Eden McDougan

Eden McDougan was a mediocre smith in McAdray Hall. While he could manage everyday things, he was hopelessly inept at forging knives or weapons. After one customer made a point of showing how one of Eden’s knives couldn’t even cut through a piece of fruit Eden became obsessed with making his knives sharper.

The edge, the edge, it just won’t do.
My lack of skill I’ll always rue.

Hours, and sometimes days, were spent at the grindstone, with Eden constantly muttering about the edge. Eventually he realised that he needed to change the heating and quenching process to get a better knife and his blades finally started to improve. Even as his knives improved Eden continued muttering about the edge.

The edge, the edge, it’s far too dull.
It couldn’t cut a mouse’s skull.

No matter how sharp a blade he made Eden would never be happy with it. He would buy in Poudin carcasses to test his knives, spending so much time carving them up that he would blunt the blade.

The edge, the edge, is dull again.
Carving poudin is such a drain.

Eden's family grew concerned about the amount he was spending buying carcasses (and the lack of paying work he was doing). They made arrangements to stop his purchases and ensured that a steady stream of non-bladed work was sent his way. But this didn't stop Eden who kept forging knives in secret. Denied one means of testing his blades Eden went looking for another. He found it quite by accident when a thief attempted to rob him one night. The newly forged dagger at his belt came easily to hand and within moments was lodged between the thief's ribs.

The edge, the edge, is sharp at last.
Cuts through flesh nice and fast.

The thrill of feeling his blade pass through living flesh was addictive for Eden and he started going out every night in hopes of another encounter. After weeks of walking around at night he gave up on waiting to be attacked and started looking for anyone who walking around alone.
Eden terrorised the tunnels of McAdray Hall for almost a year before he started getting careless. A passerby overheard his telltale refrain of ''The edge, the edge'' which proved enough to identify him to the authorities. Eden was executed for his crimes, and the McDougans were nearly impoverished by the reparations they had to pay the victim's families.
Those living in McAdray hall breathed a sigh of relief at Eden's passing, but an obsession like that can't be stopped by something as minor as death. Haiden Ironshield who had bought Eden's forge also developed an unhealthy obsession with sharpening blades and began muttering Eden's usual refrain. Fortunately his family intervened before he could go the way of Eden, but out in the tunnels far worse was happening.
Another killer was stalking the tunnels at night, killing seemingly at random and leaving a brand new knife or dagger beside the victim each time. When the guards tracked down the owners of the daggers they found it wasn't one killer, it was multiple, all of whom denied any knowledge of the killings. The Voices of Wisdom investigated the matter and declared that it was Eden's spirit that was possessing people and testing the edge on their weapons. A warning was issued that no-one should go about at night with a new dagger, but every few years there is someone who thinks they know better. On such occassions people are advised to run if they hear Eden's infamous ''The edge, the edge.''

This was written for Spooktober 2023 to answer the Sharp Prompt.

Species

Dwarf

Place of birth

Khezdur

Date of Birth

8 Armin 293 C9

Date of Death

17 Surt 458 C9

Obsessions

Despite the best efforts of the McDougans the story of Eden spread around Khezdur, and it is now common for people to call attention to someone's obsessive behaviour with the refrain ''The edge, the edge.''