A young half-elf wandered into the small town known as Drakenwood many moons ago. A small thing many would say but this half-elf was to eventually have a profound effect both on the town and the entire realm. In his youth, Handy was brought up under the influence of two mighty Clerics of old, Vanya, being the gentle mother figure, and Hargreaves the slightly more worrying father figure. Under their guidance it was no surprise when the young male joined them within the priesthood of Drakenwood church, initiating into the fighting ranks of the Clerics.
Time passed, as it does, and the young half-elf grew strong. Sometimes scorned by making friendships with the likes of the warmage Nasty and the rogue Valjean, yet praised for the strong anti-evil views he held. During this time he also met several people who would become important in his life. Notable amongst these were Xifos, later to change her name to Anaconda, a spirited Monk and his first wife, then Battesse, a quiet cleric who became close to Handy after the failure of his first marriage. Perhaps due to the friends he kept, was unable to keep faithful, and had children outside wedlock during both marriages, something Battesse could forgive but Anaconda could not.
Ever faithful to the gods, Handy had many pronounced and wild prayer suggestions, asking for varied and wonderful miracles to smite evil. Although the gods rejected many of the suggestions, however amused they might have been, it did lend some fame to Handy within the Cleric guild, helping him to join Drakenwood Council as Deputy under Snafu’s leadership. This started an important step in the life of the Cleric. Serving the Clerics as Leader and Deputy many, many times, forging friendships with the likes of Moloch Rockbiter, Avn Khal-Rhaine, Leefuss Shuilong, the Monk Darin, to name but a few, and cementing the friendship already existing with Valjean Stahlberg. Even when not serving the Guild on Council, it was not unknown for Handy to be called forth, to stand in for those unable to perform their tasks and to hold the Guild together in times of need. For many years Handy was the sole Cleric who had achieved Nobility to be active within the realms, helping the guild through one of its bleakest and most soul destroying times.
Despite the stress and joys of Council, and striving to hold the mortal Clerics together, Handy still found time to look after several adopted children. The most notable of these included Midnight, Spade and Lesk, but also included his trueborn child Circa, a union between himself and the then monk councillor Avn.
Exploring the realms, a Volcano was found past the desert to the far west of Drakenwood. Here the elemental forces of nature took form in the guise of evil mephits and grue. A wand was found which had mysterious powers, wonderful to behold. Handy used this wand carefully, it aiding him in his fight against evil, but it was then it backfired. Handy looked down at herself. The change was complete, and for many months Handy wandered at a loss. Many took pity on the Cleric, more scorned her. During this time of woe, the priest took new strength, drawing from within, and finding that the spirit inside is more important than the shell. It was at this time that Handy broke all contact with the Warmage Guild that she had been studying at, and took up an honourary position within the Monks.
Meditation and prayer brought new insights to Handy. Some say it was the change of gender, others a madness that set in due to the positions of responsibility heaped upon her shoulders, but Handy insisted it was holy visions. The sky was to bath in blood, and the town ruined. Demons would cackle and laugh, running around the ruins with evil glee. These were the visions and dreams that Handy saw, these were what drove her to demand that Drakenwood be free from evil, and ultimately to strike down any and all demons she saw in the town. This move was not popular amongst the Warmage community, and certainly not by their leader Lall. Handy had to defend herself against the entirety of the Warmage guild, and eventually most of the realms and the Council moved to stop her Holy Crusade.
Soon after the rise of Handy to Baronhood, the first Cleric to do so, disaster struck the town. A comet struck, devastating the realms, splitting family and friends for well over 20 years. Many did not survive these times, but Handy was one of those who strove to defend the broken remains of Drakenwood. She stood her ground during the Orc Invasions, helped to rebuild, and helped the sick back to life, even those she once called enemies. Her perspectives changed, just as time changes. Others took the mantle of supreme Cleric. Handy settled back and let time and politics wash over her.
The searches Handy undertook after the rebuilding of Drakenwood led her to discover her lost children. Circa, whom she had never lost touch with, introduced her to Jolath, another monk, who explained to Handy that he had been born by Tylorva Rockbiter before her marriage to Viscera. Upon approaching Tylorva, who had since ascended to immortality, to reprimand her for never telling her of her son, Handy was informed of another child that Tylorva had mothered - Brax Rockbiter, who had taken her mother's name because she was unaware of her father's identity. Handy discovered records in ruins of the monk monastery showing the birth of two children. Udders, someone Handy had taken under her wing, turned out to be her own son, also mothered by Avn, and a rogue that she had hunted for years, young Hood, was a product of a brief fling with his rogue mother Borris. The news knocked Handy to her knees. At this time a letter arrived, further flooring Handy. The letter was from an elf known as Kelda, one Handy had visited and had a wild romance with many moons ago. Another son came forth, Electa, backing up the letter, stating him as Handy’s fourth son.
Handy looked at her dependants and offspring. They needed protection. The old enemies such as Tsorvahl, were returning, so Handy decided to set up a House of likeminded families. To defend the town and its people, House Alluminas was formed, the founding family being the DeRandy’s, the surname given to Handy by Hargreaves Bongmeister shortly before he departed the realms.
The first to join the House was the family of Akimbo Arkenstone, quickly followed by others – The SilverFox’s (who would evolve into the Masurao Family), the Aranis family, the family Bounty and the most notable – the Rockbiter Clan, who’s head, Moloch, was married to Handy’s own daughter Circa. Confusion plagued Handy, for Battesse, the woman and wife who had supported Handy before and after the change of gender had disappeared, taking a voyage of discovery. Heartbroken for many years, Handy eventually found solace in the arms of the druid Eversor. This shocked many of the citizens of Drakenwood who remembered the time when Handy strode the realms as a man, but they in time grew to accept the change. The marriage did not last long however, before the calling of prayer and meditation drew Handy into isolation forcing Eversor to take a new bride. Upon returning Handy was a broken woman. She was comforted by Eversor’s brother, Thiudans, whom she eventually married. Thiudans took the DeRandy name, becoming an important member of the House.
With joy came sorrow. The daughter Handy had held close for so long departed for pastures new, leaving behind her husband and family. Handy searched for Circa for well over half a year, before accepting that she did not want to be found, and would, perhaps, return in time. Electa followed soon after, vowing to seek out and find his half-sister. Handy watched Electa go with mixed feelings, and set down to run her House, watching proudly as Udders ascended to Nobility, Hood married a young rogue known as Ceres, Jolath continued to prove himself worthy of the name DeRandy and Brax became a powerful mage.
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Handy has recently found the power she once possessed as the most powerful Cleric in the realms, and is enjoying her current Faerie body. She is more comfortable than ever about being female and has realised that time settles many problems, and time, despite the worries over the years, has been good to this Holy Cleric.