GWENNA "GOLDHAND" MERRICK
Humans AzariaMaster Merchant and Trade Guild Leader
"Gold speaks louder than bloodlines, and I've got more gold than most nobles have arrogance.""
Identity
- Residence
- El'goroth, Merchant District
- Civilization
- Humans Azaria
Appearance
• Physical: Plump and prosperous-looking with rosy cheeks and a warm smile that reaches her calculating eyes. Her hands are always in motion - counting coins, gesturing emphatically, or examining goods. Her auburn hair is elaborately styled with jeweled pins. • Clothing: Wears the finest silks and velvets in bold colors that announce her wealth. Her fingers glitter with rings, each representing a different trade agreement or business venture. • Distinguishing Marks: A small golden hand-shaped birthmark on her left wrist that earned her nickname; her laugh is loud and infectious.
Relationships
- Family - Three children being groomed to take over the business; a husband who manages their estates
- Allies - Banking families; shipping companies; several noble houses in debt to her
- Rivals - Competing merchant princes; nobles who resent her common-born influence
Personality
- Traits: Shrewd but fair, genuinely loves the art of commerce, surprisingly generous to those in need, holds grudges forever
- Mannerisms: Snaps her fingers when making a point; smells coins to check their authenticity
- Voice: Booming and cheerful, capable of filling a marketplace with her presence
Backstory
Gwenna started as a street vendor selling her mother's pastries and built an empire through sheer determination and an uncanny ability to spot profitable ventures. She now controls trade routes across three provinces and sits on the Merchant Council. She never forgets those who helped her rise or those who tried to stop her.
Daily Life
Oversees her trading empire from a grand office overlooking the merchant square, meets with suppliers and buyers from across the realm, and hosts lavish dinners where the real business happens. She personally inspects every major shipment that bears her seal.
Story Hooks
- 1 She needs protection for a valuable trade caravan crossing dangerous territory
- 2 Someone is counterfeiting her trade seals and she needs to find out who
Narrative Value
Merchant quest giver; source of equipment and supplies; economic power broker; potential patron ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════