From: 003129z@ace.acadiau.ca (DAVID NATHANIEL ZINCK)
Subject: Yet, another new character....
Summary: new character
Keywords: Marke
Organization: Acadia University
Distribution: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 15:44:26 GMT

	The door to the inn opened abrubtly, the winds from outside whirling 
in harshly.  "Shut the DAMN DOOR!" a large figure shouted from the shadows. 
	"Sorry." The furtive figure in the doorway muttered.  He slipped 
inside trying very hard to be furtive and unnoticed.  His attempt was made 
difficult and futile by the fact that he carried an engraved long sword in 
his hand and was clad only in a loincloth.  His figure was was well built 
and his body carried a few scars here and there attesting to his experience 
in combat.  He stood a healthy 6"2 and had short close cropped hair.  It was 
when one looked at his face that all normalness faded.  His eyes were blue, 
not a sky blue, or an ocean blue, but the blue of a thousand years of blood, 
death, and hardship.  They were gray with a small amount of blue tint that 
was all that was left of the goodness in his soul.
	The man walked up to the bar fully awar of the eyes following him.  "
Hey laddie, Maybe ye should be puttin' on some clothes" a voice called out 
from the back of the bar and much laughter rose to follow the comment.  The 
man simply stared back, his cold gaze burning a frost path to the voice. 
the laughter died abruptly.
	He looked around at the crowd and moved to speak "I seek Johnny 
Steele, does any of you rabble know where I can find him?" His voice was a 
cold as death.  The harshness of the insult was not only in his words but in 
his demeanor his very stance managed to offend every member of the inn.  
With one unified shout of rage and anger the crowd rose to their feet ready 
to show this upstart what a real adventurer could do! 
	"Ha Ha! What gall, what stupidity! Marke have you forgotten your 
manners? You were once like them." A face leaned out of the shadows. 
	"Alexandre!" Marke gasped and sprand across the busy common room to 
grasp the speaker. "You Bastard son of a Man goat! Where did you send me 
this time?!" He pulled his sword back ready to swing at the red robed magic-
user.
	"Go ahead and hit me you useless paladin with no soul! Have you 
forgotten what evils will happen if you finally choose evil?" The wizard 
retorted back. "I am here to see that you have made it here Nothing more." 
With a wave of his hand he disappeared. "And get some clothes on!" Suddenly 
Marke was clad in chainmail and a tabard with a sheath for his sword.  
Looking down on his armor, he sighed.
	"That half-bred son of a banshee.." He sat down in a chair and 
grabbed a tankard from the nearby barmaid.  "My apologies my fellow 
adventurers" he gestured to the crowd. "But that wizard is beginning to get 
on my nerves since the last century or so.  Would you like to hear my tale?"
	Groans and sighs erupted and one voice called out "He's going to 
tell it anyway so lets hear your tale, stranger." nods and murmurs 
of agreement followed.	
	"I was born Jone Ryean GreyMarke, about four thousand years ago in a 
realm known as Gateway.  I was the son of a wealthy noble and I became a 
great paladin and knight, I married and my life became one of contention and 
relief.  Then one of my archrivals Alexandre, the wizard you just met took 
his revenge.  He used deceit to sneak into my castle and kill me, but 
unfortunately I was not home.  In a rage he killed my beloved instead.  I 
returned home that night to find her slain and her corpse descrated on the 
spire of my castle.  I took my sword and without any hesitation snuck into 
Alexandre's home that night and after torturing him for several hours I 
tried to kill him and I succeeded in killing his family in cold blood."  He 
eased back as pain crossed his face		
	"As I said before I was the greatest paladin of Good, and I had just 
committed the blackest of crimes, the slaughter of innocent women and 
children.   The Gods of Good were enraged and they cast me down like a 
broken childs toy.  They destroyed everything I had and Made me Immortal.  
My fate was one that had been decided one by all the gods Good, Evil, and 
Neutral.  I was to become the Ultimate tool of balance, A living weapon 
dedicated to ensuring Neither good nor evil won a significant advantage. I 
was forced to fight along Great heros and Demonic villians condemned never 
to truly make a difference and only to prolong death and suffering for 
ever."	
	"That is my fate, and I am here to help with Johhny Steele, His 
quest will have a significant effect of the balance, And I must be 
present."  Marke eased back in his chair and sighed.	
	"All I want now is just want to die. Maybe this quest will send me 
on my way to cold oblivion."
						Marke
					Keeper of the Way
					Lord of Gateway

	"There can be only ONE!" Highlander 1985
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