On most other days, the elf known as Kelk Autumnleaf would have been one of the guards on that wall. That day, however, he made a decision. His choice was to approach that gate from beyond which so few had returned and join the next group that gathered. Guarding the border wasn't terribly hard work, nor was it unrewarding. It had simply grown boring. The crackshots placed up high ensured that any monster with half a mind knew better than to approach the gate head on. Nights of watching the streets and picking off intruders from afar had become lazy evenings of card games and off-color jokes. The man who towered over those of his own kind couldn't stand to have his talents wasted so. Nor could he bear the thought that those things were still out there, breeding and rallying their forces until all the town's guards wouldn't be enough to fend them off.<br/><br/>He leaned back against the nearest building and watched the sign up table, checking his coin purse every few minutes to ensure that he had the necessary five gold. It took him years to save up the money, but years were as months to an elf, and Kelk was grateful to have plenty of time to hone his skills before going into this. The simple warrior didn't understand a lot of things in the world, but he did understand danger. Danger and teamwork, something else that excited him about the journey. He would get to meet similarly brave souls and fight side by side with them, finally having something to do other than play poker and jokingly question each other's parentage.