Marcus Feral
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The Miqo'te closed the hardwood door behind himself, looking into his office. It was neatly kept and furnished with nautical items collected while sailing over the years. A large table to his right had a map of Eorzea intricately carved and painted right into the wood with heavy figures indicating ports he planned to trade with this season. The trade routes themselves were locked away someplace safe, only shared with his most trustworthy of captains. He was in his late thirties and just entering his prime. Light blonde hair swept back into a neat tail, decorated with a dark ribbon. His coat was heavy and Ishgardian in make, and every bit of him seemed covered in expensive cloth. Perfectly tailored leather gloves and boots, a few rings made with only the finest gems, and earrings dangled from his long, black-tipped and spotted ears with a hint of classic piracy in their style that matched the golden color of eyes. He made his way to his desk, enjoying the warmth of the nearby fire that had been prepared for him. He set aside his scales and a stack of documents as he sat down and pulled out a clear, heavy glass which he filled with a dark amber liquid. Placing a fresh sheet of parchment on the desk, he took up his quill. "I've been told I should write some sort of biography. I do not know who for, as I will likely decline to share this with anyone, but I suppose the exercise could prove therapeutic. Even still, I refuse to put in writing that which I cannot bring myself to put into words. A man's past is his own, and we will leave my beginnings at that. All that needs be said is, as some vagrant once put it himself, that I have 'come from nothing.' Soon I will have everything. "But even that statement puts me ahead of myself. I am Marcus Feral of the S&S Trading Company. A company that I built from nothing, but truthfully, it did not become something without help. In my early days as a captain I had the privilege," the word seemed to be emphasized in the flourish of his penmanship, "of transporting a band of mercenaries, among which my future wife, Lady Dovienya se'Tovya of House Cuenn made her company. I did not know at the time that we would have anything to do with one another after the trip was over, but she had other plans for me. Perhaps just as well, as I would never have made the time for a wife otherwise. With the help of her family's fortune and my knack for deal making, S&S has business across several continents and we are happily wealthy, if a little bored." Marcus looked at the parchment with a sour expression. The writing was straightforward with little about himself in truth. He sniffed, uncaring, and refilled his glass. "As a side business, I find I enjoy uprooting evil in Ul'dah and other parts of Aldenard. I do not wish to see people suffer any more than the next perhaps, but honestly, I hate the monopoly the Syndicate holds on trade. I would better fit their seats, I'm sure. In fact, I'm positive I could run the underground better than they, but of course; I would never stoop so low. I run an honest business and it has garnered me enough wealth and prestige to even own property in Ishgard. How many foreigners can say they have earned citizenship in Ishgard? Not many, I'd wager, and I'm not the betting type." A small smudge in the ink caused the Miqo'te pause, but he continued. "I do not gamble, of course. Not frequently. Just the occasional trip to the Gold Saucer is enough to satisfy me. A few nights at best, really. The point is, I do not gamble—I am always certain of my chances. Like dueling, I know when I have my opponent beat before the first strike is made. Hopefully, Dovienya has not noticed how dusty my dueling coat became last week. It isn't as if I entered the Grindstone purposefully, I just happened to be there. No one would recognize me either way; my mask continues to be a flawless disguise." The last paragraph drifted in a downward slant, but Marcus continued on to the next page without worrying about it.
"Fencing is a gentlemanly sport, and a proper pastime, I think. I practiced for hours every day in my youth, and still dedicate at least thirty minutes a day to the "To think I used to be skittish whenever a woman so much as complimented me. I abhorred anyone touching me. Well, that had to change. Damned Roegadyns, they just bully their way through every..." The above paragraphs looked as if the Miqo'te had tried to brush them away before realizing they were inked. "I should perhaps speak of my abilities beyond trading and dueling. I'm an avid collector of not only maps, but also soul stones. Marvelous things, soul stones. Any merchant who is worth his salt should have a set they carry on their person at all times. The knowledge they carry is vital for survival if you've been dealt bad hand. They certainly help my meager skill with heavier swords and of course magic. I recently acquired a soul stone from an unruly Dark Knight. He owed me more than he could ever repay me anyway. He isn't missing it, but trust me when I say he would have missed his right hand. "That reminds me of a song, in fact. I can't remember the lyrics. Mayhap I can recount the notes?" The rest of the sheets are filled with music notes in no particular order and a few drawings of what could perhaps pass for ships and a leviathan towering over them.
