34. Old Mavreks Bakery
Tucked into a sagging corner of Nulb, where the village's winding dirt paths intersect near the market square, sits Old Mavreks Bakery—a weathered, half-collapsed shack that somehow still produces the warm scent of fresh bread every morning. Run by Old Mavrek, a blind and gnarled former pirate turned reluctant baker, the Hollow Hearth is a quiet relic of Nulb’s past, operating in the midst of a town now overrun with brigands, cultists, and cutthroats. While most of the village’s denizens pay little mind to the aging baker, his loaves make their way to the Waterside Hostel, Boatman’s Tavern, and even the supply lines of the Temple of Elemental Evil, ensuring his continued survival—at least for now.
Description
The Hollow Hearth is a ramshackle structure, its walls leaning precariously as if they might collapse at any moment. The soot-streaked chimney, belching smoke from its great clay oven, is the only sign that the place still functions. The bakery’s interior is little more than a fire-warmed chamber filled with stacked flour sacks, wooden racks of hard, flat loaves, and a single, battered counter where Mavrek works in the dark, kneading dough with practiced hands.
- Cracked wooden beams groan under the weight of time.
- The massive clay oven, built into the back wall, glows with an eerie warmth.
- A scent of burnt flour and old spices hangs thick in the air.
- No tables, no chairs, no service—just bread.
"Aye, lad, I may not see, but I know the weight of a silver and the smell of a liar."
Operations & Trade
Mavrek bakes just enough to stay afloat, selling to local taverns, the market, and even Temple suppliers who prefer the discretion of an old blind man.
- Supplies the Waterside Hostel, Boatman’s Tavern, and Temple caravans.
- Grain and flour deliveries come irregularly, usually from the 32. The Grain Tower of Nulb controlled by Nysera’s men.
- Rumored to still know smuggling routes—a secret he guards closely.
"You think I don’t know who you are? Hells, boy, I hear the way you breathe. Now tell me straight—why’ve you come sniffin’ round my oven?"
Secrets & Hidden Lore (DM Only)
Mavrek’s Past & Hidden Stash
- Beneath a loose floorboard in the bakery, Mavrek keeps a chest of old pirate loot, including a map leading to a lost river treasure.
- He also possesses a single black pearl, a token from his past worth 500 gp.
- He recognizes many pirates and smugglers who pass through Nulb, though he pretends not to.
Potential Hooks & Encounters
- The Whispering Pearl: A pirate from Mavrek’s past comes looking for the pearl, leading to a tense confrontation in the bakery.
- Baker’s Debt: A Temple enforcer demands increased tribute from Mavrek, forcing the players to intervene.
- The Old Smuggler’s Route: Mavrek offers to reveal a hidden river passage to avoid Temple patrols—for a price.
- The Blind Witness: Mavrek overhears a crucial plot by Temple agents and must decide if he trusts the party enough to share it.
Conclusion
The Hollow Hearth Bakery stands as one of Nulb’s last vestiges of normalcy, a fading memory of a time before the Temple’s influence spread. Whether the players see Mavrek as a valuable ally, a reluctant informant, or just an old man with a knack for bread, his story and presence add depth to the desperate, struggling village of Nulb.
"Fingers got the memory, see? A blade, a rope, a lump of dough—ain’t much different once you've held 'em long enough."
Old Mavrek, the Blind Baker
Background
Once known as Captain Mavrek "Two-Sails" Dorn, he was a feared smuggler who ran goods along the Velverdyva River and beyond. After a near-fatal betrayal left him blind and adrift, he washed up in Nulb and found himself in the care of an old woman who ran the bakery. With nowhere else to go, he learned the trade by memory and touch, inheriting the Hollow Hearth upon her passing.
Personality
- Gruff and sharp-tongued, but not unkind.
- Speaks in riddles and sailor’s jargon, making him hard to understand.
- Has a keen sense of smell and hearing, making up for his blindness.
- Harbors no love for the Temple, but keeps his head down.
Quirks
- Still bakes bread in the shape of daggers, anchors, and skulls—a relic of his past.
- Always wears a thick leather apron, its pockets hiding old pirate keepsakes.
- Keeps a wooden cutlass within reach, though he hasn’t drawn it in years.
- Mumbles to himself constantly, reminiscing about his old crew.
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