Two-Edge

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Two-Edge is one of the main antagonists in the comic book series Elfquest. Two-Edge is an at least half-mad, but ingenious inventor and schemer. This character was created by Wendy and Richard Pini. Twisted by his mother and pining over the loss of his father, he spins a web of intrigue for the Wolfriders.

[edit] History

Two-Edge was born to Winnowill and a troll named Smelt in secrecy within the hidden chambers of Blue Mountain. Smelt was originally sent out by the troll King Guttlekraw to search for rock-shapers, planning to enslave them and assist Guttlekraw in finding precious metals and jewels. Winnowill found Smelt injured when she ventured out from the confines of Blue Mountain one day. She used her healing gifts to restore him to health and offered him jewels. Eventually, clandestinely, Winnowill mated with Smelt, conceiving a son. Unfortunately, Smelt eventually remembered his earlier mission to capture a rock-shaper and attempted to force one of them from the mountain. Winnowill retaliated by killing him, literally rotting his flesh from his body. Two-Edge witnessed his father's death at his mother's hand. Two-Edge is enraged by his mother's cruelty and threatens to reveal everything Winnowill has done to the one person who has power over Winnowill, the leader of Blue Mountain elves -Lord Voll. Winnowill reacts by imprisoning Two-Edge in a cage and tortured him, eventually driving him mad.

Two-Edge was eventually released from his prison of stone thorns. He continued to reside within the confines of Blue Mountain at his leisure, remaining behind to taunt his mother with riddles and rhymes. He not only helped Door, a rock-shaper, to build Winnowill's secret realm below Blue Mountain, but also became a legendary mastersmith to the Trolls, sometimes speaking - unseen - to them in their tunnels, occasionally leaving behind pieces of his forged metalwork for them to learn from.

During those millennia, he set up a plan to decide if he was an elf or a troll. In the Ice Troll's tunnels, he built a hidden and locked armory and filled it with weapons and armor made for elves. He forged New Moon, a sword not well-suited for a Troll, hiding the key for the armory in its pommel. Two-Edge was confident that it would eventually fall into Bearclaw's hands, and after that whispered stories about the hidden treasure that the sword could unlock to Picknose, one of Greymung's trolls.

When Winnowill had kidnapped Suntop, Two-Edge betrayed her by letting the Wolfriders into her secret chambers, as well as keeping Door from opening a way for her to flee - which eventually led to Lord Voll taking them toward the Palace, which was Two-Edge's aim. Two-Edge ensured that the elves went into the caverns of the Ice Trolls, and, by giving the elves weapons, but also abducting one of their magic-users made sure their chances to win the war against the trolls were as even as possible - The war of elves against trolls would decide to which race he belonged. (Elfquest, Quest's End, Vol. 4)

His plan was foiled, however, since the Holt Trolls, led by Picknose, sided with the elves.

He was captured by the Trolls, then ruled by Picknose, and sent out to die or capture a rock-shaper. He fell into the hands of the Go-Backs, and for a brief time lived with Rayek and Ekuar in the Palace of the High Ones. The friendship with Ekuar eased his madness to some degree. Two-Edge's babbling about Blue Mountain and Winnowill inspired Rayek to search for them. Two-Edge agreed to lead him into Blue Mountain, but on the way they were attacked by Aroree's great hawk, Littletrill. This perceived attack lead Two-Edge to mistakenly believe that the Blue Mountain elf had been sent by his mother, Winnowill to re-imprison him in Blue Mountain. This event rekindled Two-Edge's madness. (Siege at Blue Mountain, Secret of Two-Edge)

He fled, but went to Blue Mountain anyway, where he met the Wolfriders on their way to rescue Windkin and their friends. Leetah attempted to heal him, but he fled a moment too early for a complete healing. This encounter cleared most of the madness that had clouded his mind and enabled Two-Edge to focus his mind enough to use his sending ability, and even discover his own "elf magic". The Wolfriders found a secret way into Blue Mountain by following him. Later he freed Tyldak and Windkin. Clearbrook nearly kills him, wanting vengeance for his role in the death of her lifemate, One-Eye. (One-Eye was killed by Guttlekraw's trolls when Lord Voll led them in search of the Palace). Two-Edge apologized to Clearbrook through sending; this was the first time the Wolfriders discovered that he had this elfin power.

The Wolfriders assumed he died when Blue Mountain collapsed, but later we find out that he survived, saved Egg (a rock-shaping elf of Blue Mountain), and nursed him back to health.

After that he must have taken up his life as wanderer again. It's known that he visited Picknose's Kingdom in the New Land, and that he taught the humans there a lot about working metal and mechanics.

He settled in a mound that later became the base of the Djun's citadel. The half-troll became the human's "master builder" - actually not working for him, but using him to get the citadel bound to his wishes, riddled with secret passages he uses for his 'games'.

When the Wolfriders entered the citadel to reclaim the Shards of the Palace, he saved Venka and hid her from Winnowill. He apparently fell in love with her, and for that reason helped the Wolfriders.

After the Palace of the High Ones was re-assembled, he accompanied Venka, who, with Aroree and some unnamed Go-Backs, went to search for Kahvi.

[edit] Unique Characteristics

Two-Edge at first glance appears to be a troll, possessing the muscular, stocky physical build and slightly bulbous features typical of that race. However, he also possesses slanted eyes, silky hair, and pale skin, as well as pointed ears, making him also resemble the elves. Like the elves, Two-Edge can send. After Leetah's healing Two-Edge possesses a form of elf magic not seen before. Two-Edge can use telepathy or "send" to over almost limitless distances. He can also use this new power to seek out individual minds and draw them to him with his sending. This is similar to spiritual displacement to talk with other elves over great distances which Sun-Top, Savah, and Leetah's father can do.