Name: Markas Grixbaern/Malkaite

Occupation: Fighter

Race: Vampyre, ex-ghoul
Worked for the Malkavian vampires as a ghouled servant until they released him.

Background: Markas Grixbaern was a strong man of God and firm follower of his beliefs his entire life. He lived to learn, and he learned to do two things well: fight, and flirt. The first he will oft brag about, the second he denies. Always a thinker in life, Markas developed a modified crossbow he called X-bow, as it employed two drawstrings, loaded separately, to ideally double the force a bolt was thrust. In reality, it isn't quite double the power, but enough to be worth the extra pull, whenever he uses it. A simple wooded staff is always at his side, and a Bible always in the pocket of his trench coat. He prays for support from God every day, and blesses his belongings always. It's rare that one finds such an all around good man, and yet he never cared for the communion of others like himself, for the simple reason that he found all the holy men of his day to be irredeemably corrupted. And so he took his search for knowledge out of monasteries and churches, and into the depths of the criminals. Surely if there were one like him in the muck of the godly, then there must be one in the rats nests as well. He came upon a group of men beating a small store owner when he was 31, and drew his staff, demanding they explain themselves. None spoke, they just turned toward him and drew swords and maces. In a battle that didn't last ten minutes, he had bested the men, only to be approached by another. This man was taller, and grinned foolishly at Markas, asking him to join the men he had defeated. Markas asked the wisdom in this, and the man stated that he would live forever. It was a life of crime, but the ends justify the means. Markas became a ghoul for the Malkavians, and gained a new identity, as Markas Malkaite. He had joined the Malkaite family only a hundred years or so when he met Loser, the latest victim in a Malkavian game. He ended up saving Loser from the lunacy, and gained one favor in return, to be asked later. Later came when the Malkavians finally released him to his own means, and certain death if he could not get vampire blood. He renounced the title given him by the insane vampires, and sought out the one he knew as Loser, now called by Exodus, and begged the favor: eternal life through the dreaded Embrace of a vampire. He proved his worth in the defeat of a demon, and Exodus begrudgingly Embraced him. He has since proven his taste for life has yet to wane... P>Location: He started out in an unnamed town, and participated in a church of the same name. His travels have taken him to more places than he can remember, both of his own wishes and from order of the Malkavians. He now calls the tavern created of dreams, Bloodtide, home.

He is now three hundred and seventy one, and believes he can remember every day of his long and tumultuous life.

Appearance: Few men, even in the world where all are unbelievably good looking, are as handsome as Markas. His deep blue eyes are accentuated with long eyelashes to be envied even by women, and soft brown hair reaching down just past his shoulders. He plays on his looks regularly, as he disguises his fighting nature with flirtation. Most often found with a black trench coat and black thigh length boots, and occasionally a wide brimmed hat to match, he can easily be mistaken for an assassin or mage. Never to let appearances betray his true self, he wears the black as a reminder that although he has chosen to live for God, he lives in the sin of a curse he chose, and can never undo.

Equipment:

Hand crafted Quarterstaff: Seemingly a typical staff, tipped with steel and made entirely of wood. In reality, the entire centre of the staff was long ago hollowed out, and filled with a steel rod, both adding for the lifespan of the weapon and directing more force into the tips. These tips are hollow, and bear threads, which hold screw-in blades if he chooses. The staff is blessed on a nightly basis, as is his entire equipment listing. This staff has lasted well over a hundred years, and he intends to give it no mercy in its old age now.
-Same stats as for any quarterstaff, except add one to damage done by the ends with a sidelong jab. Blades add two dice of damage for any contact, as he not only cuts, but twists in the same action. The staff is blessed, and so does aggravated damage to evil-type creatures.

X-bow: The pride and joy of Markas' craftsmanship, this was an idea become reality by his own hand. It takes twice as long to cock as a normal crossbow, but the added damage is worth the extra effort, especially if loaded beforehand. The crossbars fold neatly to the side, without releasing tension, and this can be stored at the users side. The bolts are most often wooden, tipped in silver, and blessed, both as he makes them and as he loads them. In the modern day world of handguns and missile weapons, this has become a relic to be used by those not wishing to make much sound, but Markas trusts its abilities more than any rifle. R>-Damage is that of a crossbow, but 1.5X the number of dice, rounded up. Takes twice as long to load, and diff to shoot is increased by one for the power within it. Being that the bolts themselves are created by hand, and blessed twice, they are created at a rate of one per 3 hours, with no other action, and have True Faith rating of 2. Tearing through armor is entirely possible with this weapon, but don't expect to tear down any rock walls with it.

Cross pendant: Markas wears this about his neck, as a sign to all of his beliefs. However, for purposes of protection of the amulet, he wears it beneath his shirt, and next to his skin at all times. If nothing more than an affirmation to his faith, then it would be of no use to him. Both a keepsake and memento of memories of the monasteries he's been to, and a reminder that the holiest of men are rarely what you assume them to be. BR>-This relic is extremely holy, true faith Lev 3. Markas was paid to steal it by a high Priest of a Catholic church, but never claimed his reward. Far greater it is to remember thy crime, than to be paid for thy sins. When work around the neck, it all but prevents any Vampire for taking blood from the user, the faith emanating from within radiates through the user. Not a recommended accessory for a typical vampire, as it will bless him to Final Death. >Worn Bible: Always in the pocket of his trench coat, at the right hand. Markas knows much of the texts within, and studies it on a nightly basis. It's a wonder it hasn't lost many pages, as it's so old and decrepit. But for all the weariness of its cover, Markas has kept it both well in use, and in well repair. Many a page have been painstakenly re glued to the binding.
-Not much for character usage, except for story parts between game play. It's blessed, as are all of Markas' belongings, and so constantly has True Faith of one. Not a weapon, but a good source for inspiration, as Markas has proven along his life.