Markel Darkweaver
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| |
| Markel Darkweaver | |
| Player: @Sheyon | |
| Rank: | Commander |
|---|---|
| Origin: | Magic |
| Archetype: | Corruptor |
| Security Level: | 50 |
| Identifying Data | |
| Real Name: | Markel Smythe |
| Known Aliases: | Mark, Marky, Shadowed One, Darkweaver, Firestarter, Firebrand, Shadowmaul |
| Species: | Human |
| Age: | 40 |
| Height: | 5'6" |
| Weight: | 176lbs |
| Eye Color: | Blue (w/ green fire) |
| Hair Color: | Blond |
| Additional Data | |
| Place of Birth: | New York City |
| Citizenship: | American |
| Current Residence: | The Asgard |
| Occupation: | Scholar, Mystic, Healer |
| Marital Status: | Married (1st wife, deceased; current wife, Rosalyn Taylor-Smythe, aka Blood Red Rook) |
| Legal Status: | Wanted for treason |
| Known Relatives and/or Associates | |
| Daughter (about six-years-old; name and location unknown) | |
| Known Powers | |
| Dark magics, fire magics, healing magics, Mu magics | |
| Training / Abilities | |
| Extreme sensitivity to the arcane; rumored to be physically conditioning and learning hand-to-hand combat techniques | |
| Equipment | |
| Magestone, an ancient artifact which increases magical potential within the user; a summonable runed gauntlet, which increases magical power; other various summoned armors which can provide additional protection against physical attacks. | |
| Footnotes | |
| Former Legacy Chain mage and Destined One, now co-leads the renegade Arachnos organization, the Shadow Spiders, along with Operative Griffin and Dr. Von Havencrabs | |
| "Never forget the sacrifices we have made to get here." | |
A former Destined One, Markel has risen to co-lead the renegade Arachnos organization the Shadow Spiders. Faced with threats from all sides, Markel helps to steer and guide the future of that which he and his comrades had worked so hard to build. Just another day in the Shadow Spiders...
Contents |
[edit] Background
Markel Darkweaver was born Markel Smythe (pronounced "smith") in the Big Apple. His father was a mechanic. His mother was a nurse. They were decent, hard-working people who raised their son as any parent raising children in the 1970s might.
Markel was thirteen when he had a strange encounter that probably changed his life forever. He and his friends were passing by a tent that was known to house an old magician. They had only ever seen this magician in passing, and their nickname for him was "Old Spotty," for the age-spots that covered his face. One day, the children dared each other to enter the tent for a chat with Old Spotty, but no one had the courage to do so--until Markel, tired of their bickering, approached the tent and cautiously poked his head inside. As the rest of his body followed suit, his friends ducked behind a nearby fence.
To his surprise, the magician was not angry at this intrusion. In fact, he seemed to expect Markel. The two chatted for a bit (though nowadays Markel forgets about what exactly). When it came time for him to leave, however, the magician gave him a small gift: a yellow gemstone. It was about the size of a child's palm and seemed to glimmer and pulse unnaturally in the low light of the tent. Not totally understanding, Markel pocketed the stone and bade the magician farewell.
When his friends saw him reemerge, they all rushed him, eager to hear every detail. When Markel finished explaining what happened, they boldly poked their heads in the tent as well. But to their surprise, the tent was empty! They prodded Markel for a bit, thinking perhaps he was pulling their leg, but Markel just shrugged it off. Soon the pack of children were back to their usual thing.
Markel never told them about the gemstone, however. And they never did see the magician again from that day forward.
[edit] The Legacy Chain
It was during Markel's teenage years that he and his family relocated to Paragon City. Markel's magical talents also began to manifest during this time, but he always kept it a secret from everyone around him, including his family. Living in the "City of Heroes", however, he could not hide from the ever-watchful Legacy Chain. They approached him in secret, as they are wont to do, and offered to teach him how to effectively use his power. (Privately, they also wanted to keep an eye on the fledgling magician to make sure he only used his power for good.) And the young Markel eagerly accepted.
As an apprentice in the Legacy of Flame, he was schooled in fire magicks and he took the name "Firestarter" as his secret identity. When he wasn't studying math or sciences for high school, he was studying arcane history or reading up on ancient relics. His penchant for study made him an expert in magical lore in no time, though he was also a powerful hero by his own right. Before he finished college, he was already a Blaze of Flame.
As most people expected, he pursued an academic life. While he was a graduate student, he met and married Mariella Stone—a fellow member of the Legacy Chain, heroine, and scholar. The couple had no children, but they remained happily married until Mariella fell prey to a wasting disease seven years later. As medical and even magical cures proved to be ineffective, a distraught Markel secretly began prying into the dark magics of the Netherworld in search of a cure. He knew the Legacy Chain would never approve of his pacts with the darkness, so he sought to keep it under wraps as best he could.
Just as he felt he was on the verge of a breakthrough, he was found out and it took the full might of his cell group to hold him back. Markel watched his wife die alone. Devastated and enraged, he attacked, killing one of his fellow Legacy Chain. His superpowers and his crime exposed to the public, he didn't even try to defend himself when he was sentenced to Ziggursky Penitentiary.
