Famed through the city—and also known as the Moaning Halls—for the pleasures to be had under its roof, Marja’s House of Sighs is a popular destination for those seeking respite from the day’s travails.
Comprising the entirety of a three-storey tenement building overlooking one of the many small lanes leading north from Warrior’s Way it is gaudily decorated with—now faded—semi-lurid murals. The paintings leave no doubt as to the services offered within. Marja lives in a personal apartment on the top floor while the ground floor is given over to a series of lounges, bars and snugs. The middle floor comprises a maze of small passages and rooms decorated in a variety of styles and themes. Much of the Moaning Halls’ business is conducted, here.
Marja employs a multitude of street urchins and street people to guide—or perhaps lure—customers to her door. Thus, those obviously with coin—and everyone assumes adventurers have gold to spare—are accosted by a succession of street folk when they venture in the Moaning Hall’s general vicinity.
Notable Folk
- Marja Sianio (N female half-elf wizard 2/rogue 3): Marja knows many of Languard’s residents—she has a prodigious memory—but few people know the real Marja. Secretly the bastard offspring of a minor member of the Nenonen family, she masquerades as a human but is well aware of her true heritage. Her staff are loyal and she—in turn—zealously watches out for their wellbeing. Rumours abound that Marja knows many embarrassing secrets about her customers.
Hooks
- The PCs seek some local expert, merchant or suchlike. Enquiries lead them to the House of Sighs where the man is believed to be “resting”. Of course, Marja is delighted at the arrival of a group of wealthy adventurers and does her utmost to entice them into availing themselves of the house’s services.
- The PCs befriend (perhaps in a nearby tavern) Aila Keto (CN female human expert 1), one of Marja’s staff. They subsequently see her being harassed by a man swathed in a voluminous cloak. If they intervene they earn her thanks and the ire on the man Einar Rantanen (NE middle-aged male human expert 1)—a wealthy craftsmen, skilled in holding grudges, who does his best to bad mouth them.
Want More Languard?
Check out my main Languard page here.
Want the House of Sighs in Print?
Marja’s House of Sighs appears in Languard Locations: Low City by Raging Swan Press.
I love the location, but I’m curious: why would you name two locations in Languard “House of Sighs”? I appreciate that it is a very different location from F1, but I’m concerned that if I ran Languard as written my players would be confused.
Maybe this was actually supposed to be called Marja’s Moaning Halls?