Where she/he comes from: Silent Hill 2, Born From a Wish
Birthday (if known): Unknown
Age: 25
Species: Human/Occult Construct
Sexual Orientation: Essentially heterosexual
Occupation: Exotic Dancer
Reputation: Maria only interacts with two other people that we see. She really doesn't have much of a reputation, other than being a colossal mind-fuck. She only interacts with two people - a deceased, unseen spirit and James himself. Ernest sees her as a means to an end, a tool he can use to gather the supplies he needs for a ritual, and James' opinion of her changes entirely over the course of the game.

His/Her World

History and Legend

The town of Silent Hill is a resort area that exists in at least three parallel layers or dimensions: a normal, populated town; a silent, seemingly abandoned town veiled by supernaturally thick fog; and a dark and decaying town (called the "Otherworld") filled with disturbing imagery. Maria came to exist within the silent, abandoned 'Misty' Silent Hill. The land the town was built on used to be sacred Native Land, and still holds a great deal of power.

There are rumors of a great many disturbing things happening in Silent Hill. People go in and never come out. People go mad. An entire ship disappeared into the fog one night. There are old Gods there, that still hold sway, and seek to punish sinners. Cult activity is strong, religious fanatics seeking new ways to bring about their own Paradise....

Magic

There seems to be little limit to what the town can do, or individuals who tap into the power of the town. The most common aspect of supernatural manifestations are monsters, worlds and scenarios created by either the town's victims, or those who utilize their own power to influence the town.

Personal Background

Maria came into existence on the stage of the club Heaven's Night, in Silent Hill. She was created from the subconscious and memories of James Sunderland, as well as the 'fingerprints' Mary Shepherd-Sunderland left on her most beloved of places, Silent Hill. She was created by the town's power as a tool in guiding James to the truth about why he came to Silent Hill, to punish him for mercy killing his terminally ill wife in a fit of weakness and desperation, and to lead him to redemption.

At first, Maria doesn't realize what she is. She is born in Misty Silent Hill, a place between Normal Silent Hill - the quiet tourist town - and Nightmare Silent Hill. She is aware that there should be other people around, but they're all gone. She assumes they were killed by the monsters she can see outside. She contemplates suicide in her dressing room, but rejects the idea. She expresses a deep fear of death, suffering and pain - I believe this to be because of Mary's influence, and buried spiritual memories of Mary's disease and death - and a need to not be alone.

She travels through Silent Hill, looking for anyone. She stumbles into an old mansion and speaks to a man behind a door, who will not let her inside. He claims he wants to be alone, and Maria is bothering him. She doesn't give in, however, and remains in his mansion. She discovers there that he had a daughter who died as a child, fallen from an attic window. She finds the girl's birthday card for her father in the attic, and the child's spirit speaks to her, asking her to deliver the card.

When Maria does so, Ernest requests her help in retrieving an item for a ritual to revive his daughter. Maria agrees, and fetches the item for him. Afterwards, Ernest taunts Maria with what she is and how she came to be. He warns her about James, the 'bad man' who's looking for 'the her that isn't her'. She understands what he means, but insists she's Maria, and her own person, and Ernest doesn't know what he's talking about.

She heads off to find James, after our first hint that she has memories from Mary. She goes immediately to what was one of James and Mary's 'special places', Rosewater Park, and waits. She meets up with James, who mistakes her for Mary. She flirts with him, even though he explains he's looking for his wife, and asks him to take her with him. James agrees, and the two head off towards Lakeview hotel, where James is sure he'll find Mary.

On their way, James drops into a bowling alley and Maria remains outside. A short while later, an eight year old girl runs out of the bowling alley and Maria gives chase. But the girl slips through a crack between buildings and Maria loses her. James comes out a moment later, also in pursuit of the girl. Maria leads James through the club where she works, to try and catch up with the girl, who James explains is named Laura.