[edit] The Zig
Markel quickly had to learn the finer points of life behind bars. Because of his age (Markel was 35 when he was arrested) and quiet nature, some of the other prisoners either tended to leave him alone or else paint a big fat target on him. The latter quickly became the former after an incident in which a fellow prisoner had to be relocated to a sanitarium after trying to claw his eyes out and endlessly screaming something about horrific demons melting out of the walls and trying to gnaw on his flesh. No one could prove that Markel ever did anything other than look at the guy, but everyone else got the message.
Markel languished in prison for four years until—as fate would have it—Arachnos launched the first phase of their Project DESTINY. As Arachnos fliers bombarded the Ziggursky Prison, the prison itself briefly lost power, allowing the inmates to leave their cells and wreak havoc on the inside. Not content to stick around, Markel slipped into the shadows and met up with one of the Arachnos operatives on the ground. To his surprise the operative was looking for him, among several other prisoners whose names were on a special list. Not questioning the operative, Markel boarded one of the first fliers out of the prison to a place called Mercy Island—in the Rogue Isles.
[edit] Project DESTINY
Arachnos may have plucked him from that stinking prison, but it seemed that their obligation to him was now over—even despite being on their special list of "Destined Ones." From here on out, he was on his own. He approached a fellow prisoner with whom he shared a mutual respect, an Outcast named Zackary Williams, who went by the name of Frostbolt and also held the power of ice.
Without a penny to their name and only their magics to rely on, the pair took what jobs they could in order to simply survive. They had a good thing going for a while. Even the Fortunata Kalinda began to take notice of these two "hopefuls," and she offered them an official Arachnos job: clear out a Snake pit.
It was easy enough for these two super-powered humans. But then the unexpected happened—betrayal. Frostbolt wasn't going to share Kalinda's blessing with Markel, and he aimed to make sure that the older man didn't walk out of that cave alive. The battle was furious, but in the end Markel crushed Frostbolt by draining the life from his body.
Whether Kalinda knew or foreknew of Frostbolt's betrayal she never revealed. But to Markel it was clear that he was being tested. And indeed, he learned a very hard lesson that day: the weak will perish and only the strong will survive in the Rogue Isles. (Not only that, Arachnos was watching him.)
When Kalinda formally asked Markel his name so that she could bestow her blessing, Markel knew that the Firestarter was forever dead in that cave. In fact, he probably died with his wife back in Paragon City. He was now and forever Darkweaver.
[edit] The Shadow Spiders
Sometime afterward, Markel was recruited into Arbiter Death's fledgling organization, the Shadow Spiders. Despite the fact that he wasn't a soldier and had no military training to speak of, he fared well. His tireless work and sacrifice was eventually rewarded and he became one of Death's Overseers.
However, it was precisely because of the fact that he was no soldier, that he was a Destined One—or worse, a "mere mystic"—that he passed over for command when Arbiter Starkweather announced his resignation. Markel took it as a slap in the face and actually had every intention of leaving. But after hearing an impassioned speech by Dr. Von Havencrabs that the home they had worked so hard to build was worth fighting for, he was convinced to stay.
A plan was developed to break away from Arachnos, and the Shadow Spiders assembled a team to announce their intentions to Lord Recluse himself. As expected, the Lord of Villainy moved to squash the renegades, but the Shadow Spiders prevailed. Among other things, Markel himself secured his freedom from Project DESTINY.
Meeting back at their base in Fort Hades, the Shadow Spiders then confronted Starkweather's chosen successor Specialist Otaris and offered him a choice: stay on and be part of the future of the new Shadow Spiders or leave peacefully. And in case he didn't... they rested their heels on the massive electromagnetic pulse bomb Dr. Von Havencrabs had built. Saddened and disappointed by the traitors, Otaris chose to leave, turning his command over to Markel Darkweaver and Operative Griffin.
Markel now co-leads the Shadow Spiders with Griffin and Havencrabs, and the three of them steer and guide the future of their new organization, combating threats from within and without.
[edit] The Ongoing Story
Related Articles: Old History
Recently, Markel was captured by an old nemesis of the Shadow Spiders, Zyren Treskal. Zyren cornered Markel in Port Oakes in an attempt to goad his lover—her rival, the Blood Red Rook—into attacking her. The ruse worked and the Shadow Spiders showed up in full force to rescue him. They arrived to find Zyren attempting to drown Markel in a watery cocoon, and Rook, desperate and enraged, gave up her relic in order to attack Zyren directly. Despite their best efforts, however, Zyren disappeared with an unconscious Markel in tow.
Returning to a secluded location, Zyren stated that her use for Markel had passed now that she could attack Rook directly herself. So she presented Markel to Lady Myth to do with as she pleased. Helpless and utterly horrified, Markel watched as Zyren left for a second round with the Shadow Spiders while Lady Myth moved to claim her prize.
Myth felt that it was not enough to simply kill him or afflict him with physical pain, so she was going to make him her slave for an eternity. Reaching into his mind, Myth overwhelmed him with powerful illusions, and Markel was forced to relive the death of his wife and his slaughter of the Legacy Chain mages, only this time it was infused with Lady Myth's own burning hatred for life, love, and anything to do with humanity. She commanded him to bring her the child who was destined to "free" her from her relic, and Markel saw himself practicing the darkest arts, commanding the foulest demons, mowing down anyone who dared to stand in his way in order to accomplish this.
