Doom Bell

One of the signature devices of House Heterodyne, the Doom Bell stands outside Castle Heterodyne. We first see it here, an object of curiosity that can be viewed and toured by visitors to Mechanicsburg -- for a price, of course.

Carson von Mekkhan, Seneschal Emeritus to the Heterodynes, has "Doom Bell Ringer" as part of his job description (it says so on his business card). Ardsley Wooster points out 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 quite a few years. Carson replies: "Oh I'm not saying business hasn't been slow ... but the pay isn't bad ... and there're signs (sidelong glance at Agatha) that things could be picking up."

The significance of the Doom Bell to Mechanicsburg isn't lost on the outside world, Heterodyne or no Heterodyne. Baron Oublenmach and Duke Strinbeck, the two nobles behind Zola "Heterodyne"'s attempted usurpation of House Heterodyne, have heard of it. Oublenmach sees the ringing of the Doom Bell as one of the things that will signify that the conspirators' conquest of Europa is complete. Strinbeck, who doesn't seem the sentimental sort, has no use for any of "that tedious Bell business;" he just wants the Castle.

What happens when the Doom Bell rings? Well, wait until the Castle accepts Agatha as The Heterodyne, and find out.