Maristella Veyron was born in the sun-drenched port city of Seralume, a bustling coastal capital famed for its warm climate, trade bazaars, and a culture that celebrates beauty as much as commerce. Her mother was a seamstress, her father a dockhand rarely at home, leaving Mari to grow up largely among the marketplaces, courtyards, and crowded alleys of the city.

From an early age, Maristella learned two things:

1. Beauty opens doors.
2. Charm keeps them open.

She was not wealthy. Far from it.
But she had a natural glow, a charisma shaped by her environment — laughter that carried over the surf, and the sun-kissed skin of someone who spent her childhood running along white stone piers and dancing barefoot on tiled plazas.

She also learned the hard way that being beautiful can be dangerous for a poor girl in a hard city.
She escaped more than one unwanted situation with quick wit and quicker feet.

At 16, she found work as a dancer in a seaside tavern.
At 19, she became a stage performer at The Hall of Lanterns, a reputable house of entertainment.
At 22, she discovered she could command a room with a smile — something that earned her money far faster than dance ever would.

But she never crossed into exploitation.
She learned to set boundaries, to control the space around her, and above all, to choose for herself.

Contrary to what some might assume, Maristella did not enter the profession out of desperation, coercion, or scandal.
She made her choice deliberately, carefully, and with full agency.

Here is why:

1. She enjoys being desired.

Growing up overlooked and underestimated, she found empowerment in embracing her beauty rather than hiding it.

2. She loves the art of seduction.

To her, it is a performance — as refined as dance or song.
She excels in reading people, making them feel seen, valued, and wanted.

3. She wants control over her life.

Courtesanship offered freedom, coin, and upward mobility she could never achieve as a dock worker’s daughter.

4. She chose a reputable establishment.

The Velvet Siren’s Anchorage is luxurious, respected, and fiercely protective of its workers.
She saw it as the perfect place to thrive.

5. She sees herself as a master of her craft.

And takes pride in the emotional, social, and artistic aspects of sensual companionship.

Her Reputation at the Anchorage

Maristella is one of the most popular courtesans in the house — not because she is the most exotic or mysterious, but because she is:

• warm
• approachable
• flirtatious
• confident without being arrogant
• deeply attentive to her clients
• genuinely joyful to be around

She is described as having “the heat of summer and the warmth of a hearth.”

Maristella has built a loyal following among sailors, merchants, traveling performers, and even the occasional noble passing through Fylfnoris.

She saves her coin carefully, with the long-term goal of eventually:

• owning a small pleasure garden by the sea,
• hosting musicians and poets,
• and creating a safe, elegant haven for entertainers like herself.

She sees her work not as a burden or necessity, but a stepping stone to a future she is crafting entirely on her own terms.

She earned this nickname her first week on the job.

A sailor described her as:

“A spark that lights the room, and a fire that keeps you warm.”

It stuck immediately.

At the Anchorage, clients know her as Sunfire — radiant, bold, and unforgettable.