As a final touch, Lady Myth then tore his soul into two pieces. One driven by the blackest hatred to do that which his lady desired, and the other, his true self, shoved into his subconscious to be painfully aware of the atrocities he would commit in her name. Two separate yet distinct personalities in one body, only able to confront himself in his dreams.
As this was happening, Lerezal and Omnitaria attempted to scry his location, but Markel wouldn't be found by them. He firmly pushed them out of his mind, flooding it behind them with shadows and hatred. Masking his presence, he then left the Rogue Isles to find this child and bring her back to Lady Myth.
Markel finished his search a few days later and returned to the Rogue Isles with the child in tow. Knowing that his former comrades would be able to track him more easily, Markel then used his security clearance to sneak aboard his own ship and booby trap many of the Asgard's vital systems, including teleportation and sensors. The Shadow Spiders never expected such a maneuver from him and they were left to clean up the mess while Markel returned to Lady Myth unopposed.
Using a magical spell to protect both himself and the child, Markel met with Myth in the hostile environs of the Outside. As Markel stood silently, Myth took on a softer tone and demeanor and convinced the child she could be a strong, powerful hero to help others as, according to Myth, she tried to help Markel's wife. As Myth took off her armor, the child began to try it on and she wished for the power of the relic. Almost immediately, Lady Myth reverted to her previous form as the vampire Ka'Amit Tehth'et Ahn, and the child huddled in the corner, screaming in stark terror as the horrors of the Relics overwhelmed her. Myth and Markel then coldly left the Outside and the child to her fate.
As they reemerged, the Shadow Spiders were on to them and they quickly mobilized to their location. Markel said not a word the entire time, ignoring the pleas of his comrades as they tried to bring him back into the fold. But with sheer numbers on their side, the Spiders simply overwhelmed him and Dr. Von Havencrabs then stabbed his friend in the neck with a soul trap.
Taking Markel back to the Asgard, their old ally Legionbreaker was tasked with finding a way to restore Markel to his normal self. The best they could hope for was switching the two personalities around so that the Markel they knew remained dominant while the darker half remained hidden and repressed in his subconscious. A ritual was performed and it was done. Markel awoke to find the Shadow Spiders gathered around him and he profusely thanked them for their love and daring. More importantly, he was reunited with Rook.
Lady Myth, however, is still out there somewhere, having fallen into the grip of insanity as she deals with the frailties of life without her relic...
[edit] Relics of Power
Related Articles: Relics of Power, Relics of Power/The Redeemed
Full Story: Darkness Falls
Markel was, for a brief time, a member of the ancient group of immortal corrupters known as the "Cursed Ones." Deceived into their ranks by Lady Myth, Markel took up his relic—fashioned in a similar likeness to his magestone—and he instantly knew the true nature of the Relics of Power. As all the knowledge and power of eternity threatened to overwhelmed him, his sense of the arcane increased a thousand fold and he became driven by an insatiable hunger to seek out more relics to corrupt others.
Having been previously warned of the danger of the "Cursed Ones," Markel railed against his relic, knowing what it would do to him if he ever chose to give into its power. Despite that, he could not bear to part with it. When his friends discovered the change that had taken hold of him, he fled rather than fight the ones he loved and cared about most; however, they refused to let him fall. The loyalty of his friends, his loyalty to them, and his feelings for a certain Moira Dirge were instrumental in bringing him back.
He destroyed his relic, but it did not come without a price. A foul taint forever darkens his soul. Most magic-users will pick up on this and anyone who has ever accepted a relic will immediately know his presence. (Conversely, he may also sense the presence of any nearby Cursed Ones and their "relics of power.") Dubbed the "Shadowed One" by his former peers, he also finds himself targeted, nearly having been trapped on Primeva by the combined efforts of no less than three Relics in retaliation for turning his back on them. He is also still very much aware of the knowledge he held as a Relic. The full weight of who the Relics are and what they are capable of is always at the forefront of his mind.
[edit] Personality
Even as a hero, Markel was always sarcastic. He has retained much of that sarcasm as a villain, though he has been somewhat jaded by life in general. He will not hesitate to point out the ridiculous in a given situation, and he takes great pleasure in doing so. Nevertheless, he can be quite cordial. He was taught to have a basic respect for people, so he gets along with most people he meets, reserving his sarcasm for those that truly deserve it.
At the same time, he can also be quite aloof. Many a time has someone walked in on him and Markel will barely acknowledge their presence. He is even more disinclined to explain what he is doing or what is going on. He dislikes people suddenly butting their noses into things and demanding explanations, and he will usually try to brush them off. But those who are patient he tends to rewards with patience.
And those who get past his gruff exterior will find that he is actually a very deeply caring individual. He is very close to his friends; and he has shown over and over that he would go to whatever length to assist them, even at great personal cost.
Markel's most pronounced characteristic is his compassion. It is both his strength and his weakness. (It was his compassion that caused him to take up a "relic of power.") He pours so much of himself into his relationships that he does not take betrayal well at all. And when other people tend to run afoul of life, it is he who tends to get hurt. It was this very reason that Markel once fully intended to leave the Shadow Spiders. It was never that he desired command—he is not that type of person—but the fact that his personal sacrifices were brushed aside rankled on him greatly.
And since stepping into command of the Shadow Spiders himself, his problems have only been magnified. Ever at the forefront of his mind are his responsibilities to his unit. Pressed on all sides by Arachnos, Relics, and other strange bedfellows, he realizes that he must make some hard decisions if they are to survive. He only hopes he can retain his own humanity in the process.
