Ballad's Knoll

[kangasha]

A thatched roofed cottage on a small hill can be found here. This is the home of Kangasha. It is quite distant from the main city, residing on it's own with lush fields surrounding it. With wild flowers scattered across the area and Game seen wandering around, acting mildly and timid to all who approach, and a waterfall and stream no further then five minutes walk away, this truly is a desirable area. Kangasha had built this himself at the age of 19, making it both a place made with love and care, but also making it tax-free.

The actually cottage is made of wood, and straw for the roof. Inside can be found two small rooms. One containing a home-made, cheap looking Bed, Made with wood and wool, along with a wooden End Table with an unlit candle atop of it. The other room holds a slightly bigger table and two chairs, all made of wood, a Lute that looked as though it was well looked after and often polished atop the table, and a fireplace.

(Kangasha himself can usually be found around this area when he is not out to market or exploring. This is also where records of his life will be kept when they appear significant. Despite the records though, this is open to all so long as he isn't anywhere else at the time.)

[kangasha]

Kangasha approuched his nature surrounded home with a feeling of warmth inside of him. He had returned from the market place with no weapon, no armor, and 5 gold coins. That was a better investment then he ever could have intended. All he had to do was sing a little sonnet, and before he knew it his purse had been filled with coin.

Apon walking into his house, he would dump anything that was not of use to him at this moment and time, including his coin purse, and he would take a seat. He had been asked to join an Orc on an adventure, a treasure hunt as such. It wasn't really in his profession for something to do but who was he to say no? He'd rather not get hit by another Orc after all, but something about him just seemed to rub them the wrong way towards them.

He was a harmless soul though and meant the Orc no ill will. Who knows, Travelling with this Orc might bring him a little bit more Gold.. Taking a brief glance at his strange home-made instuments, and his decade old instuments, he decided he wasn't really much of a bard unless he was using instuments that the public were aware even existed. And it was that moment he decided. He was going to get himself a new instument when this was all over, assuming they found a bit more gold anyway. Grinning at his house, he set off, leaving everything but the clothes on him and his singing voice behind.

[kangasha]

After a long a tiring journey across some dead wasteland, seeing his nature-friendly home almost brought a tear to his eyes. But a deer was watching him, and if he broke down in front of it, it'd never show him respect. After all, when town was quiet, what better audience to attend to then nature itself? Smiling at how stupid and dramatical he was being (as he didn't even have a tear in either eye), he made a move to his actual house, closing the door behind him as he entered.

He rested his new-found Lute on the table with the rest of the stuff, and contemplated what had happened today. A large lizard attacked him and an Orc he hardly knew in the desert. Luckily his companion was more then fit to battle, but he got the impression that his partner was looking for a fight anyway. Yet why complain, when there was a free Lute to be gained out of it. It seemed the creature hadn't even left a scratch on it, and it was fair better then any of his home-made or old instruments. It was then he decided that his new Lute was far more deserving then any of these other instruments. So he rested it onto the table, grabbed the other instruments, and placed them on the side of a nearby dirt road for a traveller to collect at a later stage. He then went back inside his house.

"What a tiring day.." Kangasha grumbled to himself as he headed to his Bedroom, and throwing himself onto the bed. Fighting creatures was tiring work, and not the work expected of a Bard. Of course, he didn't actually do ANY of the fighting, but if that was what he began to dream of, it wouldn't be very heroic. So he drifted into the land of sleep, saving various princesses and slaying dragons by the single strum of his Lute.

[kangasha]

Kangasha awoke to what sounded like a stampede. Irritated he scratched his head, rubbed his eyes, and reached for his Lute. But where was he reaching? There was no surface other then the small table with the candle, as as a result both himself and the candle came crashing to the ground. "Errgh, not a good start.." He said to himself as he returned the candle to it's original place and picked himself up, to see the Lute in the other room, as if mocking him.

Muttering words he didn't even know to himself, he picked up the Lute and stepped outside, just to see lots of children running about. Since when was his home a park? Furthermore, they scared most of the wildlife away. It would weeks before they settled back again. Fuming, Kangasha stopped one of the kids.

"What on earth do you think your doing, stamping on my flowers, scaring away my friends, and waking me up so early?"

The kid was a lot more collected then himself though, most likely due to being used to being awake at this time.

"First off, it's noon. Second, you live like an old hermit in a paradise. That's not fair, is it? Third, haven't you heard? There have been rumours of a large ground of Elves headed this way! We're going to check them out. Later Gramps!"

The nerve of some children.. He wasn't even middle aged yet! Just tired because of these rascals. And it was only midday? What sort of monsters were these to seem so perky at such an early time. Only then he realised the importance of what he just said. A large group of Elves..? Perhaps it was a rumour, but he wanted to find out more. He washed his face in the nearby stream and then headed into town.

[Admin]

Bang, Bang, Bang; echoed threw out the cottage here. Alex's wrist bent back and banged his knuckles into the door once again. "hmph!" He knocked again, but still no answer. "One should answer their door for the King." Alex muttered more to himself. It was entirely possible that Kangasha was away, but how would he know. He had never even met this man, but he had heard of him threw his scouts. Fighting with Orcs off in the wasteland. Orcs, he despised the creatures very much.

