Inquisitor 1208: Special Delivery by Shark

Three unclued entries, some clashes, “thematically placed”. Clashes resolve to give an appropriate word reading down the grid. “Three similar words” (similar to what? each other?) “again thematically placed”, forming relevant shapes (16 cells in all) …
 
Slightly mystified by the rubric, but sure that it’ll become clear as we progress.

This started off very fast – after solving three clues I guessed REINDEER down the top right column, and after a couple more I guessed Santa Claus down the middling column, soon amended to ST.NICHOLAS. (Obviously all the seasonal indications in the clues helped.) Managed just under half the across clues and just over half the down clues on the first pass, but slowed down after that, having pencilled in STAR as the third unclued entry near the top right.

Some clashes were identified, and a little later a pattern began to emerge: every other row, alternating left and right of the middling shaded column, so the other cells where there were clashes could be pinpointed.  [… time passes …]  OK, I now had a completed grid, and had resolved all the clashes bar one – the entry at 4d could be CALKIN or MALKIN, intersected by PRICER or PRIMER. But by now it was late in the evening, and no time to start hunting for the “appropriate word” reading “down the grid”, or the “three similar words … thematically placed” with “relevant shapes” – that can wait until the morning.

Armed with a coffee after a couple of croissants, I inspect the grid. Nothing springs out until I hit the bottom, and I see GIFT in the lower left corner, then PRESENTS in the lower right; 4 cells to go – et voilà – TOYS just left of centre, also rectangular and in the bottom two rows. Still can’t spot the appropriate word reading down the grid as I go out to chop some logs – “What is Santa Claus coming down to leave those things?” I ask myself; “A CHIMNEY of course!” I fire back. And that’s that – done.

And so we have a star on high, a reindeer alongside, and Father Christmas coming down the chimney to leave a gift, a present, and toys, all wrapped in boxes. Good festive fun – thanks Shark.

{“once” seems to be redundant in the wordplay for 9d}

[XYZ]! = homophone

Across
No.	Answer/Clash	Wordplay
2	PRICER	RICE (grass) in PR(esent)
10	TANNA	[(s)ANTA]* around N(ame)
11	SAVOIE	SAVO(ry) (winter herb) IE (that is) {ref.: department in the French Alps}
12	STEALTH	STEAL (nick) TH(e)
14	INRI	IN (dwelling place, obsolete) + RI (Religious Instruction)
15	EEL	[ELVE(s)]* – V (vide, see)
16	NULL	(y)UL(e) (Christmas) in NL (Netherlands)
17	ARCTOID	ARCTIC (North Pole) – IC (in command) VOID (useless) – V(elocity)
19	ON END	[NOE(l)]* + ND (no date)
20	CADENCE	CA (circa, about) + DEN (dean, Scots) + CE (Church)
22	GIDGEE	GID (sturdy) + GEE (g, first letter of “ground”)
24	MARSHMALLOW	MARS (disfigures) HM (Her Majesty, Queen) ALLOW (OK)
26	MANOAO	M(istletoe) O(verground) around ANOA (ox)
27	INLAYER	IN (into) LAYER (turkey)
29	SILEX	S(ection) + ILEX (holly)
32	TEE-OFFS	TOFFEE (humbug) with OFF (not eating or drinking) later + S(ons)
36	DARE	[DASHER]* – SH (quiet)
38	DOC	COD (fish) rev.
39	AGOG	(s)C(r)O(o)G(e) with AG (silver) for C(ratchit)
40	EROTEMA	[A REMOTE]*
41	FIRLOT	LOT (a large amount) after FIR(m) (stable)
42	WESER	[SEWER]* {ref.: river in north-western Germany}
43	DEYS	DONKEYS – ON (beside) and K(ing)
44	DRANTS	D(ecember) RANTS (sings noisily)
Down
No.	Answer/Clash	Wordplay
1	AT SEA	[EAST (m)A(gi)]*
2	PATER	PASTER (slip of paper) – (Christma)S
3	INAPT	NAP (sleep) in PIT (bed) – P(arty)
4	MALKIN	MA (mother) L(eft) + KIN(g) (Melchior)
5	RATU	RA (god) + TU(esday)
6	TALL OIL	TOIL (work) around ALL (everything)
7	AVIAN	A(ccepted) VIAN(d) (piece of food)
8	RONNE	(d)ONNER with R at start
9	FIRE-NEW	FIR (Christmas tree) ENE (smooth) W(ilt) {don’t understand “once” in the clue: “… Christmas tree once smooth beginning to wilt”}
13	SLOGANEERS	[LESS + ORANGE]*
18	DEBIT	DEB (new girl) + IT (sex appeal)
20	CAMSHAFT	SH (quiet) after CAM (river) AFT (towards rear of vessel)
21	DAN	(heral)D AN(gels)
23	GOY	G(l)O(r)Y
24	MAIL-GIG	MAGI (Three Wise Men) around IL (Israel) + G(rand)
25	SANDBOX	[XMAS BOND]* – M(ass)
28	LEBOWA	BOW (bend) in LEA (open country) {ref.: former homeland in north-eastern South Africa}
30	LOORD	DROOL (salivate) rev.
31	EAGLE	[ANGEL]* – N(ew) + E(uropean)
33	OFTEN	OF (on) TEN (card)
34	FOMES	FO(x) (vixen) ME + S(leigh)
35	SCARP	[CASPAR]* – A
37	RUED	[RUDE]! (harsh)