- - -
- - -* You sit around the camfire one evening after a long walk within the glades, as the dim light dances and sparks slowly lift to the heavens a conversation is ignited *
If asked. . !
"Have you any parents? "
Marik would answer. . !
" The only thing I can remember is the Church. Sometimes I can see shadowy figures standing over me as I sleep. Yet everytime I open my eyes to get a good look at them; they are gone. I have tried many times to looking through my half-lit world of dreams hoping to catch a better glimpse of what or who they are. But still there is nothing more then shades. "
If asked. . !
"So no other family you know of? "
Marik would answer. . !
* Marik's jaw slightly tightens * "No!"
If asked. . !
" What of your Childhood? "
Marik would answer. . !
" I spent most of my younger years within the cold marble walls of Torm's halo'ed temple. Eventually I was trained in both sword and will, yet not foolish enough to pass up "his" devotions, or the histories of our "Loyal Fury". And as the years passed some of my 'older brother's realized my fighting prowess, said I would better serve Torm with sword in hand. Soon afterwards I was doned the honor of Paladin for the church, and to uphold the duty of Torm. When word reached the high priests ears that Vesper's Landing ( A semi-frontier river port ) held a Temple devoted to the "The True". I was chartered a ship and headed for the river port. I guess they figured my sword would better serve Torm's will here within these lands, then kept quite in the stuffy walls of a monistary. "
If asked. . !
" So why would they train you so hard as a warrior instead of focus on you as a priest?"
Marik would answer. . !
* His face twists into a short smile * "They use to call me Marik "black" once upon a time.
* Shakes his head as he speaks the memories bringing back so much * I use to be an unruly child you could say. I guess to many frogs in the High Priests robes.
* He has abit of an inside chuckle * I'll tell you a good one."
" When I was no older then nine years (Dale-Reckoning) I can remember asking a small elfin child from the village Yerandrilil (or somthing I think was his name) to bring me in a candle from a local jesture supply store. The thing was tall and white like all the other candles, yet this one had a small enchantment something called "Tasha's Hidious Laughter"."
* He busts into a laugh * "I can still see the chuch now, I put that candle on one of the alter's morning prayer candlabras. Ooooh boy once it was lit the whole chapel erupted into a fit of uncontrolable laughter, the priests were splitting their sides howling in their pews, alter boy's rolling on the floor, and the Head Master's eyes teared up with laughter like I have never seen (in fact that is the first time I think he ever laughted in his life). I was as well, half because of the scent of that candle the other was true laughter from my heart. It was the funnest thing I have seen yet. But once the spell wore off * His face slowly turns more serious * all fingers of course pointed right on me. My punishment was severe, and soon after I was sent to train under a man named Sergeant Randol Grissem. Or as we kid's called him Sergeant Ogre or just Sarge' he was a warrior in the towns milita and a upstanding memeber of our church."
If asked. . !
"What was the training like?"
Marik would answer. . !
" Good actually, it was tough and the man worked you like a Calaunt slaver. He was as rough as a bugbear and as nasty as a harpy. But he was honorable, strict to duty, and true to valor. I learned alot from him and when I returned to the church my childhood was nearly over. I was a refined and honorable young man; the priests where wise to send me with him, also they where pleased enough with my actions now to continue my devotions to Torm. From that point on I have been walking the path of a Paladine "True" I honor my code's and vow to uphold justice and the church's will at all times."
* The Paladin pokes the embers of our campfire with a small twig. Little sparks dancing to the stars as an amber glow shimmers off his scalemail. Their is a warm smile on his face, but for now his voice goes silent. *
(( OOC: if there is anything else a person wants to know about this PC? You are more then welcome to ask in-character, or if you want to add something about my Role-play and this history then by all means speak up. I put a Post in the Roleplayers corner: A look into Marik's eyes.
To the DM's if there is more you would like to know about Marik just ask. I can PM some name's (of my childhood NPC's) and give you some more out-of-character info. But since Marik doesn't know much of his TRUE family, I will not make anything up about it.
He could be noble born with a high blood line connected in some fude with another noble family as it via's for power, the child was hidden in the church to protect it from any harm or just the son of some bar whore who didn't want the responsibilty of watching after a kid. So she dumped him in the church. OR anything in between!
I will leave that up to a DM and see what happens. ))