VI Mission to Cormyr VI

Ches 1 1365 DR. Year of the Sword

Standing just outside of his room, the halfling bard was ready for the mission that lay ahead of him.

Bowie had already packed his clothes and equipment inside of his bag of holding. He had remembered finding the bag deep in one of the rooms at the Old Skull Inn.

The brown haired halfling took one last look at the room he had been staying in for the last six years, then walked downstairs.

Storm Silverhand stood at the doorway, waiting for her student to come walking down the stairs.

For many years, Storm had watched Bowie grow and develop into quite the bard. Now he was going away on a long and difficult Harper mission. The Bard of Shadowdale had a feeling she would not see him again for a long time.

Bowie Butterball came down the stairs, wearing his studded leather armor and his dark green cloak that had Sylune's sigil stitched on the back.

"I guess this is it," Bowie said softly, as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

"It is," Storm responded in a soft voice. "You know where to go for your assignment?" she asked, brushing back her silver hair.

Bowie nodded. "I am to head to Cormyr to find three new recruits. One of them lives in Suzail, while the other two have been said to wander around the kingdom. Rumor has it that the two are quite the troublemakers."

Storm Silverhand shrugged her shoulders. "Shouldn't be too much for you to handle," she said softly, hugging Bowie gently. She then drew herself away, and pulled out a small brown leather bag from her belt. Her slim hand reached inside of the bag, and then she pulled out a small sized set of elven chain armor and a small black stone. The Bard of Shadowdale placed the armor and the stone in Bowie's arms, then leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead.

"Take care of yourself Bowie, and if you need me, just say my name," Storm said softly, a few tears running down her face.

"I will Storm," Bowie said, standing up and gave her a kiss on her cheek.

He gave a little bow, then walked through the doorway.

Bowie quickly walked down the dirt road from Storm's house It would be a long trip to Suzail, but Bowie knew how he would pass the time. He would write ballads about the memories and adventures he had over the course of his life.

As the halfling continued to walk down the road, Rouric and the druid named Sawyer ran to catch up with him.

"Where are ya off to?" Rouric asked Bowie curiously.

Bowie smiled at Rouric. "I'm going to Cormyr to recruit some new Harpers."

"So that's whom they got to do that little mission," Rouric commented in his gruff voice.

The halfling nodded," Yep, would either of you like to come along?"

The blond haired dwarf shook his head. "Sorry lad, as much as I would love to, I've got some training to do. I gotta help Florin and Torm teach some of the new Shadowdale guardsmen how to handle a weapon." The dwarf gave a hearty laugh and gave Bowie a friendly hug.

Sawyer brushed back his shoulder length dark red hair and smiled," Sure, I'll go with you Bowie. It's been forever since I've been home."

Bowie smiled at Sawyer, then looked over at Rouric. "Well then, take care of yourself Rouric."

"You too Bowie, and you too Sawyer," the dwarf replied as he walked away.

Sawyer's animal companion, Erilett ran up to the human druid and the halfling bard. Erilett was a small wolverine with brown-black fur.

Erilett looked up at her master curiously, and Sawyer answered," We're taking a trip back home Erilett."

Bowie sighed and looked back at Storm's house. Throughout his life, this had been the third place Bowie had called home.

"Home isn't a house where your beds, baths, and kitchen are. Home is where you make it," Sylune's ghostly voice said from inside the small black stone Bowie held in his hand.

Bowie looked down at the black stone for a moment. "Sylune, is that you? I thought you could only stay at Storm's house."

"With the magic in this stone you hold in your hand Bowie, I can travel back and forth. After all, someone has to keep you and the druid out of trouble. Besides, it has been a long time since I have seen Cormyr."

Not aware of Sylune's presence, Sawyer looked over at Bowie and asked," How long do you think before we'll make it to Suzail?"

"Probably not for along time Sawyer," Bowie answered in a quiet voice," but I'm sure it will be quite a trip."

For Jen…

Who is like an older sister to me...

And for Tom…

who taught me that every character should have a history