Linius Pallitax

Linius Pallitax is a fictional character from The Edge Chronicles fantasy novel series by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell.In the first book of the series (chronologically), The Curse of the Gloamglozer, Linius the is the Most High Academe of Sanctaphrax and father of one of the stories protagonists, Maris and a friend of the sky pirate Wind Jackal. Linius is a kind man and a scholar who is- unusally- supportive of both Sky and Earth studies. He lives in the Palace of Shadows with Maris, Tweezel- a large insect servant and Welma, a woodtroll nanny.

Appearances

Before the start of the book "The Curse of the Gloamgloazer", Linius discovers the Ancient Labroatory deep in the centre of the rock on which Sanctaphrax is located where scholars experimented with the creation of life. His curiosity gets the best of him and he begins to use their tools to do the same.

During the couse of the book, Linius becomes increasingly worn out and engrossed in his work, concerning his daughter Maris who feels increasingly outcast and neglected. His experiments are eventaully successful, and he creates a pathetic and near weightless creature that begins to learn things rapidly by reading the scrolls that Linus brings into the chamber with him. The creature begins to intentionally harm Linius, who becomes increasingly uncomfortable around it after discovering that it can shape shift. From this point on, Linius enlists the help of Wind Jackal's son Quint to take him to the rock entrance and do other tasks for him.

After researching his suspicions into the type of creature he has created- a Gloamgloazer- he gives the creature a scroll depicting one. On seeing this image the creature transforms into its likeness and true form. Alarmed by this Linius attacks the beast and flees the laboratory- wounded by a trap that had been set.

For some time after this Linuis is confined to his bedroom in the Palace of Shadows by Welma. Eventually Maris breaks into the room with an old friend of his- Bungus Septrill- and Linius is compelled to retell the story of his experimentations. Meanwhile Quint steals the key to the Laboratory and unintentionally releases the Gloamglozer who then tricks Linius into thinking that Maris is dead after she and Bungus leave to stop Qunit. In his despair on hearing the news, Linius accidentally knocks over a candle and sets the Palace of Shadows alight. The Gloamglozer leaves him to die but at the last moment he is rescued by Tweezel who brings him to safety outside.

At the end of the book, Linius is scarred both mentally and physically, but still governs Sanctaphrax along with the Professors of Light and Darkness