Petunia “Petty” Sugarfoot (A to Z, P)

Petty is straightforward and direct, while she can be deceptive, she does her best to cultivate an aura of trustworthiness.  She is also a natural talent with song and music, playing a vielle (a precursor to the violin) and happy to entertain those around her with story and song.  Petty is all about building trust and good feelings about her in case she later needs to pull a con or ask for help.

Like many hobbits, Petty enjoys good food and drink, though she tries not to overindulge in either, and is a competent cook and better baker (which is almost a requirement for being part of the Sugarfoot Clan).

Background: Her early life would not have indicated the path she would end up upon.  The fact is that she was not born into the Sugarfoot Clan, but to their more disreptutable cousins, the Scragfeet.  Her father, as is not uncommon among the Scragfeet, vanished when she was young and both she and her sister feel deathly ill but were rescued by a member of the Sugarfoot Clan who took them in and ensured that they were nursed back to health and went on to marry their mother. adopting them into the Sugarfoot Clan.  But both Petty and her sister, Marigold, were scarred by the sickness that always took their lives, leaving them less attractive than their peers.  Thus, they later tormented, when they could get away with it, the sister who was born to their mother and her new husband, who was notably beautiful.

When caught doing so one day, Marigold was sent away to a cousin’s bakery, while Petty was sent to live with an aunt in the woods.  The woods had an ill-reputation, that was well deserved, as the fae had found a way back into them.  As Petty spent time in the woods foraging for food, she soon came into contact with them.  She poured out her troubles to these friendly, to her, beings and they told her stories of the fae realms.  After nearly a year, one of the fae nobles came to her and offered to free her from her troubles inexchange for acting as their agent in the wilder world.  She naturally, and foolishly, agreed.

In return for being bound to one of the fae nobles, she received beauty, magic, and guidance from the lord, in return for unquestioned loyalty and eternal service.  So far, Petty has not regretted the bargain at all.

Presenting this Character: Petty is direct and apparently uncomplicated; she seeks out pleasures and entertainment.  She is good company and uses that to make friends and find places to stay,  While she looks at everyone as a potential mark for a con, Petty rarely takes that step; she must either be in desperate need or find the person so offensive that not taking advantage of them would be unthinkable.

Like her fae patrons, Petty is word-bound, and if she gives her word she must keep it.  So is if very, very careful not to enter into agreements or bargains unless the is sure of the boundaries of such.  Petty often hedges her agreements, even for simple things, out of worry of being tricked.

Petty recognized that she was a bad sister and a bad daughter and she is trying to be a better person.  She might never be a good one but she can at least be batter.  As she says, “Petty by name, Petty by nature,”

What can she do?: Petty is charming, in a direct and obvious way. and good at making friends.  She has control of a handful of potent magics provided to her from her fae patron.

She can perform a variety of mundane skills, cooking, baking, playing music. and singing, cleaning and sewing.  None of these she is expert in but she is competent in them all,

Who might know her and why: Any one from the extended Sugarfoot Clan and Scragfeet families might, though they probably would not recognize her at first.

Petty has met a lot of people in her travels and she stands out.  So other well-traveled people might have crossed paths with her.

Other people who have been touched by the fae might recognize a fellow traveler of those roads in Petty.

Plot Hooks: Sometimes, rarely, Petty is given tasks by her fae patron, one of those might involve the characters in some way, especially if they have had dealings with the fae before.

If the characters are having a party, Petty might crash it, especially if the food and drinks are good.  She is a fun guest, so maybe they will not mind?

Petty needs help to run a con on an obnoxious fellow who is in a position of some authority.  She knows the player have had run-ins with them before and so asks for their help.

Notes: Something a bit different and fun, at least I hope so.  I have been enjoying player her so far.