come out.

Sina the Gnoll brings a cakeshroom to celebrate a client's birthday, but discovers that the Elevator fire has canceled the festivities, and goes off to help fight it.

While attempting to slip away from Le Tree, R&S learn that Snoot that strong feelings about napkins.

The guard blocking the tunnel to the forest is Skoil, a Gnoll and "Poker" like Comshaw. Comshaw teaches him an important lesson about the dangers of excess verbosity.

Sina takes charge of the bucket-brigade that is attempting to put out the Elevator fire, but has been stymied by the twin obstacles of the time-loop room and an as-yet-unseen individual known as "Crazy" Rhid.

Hopobefever leads her racially-mixed Council-police squad into Le Tree, where she emerges the victor over the bouncers in another lopsided fight.

Thanks to the HJ42's PROZing power, Mortimer has a short but unsettling experience, which features both familiar and unfamiliar faces. Agita then lays out the rules about auctions.

Sepferb arrives at the bucketchain, and Sina gives him her cakeshroom to guard. It is promptly stolen by Gorp and Phiga, who take it back to the Gobule lair they call home.

R&S decide to call it a day, but are headed off by Snoot, who takes them to see his superior Spatchcock.

Arriving back at his apartment, The Weirdo gives a briefing to a dark and mysterious visitor named Yasmine Fotheringby.

A defunct "metalmin" (AKA a robot) becomes the focal point for a very localized power struggle.

A Ghast, a Gnoll and an Ooze have a brief encounter near and in a now-abandoned temple once dedicated to an individual known as Kaylu.

Sepferb smashes his way into Gorp and Phiga's home lair, which is run by a very grizzled Gobule named Maw. Maw takes the Cakeshroom from Gorp and Phiga and gives it back to Sepferb.

Mr. Hand and his robot assistant Hector attempt to deal with a mechanical failure; the repair team of Sprocket the Gnoll and Flange the Helipath are dispatched to collect a needed part.

Hector makes a most unusual deposit and wakes a gong-ringer.

Enroute to Spatchcock's office, R&S view a display containing some of Nevus's most prized possessions. (Features some cameos by other ComicGen artists' characters.)

Some Eyebolts vigorously debate the value, if any, in being weird.

On orders from Sina, Wrawa the Trog gathers the "adult" Trogs Leny and Kronk for a possible bucket-chain assault on the home of Crazy Rhid.

The auction begins.

Wyrms and Talking Rocks battle down in the Hot Zone.

An unfortunate Talking Rock falls even deeper, and arriving in a place occupied by figures wearing bizarre protective suits, undergoes a strange and wonderful transformation. After entering a danger-ridden airshaft, the rock is unexpectedly sent back home.

Comshaw and Niddle reach the forest, where they are given a cryptic message by a Saur named Buzz.

Digger destroys the Killer Tree which earlier attacked Mortimer. A widower Nome named Umboz and his young daughter Vezza witness the destruction.

The Nomish Mayor Koyeeb sets up Umboz to die on a suicide mission, causing Umboz to flee with Vezza. Umboz then tells Vezza the sad and bloody history of the Gnoll-Nome War and its aftermath, but the conversation is interrupted by the surprising arrival of Nitfol (last seen about to be eaten by the Giant Spyder) who is being accompanied by some Pales. They all go off together to go to the Nome village, and then the Camp, the home of the Pales.

The Woman Of Mystery goes on an expedition with Zay, a transdimensional visitor from the Keenspace/Comic Genesis webcomic Sandwich World. After an encounter with Nellie, Zay is sent on his way.

A small Trundlebug has a series of adventures, enroute to meeting...

Rosemary and Sylvester, who discuss chocolate, and some of Rosemary's employment history. They then are summoned into the presence of Spatchcock.

In the forest, Snerk wins the auction and counts out Fleebs, while Comshaw and Niddle talk about Comshaw's dead friend Boffin and then meet a female gnollish employee of Nevus's named Shona.

Wrawa and Kronk reminisce about one of their dead compatriots, and Wrawa picks up one more adult Trog, Odum, who is normally employed by gnollish ne'er-do-well Dap.

Rosemary and Sylvester meet Spatchcock. While they discuss napkins and come to a business arrangement, Snoot dragoons a small bad-tempered Wyrm named Squeeb into spying on the two humans.

Sprocket and Flange arrive in the tunnel to the forest, preparing to 'operate' on the dead robot.

Snerk takes his auction winnings, and gives Mortimer 15 fleebs in a sack.

Various combinations of Sina, Comshaw and/or Niddle discuss scalpsuckers, the gnollish concept of Finagling, the lives of flutterbys, and finally, Poking. Then Niddle gets into trouble again, meeting a threatening group of Pales, led by the formitable Thrash.

Sina and friends face off against Crazy Rhid, who proves to be both dangerous and uncooperative. A violent confrontation follows which Rhid eventually loses, but only at a heavy cost to Wrawa, and a fatal one to Leny.