[edit] Equipment
A list of noteworthy items in Markel's possession.
[edit] The Magestone
The artifact that was given to Markel by the magician all those years ago was identified by the Legacy Chain as a magestone. Mystic lore reveals that there were probably several magestones and in different hues (Markel's stone is yellow). It is unknown what these colors mean, but all the stones are said to have the same basic function.
Magestones strengthen the magical potential of a user. The more the magic-user uses their power in conjunction with a magestone, the more powerful they themselves become—and this enhancement is permanent. In other words, if the user were to lose their magestone, their power would not return to their previous levels. (It is believed that this power is capped at some point, however.) But because of this, magestones are highly sought after by those who know about them.
Perhaps sensing the abuse that would follow, the creators of the magestones built in a safeguard: magestones can only be bestowed from one person to another. You can steal another person's magestone, but you cannot tap its power unless the owner willingly gives it to you. It is believed this can be circumvented, however, by killing the owner.
Markel's magestone grants him a few unique powers and characteristics. For one, his eyes glow a fiery green color. This grants him visual sensitivity to magic; he can do more than sense ley-lines and auras and the like—he can actually see them. Also, Markel's magestone seems to grant him a certain resilience to punishment. Many a time has Markel emerged from a battle that should have killed him and would have killed any other person. However, he has always managed to survive. He is as mortal as any other human; it will just take more to kill him.
[edit] The Helmet of Infernal
Markel acquired the helmet of Infernal when fellow Shadow Spider Executioner Garroh met the Vindicator in single combat. Before engaging the hero, Markel inquired over the comlink if Garroh might "save a piece for him" as he learned that Infernal's armor was imbued with demons and he wished to learn more about it. To his pleasant surprise, Garroh presented Markel the helmet one night in Pocket D.
Markel immediately set to work, and several days later he unveiled his accomplishments. Not only did he manage to unbind the demon from the helmet, he rebound it to his own incantations. It is not a willing servant and it is only through sheer power that can he control it. Nevertheless, it fights for him and him alone.
The helmet of Infernal is now just an inert piece of armor.
[edit] Avalonian Dagger
A gift from Mako Avalar and his sister Lerezal. This dagger is beautifully crafted and radiates Avalonian magic. Markel wears it on his belt.
[edit] Noi Bracelet
A gift from Shadow Spider Noi Kino. Markel's bracelet is one of four. The other bracelets were given to Dr. Von Havencrabs, Amun Aergad, and Arren Starkweather. (Though Noi has since constructed a fifth bracelet to give to the Blood Red Rook.) Noi's bracelet is said to be the "control" bracelet. These bracelets are all linked and allow a small array of abilities to be performed on one another. The bracelets allow the user to send and receive emotional and sensory data from the other users as well as knowing where they are at all times. These bracelets have also since been upgraded to include other features such as the ability to shunt life energy to another user to empower them (though the amount of energy given drastically outweighs the amount of energy received), the ability to read the surface thoughts of another user, and a knockout command to render another user unconscious for whatever reason.
[edit] Moira's Wristband
It was one day in February that Moira Dirge presented to Markel her wristband, explaining that within it contained all the knowledge of all the databanks from his time period all the way up to her own. Under Moira's instruction, Markel navigated the sea of menus to a particular video file recovered from the archives of the Legacy Chain. Playing the file, Markel was stunned to see his long-dead wife giving a lecture to a group of mages. After seeing her face and hearing her voice after so many years, Markel was further stunned when Moira said that the file and the wristband was his to keep.
The wristband has been permanently modified to work only with Markel's DNA. Controlled by his eye movements, all Markel has to do is blink to see schematics to technologies that hadn't been invented yet as well as cures to diseases that hadn't been discovered. Granted no one in this time period has the means to even reproduce these marvels, Markel safeguards the wristband for just such a time, searching for the technologies they can reproduce.
[edit] Gauntlets
A birthday present from Dr. Von Havencrabs, these heavy leather, impervium-reinforced gauntlets radiate magical energy. When worn they drastically increase the potency of his spells. A fireball casted normally would become a firebomb. A spell to drain someone's life force would likely kill them in a heartbeat. Likewise, a healing spell would instantly regenerate a fallen ally. The gauntlets are bound to him, so he can summon them to his person in the blink of an eye; however, because they are so potent, he would only summon one, using his free hand for normal casting.
[edit] Skills and Abilities
Markel is a gifted magic-user by his own right, and with his magestone, he is growing more powerful all the time.
[edit] Dark Magic
Driven to the darkness by his wife's sickness, Markel will occasionally permit his enemies a glimpse into that darkness, corrupting their sanity while he drains the life from their body.
- Dark Blast - The touch of the Netherworld is cold and dark. When unleashed upon a person, he or she feels as if their muscles were going numb. While not lethal up front, a constant barrage of dark energies will kill a person as easily as any weapon as cell tissues are painfully afflicted and then destroyed.
- Dark Aura - If ever he feels threatened, Markel will begin to radiate a dark aura. The aura is invisible at first, but as it increases in strength so does its visibility. Those in the vicinity of the aura will begin to feel a slight chill, the magically-inclined even more so. He has to work very hard to maintain the aura at its full strength and when he does he can do very little else, but it provides maximum protection against magics and the like. It is less effective, however, against psionics. It will stop casual scans and lower-mid level psychics, but a powerful psychic might be able to punch through it, albeit with some resistance.
