Edgar the Odd Goblin

Edgar Discovers the Sun Stone

Chapter 1 – Goblinton

In a thick dark forest, at the base of a gigantic mountain, lived a horde of goblins in the village of Goblinton. The goblins there came in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and tempers. There were short goblins, tall goblins, stout goblins, slender goblins, loud goblins, quiet goblins, mean goblins, and VERY mean goblins.

Though their sizes and shapes varied, the goblins of Goblinton had two things in common. First, they were dreadfully unpleasant creatures—not an ounce of kindness or good manners in the lot of them. Second, they were all terrified of the light. Some goblins, who pretended to be brave about it, would say they weren’t afraid of the light but preferred the darkness because it was easier on the eyes, or so that they could perform their goblin-y deeds under the cover of darkness. Other goblins, who attempted to sound more honest—and an honest goblin is rare to find—claimed that light was harmful, would burn their skin, and, if exposed to sunlight long enough, it would turn them to stone! This wasn’t entirely true, nor was it entirely untrue. Sunlight would not turn them into stone, but due to their pale skin and large eyes, goblins are more sensitive to light. Now, whether their large eyes and pale skin were the cause of their sensitivity to light or the effect of avoiding the sunlight for so long is uncertain.

Regardless of the reason for their fear and sensitivity to it, goblins hated the light and did everything possible to avoid it. This is why they lived in a thick dark forest at the base of an enormous north-facing mountain that covered the village in shadow for nearly the whole day. During the few hours of the day that the sun peeked over the mountain, the citizens of Goblinton would go inside, shut their doors, and nap until mid-afternoon, when the sun dipped below the mountain once again.

Among the citizens of Goblinton lived a short, round, gray goblin named Edgar Darkwood. At 48 years old, Edgar was still a very young goblin. Forty-eight years may seem a bit old to you, but goblins age differently than humans do, living up to 400 years old, sometimes older!

Edgar, unlike most goblins, was also an odd little goblin, often finding himself in strange predicaments and usually in heaps of trouble. Like the time he tried to poke a sleeping troll with a stick. NEVER poke a troll, whether asleep or awake. It always ends badly. Or the time Edgar tried to put a saddle on a dragon pup so he could ride it—dragons, no matter how old, do not like to be saddled and ridden, and dragon moms really don’t like their pups to be saddled and ridden! And who could forget the day Edgar tried to play tag with a skunk-ogre? Long story short, Edgar was “it” for several weeks!

Because of Edgar’s share of mishaps, most of the other goblins kept a safe distance from him. Edgar didn’t seem to mind that he didn’t have many friends. Most goblins don’t. He managed to keep himself company just fine, having his own adventures and letting his curiosity get the best of him.

But one day, Edgar stumbled upon something that would forever change his life and the entire village of Goblinton!