Difference between revisions of "Marin Taldett"

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==== The Soldier ====
 
==== The Soldier ====
  
Marin excelled as a soldier. He was brash, but intelligent, fleet of foot and good with a sword. In hand to hand combat, the boy was near inimitable, but it was his skill in archery that awed his confederates.
+
Marin excelled as a soldier, but his brash attitude and propensity for physical altercations landed him in disciplinary actions and alienated him from all but one of his confederates.
  
The years passed and Marin became more and more well-known within his regiment. Not only was he a skilled fighter, but he had a tendency to let his mouth run and a fondness for the bottle. More often than not, it was the pairing of these latter aspects of his personality that put him at odds with his superiors, or simply landed him in the stockade.
+
During his first year in service, Marin encountered a man by the name of Sirius. Sirius maintained a tempered patience with Marin and the two became fast friends. They were rarely ever apart and, often times, Sirius placed himself between his friend and the trouble that seemed to follow him so closely.
  
As quick as he was to pop off at the mouth, Marin was also quick-tempered. If confronted, he rarely backed down from a fight and it was rarer still that he would lose one. He gained a reputation as a "dirty" fighter, due to the fact that he would exploit any weakness he could find in his opponent, whether that meant kicking them in the groin, gouging their eyes or biting off one of theirs fingers (each of these methods had been employed on more than a single occasion).
+
On the battlefield, the pair were just as compatible. They seemed to know what the other was about to do, before it was done and this proved to be a great advantage for their entire regiment. Sirius was a master with a sword, a logical tactician and never let anger cloud his judgement. Marin was brave, strong and fast, but could prove reckless at times. With a small army behind them, no odds seemed insurmountable.
  
Regardless of these less desirable proclivities, Marin was fiercely loyal to the men he fought alongside. Often were they presented with seemingly insurmountable odds, only to emerge victorious. Unfortunately, even the best of luck tends to run out and, when it does, the outcome is catastrophic.
+
It was not until their company was tasked with tracking a band of marauding orcs that the men saw defeat and, unfortunately, the realization would prove devastating. In a crop of dense forest, their platoon was divided and ambushed. The men stood their ground and fought, but were overcome. During the bloodshed, when Sirius saw that there was no hope for success, he found his friend and the two escaped the onslaught.
  
Such was the case when Marin's unit took up the trail of an orcish raiding party that had been sacking small towns in [[Xanth Grange]]. They followed what they had thought was a small group into a densely forested region and came under an ambush. The fight was fast and bloody, with both sides sparing no measure of brutality but, in the end, the orcs proved too powerful and the men were overcome.
+
==== The Sellsword ====
  
Marin was run through with a spear and thought dead, his body left with those of his companions to molder in the woods. When he came to and realized what had transpired, he managed to get to his feet and wander far enough, before he collapsed again, that he was happened upon by a passing caravan.
+
In the wake of the slaughter of their companions, Marin was overcome by guilt and embarrassment. Despite Sirius' efforts to console his friend, Marin began to drown his emotions with alcohol and succumbed to many other vices.
  
His recovery was slow and frustrating. Despite his best efforts, it took months for his strength to return. In that time, he lost all hope of finding revenge and, instead, kept the details of that day a torturous secret.
+
The pair traveled together, offering their services as mercenaries and bounty hunters. The latter of these two careers proved far more palatable and the need for such efforts had become more prolific, which meant profit for those capable of performing the task. Over time, the two made a name for themselves and, when not wandering from town to town, constabularies would send requests for their assistance.
  
==== The Sellsword ====
+
A number of years passed and the success of the pair of bounty hunters became more widely known and with that reputation came the disdain of their competitors, as well as their quarry. Many attempts were made on their lives. All but one of these attempts were thwarted.
  
