Last Name: Marsak
Original art! MANY THANKS to the one who did it!
Appearance:
Race: Damaran Human (Mulmasterite)
Age: 32 (born 16 Hammer 1320: Born in the sign of Velessea)
Height: 6' 1”
Weight: Muscular average
Eyes: A dark brown
Hair: Black, usually tied back in a short pony tail
Facial Hair Style: Habitually clean shaven until recent years, when he began to let it grow only to periodically shave it off. Now, he goes clean shaven once more.
Personality Profile:
General Health: Good. His vices are limited, although when melancholy strikes he will drown his sorrows. Entering his thirties he has lost some of the absolute vitality of youth.
Deity: Hoar, formerly Tymora
Initial Alignment: TN, now LG
Profession: Darius Holding Company employee, Bladestone trainer, and Relentless Avenger
Base Class & Proposed Development: Fighter/Weapon Master/Paladin
Habits/Hobbies: Swordsmanship, and putting it into practice. The avenging of wrongs. Speaking more sharply than he should, and sometimes putting that right. Repaying kindnesses
Languages: Damaran, Chondathan
Weapon of Choice: Scimitar, particularly his wife's old blade
Description:
A man in his early thirties, a Damaran by the looks of him, with an accent laced heavily with the ice of the Moonsea. He has a lean face, often seeming pinched due to his frown; when he smiles or relaxes his face is much softer and gentler, perhaps a memory of the man he once was. Scars and pockmarks litter his left cheek as if he was burned, and above his right eye is the remnants of a nasty cut. He is well built and physically fit.
He carries himself with a gruff, matter of fact demeanour. When he loosens up, a sarcastic, acerbic wit is in evidence; offset by an evident bitterness that haunts the man. Those who have seen him in battle will note a fury coming over Talas, and an utter contempt for his foes. This does not seem to manifest in daily conversation. Usually.
Talas wears dark armour that has seen much use, but is maintained well to ensure survivability. It is of very high quality, likely mithral, given how the swordsman moves in it. He carries a sabre at his side, frequently fighting with either a shield or a tower shield. Rarely he will use a morningstar that is seemingly enchanted against undead, and even more rarely he will cast throwing axes. Out of armour Talas' wardrobe is limited, and similarly dark hued. The clothes are well cut, but old, survivals of his former life.
With a sabre in hand the man is death incarnate, moving through battle and cutting down his foes with speed and grace, despite the aggression accompanying it. At times a cold fury comes over him that seems to render his blade impossibly sharp, cutting through steel, bone, and the flesh of fiends. Despite his swordsmanship, the callouses on his hands do not suggest a lifetime with the blade.
Talas was born into a moderately successful merchant family from Mulmaster, the middle child of three. The Marsaks had long had a business relationship with the Zugowi family, with the families in partnership in an import/export company focused on the export of metalwork (weapons and jewellery) and the import of food from Sembia, the Dales and the Vast. As Talas grew into adulthood an intensity of demeanour began to surface, and the youth seemed unsatisfied with the life before him. His answer to this was to numb himself with high living, until his elder sister Alma married and set up her own business, leaving Talas as the putative Marsak heir. Called thus to responsibility, he threw himself into supporting his father Jevo, working closely as well with the Zugowi partner, Evan, a man a few years older and wiser than Talas, who kindly took him under his wing.
Talas took on the roll of acting as Jevo's agent in business transactions, and although not a sailor himself, he was a regular on the business' chartered trade ships, heading south to negotiate deals while Jevo and Evan handled the Mulmaster side of the business. When Jevo died of an illness when Talas was in his early twenties (1341), Talas formally took over the Marsak side of the business. Talas and Evan continued the same strategy that their respective fathers had, emphasising fair dealing and trustworthiness, something in short supply on the Moonsea.
A half decade of hard work led to wealth for the joint business, not least because of the near permanent chartering of the sea captain Yeranta Dosk – a formidable woman who was renowned for her fierce bladework against pirates and rumoured, it is said, to have been one herself once. Yerenta's daring saw the Marsak-Zugowi partnership add reliability to its repertoire, as any thieves and pirates that sought to try their luck against her soon learned to regret it.
During this time the happiness in business was mirrored in Talas' personal life. Although Yerenta was half a decade older and already a hardened veteran, the young merchant seems to have fallen for her very soon after meeting her. Regularly travelling on her ship on trade missions, Talas took the opportunity to pay court to her. Unsuccessfully, at first, although the chase seems to have amused the sea captain. Talas did not give up hope, however, and his younger sister Katernina chided him that his drive to see the business succeed was as much about impressing Yerenta as it was making money.
