Post by Dungeon Master on Mar 11, 2016 23:19:48 GMT
Pearl Vanren is the current proprietor of the famous tavern, The Black Mariah. It is difficult to tell exactly what bloodlines flow in Pearl because she seems to have characteristics from each. She is thick set, with corded muscles visible on her heavily scarred arms. She also has slightly pointed ears and the dark olive skin typical of the Orc Bloodline tribes to the south. Her red hair is streaked with gray, her eyes are sharp as a hawk, yet are never long without the sparkle of laughter.
Pearl loves three things, in no particular order; Gambling, Fighting, and Eating. Years before she ever won The Black Pearl in a game of three dragon ante, Pearl was a mercenary guard for gold transports across Arcanos. While gold could be found sparingly in many areas of Arcanos, it was chiefly mined by a nearly pure blooded clan of dwarfkin called ThunderAxe located on the Northern side of the Carassis Mts. Major strongholds minted their own coin stylized in different fashions, and the dwarven clan bartered the gold ore for all matter of things. Pearl was captain of the guard for Clan Thunderaxe's shipment retinue. More than simple bandits had done their best to waylay the incredibly expensive transports, but for over 20 years not a single ounce of gold was lost under Pearl's vigil.
Pearl was well rewarded for her services, luckily so, because she had a severe gambling addiction. She won more than she lost, but there were plenty of nights that more gold than most men saw in a lifetime left her coin purse and didn't return. Still, those that cared to pay attention, realized Pearl must have built a small fortune. At the age 38 she hung up her guard cloak.
Pearl decided to take the next decade traveling about Arcanos without having the worry of guarding multiple tons of gold. She had met many people during her years as a guard, and decided to go around visiting friends and making new ones. At the end of her traveling she found herself in a familiar Inn.
Pearl sat across from Karlo Galt aka The Blade inside The Black Mariah. Karlo had been the owner of The Black Mariah since he won it during last year's Gambler Span. The current game of three dragon ante has risen to the point that tokens were being used to represent the thousands of gold at stake. Pearl had pulled The Bahamut card in the first turn, but had coolly drawn out the game into eleven rounds. Karlo had a strong run going in the later rounds and had grown quite confident he'd win the game the next round. He pulled from his coin purse a black adamantine key with a bow wrought into the shape of a spade. He slid it into the center of the table, drawing only a single raised eyebrow from Pearl.
"I don't care how deep your pockets are Pearl, I've got you this time" he said as he drew his final card.
He looked at it, replaced a card in his hand with it, then discarded. Pearl didn't even bother drawing a card. She knocked the table and laid down a 3 card set impossible to beat, a smirk running across her face.
"Fucking bitch. You cheat!" screamed Karlo.
Forgetting the time honored rule of no fighting in The Black Mariah, he pulled his infamous short sword from his waist. Purple worm venom ran slick along its edge as he lunged across the table at Pearl. Half way during his desperate attack a black bolt of necromatic energy ripped across the inn slamming into Karlo's side. Like that, he turned to ash.
A grey haired wizard leaned against the bar, a withered black wand extended out in front of him. The old mage turned to look at his young apprentice.
"No one likes a sore loser Alain, remember that".
The apprentice nodded his understanding.
Pearl brushed off the ashes from her spoils, pocketing the key into her shirt.
"Drinks on....well, Karlo!" she shouted.
The crowd cheered.
Pearl has since been the owner of The Black Mariah. She has run things about the same, except she hired two more cooks from far corners of Arcanos. The menu is now much more diverse. Pearl can typically be found either tasting her chef's latest creations in the kitchen, at the bar trading tales, or in a game at a table. Visiting friends of hers know to bring her a treat from their homeland.
Below is a commissioned painting of Pearl, gifted to her by Thunderaxe clan upon her retirement. It hangs behind the bar.
Pearl loves three things, in no particular order; Gambling, Fighting, and Eating. Years before she ever won The Black Pearl in a game of three dragon ante, Pearl was a mercenary guard for gold transports across Arcanos. While gold could be found sparingly in many areas of Arcanos, it was chiefly mined by a nearly pure blooded clan of dwarfkin called ThunderAxe located on the Northern side of the Carassis Mts. Major strongholds minted their own coin stylized in different fashions, and the dwarven clan bartered the gold ore for all matter of things. Pearl was captain of the guard for Clan Thunderaxe's shipment retinue. More than simple bandits had done their best to waylay the incredibly expensive transports, but for over 20 years not a single ounce of gold was lost under Pearl's vigil.
Pearl was well rewarded for her services, luckily so, because she had a severe gambling addiction. She won more than she lost, but there were plenty of nights that more gold than most men saw in a lifetime left her coin purse and didn't return. Still, those that cared to pay attention, realized Pearl must have built a small fortune. At the age 38 she hung up her guard cloak.
Pearl decided to take the next decade traveling about Arcanos without having the worry of guarding multiple tons of gold. She had met many people during her years as a guard, and decided to go around visiting friends and making new ones. At the end of her traveling she found herself in a familiar Inn.
Pearl sat across from Karlo Galt aka The Blade inside The Black Mariah. Karlo had been the owner of The Black Mariah since he won it during last year's Gambler Span. The current game of three dragon ante has risen to the point that tokens were being used to represent the thousands of gold at stake. Pearl had pulled The Bahamut card in the first turn, but had coolly drawn out the game into eleven rounds. Karlo had a strong run going in the later rounds and had grown quite confident he'd win the game the next round. He pulled from his coin purse a black adamantine key with a bow wrought into the shape of a spade. He slid it into the center of the table, drawing only a single raised eyebrow from Pearl.
"I don't care how deep your pockets are Pearl, I've got you this time" he said as he drew his final card.
He looked at it, replaced a card in his hand with it, then discarded. Pearl didn't even bother drawing a card. She knocked the table and laid down a 3 card set impossible to beat, a smirk running across her face.
"Fucking bitch. You cheat!" screamed Karlo.
Forgetting the time honored rule of no fighting in The Black Mariah, he pulled his infamous short sword from his waist. Purple worm venom ran slick along its edge as he lunged across the table at Pearl. Half way during his desperate attack a black bolt of necromatic energy ripped across the inn slamming into Karlo's side. Like that, he turned to ash.
A grey haired wizard leaned against the bar, a withered black wand extended out in front of him. The old mage turned to look at his young apprentice.
"No one likes a sore loser Alain, remember that".
The apprentice nodded his understanding.
Pearl brushed off the ashes from her spoils, pocketing the key into her shirt.
"Drinks on....well, Karlo!" she shouted.
The crowd cheered.
Pearl has since been the owner of The Black Mariah. She has run things about the same, except she hired two more cooks from far corners of Arcanos. The menu is now much more diverse. Pearl can typically be found either tasting her chef's latest creations in the kitchen, at the bar trading tales, or in a game at a table. Visiting friends of hers know to bring her a treat from their homeland.
Below is a commissioned painting of Pearl, gifted to her by Thunderaxe clan upon her retirement. It hangs behind the bar.
