The update:
As of an undisclosed time on 11/21 I have 28,411 words.

Morale:
Hey - I'm only 5,000 words behind schedule! I think that's the least behind schedule I've been since Week One. And in less than 24 hours (barring accidents) I'll be crosssing the 30,000 mark.

So this new lease on life is coming (perhaps ignobly but it seems to be working out) from the elevation of a few figures from window dressing to full-blown characters, and fortunately they have a lot to say and are up to all kinds of interesting no good.

Favorite among said characters:
Surtur, the bad-ass fire demon who (theoretically) burns up the entire universe at Ragnarok.

...except when I'm typing "Surtur", I'm thinking "Souter", as in SCJ David.

Seriously.

I hope this isn't affecting characterization.