An explanation of the connection between her and the courts as recorded by Meriam ‘Merry’ Fuzzypaw (who later became adopted daughter to Elder Dirtytoes).

She lived as part of a logging group when she was younger, of many races yet still a family. She was prone to getting lost easily so they never asked her to do much, in fear of her getting lost. She was sent on a supply-run during a large order, getting distracted by sparkles she then veered off the path given to her. She was led astray by fey, later known as Cackles.

She stumbled around in a thunderstorm, getting hit by lightning! She then stumbled into Cordor. They sent her packing here to Bendir Dale, known then as ‘The Fort’. She eventually became mayor, yet the fey Cackles was a thorn in her side, and of the fort’s side too!

The fey Cackles started to harass the fort, and unable to drive the fey off, she and Larken failed to stop pacting coming to the isle. Andy was then healed by Maple, due to the love her and Larken shared. She was then able to conceive, and having had Dazza by the time Cackles returned.

Cackles returned every five to ten years to harass the fort, Alex was far wiser when it came to fey, as Cackles was trying to tempt folks closest to Andy. And when that failed, folks further afield, be they a stray adventurer or an unknown.

Alex went into the feywilds, to find a fey who would talk to him. By Andy’s guess it was a Seelie fey. However Unseelie often do things without reason known to us. The contract found by Alex was between Andy’s parents and the Unseelie fey, he still has a copy. It said that her parents could ask for whatever they wished, and the fey could come and take from them whatever price they deemed fit.

Andy does not know what they agreed to, but she knows that as a baby she was taken from her parents because of their greed. Cruelty by her parents and the fey. In the minds of the Unseelie, Andriarna was theirs, a prize to be kept and taken. And she was not doing what they wanted her to do.

The Unseelie were mad that the Seelie Court healed Andy, and gave the gift of life back to her, so they declared war on the badgers, part of the Seelie Court. As hurting the badgers hurt the Seelie, other hin and Andy. Killing them outright was not enough for Cackles, using them on the other hand…

The Unseelie taking the orb was something Andy thinks was an ill thought out idea. Terto owed them a favor, and by the mistrust she has endured over this orb-thief-return debacle is simply still the Unseelie hurting Andy through mistrust and attempted shame.

Cackles found out about Andy’s orb, and had Terto steal it. Cackles either did not know what it did or was for, or he lied about his knowledge of it to hurt Andy further. Andy’s orb contains Boots, her shadow. The orb was Boot’s link to the Shadow Plane, and without the orb, her shadow started to die, being drained of its ‘life’. This caused Andy a great sickness.

Andy went to the Shadow Woods to find Droopi, who had taken a bargain from Cackles to get her orb back, in exchange he was to slay the Great Badger. Andy left because she knew they were being stalled, she had hoped to find the badger and save it. When she returned Dazza was fighting Cackles and was slain.

There was fighting and chasing over many miles, Boots able to fight in the woods as it had enough shadow to sustain it. Andy gave chase to Cackles over many miles after watching Dazza slain. She gave chase, hitting and wounding Cackles, cornering him on a hill they could not reach.

They had caused Cackles such anguish and pain that he decided that Andy was not worth it anymore. As the fey that been a thorn in Bendir an Andy’s sides for so long was truly shaken, fearing for its life. With a final heroic effort, Andy got Cackles to swear to leave Bendir, her family, her and the badgers alone. Furthermore, after hearing the fey swear it, she passed out, as Boots was badly wounded.

He should no longer be a threat to the fort. Here ends the sad, tragic tale of Andy, who was being assaulted by fey for most of her life. And begins a new tale, one of nurture and love, for her family, herself and the Dale! A new dawn, without Cackles and with many fluffy badgers. The end.

Notes of name clarifications by Andy:

Larken is Larken Dirtytoes. Andy’s first handfasted mate who took her name and father to her first son.

Dazza is Dazza Terringale Dirtytoes. Andy’s first born son.

Maple is the contact Andy had in the Seelie court. A nixie who provided friendship and aid.

Alex is Alexander Swordhill-Dirtytoes. Andy’s second mate and husband through marriage.

Terto is the gnome Terto Tarquin.

Boots is the shadow being who had joined with Andy and was guardian and friend to the family.

Droopi is a hin who ended up killing the Great Badger but made it possible to have the orb returned.