The World of the Wheel

A boy of thirteen nearing his birthday, he has shaggy sun-bleached hair that remains mostly unkempt. Slight of build and relatively tall for his age, but the growth spurt seems to have stopped. His eyes are brown but speckled with gold. He usually wears a quirky smile on his gaunt face. His eyebrows look a dark brown in comparison to his hair, and the first wisps of a beard have sprouted on his chin.

His great-aunt is the wisdom of Deven's Ride, and spent his early childhood fussing over the golden specks in his eyes. As a result, his hardworking parents set up a small Tabac farm near the edge of The Mire so the boy could be free of the village circle's fussing.

The treachorous location of the farm though meant his early life was filled with both exploration and near tragedy. Losing himself in the swamps at the age of five, he was saved from drowning by a she-wolf who had taken pity on the crying boy. Unbeknownst to his parents, Conner would meet with the wolf from time to time during his childhood.

This became more dangerous as he grew up, learning to help his father Olandris with the farm. He was therefore forced to meet with his friend during the later hours of the days. On his ninth birthday Olandris taught him how to catch a rabbit, and the boy cheerfully caught another to share with his friend. On his way to meet the wolf though, three brigands evading the Queen's justice set upon him on the rim of the Mire. They stole his food and discussed holding him hostage, but the she-wolf had sensed he was in danger and came upon the three, alongside her mate. The brigands were taken by surprise but the last of the three managed to slay the male wolf before the she-wolf killed him. The she wolf suffered a spear thrust to her leg though, and howled fiercely for her mate. Crying, Conner insisted she return with him to see if his parents could help save her life. He carried her to the farm in the end, covered in blood and shaken by the ordeal.

His mother Catherine was outraged, and insisted that Olandris end the wolf for scaring her son. Conner pleaded that it hadn't been her fault, and his confused father brought out some meat for the animal whilst Catherine reluctantly bandaged the wolf's injury. Not entirely convinced, Olandris went to search for the corpses left by the battle. He returned carrying the male wolf, as well as the weapons, armour and gold he could scavenge from the brigands. With Conner's story confirmed, Catherine apologised to her son, and the family held a funeral service for the wolf.
They were unable to prevent the injury from festering though, and the she-wolf who had saved Conner from drowning would eventually succumb to her wounds. Before she died though, she gave birth to a litter of pups which the family raised in her honour. The tearful boy made a necklace using two of her teeth though, and is seldom seen without it.

Conner has spent much of the last four years practicing with the weapons his father had taken from the brigands. He practices fighting alongside his companions Diesel and Mallok, the two pups whom most resembled their mother and father. They remain fiercely loyal to the boy, although they keep their distance when he visits the village to run an errand.

Nearing his fourteenth year, the Mallen's have no fear for their son. He pines for adventure, and so his parents have sent him to Emond's Field with goods to trade at the larger village's Bel Tine festival...