Alex walked around the grassy knoll here in search for Kangasha. Indeed he had a mission for the man, a mission of grave importance. If the Elves wanted to invade their lands then he would need the aid of the people here to defend against them, a long with his own troops of course. A soldier called out to his King before speaking.

"My lord, the Elves are growing ever closer to our borders." Before he lowered his head in respect. Alex, being their King waved him off. He was more interested in finding this 'Kangasha', but if he could not find him soon then he would have to march. After all it was his duty to defend Castrum from outside invaders.

[kangasha]

Kangasha slowly wandered back to the small cottage he called home, with his Kilt already on. It was in fact the dull gray, but then, most things were when they were made for battle. Even something like a Kilt. He would have to dye it when he got back, maybe pick a few flowers, grind and heat them, and see what colour it came out with. Lute in hand, he was playing a little tune while he was lost in thought regarding his Kilt, when he saw his Home, and even more chaos around it. The children had been replaced with Soldiers.

He started to jog back to get a better view quicker. Someone in a rather significant and shiny armour seemed to be pacing around like a madman. It was all well and good that he had his nice little guard with him, but what could he be looking for around his home the required so many men under him all armed as if marching to battle? There were no threats at his cottage, as far as he was aware. Yet, he didn't even consider this 'madman' could have been the King, and that he was marching to meet the rumoured Elves in combat. And so, he finally caught up the man in shiny armour.

"Sir, can I ask you what is the meaning of this? I'm sure your at a very important station, maybe even Captain of the Guard, but I highly doubt whatever your looking for cannot be here. But do not threat, for Kangasha the Bard will sing away your troubles. After all, marching all this way for nothing would be a disappointment indeed, so the least I can do is leave you will a ballad."

Still oblivious that this might be his Sovereign Lord, he began to sing him a ballad.

[Admin]

Alex was interrupted from his search as a young man approached him. Assuming that he was the Captain of the Guard, but this wasn't true. Alex was King the ruler over the Humans and Dwarves. "I am no Captain, I am the King. Kangasha, it is good to finally meet you." He stood up from the log he was sitting on after almost giving up his search. He likewise ordered his troops to stand down as Kangasha was an ally and no threat to them or him for that matter.

"I know we have never met and this might seem strange to ask of a stranger, but I need your assistance against the Elves." Immediately it was apparently that the troops were not interested in Kangasha at all. One in particular coughed at their Kings words for they were seasoned warriors and this man was nothing compared to them, but that was that soldiers opinion. Which he would be forced to keep to himself. "I'm sure you have heard that they have marched from their homelands here and have begun an invasion. Castrum is as much your home as it is mine..." He stopped speaking for a moment and looked at the mans lute, but forgot it quickly. "And therefor you should be defending it as well. What say you Kangasha the Bard?"

[kangasha]

Surprised that this was the King, further surprised he didn't lash out, FURTHER surprised that he just got asked to join a campaign, and a tiny bit more surprised to find out the Elves were actually invading. That was a lot of surprise for one Bard to deal with. He grinned at his King, showing no disrespect yet not really treating his as a King, more of an equal to him if they were both at a tavern.

"So.. You want me to join you on a little adventure to fight some Elves. That sounds great and all, and I'm sure Castrum is in grave danger and such.. And yet, you have many seasoned warriors here. Furthermore, like you say, I do not know you personally, nor do you know me. So why would you come to me? And the final thing I would like to point out is, as you might not really have guessed yet, I am anything but a warrior, just a travelling musician looking for reputation. There are so many reasons why I shouldn't join you.."

And that's when Kangasha's grin grew, and his eyes flashed, like a gambler about to go all in.

"Which is why I'm joining you. I trust my service won't be for nothing?"

[Admin]

Alex brandished his weapon before speaking. "I'm recruiting volunteers in the effort. Most of these warriors are volunteers in that matter as well. If you do well in the coming battle, then expect to be rewarded handsomely." He stopped and then ordered the soldiers to begin to mobilize.

"The time has come Kangasha, let us march." After speaking Alex turned and began to march with the troops. Hoping that Kangasha would follow by his side. The coming battle with the Elves would be dangerous, but they had to defend their home of Castrum.

[kangasha]

So, after seeing and speaking with him, he still believed him able to fight in a battle. What would he do, slam his Lute over an elvish head? And he had no hatred for the race, so long as if they did win his hut was left intact. However, his King had called apon him personally. He could NOT ignore that, however casual he acted around him. Showing the King a serious smile for a second or two, before returning that classical grin, he spoke.

"Aye, lets 'march'. Although 'walk' sounds much more convincing in your recruits. If you bash on people's doors, you won't get too far asking them to march, but if you ask them to walk, they have no idea what your planning. Or is that perhaps too harsh on the person? It doesn't matter, I'm just rambling.."

And with that, he followed his King. If he would see the Trader in the town east of Castrum again, he never knew.