The early morning sun shone over the rim of a great hat.

​

The hat of humble yet wise Padstol, born with the name of Paddocstol, but as that is a mouthful he went by Padstol. Called by many Old Paddy, though he wasn’t necessarily old or at least it was hard to tell his age from just a straight look at him.

​

The sun rose over the rice-felden land of Risenfeld and peeped through the great mountains surrounding the outer edge of the land.

​

Off in the distance Padstol looked out of weary though cheerful eyes at the variety of denizens of the inhabited Risenfeld. Each as they went about their errands and doings of the day.

Padstol as his name may hint to was a shruble, though one of great size.

​

His silhouette was greatly enlarged by the myriad of pockets and pouches draped over his great robes and packs. He wore a mammoth of a backpack full of his oddities and rarities from long journeys gathering and selling. But in all his days he had set his mind upon Risenfeld and when he had reached it, he was content. It would be the place of his eventual though ever fleeing retirement.

​

Padstol laughed jovially. No reason to quit your life’s work, especially when it was so fulfilling and full of wonder.

​

Padstol looked out at the expanse of the lands he now called home. Risenfeld. A land of plenty, rice fields sprawling out in the distance like tributaries of a great river. The Great Library also called Risenfeld home and Padstol indeed had on occasion wandered into its great halls and byways.

​

Housed in the Great Library was the Great Jade of Risenfeld. A symbol of purity, plenty and nourishment. Padstol had come across it in his putterings about that library and the sight had stayed with him to the day he again looked out over this great land.

​

The town of Risenfeld was met on its eastern edge by far-reaching bamboo forests with sugar cane growing beside the edge of the forest.

​

The Elves of Risenfeld lived in light, carrying basket pairs over their shoulders, some full of rice, others of sugar cane and still others full of bamboo shoots. Many wore shards of jade around their necks handed down from the fathers and mothers of the past.

​

Out in the distance a tall elf flipped a frying pan fiercely, preparing the day’s breakfast.

Padstol’s thoughts and preparations of the day were interrupted by the crow of a flock of chickens running down the emerald green slopes of Risenfeld. The chickens were followed not far behind by a young boy with charcoal black hair. His antlers above him shining in the golden sunlight.

​

“Come back here you crazy chickens”, the boy shouted exasperated.

​

“Kagu!” Padstol shouted as the boy ran fast after the chickens.

​

“They are heading down by the southern stream, you best take the river path to head them off at the pass.

​

Kagu shouted back over his head as he ran toward the river path, “Okay, thank you!”

​

Padstol chuckled warmly as the boy ran over the ridge of the hill down to the river.

​

The wise shruble took off his great pack and placed it on the ground as he found places for his new finds on the shelves of the well-loved outpost.

​

Bottles of crystal from the mines of Orynheim placed high on the shelf out of reach of little hands. Flasks of flame bought off of another traveling merchant, that particular merchant being a young boy with a love of dumplings. Old inkwell tomes from the inkfillers surplus sat on top of mystic rugs from the courts of Meridor. And golden clover honey from the hives of Roendalian bees.

​

As Padstol finished setting all the artifacts and finds in the shop the panting figure of Kagu trudged up the outpost path with a chicken in hand, the other chickens following close behind after the leader. Kagu reached the front of the Outpost and held the chicken high above him in the sky panting again, though no less victorious.

​

“Thanks Padstol, I got them all back.” Kagu smiled at the old shruble grateful for his sage wisdom.

​

“Oh whoa, that’s quite the haul you got there” Kagu gasped staring in awe at the smorgasbord of rarities.

​

Padstol smiled in thanks and agreement with the statement.

​

Kagu’s jaw dropped in further amazement, “Is that Roendalian honey, how in lands above did you get your hands on that?”

​

The old shruble chuckled with a spirit of autumn leaves,”’Twasn’t easy, let me tell you that.”

​

Kagu picked up the clover golden liquid and held it up to the sunlight. Warm shafts of equally golden light shone through the bottle in a splendid array of honey infused radiance.

​

“Could I have some? Kagu asked cheerfully. “Mom would flip if I came home with a bottle of this in hand.”

​

“Of course you can,” Padstol chimed warmly.

​

“And tell you what, I’ll half the cost in return for one of your flock’s fresh eggs.

​

“Deal” Kagu smiled, holding the bottle of honey close to his heart. He handed the old shruble scout some coins. He then reached into his egg bag for one of the morning eggs.

​

Kagu placed the egg in the shruble’s hand in gratitude. His eyes lit up as he looked at the honey now in his hand.

​

“Thank you again!” Kagu placed the honey in his belt pouch and ran off toward the village.

Padstol smiled with the afternoon sun.

 

Yes, the Roendalian honey had taken quite a while to get a hold of and cost a pretty penny, though the joy of another was certainly worth it. He still held the egg in his hand. The old scout set his eyes on the moon-white shell. 

​

Kagu arrived home with the chickens following behind, some had straggled along, but still all made it home safe. He led the flock into their coop and shut the gate safely behind him.

“See you all later,” Kagu shouted happily to the chickens.

​

He took off the egg pack and placed the eggs safely swaddled by the bag in a crate on the far wall. He then reached into his pouch and pulled up the amber colored bottle of nectar.

 

He smiled and placed it on the shelf.

​

The young boy picked up a staff by the shelf, ran to the grass, he parried and thrust, jumping from patch to patch. Jade hung around his neck shining in the afternoon sun.

​

Though a Reyn, an outsider and quite young, Kagu had his mind set. He was going to be a warrior…