Matilda Manning

Meredyth Manning

## ***(ARCHIVED - RETCONNED)***

**Matilda Manning** is a daughter born of Benedict Manning and his wife Isabelle. She has a twin brother, Jaxon Manning, and two younger siblings, Jeyne Manning and Meredyth Manning. Her father's branch of House Manning grew distant from the main line and as such she has not been to Redshore since her birth. She was born and raised in King's Landing before moving to the Nightingale Inn.

## Appearance and Character

While being a comely woman there is not much else that grabs the attention of others for **Matilda**. She is of an average height and an average build. Plain brown eyes and brown hair do not assist in drawing wandering eyes her way. If not for her comely face than she may go unnoticed frequently among crowds but for all her average physical traits she does please the eyes and she is aware of that.

**Matilda** had always been a troublesome child for her parents. She had a charming way about her, one that she knew how to use to her advantage. As a girl she would often receive gifts and extra sweets from those who she knew would give in to her. As she grew into a young woman the art of exploitation was not lost on her. Nevertheless, she is still a delicate woman at heart and no one knows this better than her twin brother who she confides in with all of her troubles.

In addition to charm she is a woman who takes great interest in dress and fashion. However, her interest is not limited to Westerosi culture. **Matilda** takes a great interest in all cultures and can be expected to experiment with new garments from far away lands whenever she gets her hands on them.

## History

### Childhood, 75 - 93 AC

**Matilda Manning** was born only moments after her twin brother, Jaxon Manning, on the 14th day of the 9th moon in the 75th year following Aegon's Conquest. Her birth was one under a dreary sky and relentless blizzard in King's Landing, something that would become symbolic with the girl's life. Her parents were Benedict Manning and his lowborn wife, Isabelle, a baker from King's Landing.

In her early years Matilda was blinded to the hardships her family faced. Her father did his best to shelter her from the fact that despite being of noble birth they were no better off than the lowborns of King's Landing. In spite of her father's efforts, there were some things he couldn't keep hidden. They lived above their mother's bakery in King's Landing. Their clothes weren't as grand as the other nobles who she would see walking about the streets. They never visited their uncle's castle.

It was these little things that Matilda noticed as she grew older and it was for this reason that she began to use her charm to try to help her parents. Whenever possible she would get an extra cut of meat, an extra scoop of stew, whatever it was her charming face and pleasant voice would get her she would bring home proudly to her parents. It was their efforts to give her a good life despite their situation that kept her out of trouble. **Matilda** used her mischievous nature to help as much as possible. But that would change when she turned 18.

### The Death of a Father, 93 - 94 AC

When Benedict Manning died in the 93rd year after Aegon's Conquest, during the Rosegold Rebellion, it hit the young woman hard. She was devastated and as her family attempted to go on with life as normal, **Matilda** could not. Her innocent use of her charm became more malicious. She began going out into the city and exploring it deeper, finding men who found her charming and indulging their desires only to leave them with empty coin purses come morning. She fell in with the lowliest scum of the city and quickly learned what they had to offer. A large portion of her time was spent around the docks learning the cultures and languages of all the sailors coming in and out of the city. Romantic charm quickly became a weapon of choice for her and finding men weak when aroused only drove her to exploit them further. It was not infrequent for **Matilda** to take a man to bed, let him have his fun, and then rob him of all his coin before he woke in the morning.

It didn't take **Matilda** long to learn that women could be taken advantage of in a similar way. Although it wasn't as common, she found taking a woman to bed just as opportunistic and equally, sometimes more, enjoyable than being abed with a man. But she didn't settle for robbing people while in bed and asleep. She quickly took to sleight of hand, having shady characters from the docks teach her the skill, and used diversions such as street performers and street mobs to empty the pockets of unsuspecting victims. Unlike before when she had been stealing for her family, now she was doing it solely for herself.

### Leaving the City, 95 - 98 AC

Her twin brother, Jaxon, was aware of his changed sister and had a great amount of concern for her. As such he removed her from the city, hoping that it would help reform her. They took to the road unsure of where they would end up. In the 95th year after Aegon's Conquest the pair found themselves at an inn on the border of the Reach, the Crownlands, and the Riverlands. It was here that they would find themselves a new home but the influences of King's Landing were not forgotten.

**Matilda** quickly became a favorite at The Nightingale Inn, running games of chance she had learned at the docks of King's Landing with sailors from all over the world. She quickly realized that drunk men were far too loose with their coin when presented with a game their perceived as fair. Eventually she was appointed as croupier of the inn and given responsibility over all the games and gambling at the inn. An old riverboat, named *The Lively Heron,* was docked behind the inn was converted in a gambling den and **Matilda** took to living and working on the boat.

Being separated from the city didn't put an end to **Matilda's** escapades. She still found opportunities to fill her own pockets using almost any means available to her, including her bed. Most recently she had begun a partnership with Amerei Frey, the bard of the inn. Ami would distract patrons during her performances and **Matilda** would take the opportunity to explore the contents of their pockets. The two would then split the profits from the evening evenly. The partnership quickly developed into a close friendship between the two women.

This partnership proved fruitful until they were found out by the old Crone of the inn. Matilda was given a stern warning and she left the pockets of the visitors to the inn alone. However, what she did on *The Lively Heron* was her business and her business alone.

## Recent Events

### 98 AC:

#### *5th Month*

* **Matilda** invites Amerei Frey to share her quarters on *The Lively Heron* to keep the other woman from sleeping in the stables.
* **Matilda** challenges Daemon Brune to an altered game of *A Pond with a Single Fish.* Daemon ultimately loses after getting eleven attempts to win. The man's wit proved enticing to Matilda.
	+ Later that evening, Amerei Frey comes to seek out **Matilda** and complain about the advances Daemon Brune had made towards her. **Matilda** teaches her friend what it is like to be flirted with after the two share their tragic backstories.

#### *6th Month:*

* On the second day of the sixth month, Amerei Frey came to play games on The Lively Heron. While they tied at the end of the games the two women were not gambling for money but for kisses. While it started as a silly wager by the end of the night **Matilda** had opened up about her past experiences with women and introduced Ami to a different type lifestyle.

## Family Tree

### Family Echo:

http://familyecho.com/?p=START&c=bho3fhbgj6&f=455345284454231962

## Meta

### Attributes:

* Attractive
* Cunning

### Skills:

* Romance (CHA)
* Manipulation (INT)
* Diversion (INT)
* Sleight of Hand (STE)
* Culture (STA)
* Linguistics (EDU)