They catch up with Laura at Brookhaven hospital, but lose her inside. Maria begins to feel ill, and decides to rest in one of the third floor patient rooms. James promises to come back for her, but time passes and he doesn't return. Maria, feeling better, wanders off to look for him, feeling abandoned and betrayed. She's angry with James when she finally finds him, blowing up at him for leaving her to die and not even seeming to care. He apologizes, and Maria begs him never to leave her alone again. He promises, and they head into the basement of the hospital.

There, the monstrous creature known as 'Red Pyramid' or 'Pyramid Head' chases them through a long, winding hallway. Maria falls behind as James makes it to a nearby elevator. The doors close with only Maria's hand through them, and the monster attacks her as she screams for James' help. He can do nothing, and Maria is killed by the monster.

That isn't the end for Maria, though, who wakes up in the corridor believing she and James were merely separated.

She has no memory of the monster or her own death. She travels through town again, still seeking James. She finds herself in a strange Labyrinth underneath the town, in a prison cell that locks behind her. The preceding is speculation, based on Maria's dialogue. James finds her, and asks her what happened. Maria is confused, and Mary begins to emerge once more, teasing James about his memory and referencing their previous trip to Silent Hill, when James left a home video at their hotel. James questions her how she knows things only Mary would no, and Maria gets defensive, yelling that she isn't Mary, she's Maria. She seems distressed for a few moments, then shakes it off and reminds James to get her out of the cell, flirting with him and touching him as she does so, implying a desire to sleep with him.

We don't know quite what happens while James is searching for the key to Maria's cell, only that when he finds her, she has been killed once more.

When we see Maria again, she is hanging from the ceiling of Nowhere, a place that exists only in Nightmare Silent Hill, being speared by two Pyramid Heads, and James explains that he understands why he's here, and what really happened. But he still pleads for Maria to be spared. His pleas are unanswered, and Maria is left where she's found as James does battle with the twin monsters.

In all but the 'Maria' ending, we meet Maria once more on the roof of the Lakeview Hotel. She is wearing Mary's clothes now, and James once more mistakes her for his dead wife. She snaps at him, telling him she's tired of him making that mistake, and doesn't he remember? Mary's dead. He killed her. James understands then. He tells Maria he doesn't need her any longer, that he knows what happened. Maria argues, telling him he does need her, and she needs him, and they can be together forever. She'll be everything he ever wanted - she was made to be everything he ever wanted. But James rejects her, and she morphs into a horrific demon that he must battle.

In the 'Maria' ending, James confronts Mary on the roof, and must fight her, and finds Maria alive and well where he left his car. The two leave Silent Hill together, though Maria shows signs of a developing illness.....

Appearance

Maria is a striking woman with short blond hair that's tipped with pink, blue eyes, and pale skin. Her face is heart-shaped and rounded, and she wears a good deal of makeup. She's rather Botticellian in figure - soft and rounded and full figured. Despite her occupation, Maria is not exactly a tiny, slim woman. She has a tattoo of a butterfly on her hip, and tends to dress in clothing that borders on provocative.

It should also be noted that she looks exactly like Mary Shepperd-Sunderland, Frank Sunderland's deceased daughter-in-law.

Talents, Powers, Etc.

Talents

Maria is an exceptional dancer, clever at solving puzzles, and has a good sense of direction. She's also skilled at seduction, but it isn't something she employs all that often.

Powers

The closest thing is Maria's apparent ability to communicate with spirits.

Skills

Dancing, shooting a gun.

Notable Items

Maria always wears a leopard print dog collar with a blank gold tag.

Relationships

At the moment, Maria's strongest relationship is with Dorian. She sees him as a close friend, and spends a great deal of time with him. She's made quite nervous by Frank Sunderland, knowing who he is and his connection to James, and not wanting him to find out the truth of what happened in Silent Hill. She likes Blythe and Eileen well enough, and gets on fairly well with her roommate, Zefris, though can't understand the idea of not ever having fun. She talks to Walter/Valtiel a great deal, due to the fact the demon can understand her and won't judge her by what she truly is.

Current Plots