Origin

 

The words "Let me sing you a tale of…." have never passed the lips of Clancy Moriman. Where most singers of songs and minstrels sit on street corners and crow like roosters to attract crowds and coin, the shadows and alleys are reserved for downtrodden and unfortunate souls. In the wet darkness of those hidden shelters is where Clancy lives. His appearance is seemingly magical, in that his features haven't changed for over seven years. His hair doesn't grow any more and stays at a constant length; his breathing has become abnormally long breaths which can last around three minutes from inhale to exhale without trying. His piercing eyes have begun changing color from blue to green to their current of steel gray, and his sight has increased to the point of complete clarity.

 

A constant feeling of woe and dread is woven and deepening within his heart. But on the surface he is just a man, likeable by most, though he feels no connection to others. He is honest in a dishonest world, and true in the face of all falsehoods which surround him. Orphaned since birth, his only connection has been the alley and the lives which reside there. His songs could calm vicious dogs or soothe rats, making them instant pets. A fondness for the company of rats is what started a string of unfortunate titles: ‘Ratboy’, ‘Bard of the Back-Alleys’, and ‘Fancy Lad Clancy’ are a few of the names he was called by those who heard of his deeds and doings.

 

A life of living in the shadows can make anyone peculiar. But in Clancy's case it seems that he is quite…. disgruntled. He's pissed that he knows he has to sing to evoke his talents; he's pissed that when he does enter the daylight, everyone says "Sing me a ditty of me ole Mum, Bard"; he's pissed that his name is Clancy and he has the titles "Bard of the Back-Alleys" and "Fancy Lad". Last thing he wants to do is more than he has to. Very much unlike those who will do as much as possible to keep others out of danger, Clancy roars into action when danger hits. And action is in no short supply where he resides.

 

The first show of power came on quite unexpectedly. A ruffian once stole Clancy's pet rat Oscarmonium and threatened to rip its poor head clear off. Clancy looked at this pitiful fool and opened his mouth instinctively – instead of words, a tune formed from the silence. That tune carried several messages of power. The rat became slippery, as did the ground beneath the abductor, causing him to drop the rat and fall on his backside. Then the rat began to grow in stature, and the opposite effect cursed the thief. Clancy was quite surprised seeing Oscarmonium enjoying himself as he gnawed his captor's head completely off. But Clancy wasn't abusive of his powers and treated them with respect when it would be so easy to use them for personal gain.

 

That is Clancy, where he has been and where he is, where he is going is something which has never been foreshadowed or foreseen. But he does know that the darkness will follow. 

 

Last updated 01-20-2006 by Skip Franklin. Original text by Mike E.