Thanks to the setter for a good puzzle to round out the week.
Definitions underlined, (ABC)* indicating anagram of ABC, {} deletions and [] other indicators.
Across
1 What fiery folk have: energy during brief altercation (5,5)
SHORT FUSES – E during SHORT FUSS
6 Projectile to shoot wolf (4)
BOLT – triple def. We were always shooting off crossbow bolts in the D&D games on my youth
8 Mariner heard behind another person making descent (8)
ABSEILER – homophone of SAILOR behind A.B. [another (sailor)]
9 Problem settled in Communications centre, no question (6)
GLITCH – LIT in GCH{q}
10 Story ultimately relayed in song (4)
LIED – LIE + {relaye}D
11 Stiffly formal or cryptically relaxed from the start? (10)
PRIMORDIAL – PRIM OR “laid back” = DIAL
12 Doctor considered dropping over, and withdrew (9)
RESCINDED – (C{o}NSIDERED*)
14 Fighter backing king of Britain at outset (5)
BOXER – reverse all of REX O{f} B{ritain}
17 Dumpy crew eliminating last outsider in tournament (5)
SQUAT – SQUA{d} + T{ournamen}T (either T will do)
19 Inexpensive way to sell a lot? (9)
KNOCKDOWN – double def, knockdown prices or auction terminology
22 Abuse Frenchman caught slashing fixed discount (10)
MISCONDUCT – M + (DISCOUNT*) “slashed” by C
23 Closure of bank that is opposed to capital (4)
KIEV – {ban}K + I.E. + V(ersus)
24 Hostess‘s porridge is hardly dipped into (6)
GEISHA – a selection from {porrid}GE IS HA{rdly}
25 After trouble, firm invested in kitsch morning wear (8)
TAILCOAT – AIL + CO “invested” in TAT
26 Couple running round island in judge’s wake (4)
JOIN – ON “round” I, after J
27 One’s imagining Romeo with shoddy readymade clothing (10)
DAYDREAMER – R “clothed” by (READYMADE*)
Down
1 Weaponry General Thumb was never without? (5,4)
SMALL ARMS – General Tom Thumb the circus performer was a dwarf and so had literal, not metonymic, small arms.
2 Roaming seashore on vacation, so try seafood (7)
OYSTERS – (S{eashor}E SO TRY*)
3 Asian in love needs initial prod, you say? (8)
FILIPINO – IN O, after homophone of FILLIP
4 Believers heading off after ceremony to sample catering, maybe (7,8)
SERVICE INDUSTRY – {h}INDUS after SERVICE, plus TRY [to sample]
5 Continental gent to engage troops (6)
SIGNOR – SIGN O.R. [to engage | troops]
6 One-ended pen cover for pupils (9)
BLINDFOLD – BLIND [one-ended, as in an alley] + FOLD [pen, for livestock]
7 Most new mums do it, tardily pocketing bill (7)
LACTATE – LATE “pocketing” ACT
13 Hazard youngster comes across (7,2)
CHANCES ON – CHANCE [hazard] + SON [youngster]
15 Star in retro production to get makeover artist? (9)
RENOVATOR – NOVA in (RETRO*)
16 Increasingly hare-brained acts crippled bank (8)
SCATTIER – (ACTS*) + TIER [bank]
18 Leave rear of theatre this way, of course (5,2)
QUITE SO – QUIT [leave] + {theatr}E + SO [this way]
20 Like eggs, half-a-dozen coated in old mould (7)
OVIFORM – VI [six] “coated in” O FORM
21 Outstanding amateur (6)
UNPAID – double def; as in a bill, and a sportsperson
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