In the wake of the slaughter of his companions, Marin felt guilt and embarrassment for his survival. Emotional torment left him bereft of regard for others and he found solace in alcohol and other habits of ill repute. The expense of these vices quickly added up and Marin found himself in need of an income.
+
After a night of heavy celebration, following the completion of a particularly profitable contract, Marin retired to his room and Sirius to his. In the night, unknown assailants made their way into Sirius' chambers and assassinated him while he slept. It was not until the following morning that Marin became aware of what fate had befallen his only friend.
  
He'd taken to the life of a wanderer, never staying in a place for the time it took to make himself well known. This lifestyle was not conducive to a trade and his skills as a bowsmith generated little money, but he had noticed a trend in the towns he visited. No matter the place, there were always criminals, many of which had no trouble in evading what was usually and understaffed or simply non-existent constabulary.
+
Again, Marin was thrown into a wallow of guilt and shame. He blamed himself for Sirius' death and thought himself incapable of finding those responsible, without his partner at his side. Instead, he saw his friend laid to rest and began to wander again, alone.
  
Marin continued to drift about, picking up contracts that usually only afforded him a nights rest and a bottle of whiskey. Though, from time to time, he would come upon an especially profitable opportunity and, for a day or two, he could let his lecherous appetites indulge.
+
He took the odd job, from time to time. A meager amount of coin to track down a petty thief, or some drunkard with an overdue tab at a local tavern.  
  
 
== Myrken Wood ==
 
== Myrken Wood ==
Line 79: Line 79:
 
=== The Broken Dagger ===
 
=== The Broken Dagger ===
  
Marin's new career kept him moving, either searching for his mark or on the lookout for the next lucrative contract. It was the latter that brought to his attention the town of [[Myrken Wood]], a place that had built a reputation for the events that transpired therein and, in turn, the young bounty hunter came upon the [[Broken Dagger]].
+
Marin kept moving, either searching for his mark or on the lookout for the next contract that might afford him a night's rest in a bed, or a bottle or two of whiskey. Soon, he happened upon the town of [[Myrken Wood]], a place that had built a reputation for the events that transpired therein and, in turn, the young bounty hunter came upon the [[Broken Dagger]].
  
 
Though his knowledge of the establishment was limited, what he did know was that it sounded like a place he could get used to.
 
Though his knowledge of the establishment was limited, what he did know was that it sounded like a place he could get used to.

Revision as of 10:35, 16 December 2014

Marin Raylan Taldett
Taldett.jpg

Marin Taldett
Information
Archetype Fighter, Vagabond
Hair Colour Auburn
Eye Colour Blue (left) / Brown (right)
Height 5'9"
Build Athletic
Notable Features Left iris is discolored.
Born Date: 180 A.R.
Location: Unknown
Profession Bounty Hunter, Mercenary

Description

Marin has a thin, but well-defined figure. At 5'9", he is not exceptionally tall, but what he lacks in height he more than makes up for in bravado. He has a youthful face that is, more often than not, kept clean and shaven. His hair in an unruly mop of auburn, which has earned him the nickname "copperhead."

His wardrobe is far from extensive and seems to consist mostly of aging, military uniform components. It is not unlike the young bounty hunter to don items that appear far beyond their intended lifespan (such as threadbare shirts, boots with broken or missing laces, etc.). Despite the ramshackle state of most of his garments, the sword at his side and the crossbow that is rarely beyond arm's reach are maintained impeccably.

Marin's most noticeable feature, beyond the astounding inability to keep his mouth shut, are his eyes. While the iris of his right eye is a deep brown in color, the left is a startlingly pale blue.

Background

Origins

Childhood

Marin was born to a prostitute, somewhere in Regal Trae Kelsa. The youngest of five children, at least three of which died during or shortly after birth. His childhood was one accustomed to poverty and abuse at the hands of both his mother and many of her drunken patrons.

At the age of nine, Marin saw his mother raped and beaten by one of her customers. In a fit of rage, the young boy bludgeoned his mother's attacker to death with a masonry brick. Shortly after this incident, Marin turned his mother's name into the authorities and ran away from home, never to see his family again.