In the end Yerenta was indeed impressed, and the two were wed by a priestess of Tymora, a difficult step for her as settling down would mean in time giving up her love of the sea. Yet it was a loving marriage and a young son, Kosev, was born in 1346. By 1348 Talas was settled and ready to look to the city of which he was so proud, and both Evan and Talas lent their wealth amongst many others to support the new High Blade Selfaril; with the hopes, themselves, of one day being named Zors – the nobility of Mulmaster.
Little did Talas know, however, that Evan was playing a double game, selling information to the agents of Zhentil Keep and to pirates hired by that place to raid Mulmasterite shipping. When in 1349 he uncovered evidence of his business leaking such information, at first he refused to believe it, and then, finally realising that it was his friend and mentor who was responsible, approached him to confront him. Little did Talas know that Evan would, after the confrontation, use his own contacts and some forgery to make Talas look like the traitor, not Evan.
Thus, the High Blade's Cloaks came to arrest Talas, with Evan there to point the finger, just when Talas himself agonised about turning in his friend. Yerenta and the boy, Evan had stated, would be looked after, the only shred of friendship that remained, but Yerenta was not minded to see her husband carted off to execution. In the confusion, blades were drawn and spells flung, and Yeranta slain when she jumped before Talas to shield him from an acidic magical attack. Talas himself escaped through the shattered glass of a window, his last memory of his home filled with the sight of Yeranta's dead eyes. Yerenta's blade in his hand, he snatched what wealth he could from the business' main warehouse, and fled injured into the night.
The next few months were one of panicked flight and deep seated grief and rage. Talas had learned to fight during his voyages at Yerenta's side, indeed, displaying a talent for it that surprised them both. Just as well, as he had to draw blood to survive the bounty hunters, Mulmasterite agents and in one case bounty hunters from Zhentil Keep (who were ordered to silence someone who could out the real traitor within the city). Eventually a bitter swordfight in Calaunt saw the High Blade's agents declare Talas dead from a fall, despite no body being found, and when Talas finally crawled out of the sewer in which he had drowned an assailant, he was free of pursuit.
Aimless and without purpose for his burgeoning rage, during 1350 and 1351 Talas worked his way across Sembia as a mercenary, seeking out dangerous challenges and imagining in each kill the death of his betrayer, Evan, the one who brought about the death of his wife. Despite this hunger, mercenary life is like all soldiering, long periods of boredom interspersed with brief moments of violence and terror. He kept himself apart from his fellow mercenaries as much as he could, and his fury lent his swordsmanship a bitter edge. What free time he had was spent in training his skills, and despite his surly nature he was soon valued by comrades for the sheer prowess he began to display.
During this time the brooding swordsman attracted other attention. A travelling Priest of Hoar sensed Talas' bitterness when they both took employment to guard a caravan heading across the Stonelands and from there, to the Western Heartlands. It was a hard, long journey and there was much time for talk. The Hoarite spoke what Talas needed to hear, about purpose, about divine, poetic justice, about revenge – and what it is to be an avenger. He clearly intended to help Talas look beyond himself, but Talas only took what he wanted to hear, setting himself the task of vengeance against Evan Zugowi, for the first time believing it possible. Yet after they parted ways, with the Preacher heading to the far north, Talas began giving thought to his words in quiet moments, a niggling worry that his empty pursuit of revenge in place of all else was wrong.
When accompanying a caravan into the Western Heartlands, Talas heard of Baldur's Gate's troubles, in particular the recent war against undead and the weakness that resulted. Judging that there would be a call for fighting men there, and seeking dangerous foes to help sharpen his skills, he arrived in the city in mid 1352. Soon enough he began seeking coin and challenge in the wilds around Baldur's Gate, and taking up employment with the Darius Holding Company and competing in a tournament run by the Bladestone Foundation. By a twist of fate the warrior found himself travelling repeatedly with holy warriors, most notably the paladin of Sune Adelaide van der Saer. Whatever Talas heard or saw in their presence seems to have had an impact, as shortly after his arrival in Baldur's Gate Talas began experiencing a series of vivid dreams, which were accompanied by feelings of doubt about his path, and an uncertain thawing of his bitterness. Not that an outsider would notice, indeed the warrior seemed more surly than ever.
