Marik Gemseeker (NPC)

[Daos]

PLAYER: NPC
NAME: Marik Gemseeker
AGE: 19
RACE: Human (Civilized)
CLASS: Thief
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Good
HT/WT: 5'10"/165 lbs
HAIR/EYES: Black/Hazel
RELIGION: None
BIRTHDATE: Darkember 20, 331

LEVEL: 4
STR: 12
DEX: 16
CON: 5
INT: 8
WIS: 12
CHA: 13
HP: 17
XP: 5,000
THAC0: 19
AC: 8
WP: (3) Short Sword, Short Bow, Dagger
NWP: (5) Gem-Cutting (2), Tumbling (1), Appraisal (1), Gaming (1)
LANGS: (1) Common

PPDM: 13
RSW: 14
PP: 12
BW: 16
S: 15

ABILITIES:
Quick Reflexes - Marik gains a +1 against surprise, +1 to hit with projectile weapons, and a -2 AC bonus.
Weak Health - Marik suffers -1 HP each level.
Charming Demeanor - Marik is charming and roguish. He gains a +1 bonus to reaction to other NPCs. He can have up to five henchmen.
Raw Talent - Marik earns an extra 10% XP due to high dexterity.
Pick Pockets - 20%
Open Locks - 60%
Find/Remove Traps - 65%
Move Silently - 40%
Hide in Shadows - 35%
Detect Noise - 20%
Climb Walls - 75%
Read Languages - 5%
Backstab - Marik can get +4 to hit, x2 damage when he strikes an unaware opponent from behind.
Thieves' Cant - Marik can speak and understand thieves' cant.

INVENTORY:
Dark Clothes - Marik prefers dark clothes of navy blue and black. He also wears a bandanna. (AC 10)
Short Sword - This ordinary steel blade does 1d6/1d8 damage.
Short Sword +2 - This enchanted blade does 1d6+2/1d8+2 damage. He claims he stole it from a Seeker in Haven.
Short Bow - A wooden bow.
Sheaf Arrows (x30) - Sharp arrows that deal 1d8/1d8 damage.
Backpack
Bedroll
Small Belt Pouch
Dry Rations (1 week)
Waterskin
Quiver
Thieves' Picks

SPELLS:
None

[Daos]

Appearance: Marik is a roguish young man with black hair and hazel eyes. He tends to keep his hair out of his face with a dark blue bandanna. He is pale and looks fairly frail, but has a nimbleness to him. His fingers are very delicate.

Marik often wears dark colors, like black, navy blue, or dark grey. He does not wear armor, finding it too chafing. He wears soft leather boots that do not seem to creak when he walks.

He keeps a bow and arrows on his back in a quiver, but also has a pair of short swords buckled to his hips. One of them has elven runes carved onto the blade and seems to be enchanted. Marik often brags he stole this blade from an important Seeker.

Personality: Marik is a smooth-talker. He always knows exactly what to say to a person to get them to cooperate. He's quite adept at spinning lies, flattery, and telling people exactly what they wish to hear.

He has a very frail constitution and consequently, is terrified of disease, filth, and corpses. Whether it is connected or not, he is also easily frightened by the undead.

Marik is something of a cynic. He is to accustomed to playing people and pretending to be what they want him to be, he sometimes forgets to be himself. He finds it difficult to make real attachments with people as a result. He's always playing a role, it seems.

Combat: Marik prefers to avoid combat when possible. He likes to sneak or talk his way out of any problems. When it's inevitable, though, he relies heavily on his companions. He will back them up with his bow at a safe distance.

If forced into melee, however, he does not hold back. He uses two blades at once to keep enemies at bay. He will use any trick or bluff he can at his disposal to escape or get the upper-hand. This includes, among other things, pretending to ally with the enemy, throwing dirt in their eyes, kicking them in the groin, etc.

History: Marik was born in 331 AC in Solace. His mother, who was never a very healthy woman, just barely survived the pregnancy. However, five years later, she passed on from a simple fever. Even the most skilled herbalists couldn't save her.

Marik's father became obsessed with finding a way to save future lives from disease. He heard of a mystical object called the Amethyst Egg that was said to have been forged in the Age of Dreams. Supposedly, this relic could heal any wound, cure any disease and even bring back the dead. Marik's father went out searching for it, but never returned. His fate is still unknown.

Only six years old, Gimak adopted the sickly boy. Unlike Amala, Marik was a bit more troublesome. He often rebelled and ran away, but would always return when he got too hungry or afraid. He spent a lot of time playing out on the streets, hanging with a fairly shady crowd.

Eventually, Marik took up his father's business of gem-cutting, but he also spent a great deal of time going on small adventures with his friends and adopted family. He often would help them negotiate with enemies or scout out unknown areas.

Marik was interested in Gimak's stories of the old gods, particularly about magical healing.

In 346 AC, Gimak asked the Companions to split up and search for clues that the old gods may return. Marik headed far west to Ergoth, hoping to find evidence of real magical healing or at least hints at what may have happened to his father.