The Fourthling

by caterbird

Set in old Sanctaphrax during the first age of flight, an aspiring dictator plots his takeover. In an attempt to gain the upper hand over his adversaries, he conducts an experiment that will change the Edgeworld forever.

1. Introduction

Far, far away a large spit of rock juts out over a dark emptiness. At the eastern extremity, a rushing torrent deluges into the chasmic void below. On either side of the river are huge stacks of buoyant rocks, growing ever upward as the rocks increase in size. Beyond is a magnificent city of towering spires built solely upon one of these floating rocks.

This is the Edge. The gushing river is the Edgewater. The stacks of buoyant rocks, the Stone Gardens. The city upon the floating rock is Sanctaphrax, newly built in all its glory.

However, among the venerable academics of Sanctaphrax, a faction have become discontented. Their leader, Tegg-tot, a hammerhead goblin guard, has formed a conspiracy to overthrow the government of Sanctaphrax. Underlings from all schools are flooding to his cause and he is becoming ever more powerful.

The Edge, the Stone Gardens, Sanctaphrax. Names on a map, but behind each lies a thousand tales. Tales recorded on barkscrolls and passed on by word of mouth. Tales that even now are being told. What follows is but one of those tales.