A young cowhand from the backwoods area near Candlekeep, Bocephus was orphaned when marauding bandits, fearing pursuit by the local constabulary, overtook his parents' farm, using it as a temporary hideout for nearly a month. During that time, the outlaws used Bocephus as a servant boy, even forcing him to bury his own parents.

When the bandits finally moved on, they left Bocephus behind on a farm with nothing left on it but a skinny cow, Bessie. With nothing left, and realizing he would not survive the coming winter, Bocephus set out on the road, carrying with him his only belongings: some tatty soiled clothing, a hoe, and Bessie.

It was the very next morning, just after crossing a derelict bridge, that the King's retinue overtook him, and the Royal Mage, Fizban, took him as his first apprentice.

A bandy, spindly yet tough youth of about 11 years, Bocephus speaks in an often unintelligible backwoods dialect, but something about him, perhaps a glint of intellect hidden beneath the unwashed grime of his countenance, intrigued Fizban.