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| - One of the signature of House Heterodyne, the Doom Bell is located atop a tower [ outside] [[Chronology - Volume #|✣ ]] Castle Heterodyne. Carson von Mekkhan, Seneschal Emeritus to House Heterodyne, still holds the hereditary office of "Doom Bell Ringer", which comes with a nice stipend. When Agatha and friends arrive in Mechanicsburg , the bell is little more than an [ object of curiosity] [[Chronology - Volume #|✣ ]] to tourists, having had its official striking-hammer removed years ago and stashed in a safe place, due to ongoing problems with treasure-seeking adventurers interested in the legend of vast Heterodyne riches being revealed with its sounding. Ardsley Wooster [ points out] [[Chronology - Volume #|✣ ]] that the bell only rings when a Heterodyne is in residence at the Castle, which of course means that it hasn't been heard for more than twenty years. One of the Black Squad recalls that [ it rang for the birth] [[Chronology - Volume #|✣ ]] of Klaus Barry Heterodyne. Castle Heterodyne fondly reminisces that the bell also tolls for the installation of a new ruling Heterodyne. Which means the Bell [ is indeed rung] [[Chronology - Volume #|✣ ]] following [ Agatha's public proclamation] [[Chronology - Volume #|✣ ]]that she is the new Heterodyne. Not by von Mekkhan in person, it turns out, but rather the large mechanical statue seen in the image to the left. As might be expected from a Heterodyne artifact from the old days, the bell rings with enough force to stun anyone in the vicinity of Mechanicsburg who isn't acclimated to the effect. (People falling into the "immune" category include Jagermonsters, the technically-dead Doctor Mittelmind, and Gil.) As established by the terms of their sentence, the Bell's tolling also has the effect of [ removing] [[Chronology - Volume #|✣ ]] the explosive collars attached to Mittelmind and the other surviving Castle Heterodyne repair-team inmates. Note that this ringing is only able to occur thanks to Zola "Heterodyne" backer Baron Oublenmach, who is involved in said take-over scheme mostly [ because of] [[Chronology - Volume #|✣ ]] his obsession with the aforementioned legend; it is he who [ retrieves] [[Chronology - Volume #|✣ ]] the massive hammer from Mamma Gkika and literally drags it all the way across town to the [ tower] [[Chronology - Volume #|✣ ]]. Being at ground zero, he comes out of the ringing somewhat the worse for wear, but considers himself to have "won" due to Franz the dragon ceremoniously dumping some gold coins on his head as reward for his service. [ Rejoice!] [[Chronology - Volume #|✣ ]]
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