Adolescence

For a handful of years, Marin bounced around between orphanages and other caretakers, some of which would show sincere concern for his well-being. Whether they were reputable or otherwise, the boy never remained in one place for very long.

It was in Darras, at age fifteen, where Marin chose to settle. Under the tutelage of an aging weaponsmith, he took up an informal apprenticeship. The old man related his knowledge of the craft. More specifically, he focused Marin's education on arbalism, bowyering and fletching. It didn't take long for the handy, young man to pick up even the most intricate details of the practice.

When Marin wasn't working in the shop, he was teaching himself how to use the weapons he and his mentor created. His skills with a crossbow excelled and with it, his understanding of the weapon showed him where it could be improved. He was soon crafting his own versions, each with modifications of varying success and failure.

At eightteen, Marin's mentor succumbed to age. Though he thought to maintain the shop, the work proved overwhelming and he was forced to close its doors. He packed up what he couldn't sell and left the town. It was not long after this that he came upon the camp of a small, military unit and was conscripted to aid in their cause.

Adulthood

The Soldier

Marin excelled as a soldier, but his brash attitude and propensity for physical altercations landed him in disciplinary actions and alienated him from all but one of his confederates.

During his first year in service, Marin encountered a man by the name of Sirius. Sirius maintained a tempered patience with Marin and the two became fast friends. They were rarely ever apart and, often times, Sirius placed himself between his friend and the trouble that seemed to follow him so closely.

On the battlefield, the pair were just as compatible. They seemed to know what the other was about to do, before it was done and this proved to be a great advantage for their entire regiment. Sirius was a master with a sword, a logical tactician and never let anger cloud his judgement. Marin was brave, strong and fast, but could prove reckless at times. With a small army behind them, no odds seemed insurmountable.

It was not until their company was tasked with tracking a band of marauding orcs that the men saw defeat and, unfortunately, the realization would prove devastating. In a crop of dense forest, their platoon was divided and ambushed. The men stood their ground and fought, but were overcome. During the bloodshed, when Sirius saw that there was no hope for success, he found his friend and the two escaped the onslaught.

The Sellsword

In the wake of the slaughter of their companions, Marin was overcome by guilt and embarrassment. Despite Sirius' efforts to console his friend, Marin began to drown his emotions with alcohol and succumbed to many other vices.

The pair traveled together, offering their services as mercenaries and bounty hunters. The latter of these two careers proved far more palatable and the need for such efforts had become more prolific, which meant profit for those capable of performing the task. Over time, the two made a name for themselves and, when not wandering from town to town, constabularies would send requests for their assistance.

A number of years passed and the success of the pair of bounty hunters became more widely known and with that reputation came the disdain of their competitors, as well as their quarry. Many attempts were made on their lives. All but one of these attempts were thwarted.

After a night of heavy celebration, following the completion of a particularly profitable contract, Marin retired to his room and Sirius to his. In the night, unknown assailants made their way into Sirius' chambers and assassinated him while he slept. It was not until the following morning that Marin became aware of what fate had befallen his only friend.

Again, Marin was thrown into a wallow of guilt and shame. He blamed himself for Sirius' death and thought himself incapable of finding those responsible, without his partner at his side. Instead, he saw his friend laid to rest and began to wander again, alone.

He took the odd job, from time to time. A meager amount of coin to track down a petty thief, or some drunkard with an overdue tab at a local tavern.

Myrken Wood

The Broken Dagger

Marin kept moving, either searching for his mark or on the lookout for the next contract that might afford him a night's rest in a bed, or a bottle or two of whiskey. Soon, he happened upon the town of Myrken Wood, a place that had built a reputation for the events that transpired therein and, in turn, the young bounty hunter came upon the Broken Dagger.

Though his knowledge of the establishment was limited, what he did know was that it sounded like a place he could get used to.



The images above; "Camus" is wholly owned and copyrighted by Jo Chen.