Storm Silverhand's Quieter Days

II: Allies and Contacts

By Ed Greenwood

Though she is known for her pleasant manner and reveals disapproval to most folk only by the deliverance of choice "hard looks" and firm words, Storm is no shrinking "reed-in-the-wind." Threats and displays of vanity, arrogance, and self-proclaimed superior status by others merely amuse the Bard of Shadowdale. She is as comfortable with young back-alley children or the ugliest of shunned, flea-ridden lepers and homeless outlaws as with royalty.

Storm likes to share hugs and kisses, seems incapable of shame, and never fusses or frets -- as she puts it, "Do what is needful, as well as you can, and worry not about what others, marching fate, or the gods do. We can all of us only accomplish and influence so much; be comforted in doing your chosen tasks well -- and in making the right choices."

In her Harper dealings, Storm usually employs a few trusted messengers whom she can communicate with at any distance (employing a more-powerful, nigh-unlimited-range version of the message spell). These intensely loyal Harpers are used to "talks with Storm" at odd times, and they drop everything to join her in an attack, deception, or mission of mercy -- or to undertake hazardous or strange tasks (such as move a particular headstone from this burial ground to under that tree, or waylay, hobble, and temporarily impersonate yon envoy from Cormyr).

Their ranks include the following:

Storm Silverhand manipulates people without hesitation, viewing this practice as something all intelligent social beings do to their fellows -- but "rightful" only when the user ensures that "used" individuals are rewarded or aided in return.

The things Storm has a hand in can be extremely interesting to quite a few individuals. See what she has been up to recently in the next installment.


About the Author

Ed Greenwood is the man who unleashed the Forgotten Realms on an unsuspecting world. He works in libraries, writes fantasy, sf, horror, mystery, and even romance stories (sometimes all in the same novel), but he is still happiest churning out Realmslore, Realmslore, and more Realmslore. There are still a few rooms in his house with space left to pile up papers in . . .

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