Marcus is a tribeless Seeker Miqo'te who owns the S&S Trading Company. He prefers to be called by his title "Captain", though in truth he rarely has the opportunity to sail these days. As his company expanded and the years stretched on, he began working mainly from either his main office in Ul'dah or his Ishgardian estates. He enjoys fencing as a hobby, as well as hawking, and occasionally gambling. He carries a pistol with him nearly all the time for self defense, as well as a soulstone or two. He was bonded to Lady Dovienya se'Tovya of House Cuenn, and together the two built an empire. Where he has always been adept at deal-making and reading the market, she was skilled with insurance and maintaining their reputation. Together they bonded a quiet, but keen minded Keeper, Ahzra'li Lhomi, and from there they continued to manipulate politic affairs with their underground organization. Much has changed since then, but Marcus' goal remains the same: continue to make enough coin to live his life comfortably. Of all his vices, the worst is probably his reliance on alcohol. He is always drinking and is a surprisingly coherent drunk.
He has light blonde hair and amber eyes. His ears dark at the tips with spots. His skin is lightly tanned from bygone years at sea and he has a lithe build more toward sturdy than acrobatic. He is not likely to lose his balance, and has done his share of heavy lifting in the past, but he has spent the last handful of years at a desk and so will often throw his shoulder out if he practices too hard and he is not likely to win an arm wrestling match. He is always finely dressed, usually from the tips of his boots to his favorite hats. Rarely does he ever expose himself, preferring to wear layers of intricately worked fabrics instead. Worth noting is his constant air of superiority. He often stands with his nose high and a polite, at ease smile. Granted, his consistently relaxed posture could be because of his flask.
Aspects That Stand Out:
Snob is the tip of the iceberg here. Marcus mixes perfectly polite speech with a haughty tone and the frequent snide remark. He rarely leaves out titles or honorifics and tries to follow socially acceptable behavior at all times. He will be the first to point out a flaw, if he can weave it into his topic without breaking stride. If his victim is left guessing whether or not they have truly been insulted, then Marcus is having a good day. For all his talk, he is wary of physically capable opponents, and it's very likely that when he is making his point in his own eloquent way that he will have an armed man or two between him and his victim.
He wears a social mask at all times and hides safely behind protocol. Everyone is kept at arm's length. He's rarely ruffled, and in fact always seems at ease in conversation (thanks in no small part to his alcoholism). Even during times of confrontation, his reactions may sometimes seem scripted. That isn't to say he doesn't feel fear. His clever remarks will disappear quickly if he's cornered with a knife at his throat. Despite his overall thick shell, he has a softness to him that prevents him from becoming a cold-hearted tyrant. He outwardly expresses distaste for anything that would take away his or someone else's freedom, and organizations that would see to their own desires at the extreme negative expense of many others.
Under Construction
This section is under construction. CompaniesS&S Trading CompanyCharacter-run business. Mostly active off screen. Founded by Marcus Feral, S&S started out as a small one man crew trying to make something of themselves. Marcus sailed mainly between Ul'dah and Limsa Lominsa in the early days, establishing trade routes and getting his name out there. Since this humble beginning, S&S has become a major name amongst suppliers and merchants throughout Aldenard, especially Ishgard. The company is now jointly owned by Marcus and his wife Dovienya Cuenn, whom brought a solid House's name to the business and no small amount of expertise. Major trade items: Food supplies, ore, and textiles. RemnantsFree Company A ragtag group of activists whom Marcus and Dovienya blackmailed into allowing them to assist with their operations. The Remnants focused on being a safe house for lost and displaced peoples, many of whom were Doman. Unfortunately for them, they drew the attention of a powerful and dangerous Ul'dahn syndicate member. This particular man was actually a target of Dovienya's interest as well, so together with Remnant, Marcus and Dovienya planned to see the man permanently erased. In the end, Remnant disbanded to keep its members safe from further political backlash--or simply assassins--and Marcus and Dovienya safely broke off from them to find more acceptable pawns. Leader: Orin Kai Notes: This information would be hard to discover without being told directly Marcus or Dovienya. Please ask before using. The Remnants were not openly active. They operated as quietly as possible and Marcus and Dovienya made sure to cover their tracks so as to not be associated with the company. The Raven's NestFree Company An underground company focused on black market dealings. They have a dusty storefront they try to call a pub in the hopes of dissuading any suspicious peoples. Not necessarily a bad group, they nevertheless are willing to kill to get what they want. Their main focus seems to be gil, perhaps power, and they take on willing apprentices for spy work, trading and scamming. Originally approached by Dovienya for her own purposes, Marcus has also taken an interest in the group. While he "runs a completely legitimate business" and only openly serves to supply this underwhelming pub with food and good booze, he still finds himself doing a little more for the group out of a growing fondness for its members. And the gil, of course. Leaders: Y'ashe Bajhiri and Ketsuchi Kotetsu. Notes: The Raven's Nest sends out encrypted messages frequently for the sake of recruiting. Recruits enter the Nest at their own risk, as saying the wrong thing, or admitting to knowing the Nest's purpose and then deciding not to join, could mean silencing. On paper, Marcus supplies a pub by the same name, nothing more. The Obsidian CourtFree Company Pending description. ContractsTrade agreements with: Ishgard, Ul'dah, Limsa Lominsa. Coteries
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Under Construction
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