Latest revision as of 13:36, 30 May 2017

Andriarna Dirtytoes, known to most as Andy, was Mayor of Bendir in the years 98-112 (succeeding Rosa Dapple) and 115-118. Perhaps the most notable event of her leadership was the founding of the village Greyhammer in the year 101.

Her authority was challenged only rarely, once by her sister, once by a gnome with dark plans for the village of Guldorand... for reasons that will become clear!

When Andy first took power, Bendir was at perhaps the height of its power, with both Guldorand and Wharftown vassalised to the fort. The story of how that rise came about is a long and not particularly pleasant one, but suffice to say the warlocks Ellie and Gattes were involved, with their puppet sorceress Ellie. Still, the rest of the isle - even Cordor itself - were all nervous of Bendir in case we took over everyone else, and as the Mayor Andy had more authority than probably anyone on the island at the time, and lots of people watching her step closely.

Following a philosophy of freedom, she had no desire to keep control over the rest of the isle. Releasing Wharftown was widely accepted, and happened quickly and without incident. But Guldorand was a different story. At first Andy held onto it because it wasn't stable, and didn't have any obvious leadership of its own. But when leadership arose, it was the cult of Bane that took power.

This provoked a lot of controversy. Many demanded that Andy move against them, and she even got a challenge from a gnome who wished to crush all trace of Bane from the isle... using methods as dark as any the Banites themselves would employ. Our allies in Brogendenstein were particularly vocal here, especially when it became clear that Andy was considering granting Guldorand its freedom now that it had a stable leadership, and when she gave residents of Guldorand the opportunity to vote in her support in the leadership challenge, well, many started whispering that she herself was Banite, despite having freed Wharftown not long before!

Once the challenge had been defeated, Andy treated with the Banites of Guldorand. They promised not to expand beyond the village, and she gave the village its freedom, over the protests and doubts of half the isle. Indeed, that administration lasted a good decade, and in all that time kept to the promise it had given her, even coming to the defense of Bendir a couple of times later in her reign.

Relations with Cordor greatly improved through her reign. Andy had many good friends in Cordor, and named her son after a Cordorian councilor. However, relations with the Dwarves did not do so well; indeed, at one stage in her reign they threatened to vassal Bendir. Trust was low on both sides, as one particular anecdote illustrates.

Despite the poor relations, an incarnation of the Earthkin Alliance existed then called the Stone Alliance. Early in her reign, the isle was invaded by the forces of Zhentil Keep. Some Dwarves of Brogendenstein came running up asking for aid under the alliance as Zhent forces were approaching Brogendenstein, with the ultimatum to bend knee or die. So she followed the Dwarves to Brogendenstein, but there found the then Thane negotiating with the Zhents. He gave them gems in exchange for the Zhents leaving their stone quarry alone! Not the Halls of Brogendenstein themselves, not the people... and certainly not their allies. Indeed, the Dwarves agreed to stay out of the Zhents' way while they attacked other settlements, including Bendir. Thus betrayed, Andy returned home.

Defiantly, she held a fair on the day the attack was to come. Many were present, including several friendly dragons, and the fort was possibly as well protected as it could have been. Despite this, and in keeping with her philosophy as Mayor of making the Fort a place where all could relax in safety and comfort, she did not ask her guests to join the defense. She, and a few hand picked Cordorians and Bendirians saw off the attack, with not a Dwarf in sight.

While in twenty years there were dramatic moments, as these stories show, in large part her time as leader was a time of peace and prosperity. Families raised children, and the people of Bendir were fed and happy. When she handed over to the Luckbringer Elijah, she had inarguably made it a place of peace, and erased the darker memories of the past.

~Allie Lightfoot