Molly
Proprietor of the Crooked Crown
Overview
- Race: Dwarf
- Occupation: Innkeeper
- Affiliation: The Crooked Crown
- Region: Interior Osweg
- Reputation: Hospitable, invasive, hard to read
Molly runs the The Crooked Crown with the efficiency of someone who has learned that survival requires firmness, vigilance, and a willingness to ask uncomfortable questions.
She is neither openly hostile nor fully trustworthy.
Description
Molly is a broad-shouldered dwarf woman with fiery red hair worn in tight braids and heavy sideburns framing her face. Her sleeves are usually rolled up, and she is almost always seen holding something capable of doubling as a weapon—most notably a rolling pin.
Her eyes are sharp and observant, missing little. When she smiles, it is difficult to tell whether it is meant to reassure or to measure.
Demeanor
Molly is:
- Direct in speech
- Practical in outlook
- Assertive in negotiations
- Unafraid of confrontation
She does not waste words and dislikes evasiveness—unless she is the one being evasive.
The Baby Incident
Upon the arrival of the Sea Spray Survivors, Molly displayed immediate and unsettling interest in an abandoned elf infant brought into her presence. She offered—politely, repeatedly, and without explanation—to take the child into her care.
She did not clarify why.
When refused, she did not press the issue further—but she did not appear offended.
Business Practices
Molly’s inn is known for:
- Cheap but filling food
- Strong drink
- Beds that are clean enough
- Privacy that can be negotiated
She maintains a network of informal information, often knowing more about travelers than they expect.
Whether she gathers information for personal safety, profit, or something else remains unclear.
Rumors & Whispers
Travelers have claimed:
- Molly once ran with smugglers before settling down
- She knows bandit routes better than she admits
- She has sheltered fugitives—for a price
- She is deeply protective of her inn and violently intolerant of threats to it
None of these rumors have been confirmed.
Relationship to the Party
Molly treats the party as:
- Potential customers
- Potential problems
- Potential opportunities
Her demeanor toward them is cautious but curious, especially regarding their cargo and their unexpected companions.
Current Status
Molly remains in control of the Crooked Crown.
She watches the road.
She remembers faces.
Themes
Molly represents:
- Survival without sentiment
- Hospitality with conditions
- Moral ambiguity on the frontier
- The danger of seeming helpful
Connected Pages
- The Crooked Crown
- Sea Spray Survivors
- Osweg
- Dragonglass
- Donald (Queen’s Ranger)