- Fear - A powerful spell. Markel will attempt to warp his victim's reality so that they see all sorts of terrifying shadowy creatures reaching for them, clawing at them, gnawing at them. Those with a strong mind (ie. psionics) may resist this spell, but other beings may be reduced to a cowering, screaming mess.
- Hold - Markel can easily hold a target in place with the use of this simple spell. If he is quick-casting, he may immobilize a target for thirty seconds up to a full minute. However, if he is channeling, he may hold someone indefinitely as long as his concentration is not sapped. It is also not uncommon for him to join this spell with someone else's in order to hold even the most powerful opponents.
- Torrent - A personal favorite. Markel will launch a wave of dark energy at a target or targets in an attempt to knock them off their feet or else to slam them hard into a wall.
- Life Drain - A truly fearsome power. The victim will suffer their life force being drained from their body and channeled into the caster, healing him. The more life force that is drained, the more Markel himself is healed. This is only as potent as Markel chooses it to be, and it may be fatal. With great concentration, Markel can completely drain a person's life force, channel it through and out his body in a powerful burst of healing. Most soft tissues are easily healed; however, things like bone fractures are not easily knit unless they have already be set by a doctor.
- Summon Shadow Demon - Markel will, more often than not, call a shadow demon to his side to assist him in the field of battle. The shadow demon has all of Markel's dark abilities for double the damage and double the control. Because of its incorporeal nature, it is resilient to most physical attacks as well as to dark magics. On the same token, it cannot engage in melee combat. But because it is a demon, it may be afflicted by holy magicks and weaponry.
[edit] Fire Magic
It takes a steady mind to learn how to safely wield fire magics. An unstable person is just as likely to hurt himself as he would his enemies. Markel has been working with fire magics since his youth as a mage in the Legacy Chain. Because of the sheer number of years studying this school of magic, he actually has a more natural command of fire than he does of darkness.
- Fire Bolt - The first spell learned by fire mages. It is simple as it is effective. It is a fast spell, hard to dodge and can inflict painful burns.
- Fireball - A super-charged version of the basic Fire Bolt. This spell explodes on contact, severely burning the enemy as well as knocking them down. Others who are standing nearby might be caught in either the blast or the knockdown.
- Fire Sword - Excellent for close-quarters fighting. This flaming sword cauterizes wounds instantly and is more than capable of severing limb from body.
- Fire Lance - A devastating attack. Markel is able to superheat the air, pulling it into concentrated beam of pure plasma. It is able to pierce even the thickest of armors and punch a hole through an unarmored individual. However, it is a slow attack and easily interrupted (and to his detriment if it is), so he only performs it from a relatively secure position.
- Inferno - Markel will consume himself in flames and then launch it outward from his body in a massive fiery explosion. If his foes are not completely incinerated, they will be left covered in third degree burns. However, this is an attack of desperation as it will leave Markel completely drained and exhausted and barely able to continue fighting.
[edit] Mu Magic
Markel has since learned from the Codex of Bloodlines (currently in the hands of Mu'Drakhan) that he is a descendant of Mu on both sides of his family, perhaps explaining his talent in magic. Though he was barred from officially joining Arachnos as a soldier or mystic, his status as a Destined One gave him the right to choose Scirocco as his patron. Having broken away from Arachnos, however, and so soon after proving himself to his patron, Markel's training was cut short. He is merely a novice in this school of magic.
[edit] Healing Magic
Through sheer concentration, Markel is able to mend even the most broken of bodies, regrowing flesh, knitting bones, and repairing skin. He requires physical contact in order to initiate a heal, though he is also able to radiate a soothing aura to calm a patient and even stabilize them until either he or another person can fix them up. (When he does this, his eyes become a bloody red, though the green fire caused by his magestone masks this effect.) He cannot heal himself in this manner; and depending on the extant of the injuries, he may tire very quickly as he pours massive amounts of healing energy into their body. There is a limit to what he can do. For example, he cannot restore eyesight or raise someone who has been dead for more than a few minutes. Nevertheless, Markel is an exceptional healer.
[edit] Miscellaneous Powers
- Magic Sense - Being a trained magician, Markel is able to sense all sorts of magics. However, the violent breaking from his Relic of Power from his stint as a Cursed has left his finely-honed senses permanently fouled. As a consequence, Markel is now oversensitive to magic. Within one hundred feet Markel is able to sense all magic at all times and is hard-pressed to block it out. (He can still sense and track things beyond one hundred feet, though it becomes more nebulous.) He hides his affliction rather well, as he realizes that one of his greatest strengths has now also become one of his greatest weaknesses.
- Flight - Markel possesses the ability to fly by means of magic. Aside from getting to place from place, it makes him extremely maneuverable while in combat. He can fly out of reach from foes as well as easily juke out of the way of attacks.
- Teleportation - Markel is able to bind an object to himself to summon and dismiss as he pleases. The most common application he has for this ability is to summon and dismiss the various armors he has acquired since his arrival in the Rogue Isles. Markel is also able to concentrate on an ally and teleport them to his side, usually to help them escape a sticky situation or traverse difficult terrain. Strangely though, teleporting himself has proven to be an elusive skill for him to master.
