MaryAnne, Confectioner (SH6)
Mary Anne's is only a small shop, but one that is vitally important to all the Marienburg youngsters! From the outside the building appears rather dour, made from dull grey stone, but anyone peering through the tiny windows would catch sight of an imbroglio of sweets, candy cane, toffee and other implausible delicacies. The wooden door is crammed with embellishment, and a cheerful "open" sign greets customers. When pushed open, a bell gives a little tinkle, and a pretty girl behind the counter looks up from her book and smiles.
The overpowering scent hits you first; a melange of crushed almonds, honey and cool spring water, almost palpable. The room is beautifully lit; off white candles flicker with a pleasant, wholesome glow, and the small windows scatter the sunlight so that even on a burning midday the room is as cool as a forest in spring. The shop is either packed or deserted. On somedays, especially the marketday, children cram into Mary Anne's, their sticky paws handing over pennies for chocolate and toffee. On others, her store is a solitary oasis of calm in this noisy city.
Many people are surprised when they find out that the little girl actually owns and runs the store, and it is a great source of amusement to see Max, the hulking servant looking sheepish as she scolds him for getting the raisin and rum toffee mixed up with the elven pear droplets.
Common Knowledge
"Mummy, kin we go to Mary Anne's, she's just round the corner? Please! Pleeease!! kin we??? Mummy Pleeeeeeease!!!!!! I know we've got some sweets, but they're nowhere as good as hers. Oh Mummy! PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!!!!!!!!!!"
"Little whippersnappers I never 'ad no sweets in my day."
"A girl of nine owns that shop! Its funny really, she's a much better salesman than many other traders, and she ain't even a Marienburger! They say her parents were quite well off when they were alive, that's how she afforded the place I reckon."
Mary Anne de la Force Descamps: Trader, Ex - Noble (SH13a) Social: C9 (A14)
"No Max you silly-billy, over there! Oh let me do it!"
"Good afternoon sir (she giggles) It's nice to have someone in here who's over 4 foot tall! What are you here for chocolates for a lady friend perhaps? Don't be shy! I know the perfect ones for her they're new today and taste like a dream Chocolate and coffee truffles. Here, would you like a taste?"
Mary Anne is a petite, pretty figure with a sylvan look about her features. From her bearing and poise, it is obvious that she has had an excellent upbringing, there is possibly even a dash of noble blood within her. She has curly, golden hair which she wears to her waist, and dancing green eyes. Her clothes are simple and bright, she has a good eye for colour, and although not overly expensive they are of good quality. Her soft accent betrays her Bretonnian origins, but she speaks Reikspiel very well.
Mary Anne is charming and impish, delighting in gently teasing her customers, and most of all, Max. She is generous, and always happy to give a few sweets away to the poorer children. She is far more mature than many of her friends, and other children see her as an adult like figure. When they are miserable for one reason or another, she comforts them and lets them sit on a high wooden chair in her shop eating lollipops.
Many are puzzled but few know how Mary Anne arrived in Marienburg. Marie Anne, which is her proper name, was the daughter of a Bretonnian noble house. Her father, Marceau, was one of a small group of nobles pushing for social reforms. The way they saw it, if the 'Gisoreux' mob wasn't placated the there would be an overt revolution. However, many opposed this idea, including the Breton King. They were shortsighted, and saw the plan as giving power and money away. This small group was treated with increasing hostility until those involved were exiled from the Bretonnian court. Marceau left the country to Marienburg with his family, where they owned several flats. However, he was not content for that to be an end of the matter, and became acquainted with some of the more rebellious crowd in Marienburg's Twilight. With their help he sent funds and printed literature back to Bretonnia.
The Breton king was furious. He ordered that Marceau and his wife be removed, as they were a danger to the security of his country. With carefully placed bribes, they were snatched from their rooms and incarcerated in Rijker's Isle.
Little of this is known by Mary Anne herself. All she knew was that they were moving to Marienburg because of problems "between daddy and the king." Then one night, several months later her parents simply vanished. An old friend of the family visited her and told her that although her parents were alive and well she would not see them again. The land in Bretonnia had been repossessed, and she sold her parents flat and moved to her current cheaper premises on Hightower Isle.
Mary Anne will often be found in her shop hunched over a book behind the counter. She loves adventure and Romantic novels, and there is a little stack of well worn books on the floor. At other times, she can be seen daintily walking down through the docklands to receive the coco beans from Lustrian Clippers. She is a well known sight by many of the dock hands, whom she often greets with a cheery smile, and even the hardest, most cynical worker has a kind word for her. She knows many children from the city, from the poorest orphans to the wealthiest merchant's son. They all love her and her sweets.
M 4; WS 27; BS 24; S 2; T 3; W 5; I 41; A 1; Dex 47; Ld 50; Int 39; Cl 34; WP 32; Fel 58
Age: 9
Alignment: Good
Skills: Acute Hearing, Blather, Charm, Concealment Urban, Cook, Etiquette, Heraldry, Luck, Numismatics, Read/Write, Ride, Speak Breton, Wit
Possessions: Engraved Magical Dagger (I +20, D -1 Pry -20), Small leather purse with 2d6 Guilders, Small mirror, Ring with noble seal, practical clothes of good quality, Romantic adventure novel.
Max Aalders: Servant (SH13b) Social D7
o Large, simple looking servant. Looks sheepish when scolded by Mary Anne.
o Genial but not too bright. Likes to be helpful when he can.
o Protect Mary Anne, look after the smooth running of the shop.
o "Where do I put these again?"
o Knows most of the children from the school opposite by name, recognise other children in the city.
M 4; WS 46; BS 28; S 3; T 3; W 8; I 38; A 1; Dex 24; Ld 32; Int 25; Cl 35; WP 44; Fel 34
Age: 28
Alignment: Neutral
Skills: Cook, Dodge Blow, Drive Cart
Possessions: Club, Pouch with 2d6 shillings.
Adventure Ideas
While wandering around the Suiddock, the PCs are spotted by Mary Anne. She approaches them looking distraught, and asks them if they could accompany them to a café. Once there, she will explain about her disappearance, and will pay handsomely if the PCs find out where they are (and rescue them maybe?) All she knows is that they vanished a year and a half ago, and that her father often visited The New Inn, somewhere called "Alden's" and somewhere else called "Gecko's." She will explain that the cause of disappearance might be the Breton king. If the PCs manage to find out where the parents are and rescue them from Rijker's Isle, they will gain a set of very important contacts, allowing introductions to any high level events in Marienburg. Mary Anne can also provide an introduction to the children of the city, who see everything, and don't mind or understand the significance of any information they impart.