After Rosemary and Sylvester leave Spatchcock's office, Snoot launches Squeeb on his spying mission, where the Wyrm quickly runs into trouble. Enroute to the exit, the oblivious R&S discuss The Tree, Nomes, Motihauls and Ghasts. It is also revealed (if only verbally) that Sylvester has a sister named Lenore. Arriving at the exit, R&S have another brief but eventful encounter with Hopobfivfer, before learning the current status of the elevator, and deciding to take a new path towards The Riddle Grotto, the River of Fire, and the Great Chasm. They then meet Camora and Hax.

Attempting to find her way out of the Mansion, Yasmine meets Protus, who sends her down a very emphatic shortcut to the forest.

After Comshaw dashes off to try and save Niddle, Shona meets a strange individual who names himself as Frowgler the Horned Frog. The conversation eventually proves to be unnerving enough that Shona flees towards the security perimeter surrounding the auction site...

..where the post-auction atmosphere is rapidly turning acrimonious. Snerk and Mortimer also flee, leaving Guttle to attempt an unsuccessful power-play.

Mortimer promptly takes a fall, while Snerk, Shona and the HJ42 have a unscheduled meeting of the minds. There are explosive results.

Back down underground, Rhid also flees. In his wake, Sina hands out assignments to the various members of her assault force, and prepares to clean out any booby-traps Rhid may have left behind.

A Gnoll named Clochard and a Motihaul named Nugabela have their discussion of financial matters interrupted by the arrival of "Father" Tartuf and his Candle Monks, who are on their way to confront someone known as "The Evil One". Clochard decides to tag along. (All of these characters have made brief cameo appearances previously.)

Outside Le Tree, Rosemary and Sylvester hire Camora to be their guide, but before they get very far, they are accosted by the Candle Monks.

In the forest, Comshaw chases after the Pales who have taken Niddle. En route, he meets a Saur named Ig, who volunteers his assistance. They make their way to "The Pit", which doesn't look very pitlike. A stream of "Fire" briefly lights up the forest, then Comshaw confronts Thrash, with rather anti-climatic results

Mortimer finds himself at the bottom of a (real) pit. He meets a helpful female scalpsucker and uncovers a door which leads into a storeroom located in what used to be the basement of the local World O' Pots. Mortimer gets coated in various noxious substances, deals with a rather single-minded robot, and then startles a man whom he IDs as "Rufus".

Umboz meets with Piu, the Nome village healer, and they come to an Understanding. They then meet up with Vezza and Nitfol. Nitfol gets a new hat, and they all set off to visit the Camp.

Shona and Snerk find themselves "PROZed" back into the past, where they promptly get involved in a confrontation between a green-haired woman named Ilsa and a much younger Woman Of Mystery. The WoM tries to stop Shona from PROZing home, but instead comes with her. The WoM meets Frowgler, who tell her about The Crash, and reviews her history with Frederick. The WoM then returns to her correct time, where she and Ilsa meet again.

After learning that Camora is the "Evil One", Rosemary chases off the Candle Monks, as witnessed by Clochard. She, Camora(Hax) and Sylvester make a stop a nearby drophole. While Sylvester is waiting outside, he is grabbed by Protus and taken to a "gap within a gap" where he is asked what he sees, which proves to be a cryptic series of pictures, and an auto. Protus than returns him back to the drophole, where he tries to describe what he remembers of the trip to Rosemary and Camora.

Sina has the Wyrms Ploot and Voog launch a full frontal assault on Rhid's home. Ploot then makes a surprising discovery about that home, and discusses Hotzone life with Voog. Sina suffers a temporary loss of nerve, but rebounds and organizes a game of Rocktoss. After encountering the far exit of the chamber, she decides she needs to talk to a Dornbeast expert.

In the wake of Thrash's departure, Niddle reveals a hodgepodge of forest information to Comshaw and Ig, given to him by the blast of Fire. A wide-ranging conversation follows: bits and pieces of Gnollish history, what Niddle does when he's alone at home, the romantic travails of Sina and Sprocket, the existence of Mortimer, the name of the Mansion, and Pales and their Camp. Comshaw finally decides that he wants to talk to Mortimer, and the trio sets out, unaware that they are being observed.

Down in the former WoP basement, Rufus is revealed to be Mortimer and Sylvester's brother. He and Mortimer discuss other family members both previously seen and unseen, then Rufus leads Mortimer to the edge of a magic-blocking cloakring, where they detail the current role of Pales in the world. Crossing into the ring, they pass various oddities that WoP was trying to sell before The Crash, most notibly a "MerrinCorp demontrap", which looks nearly identical to the thing currently holding Chauncy and Edgar in the basement. The two men talk about "Poke Kits", which offer their users convient extra-dimensional storage space, and the comic strip Roshambo the Warrior Beetle, which features a character known as Frowgler the Horned Frog. They go inside Rufus's spartan living quarters, where Rufus begin to tell Mortimer what he has learned about Mr. Hand, before being decisively interrupted by a mysterious woman from the nearby human village called Eunice, who promises to take Rufus to meet God.