[edit] Affiliations
A list of people and organizations with whom Markel has ties.
[edit] Friendly
People
- Dr. Von Havencrabs - Brothers by choice. Most see the Doctor as quite mad though Markel knows that under that facade of madness is a very deeply caring individual. Both having had their sacrifices spat upon by Arachnos, they engineered the splintering of the Shadow Spiders. Now they guide the future of what they had worked so hard to build.
- Amun Aergad - In addition to Havencrabs, brothers by choice. Having endured many trials together, the three of them are actually quite close. There is little that one won't do for the other.
- Blood Red Rook - Markel association's with Rook began after Arren's second capture by Black Tie when the two attempted a daring rescue from the Black Tie submarine base. Now Markel has offered to teach her how to use her newfound powers, obtained from Ghost Widow, as well as providing her insights into the Relics of Power. The two have since grown closer to one another and are actually confirmed to be lovers.
- Comrade Shark Ninja - The "son" of both Von Havencrabs and Von Smashenface, Dostoyevsky Jr. (or Dossy) was cloned from the original Dostoyevski after being graffiti'ed by Rastix. Dossy is a small child in an age-accelerated man-shark body and has adopted Markel as his uncle. Despite his murderous behavior (which probably comes with being a shark), Markel has actually grown quite fond of his "nephew."
- Demon Maker Valraa - Another magically-inclined being with whom Markel shares a camaraderie. Recently though, Lerezal's brother has come under the possession of the Demon Mother, Omnitaria.
- Amok Valraa - Lerezal's brother. When Mako freed himself from the influence of Amok and his servitude to Starkweather, Markel stood by his friend. In return, Mako has offered the services of his "Talons of Avalonus."
- Executioner Garroh - Garroh's death during the zombie invasion was a severe blow to everyone that knew him; however, some time later, Dr. Von Havencrabs resurrected the Bane Spider in a new robotic body. When the Shadow Spiders broke away from Arachnos, Garroh confronted Markel. While his loyalties keep him from following his friend, Garroh vowed to remember what they shared.
- Ilia Dulmaire - Pending!
- Lurid Dawn - Pending!
- Moira Dirge - A soldier from the future who warned the Shadow Spiders about the ancient beings known as Cursed Ones. The two dated for a while, however, it failed due to Markel's frustration and Moira's reluctance to express her feelings. By the time she did express her feelings, Markel had already fallen for another, much to his shame for not putting enough effort into the relationship. The two are still on friendly terms, however, and he cares for her as much as any he has called his family.
- Rook the Vaulted - Pending!
- Sarah Nightingale - Pending!
- Subject Eighteen - In the early days of the Shadow Spiders, hardly a day went by that Eighteen and Markel didn't trade verbal barbs at least once over the comlink. Eighteen eventually left because of "disagreements" with Starkweather. But now with Starkweather gone, Markel has extended an re-invitation. Expect a lot of mutual ribbing.
- Talisien - Despite the fact that Talisien was once marked for death by Arbiter Starkweather, Markel remained on good terms with the man, even bearing a great deal of respect for Talisien as a person. Rumor has it that after he was exiled, Talisien asked Markel to take over his personal project, Operation: Dreamcatcher.
- Yinjian - Pending!
Organizations
- Shadow Spiders - Markel's home and family in the Rogue Isles. He has recently risen to co-lead the ex-Arachnos organization. As they search for their new purpose, they must first survive the inevitable retaliation from Arachnos.
- The Talons of Avalonus - Mako Avalar's band of adventurers. Because Mako himself has no love lost with Arachnos, he has offered his hand in friendship toward the Shadow Spiders.
[edit] Neutral
People
- Arbiter Death - The one who recruited Markel into the Shadow Spiders. Markel treated him with the respect his position deserved, though he did not entirely trust the Arbiter. (Too many skeletons in the closet.) When Starkweather passed him over for command, Markel's disposition toward him soured—even more so in the light of his choices regarding the issue of Rose Taylor and the torture of Lord Anti. Hostilities have now ceased, and so he remains cordial only for the sake of Arren Starkweather.
- Fearsome Fool - This powerful, psychic jester has begun associating more closely with Markel, though his motivations are unclear (or just outright random).
- Kira - At the request of Dr. Von Havencrabs, Markel was asked to keep an eye on her, to make sure she was safe.
- Unchainer - Markel had a run-in with this mystical artifacts thief while on the trail of a Cursed relic. He chased her but was unable to stop her from taking up the relic for herself. Time passed, and Markel eventually lost track of her until a chance meeting one night in Pocket D. She was changed and noticeably without her relic. The two were quite candid. Even the ultimate power didn't seem to be enough for her. She found that desired not to destroy the world but to remake it. Markel can't help but regard her with a sort of morbid curiosity. Just what sort of world would the Unchainer bring about? Tune in next time...
Organizations
None... for now.
[edit] Hostile
- Bad Dream - Markel was initially told by Arbiter Pestilence that Bad Dream didn't exist. As if it were a bad joke, Markel then began receiving separate accounts as to the activities of Bad Dream and even saw the man in passing, though Markel had more pressing things to investigate. Bad Dream then left proof of his existence by savagely beating Markel into a coma.
