A Fool's Errand

Travel through the Bandit Kingdom's has never been an easy thing. The simple fact that the "kingdom" is named as it is should be a warning to others, yet fools do not always heed warning of peril, nor do they understand their own danger in such situations.   Kurn doesn't consider himself a fool, merely someone who seeks a better life than that offered in Rooksroost. To this end he set out to find his place in the world. Traveling at night and sleeping in the day to, hopefully, avoid patrols only opens up the chance of being eaten by nocturnal beast, or worse, undead. Girding himself with weapons and armor stolen from the various camps he encountered, Kurn traveled the leagues from his home to the banks of the Velverdyva River. A trip that took months. The constant peril a young half-orc could face was always in the front of his mind. His carefulness couldn't save him forever and fate placed a course-altering meeting in his way.   As he slept one moonless night in a dense thicket in the Vesve Forest, Kurn was awoken by a panting sound. He was startled to find a large gray wolf watching him. Larger than any wolf he had ever seen, the beast was easily the size of a pony. Kurn scrambled for his sword, but before he could, the wolf spoke to him in his mind.   < Pup, why do you not travel with a pack? >   "I have no pack," Kurn said slowly.   < A wolf cannot survive without a pack. > The dry voice in Kurn's mind replied.   "I am no wolf," Kurn replied.       Looking at the giant beast with a confused face, Kurn asked, "How am I, a despised beast, akin to a noble wolf?"   < Noble? > the wolf asked. < Wolves serve the earth. We are not some ruler by mortal standards. A lone wolf will die without the pack. I will take you into my pack, pup. >   At this prononcement, Kurn felt a rush of energy suffuse his body and mind.   < Call on me, pup, when you are in need. The pack will provide. >   At this Kurn awoke, realizing it was all a dream, until he felt the cold metal of the amulet around his neck. A wolf's head medallion hung on a silver chain. It pulsed with a low humming he could hear in his mind.   His fear dissipated as he touched the symbol. Its energy filled him with a renewed purpose. The totem spirit was with him and no peril could prove too great, so long as he remained with the pack.