No 10078, Tuesday 15 Feb 11, Cryptonyte

Online edition says Spiffytrix, print says Cryptonyte... Stylewise this is Cryptonyte.
ACROSS
8   - To a lesser extent north pole leaves Napoleon confused (comparatively short ruler) (2,1,7,5) - {nON Apole*} {SMALLER SCALE}
10 - Narrate scriptures in the end to get well almost fully (7) - {RECOUp}{NT}
11 - Wonderful piano note, it's relative (7) - {GRAND}{AD} (To be read with 12A before seeing the picture below it!!!) (Addendum - {GRAND}{P}{A} - See comments)
12 - Romeo you and daughter run into by the road (4) - {ST}{U}{D}
13 - Reduced the load when thin edge cracked (9) - {L}{IGHTENED*} L for load?
15 - Remedy that might give a guitarist withdrawal symptoms? (7) - {NO}{STRUM}
17 - Parade held against the ruler (7) - {M{ON}ARCH}
19 - Tennis is played a lot here, mind elbow injury (9) - WIMBLEDON*
21 - Want massage I say (4) - NEED(~knead)
24 - Can be carried to the counter (7) - {TO}{TABLE}
25 - Understand the truth about a great boxer's energy (7) - {RE}{ALI'S}{E} My COD
26 - They made the first capital investment in Italy (7,3,5) - ROMULUS AND REMUS [CD]
DOWN
1   - Pursue someone to accept love, in short (5) - {C{O}URT}
2   - Mother's firm, time to get a lucky charm (6) - {MA'S}{CO}{T}
3   - Smoke on the side of the road, taking hand off for a mile (8) - S(-h+m)MOULDER
4   - Salesman titled crazy due to a spark of insanity (1,6,7) - A LITTLE MADNESS*
5   - Crooked worker's age, sex, location noted down at first (6) - {A}{S}{L}{ANT}
6   - Store a bit of drug (ecstasy) inside for a pothead? (8) - {GAR{D}{E}NER} Can a gardener be called a pothead?
7   - Rave review on “Artistry of Hands” in the galleries (9) - {VERA*}{NDAHS*}
9   - Busy tone on the phone? It may be a sign that one's unavailable (10,4) -  ENGAGEMENT RING [DD]
14 - Toss won, Mr. Harry creates a blizzard (9) - SNOWSTORM*
16 - Signs unknown politician put in road, nothing makes sense initially (8) - {S{Y}{MP}T}{O}{M}{S}
18 - Agree to put in name, tag “fresh, without milk” (3-5) - {NO{N}-D}{AIRY}
20 - Judges defamation suits with a proxy for one (6) - L(-i+a)ABELS 
22 - A gem in cryptic puzzle (6) - ENIGMA*
23 - Jack perhaps to trump ace coming in (5) - {BE{A}ST}



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