- Empress Yinjian - The Praetorian version of the psychic mercenary, amnesiac, and prankster. This Yin is cold and power-hungry. Seeking the residue of broken relics to magically enhance her own vast psychic ability, her repeated rape and assaults upon his mind (and that of several other Spiders) has earned Markel's singular hatred. Though she was killed by the Spiders, she continues to taunt them as a metaphysical whisper.
- Lady Myth - Lady Myth was the one who deceived Markel into taking up his own relic, and his destruction of it has earned him her singular ire. Of all the Relics, Lady Myth is the least corrupted yet also the most cruel. It is she whom Markel hates and fears the most, even above the more powerful Relics such as Halius the Cursed or Shizuul.
- Zyren Treskal - Zyren has had a long and violent history with the Shadow Spiders. But it was around the winter of 2008 that she turned her attention to the Blood Red Rook. Since both of them eventually became Relics, there was no way they could directly harm one another, so Zyren targeted those whom Rook loved and cared about the most—including Markel. Following his abduction, Zyren lost her own relic, and the Shadow Spiders have vowed to finish her off.
Organizations
- Arachnos - Upon breaking away from Arachnos, Markel finds himself and his Shadow Spiders hunted for treason.
- The Legacy Chain - Markel spent much of his young adult life as a member of the Legacy Chain. Though he never had any contact with members outside his cell (most Legacy Chain members never do), he knows how cell groups tend to operate. Where he once had great respect for this organization, he now has immeasurable contempt. He blames them for the death of his wife and views the Legacy Chain as puritanical to a fault and stupidly close-minded.
- Relics of Power - Markel once vowed to take up arms against this ancient group of corrupters (also called Cursed Ones), but then the Darkweaver found himself Cursed—subverted into their ranks by the being known as Lady Myth. The magician has since broken free of the grip of his relic, but yet has not yet escaped their icy whispers.
- Black Tie - Black Tie had kidnapped, beaten, and tortured several members of the Shadow Spiders, including some of Markel's closest friends and even the dark mage himself. Black Tie once had a flimsy truce with the Spiders after their breakaway from Arachnos, but that has since been completely shattered following the incident with Sgt. Maris and Dr. Von Havencrabs.
[edit] Deceased
- Dr. Von Smashenface - Markel's relationship to Victor was like a pendulum. It was affable enough when Victor arrived to take care of his brother, Dr. Von Havencrabs, who had been cursed by the pit lord Baphomet. It swung to the other side when Victor turned his back on the Shadow Spiders for some grievance committed by Arbiter Starkweather and he soon afterward brutally beat Markel into a coma and tortured Arren Starkweather. Markel hated Victor for what he had done, but their relationship slowly mended when Crabs sent Victor in his stead to help Lerezal Avalar when she became possessed by Omnitaria. Markel then began looking after their "son"—his nephew—Dostoyevski Junior, and some time later, Victor himself saved Arren from an explosion perpetuated by a Doctor Spyclops. The Victor Markel knew died when Bad Dream brainwashed him in retaliation for the treachery of Sgt. Anna Maris. He finally died when Victor and Bad Dream had a confrontation regarding the actions of several Black Tie members in Pocket D. Victor was wired to a string of thermate grenades; and to prevent them from going off Bad Dream shot in him the head, completely vaporizing it. Dream then set off the grenades from a safe distance, utterly obliterating Victor's body—a message to anyone who would betray him.
- Specialist Otaris - The overthrow of Otaris was never about power or jealousy. Unfortunately, he saw it as personal. Exiled by Arachnos for his "failure," Otaris' brain deteriorated, plunging the cyborg into a state of madness. In his final days he sought to go out in a blaze of glory against Starkweather who abandoned him, the Spiders who ousted him, and Arachnos who betrayed him. Havencrabs and Markel took Otaris back in, both for their own reasons. Where the doctor would have tried to help his former friend, Markel was perfectly happy to give him the death he desired against the impending Arachnos onslaught. However, his condition was regressing faster than expected. Losing all sense of self-preservation, Otaris attacked the Spiders a dozen to one; he was no match for them. Mortally wounded, he fell to his knees urging them to finish it. Markel stood before his beaten opponent, a flaming sword in hand. He granted the warrior a swift death, beheading him with a single stroke.
- Operative Dot - A friend from the early days of the Shadow Spiders. When Talisien was expelled by John Starkweather, "Jippers" and Markel stayed close to him. Markel was attracted to Dot's loud and spontaneous personality and he cared for her as if she were a daughter. When Dot lost her Crab backpack, Markel led a search party and found her dazed on a tower on Sharkhead Isle, eventually helping to restore her to full health. During the Arachnos split, Markel lost contact with Dot until Talisien returned to the ranks of the Shadow Spiders to deliver the bad news that she had been killed in a power play committed by a fellow Bane Spider. Markel mourned her loss.
- Scarlet Psion - Markel's association with Melanie started shortly after the First Black Tie War, when it was discovered that she being afflicted by a psychic parasite named Kara Nouva. The Blood Red Rook, Lerezal Avalar, and Markel Darkweaver attempted to reign Kara in, but with mixed results. But it was from her that they gained insights into the bizarre mutant-centric religion called Evolution. Eventually, they discovered the reason behind Kara's attempts on Melanie's mind. Melanie's real name was Talia and she was the daughter of Evolution, the figurehead of the cult that bore her name; and Kara was actually a facet of Talia's personality meant to help her control her vast psychic powers. Kara rejoined with Talia, and together they aided the Shadow Spiders in the war against Evolution. A faction with the Cult of Evolution, led by Talia's own brother, vowed revenge and sent an assassin to deal with her. Markel arrived just in time to see Talia cut down and the assassin committing suicide before he himself could retaliate. Talia/Melanie passed into the next life, but she left behind Kara to help the Spiders in the upcoming war against her brother.
