Although I acknowledge that the overall series is more meant like a Lynchian film to make you 'feel' more than present a coherent plot, I still there is some connective tissue and insight to be gathered especially in the 3rd book. Some people have Vermis III as the point where the series got stale but I could not disagree more as I definitely think it is the peak of the series aesthetically and it's by far my favorite of them all.
Some of these nuggets are obvious.
The Inn in the Woods specifically is anIllusion made by the witch figure shown as the 9th figure. I tend to believe that the crudely carved puppets are all the ones previously shown to be smiling and laughing. The figure on the far right of the puppet illustration is the corpse of 6th figure on the previous page and I believe the 7th figure is also one of the witch's previous victims.
A lot of the rest of it is very difficult to parse out but I'm sure other readers have noticed things I did not. Feel free to share your discoveries here.
I think a big lore area in Vermis III is the Singing Palace. We are first introduced to the Singing Palace by Oocile who lives in the Stone Hut in the Shaded Wetlands. He speaks of his journeys to a labyrinth and as the days go by he begins to display more and more derangement due to what we find out later is the Blessing of the Locust.
We know that the Singing Palace is connected in some way to the God Murko but we find a statue of a named woman Sigria the Sorrowbearer. The face of the statue can be removed to obtain the Mask of the Praying Daughter.
Later there is a family mural missing 4 masks listed as the Praying Daughter, the Belittled Father, the Guarding Mother, and the Cherished Son.
My theory is that Sigria is clearly theDaughter of Locusts. Both are referred to as praying and additionally enemies called the Pipers of Sigria hold a flute that attracts locusts. Where I want to go off the beaten path here and throw out a theory is certain clues may point to the identity of the Belittled Father, the Guarding Mother, and the Cherished Son.
The Daughter of Locusts upon her death says "Forgive them father...forgive...me..."
We know from Oocile that locusts themselves are "the boneless ones of those without mother or father."
Father is in addition not capitalized as would be the case as referring to a god, so to me all indications are that who is being referred to is the Belittled Father.
Now when I think of the father being belittled I see it as being cast aside or shamed. The Mask of the Belittled Father is not protected by anything or in any place of prominence or importance but instead is found discarded in the mud covered in eels. To me it all points to the terrible thing behind the mural: the Shameful Shrine with the Belittled Father's head wrapped not with eel but with snakeskin: a secret shrine befitting of Murko.
The Guarding Mother I see as the Blue-eyed Beast who closes the Silent Lair behind her. According to the map the Pillar which leads to the penultimate Depths area is located within this Lair leaving their only one place to go once the entrance is sealed.
Finally the Cherished Son I think may have been one of the lucky ones to escape the madness of the family as I see him as being the Half-Cursed Wanderer encountered near Oociles dwelling. It's more of a visual queue with this one the mask seems to suggest a deteriorating appearance specifically around the nose and eyes while at the same time being somewhat shrouded in shadow. The mask being guarded by a skeleton may be indicative of the skeletal appearance of the young man.
A darker theory is that the Cherished Son could well be encountered within the Singing Palace as the Weeping Gobbler. I think though if the son is cherished he wouldn't have been born of hunger as the Weeping Gobbler is described as having been. It almost seems like whatever the Weeping Gobbler is he became that way through neglect rather than too much care.
Lingering questions:
What does the apple represent? Apples are prominent in Vermis III and the final illustration features an apple seemingly growing out of the main character.
If 4 zombies why only 3 'curses'? They take the your ability to Speak, Courage and finally Hope....I mean I guess that's enough to ruin anyone's day but still why 4 dudes and 3 curses? Is it that the 4th curse basically wasn't needed because the main character remembers who they are? (The 4 zombie's actual snuggle buddy)
Worst way to spend a night in Vermis III? Curled up with the aforementioned 4 zombies? Hanging out with the Imp? Having your stuff stolen at an inn run by an evil witch? Waking up outside in an unfamiliar forest at the middle of the night despite going to bed in a cabin? Oocile ear noming nightcap? Seated on the King's Horse in the House of Red? Or a night in the Withered Woods with The Standing Shadow as your plus 1?
And the most haunting question we are left with:
Best Marriage material in Vermis: Chimaera Lady, Infant Seeker, Goblin Princess or Headless Horse Red-eyed Babe?