Luck or fate led Talas to cross paths with a wandering dreamer and dream reader named Sunniva. Growing increasingly uncertain, he took up her offer to help him interpret his dreams, and with her aid began to truly look at what they meant. Talas realised at last that the drive he had felt all his life was an echo of the paladin's call, and that his dreams were leading him to Hoar. Realising this, and accepting it after much introspection, the warrior set aside the dominance of his grief in his life and swore oaths to Hoar on the clifftop above Ulgoth's Beard, witnessed by Adelaide.
Hidden: show
Goals:
Amassing wealth to achieve any of the above. Partially abandoned. Wealth has no intrisic value to him now nor does he feel he needs it on his path, but he does not keep a vow of poverty.
Fulfil his oaths to Hoar Ongoing. The path he's chosen is going to remain difficult all his life
Honour the memory of his wife Ongoing, he has come to realise that the gift she gave him was life, so he should live it
Safeguard those close to him Ongoing. A desire to avoid losing those he cares about has already caused tension, and he has resolved not to be overprotective
Master his bitterness Ongoing. Talas seeks to moderate his surliness, as he must when it conflicts with his oaths. Certainly, however, he is a man with a sharp tongue, and little delay in using it.
Be a man his son can respect Ongoing. He seeks to do this by mixing kindness with his wrath, in accordance with his oaths.
Assist with the Bladestone Foundation Ongoing. Talas has continued to develop his swordsmanship and assist with training sessions when they occur. He is also committed to the further goals of the Foundation, even where they might have friction with his oaths.
Repay the Darius Brothers Ongoing. Talas has remained within the company despite his paladinhood. He will as long as he can, as their charity in giving him work is what gave him the first steps on his current path
Work with others to safeguard the coast Ongoing. He supports Ashan's efforts and seeks to make contacts himself. This grows easier as the old diplomatic merchant becomes less rusty from disuse.
Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts:
Hooks
- The High Blade's agents may catch up with Talas, seeking to bring him back to face the law in Mulmaster, or just kill him.
- Some dangerous deed from his mercenary times or his time sailing with Yerenta might catch up with him. An outlaw from Sembia or a pirate from the Vast might seek vengeance.
- A Hoarite mission! Hoar's justice differs from that of other faiths, and Talas' own oaths encapsulate the tension between law and “justice” for individuals. He approaches things more aggressively and directly than some paladins in some situations.
- He is available as an antagonist for evil PCs should he be required to assist in any player or DM plots. Just shoot me a PM!
Misc Facts
- Talas was actually quite a successful merchant, and maintains those skills and that outlook. It does impact how he approaches problems when he's not waving swords around.
- Although not a learned man, he sailed to most of the ports of the Vast and Sembia, and travelled across Sembia, so knows a little of those regions. He even picked up Chondathan to trade locally.
- Talas likes Zzar, the variety he has found for sale locally is in fact imported from the Moonsea, so he gets nostalgic when drinking it
- Talas has a silver coin shaped similar to Hoar's holy symbol, but with one side with smiling faces, and one side with frowns. This was given to him by the Doombringer he met in the Stonelands and has seemingly manifested a protective enchantment.
- Talas is emotionally driven and recently, has begun to control his rage and grief. It does slip out though. He is without a doubt tested by paladinhood as his patience is limited at times.
- Talas is reluctant to use the term “paladin”, and indeed did not disclose his nature for some time.
- Beneath the surly outer exterior, there is warmth in Talas that he keeps quite hidden. Having been encouraged to let down his walls recently he is trying to show this more. A tiny bit.
- Talas is quite reckless, despite his seeming reticence, and has a low wisdom stat. However, he has a shrewdness in terms of judging character (25 sense motive). In RP these tie together so that in the moment he is rash and comes to snap decisions, but later analysis can let him see sense and the truth of things.
- Talas isn't vain but he is self-concious about his scarring. He also avoids being scruffy out of armour. When in armour, the dark hue and battleworn nature of his gear is intentional, to appear intimidating.
- Justice is for all. Talas will avenge wrongs suffered even by those who might be less ethical themselves (unless those wrongs were themselves poetic justice).
- Talas focuses on individuals more than grand concepts. This makes him more likely to be able to work with groups that most paladins would shun, provided he is not doing evil in the process, of course. That said, when vengeance is to be delivered he is relentless.