Snerk meets his boss Frowgler, and hands over the Zorper/HJ42, along with a Hammerspace "Poke Kit". After Snerk leaves, Frowgler Does Something to the Zorper, causing a massive explosion.

Down in the Mansion's Basement, Camora gives some (rather biased) background on the Ghasts and the Council, and then leads R&S into the male half of Sidestep Hall, home of many Motihaul shopkeepers, including the (in)famous Izchak, who sells sharp and pointy things.

Meanwhile, an angry Hopobefever, having learned about Hepthbav, arrives at Rhid's place and confronts Sina. After cutting through Rhid's Dornbeast net, the Ghast approaches the elevator just as the Woman of Mystery does the same where R&S originally got on. The Operator "wakes up" and seizes control of the entire bucketchain, just long enough and far enough to damage the bottle of Penalty Wine. Hopobever is dragged into the elevator as it slams shut, the fire is put out, and Chauncy and Edgar are able to free themselves from the bottle. They decide they want to meet Rosemary, and set off in pursuit of her.

Sina disbands the bucket chain, but then complications arise with the discovery of Rhid's hidden workshop, and news of Chauncy and Edgar.

The Operator and the WoM have a brief conversation, wherein he makes her an offer which she CAN refuse. After she leaves to check on another situation, he makes illicit use of one of Protus's "Time Pylons" to investigate her recent activities. Not learning what he wants to know, he proceeds with doing something unpleasant to Hopobefever.

Comshaw, Niddle and Ig witness Frowgler's explosion from a distance, then get temporarily trapped on some Human ruins by a Skunk Shark, which is not as bad as a Beaver Shark, and works to keep portions of the Forest pruned. They discuss the concept of time measurement, then settle down to wait.

Rosemary, Sylvester and Camora arrive at Izchak's shop, where Rosemary acquires the Can Opener, a suspiciously helpful pole-weapon. She gets to test just how helpful when Chauncy and Edgar arrive as well. After Rosemary gets his attention, Edgar tells R/S about "the Barrier" which evidently surrounds the Mansion, and Sylvester sends him and Chauncy to see The Woman of Mystery. Rosemary "pays" for the Can-Opener, and they depart the demolished shop, discussing airboxes..

Their departure is covertly observed by Upernavik, the elderly head of Motihaul security, who orders the closeure of the gates of Sidestep Hall. This proves to a complicated process, both legally and physically.

Sylvester and Rosemary discuss the scary ladies in his life, and a bit more about her upbringing. They learn about and meet the Gibber, an collective entity which lurks behind a wall and tells only the truth. After they hear their truths and depart with Camora(Hax), the Gibber tells "his" long-time watcher Anathama that "he" is dying. She departs as well, to find Digger.

A general round-up of action includes a visit to the Pales' "Camp", and then the towering Spike which stands in the middle of the forest, and is occupied by, among others, a bad-tempered older Human named Dorian and several Fixits including older Cox and younger Vix. The latter two discuss Protus, and Cox urges Vix to flee the area if the chance ever presents itself. Back on the forest floor, Frowgler is revealed to be still alive, if damaged.

On the top of the Mansion, Amos Grubb discovers that it was the drunken Weirdo who set off a very annoying "Mugwump Alarm". While Amos shuts off the alarm, a little more of the Weirdo's (or more precisely Fantod's) background is revealed. Descending back into the Basement, Rosemary, Sylvester and/or Camora discuss the naming conventions of various species, literature, and how to deal with the Gibber's prophecy. They next pass by the door to Skibble's Place. The (in)famous Skibble is not there, but the Gnollish doorkeeper Cerbis offers them a token which they will supposedly need in the Riddle Grotto. Sylvester refuses it, and correctly guesses how an aurilnode works. A bit more information about the mechanics of Magic and The Crash are imparted, Sylvester presents his theory about geniuses such as the nodes' late creator Auril, and Camora realizes that she and the Humans haven't been communicating very well. As they head for the Riddle Pool, Hax convinces her to hold her tongue for the moment, and the three of them discuss the complexities of loving and hating your siblings.

Following a quick update on the three Basment VIPs, Clochard and Anathama meet, exchange news and set off in search of Digger. Rosemary, Sylvester and Camora discuss Djinns and then arrive at the Riddle Grotto. Hax takes charge of his relationship with Camora. The Grotto's inhabitant/guardian, The Great Riddler, is summoned, and revealed to be a very large Ichyoid. With Rosemary's help, Sylvester successfully answers The Three Great Riddles, Camora and Hax depart, and the Riddler raises a bridge across the pool. While Rosemary and Sylvester cross, Hax takes Camora into a concealed passage. Now at the metaphorical edge of the River of Fire, Sylvester discusses "modern" comic strips, and Rosemary finally gives some background on her Aunt Eva. Meanwhile.. The Woman of Mystery agrees to help Chauncy and Edgar, Sprocket and Flange drop off a scavenged robot brain-filament, and the day's events finally take their toll on Wrawa.