Merrick Lockwood
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Merrick Lockwood A sellsword notorious for two things: weaving magic into his swordplay, and that every deed as a price. He does almost nothing for free, but will do anything for money.
Despite his rough lifestyle Merrick takes good care of himself, and it shows. He looks less worn and weathered than other adventurers his age might, and it leaves his age somewhat indeterminate from appearnce. He’s broad shouldered, strongly built, but barely scarred from his work. On the rare occasion someone gets close enough to touch him and is permitted, the might note that though his grip is firm his hands seem finely boned—hands that’d be better suited to scholarly pursuits than swordplay.
In his leisure time Merrick tends to quiet solitude, though he’s personable and outgoing enough. He’s friendly, though still somewhat mercenary—he rarely helps someone unless there’s something in it for him. While he’s working, Merrick is all business—though he’s been known to crack a joke when he’s at his most brutal. |
STRENGTH. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Swordplay. Merrick is skilled with blades, and with direct combat. Thaumaturgy While he’s no master, Merrick has a formidable enough command of thaumaturgy to work it into his combat. Tactics Merrick has an analytical mind, and while the urge to fight sings in his blood he’s as likely to think his way around problems as stab them. |
Greed His motives may have once been noble, but Merrick will do anything for money. It wins him few allies in the long term. Wilderness skills He can survive, but certainly not thrive, and is a poor hand at tracking. WEAKNESS. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. WEAKNESS. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. |
CURRENT INVENTORY
This is a list of the items that Merrick currently is keeping on his person. Feel free to use this information if it comes up logically in the course of RP, such as pickpocketing, a search, etc.
Last Updated: DATE.
Keys: x2
Gil purse: It doesn’t seem to have quite as much as you’d expect....
Dagger: Hidden This item requires a search to locate. A small dagger, easily concealed, wickedly sharp.
Driftwood branch Hidden This item requires a search to locate. It almost looks like a conjurer’s tool...
COMBAT & WEAPONRY
Merrick primarily fights with a longsword, though he’s been known to use a greatsword, or to simply throw thaumaturgy. While his command of magic is by no means weak, it is secondary to his skill with a sword. He fights smart unless he is at the very end of his rope, and the greater the challenge the more brutal he becomes, the more magic he marries to his sword work.
BACKSTORY
Most of this information is not publicly available. Consult the player before referencing.
Merrick was born the second child, behind a sister, to a pair of Quivermen who met in service. His parents were happy, dedicated, and spent every moment of the day together—made possible in large part by their shared profession. They had two more children after him, both girls. Their lives were as idyllic as the lives of professional warriors might be, with their eldest set to follow them into the Quiver, and Merrick sent off to learn conjury at an early age—he showed an affinity, and there was some hope he might become a hearer.
But they were righteous people, and injustice could not stand. When their fellows concocted a plan to help Ala Mhigo in guise of wildlings, they went—and their reward on return, the greenwrath. Merrick remained in Gridania studying conjury, and his sister became the full time caretaker of their youngest siblings.
She struggled, still young herself and with a family grieving. No relatives would help after their parents had invoked the greenwrath, too fearful of that same reprisal. And so she turned to hunting to feed her siblings—then poaching to keep them housed and clothed and in tutors.
When he received the news that his sister had been taken, with it came the suggestion that Merrick too might carry this proclivity, this lack of judgement or this sharp edge on the soul that had led half his family to test the wood’s patience. He was asked to leave, and he did, knowing he must take his sister’s place, though he was yet young himself. The first thing he did was move the family—to Ul’dah, just in case.
The city was not kind to three orphans, countryfolk, poor and naive. Merrick took any work he could, eventually plying what little healing he knew for the gladiatorial bouts. He did all manner of things for money in his desperation, but the day he picked up a sword it seemed his destiny was set. Everything he earned went to his sisters—save a few scant coins he kept for books and to beg lessons out of the Thaumaturges’ Guild with. If he could not live in the wood and learn the gentle magic of stone and wind, he would have flames in his heart to replace it.
After his sisters discovered he’d killed a man for gil, the eldest prostituted herself—as a challenge to him, that if he could sell his soul she could sell her flesh. He moved the family to Limsa Lominsa, and their relationship grew strained. He’s made sure never to let the particulars of a job slip since.
RECENT HISTORY
His sisters are grown, and they barely speak now, disapproving of how far their brother went to keep them afloat. Merrick’s lifestyle has become habit—he barely spends the coin he earns, though he still works just as tirelessly and devoid of morality as ever. It’s all he has.
RUMORS
- "If that fellow’s got a moral compass, it’s face-down on the table." -- former employer
- "Merrick? Aye, quiet bloke—get him talking and he’s sweet enough. Real drinker when something’s got him torn up, but I only see it mayhaps twice a year." -- barmaid
- "Lockwood—common enough name, ain’t it? Was a family lived out in the Shroud some years ago…."
- "Heard he turned down a job in the Twelveswood—said the money wasn’t good enough."
- "Wasn’t there a boy by that name studying to be a conjurer some years ago?"
- "Swear to you I seen him get cut to bloody ribbons and heal himself right up—only when he thought no one was looking."
- (Insert rumor here.) -- Rumor Author / Location
- (If you add a player rumor, please first copy and paste the above line of code to leave behind for the next person! Thanks!)
SCREENSHOTS
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ARTWORK
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ROLEPLAY HOOKS
- Hired blade. Either for or against you—Merrick will do almost anything for a price, so he’s available for hire for both heroic and villainous RP.
- Professional contact. If you’re a mercenary by trade you may have heard of or worked with Merrick in the past.
- Drinking buddy. He may not be good at keeping friends, but he’s decent at making them.
ABOUT THE PLAYER
I’ve been roleplaying in various formats for over 17 years. If you want to know more about me, see my main’s profile: Aden Dellebecque.
Rather plain, and often accompanied by a shield, though notably it appears the hilt is made of bone. |
A dagger Merrick keeps concealed on his person for emergencies. Again, the hilt appears to be made of bone. |
This character has a gray morality. While he’s not outright evil, he does evil things for money, and with little to no apparent concern. This does not mean I approve of his actions.
This character is a study.In how far a man will go when he feels it necessary, and how hard it is to turn back to sure when you’re already drowning. That means he’s redeemable.
This is an alt. My main is a heroic character, I prefer heroic stories at the moment. If you want to run into Merrick, you might need to arrange it ahead of time.
Communication is key. If we’re in long term roleplay and you’re not willing to talk OOCly about where it’s going, I will probably walk away.
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GUIDELINES
ERP. It’s a viable form of RP, but I don’t engage in it. On the incredibly rare occasion your character ends up in a sexual situation with one of mine, it will fade to black. If the scene is particularly inspiring I may offer to finish it as a short piece of erotica.
Reveal everything up front. It may lower the character’s likability, but he’s multilayered, multifaceted, and if you want to dig down and explore what makes him tick, you’ll have to put the work in.
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Engage in mature RP. It’s a sometimes food—we cannot subsist on the blood of our enemies alone. This character is darker in nature, and I will engage in violence/torture/sexual content up to a high R rating.
Enthusiastically pursure your stories. I love other deep characters, and I want to learn about them. I may not have as much time as I’d like for it, but I’ll do the digging in return.
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OTHER LINKS
Tumblr... [dellebecque.tumblr.com Wandering Lost].