- Arren Starkweather - When Arren first arrived to the Shadow Spiders, Markel was sure that she was just a daddy's girl. But when Amun Aergad became afflicted with a debilitating curse, she took it upon herself to care for him, something for which Markel is both surprised and deeply touched by. The two became closer following Amun's disappearance and Markel, upon Dr. Von Havencrabs' recommendation, promoted her to Overseer to prove to Arbiter Starkweather that she could become better than her father. Arren's headstrong attitude and Markel and Crabs' sometimes heavy-handed punishments certainly caused the three more than their fair share of headaches, but no one could question their devotion to each other. Arren was suddenly taken away while on an operation to rescue Executioner Trent; she was impaled through the heart by a steel girder thrown by Lord Recluse. She died instantly.
[edit] Trivia
Little tidbits about Markel that don't go anywhere else.
[edit] IC
- Markel was named for his maternal grandfather, a German, who emigrated to the U.S. in the 1900s.
- Markel was born with a twin sister who died at birth. Her name was Emily.
- It was revealed to the Shadow Spiders (and to Markel himself) that he fathered a child out of wedlock. The mother was a fellow magister and also his partner during the Rikti War, but he lost contact with her while on a mission when a Rikti bomb detonated close by, separating them both.
[edit] OOC
- Markel originally had no personality, no concept other than a loose visual inspiration based off the character of Ammon Jerro from Neverwinter Nights 2. Much of who he is today grew out of in-game interactions.
- The jewel that has always been a part of Markel's costumes originally had no explanation. It just seemed like a cool way to link all my costumes together. The story of the Magestone, however, is my way of finally fleshing it out and maybe explaining why Markel "levels up."
- Despite the fact that many people incorporate the Zig/Destined One story arc somewhere into their villain's background, I wanted Markel to stand out in that it would be his primary identifying factor.
- There is an entry for an NPC named "Markel Smythe" on Wowhead! Too bad it predates the time I started playing CoH/CoV, then I could say that they copied me! But I assure you, it's a complete coincidence! XD
- I am always open for roleplay with this character. Don't be afraid to send a tell to @Sheyon!
[edit] Views and Opinions about Markel
Leave in-character comments here.
- "Ever since David died, I've felt that there was nothing left for me but my cause. In the service of my vision, I have had everything to die for, and would have done so without a thought. You, Markel Smythe, have given me something to live for."
- "He is one of my close friends now... I will follow wherever he leads and I trust him with my life as much as I would with Amun. I will help him in any way I can, and with anything he asks of me."
- "Markel is one of my closest friends, one of the few people I trust and willing to call brother. I'd kill anyone for him, and I'd do anything for him. He's been there for me, and vice versa. I just wish he was stronger in his confidence, he needs to be if people are to respect him. But I wish only the best for him. He also watches over Dossy. There isn't much more I'd say about him other than I'll always be there for you, no matter what our quarrels. He's also the only one that keeps me from literally killing Moira at times."
- "I trust him, and that's all you need to know. I don't need to gush all sortsa mushy bullshit to express how I feel about a trusted hombre. He'll fill out and find his way as a leader an' I'll be there to do what he asks of me, as I always have."
- "Markel is a fine leader for the Spiders. His magical experience has certainly been valuable in all of our recent happenings and likely will be for much longer. Not to mention the compassion for his comrades; he holds a deeper care than he will express and of course this is an amiable quality as any."
- "Markel is probably one of the most amusing people on these god-forsaken islands. The mage is semi-naive, but at the same time rather perceptive and wise. He's an interesting cookie, but what he lacks is attention to the details. Noticing the lose fibers on the shirt and pulling them to see what happens. Oh, and his insistence on the sole reliance on magick; stupid idea. Nonetheless, the producers aren't writing him out any time soon, nor will I let them."
- "I only joined the Shadow Spiders, but I've seen and watched Markel, hes a great leader, and from what I know, powerful at magic. He would be one I wouldn't want to cross, but he would be one I'd want to fight alongside with. If he keeps up his good leading, he'll make the Shadow Spiders a grand group to be allies with, and one to fear to cross. However, his relationship with Whoever that one girl is, could hinder that, if he becomes too blinded by love"
- "Ah, my dear Mr. Smythe. How he doesn't appreciate the benefits of being friends with me. Certainly, I have been tormenting him and his Spiders... but I wouldn't do that if I didn't care for them... well Actually I still would, but that's not the point! But Marky, Marky, Marky! Always with the hurtful words! I care for you and your little friends so greatly! Hehehehehe. Yes, yes I do."
- "The mans got balls! Hah!"
- "You are an excellent leader, Master Markel. Together, with your might, the might of our allies and what little I can offer, we may still be in this."
Categories: Character | Villain | Human | Male | Magic | Corruptor | Magician | The Legacy Chain | Fallen Hero | Destined Ones | Ex-Arachnos | Shadow Spiders | Relics of Power/The Redeemed
