Mary Anning

One of the greatest fossil hunters to ever live, known to paleontologists far and wide.

As a child, she would excavate fossils with her family to help make ends meet. At the tender age of twelve, she became a paleontology sensation when she discovered the first remains of an ichthyosaurus. She went on to dig up numerous other invaluable fossils, which she both used to forge connections and sold to scholars and aristocrats to put food on the table.

Unfortunately, her fame turned out to be fleeting, and she was eventually swallowed up by the oblivious sands of time...

...but it never disappeared completely. Though never again as well-known as she was in her heyday, her legacy endured even to the present, just like the mysterious stones she spent her life chasing.

Height/Weight: 152cm, 50kg (Self-Reported)

Origin: History

Region: England

Alignment: Neutral-Balanced

Sub-Attribute: Human

Gender: Female

Anning grew up in Lyme Regis, a small coastal town and health resort known for its beach and fossil discoveries.

Anning only teamed up with her plesiosaurus partner after becoming a Servant. While the two did of course have a connection while she was still alive, there were no living dragons at that time. They had been slumbering underground as mere stones since prehistoric times...

...until she found them. No—it'd be fairer to say they met. Though of course, the dragons' forgotten old bones never awoke, even after they were dug up and reassembled aboveground...

Also known as "Lightning" Mary for having been struck by lightning as a baby and miraculously living to tell the tale; this episode is emblematic of who she was when she was still alive. As far as her fellow townspeople were concerned, Anning was mostly just an eccentric. To the aristocrats and scholars, she was something of a local legend— an endless source of fascinating rumors. To the upper crust—those most frequently looking to purchase fossils—she was practically a living miracle.

In person, Anning was a charming speaker; she was sociable, tactful, and skilled at employing flattery while still speaking her mind. Whenever someone hired her to take them on a mini fossil-finding adventure, they always returned having discovered something! How could that be, they would ask. In response, the townspeople would just shake their heads. All they knew was that, despite never receiving anything more than a cursory Sunday school education where she learned to read and write, she was able to hold her own against the highest of high society. Was it the lightning? That must be it! Ever since she was struck, she grew brighter and cleverer by the day, and she was never afraid of anything!

The upper crust found her fascinating as well. How did she become so skilled at excavation? Where did she acquire all her scientific knowledge? Does this mean...the legends were true?

Sea Lily Charisma: C

An innate talent that enables Anning to win nearby women (and some men) over to her side. Those affected find themselves drawn to her eccentric yet charming personality, and are willing to provide any help they can offer.

Madam Fossil's Great Discovery: A

An ability that helps Anning find things. Understandably great for recon missions.

Business Acumen: A

Anning uses her natural eloquence to turn business discussions in her favor. She's especially skilled at getting people excited to buy things they didn't even want.

『Duria Antiquior』

Rank: B

NP Type: Anti-Army

Range: 40

Maximum Targets: 50

Dorset Coast of Days Past.

Anning summons familiars modeled after prehistoric creatures and unleashes them on the enemy all at once. Ideally, she would have liked to recreate the whole Jurassic ocean Reality Marble-style, but given her Heroic Spirit rank, this was the best she could do. Her familiars consist of a long-necked dinosaur (plesiosaurus), a fish-like dinosaur (ichthyosaurus), a flying reptile (dimorphodon), a snake-like stone (ammonite), an arrow-like stone (belemnite), and her beloved dog, Tray; each is a creature with whom she had a deep connection in life.

How did "Lightning" Mary become the greatest fossil hunter ever? The answer, naturally, was not anything miraculous or Mystical. Growing up in the small town of Lyme Regis, the coast was both her backyard and her workplace. She knew its topography like the back of her hand, which is why she was able to figure out where "treasure" was sleeping with only the barest of hints to go on. That's right; the truth of the legend is that her success was all down to careful, constant observation.

Nonetheless, one could also say that she simply had nowhere else to go. That this was the only life she had ever known. If so, then all the digging, mucking, rummaging through rubble, and tide timing she did to make her finds may not only have been discoveries of the past, but a path to her future...

Of course, such speculation is exactly that. This may all be no more than a comforting story, with no basis in reality. But, there is one thing we do know for certain: she's no longer alone. From here on, her trusty partner will always be by her side, the two of them guided to the same destination.

And so, having been summoned by a Master with whom she now shares a bond, she sets off for parts unknown...