Стража! Стража!

           ThisistheDisc,worldandmirrorofworlds,bornethroughspaceonthebackoffourgiantelephantswhostandonthebackofGreatA’TuintheSkyTurtle.AroundtheRimofthisworldtheoceanpoursoffendlesslyintothenight.AtitsHubrisestheten-milespikeoftheCoriCelesti,onwhoseglitteringsummitthegodsplaygameswiththefatesofmen...

           ...ifyouknowwhattherulesare,andwhoaretheplayers.

           OnthefaredgeoftheDiscthesunwasrising.Thelightofthemorningbegantoflowacrossthepatchworkofseasandcontinents,butitdidsoslowly,becauselightistardyandslightlyheavyinthepresenceofamagicalfield.

           Onthedarkcrescent,wheretheoldlightofsunsethadbarelydrainedfromthedeepestvalleys,twospecks,onebig,onesmall,flewoutoftheshadow,skimmedlowacrosstheswellsoftheRimocean,andstruckoutdeterminedlyoverthetotallyunfathomable,star-dotteddepthsofspace.

           Perhapsthemagicwouldlast.Perhapsitwouldn’t.Butthen,whatdoes?