Marcus Brooker

"Sir Marcus Brooker the Worthwhile is an imperial defector who has risen through the ranks of peasantry to achieve knighthood in the court of Giwen, one of the rebelling nations against the Empire. He garnered the title of Rose Knight to emulate the ancient titular story of the brave floral hero who fought for all humanity. He spends his days crafting scented soaps and helping others through their struggles."
= Backstory =
Marcus Brooker grew up in Hollowbrook, where he excelled in picking up new skills and trades, but lacked the composure necessary for specialization. His parents nicknamed him “The Golden Boy” for his promising potential in everything he did, and they pushed his limits daily in hopes of producing an efficient son worthy of their legacy. His father, Dedrick Brooker, was an accomplished clockmaker, while his mother Sophia tended to the home and garden. He enjoyed playing in the fields and habitually cleaning his surroundings. He took up the role of handyman, while Dedrick tried to teach him the complicated craft of engineering. Military Conscription (6 years ago) After a brutal accident in his father’s workshop, Dedrick signed up Marcus for mandatory military service to regain some lost value owed to the state. 
Marcus trained for some time, followed every command given to him, and kept in line as all good soldiers should do. He faced the same problems of indecision as before, and the officers made sure to beat the hesitation out of him whenever it surfaced. Many a time did Marcus mouth off to a superior ranking soldier, causing him to retain cleaning duty for most of his service. His trusty soap bucket became the best tool in his arsenal. His closest friend, Claudin (now falsely holds the title of ‘Byron Gambol’ in the resistance), shared Marcus’ frowned views on how the Empire treated both humans and non-humans from conquered lands. They paired together for guard duty, and even attempted to aid prisoners in an attempt to quell possible violent outcomes. Marcus’ parents sought to release him from service to finally return home, but he feared they would punish him for not attaining any titles or medals from his military service. Marcus and Claudin prepared an escape plan for when the perfect opportunity arose. The murdering of innocents and the air of arrogant superiority disgusted them, so they resolved to right the wrongs of their people in their own way. 
Desertion (2 years ago) Claudin gave Marcus an opening to flee by an explosion in the camp. Marcus begged him to leave, but his friend declined and replied: “Go find a worthy life, since you will never find it here.” The guards panicked, flames erupted, and the soapman had to make the biggest decision of his life thus far. Sunken and sullen, Marcus fled his station and traveled west with only his gear and a bucket full of rations. He stayed on the routes he felt were safe, and eventually met a wandering elven apothecary, Gurthel of House Elzeiros. Marcus explained his situation, and the two came to the agreement to help each other reach the edge of Badaria Forest near the village of Eelry. They reached the secluded cottage and took stock of the land. An extensive fenced garden contained many scented herbs and flowers meant for medicine, including bushes of various colored roses. Marcus provided general labor and cooked for Gurthel in exchange for a place to hide out along with lessons in elven alchemy. Once again, Marcus showed promise in mixing dangerous components for remedies and poisons, but he could not progress past a certain point. Gurthel feigned interest in training him, and they continued their work. 
During The Fall of Leydford (8 months ago) One fine day, a visitor named [insert Imperial tie-in] arrived at the cottage to seek treatment for an unknown illness. He was a human in seemingly simple traveler’s courier garb with a sheathed short sword. Gurthel invited them for dinner against their better judgment, and asked Marcus to prepare a proper feast for three. Several heated discussions revolved around the elves’ involvement with Arilaand and the base comparisons of fleeting human life to the brief scent of flowers. Right as the dinner concluded, the visitor and Gurthel became crippled from poison in his food, and then drew a short sword in retaliation. Marcus defended his mentor with [a bucket], and killed the visitor in self defense. The mentor coughed up blood and mused on how Marcus poisoned them both knowing there would be no time to produce an antidote, although Marcus denied the poisoning. He mentioned that he may have mixed up some ingredients through dissociation when he smelled a white rose earlier. Upon further inspection, the visitor was an imperial looking for Marcus in particular. He recognized the man from reading the inscription on the short sword: "Their blood is tainted, it shall spill not flow." Gurthel, unsure if Marcus intended to kill them or not, cautioned him about how he should proceed from there on out, stating that he's either incredibly lucky or deceptively clever. Marcus returned to Eelry while gripping a thorned rose, a common practice his father forced on him for his failings. One of the villagers recounted to another how Marcus was "the man who smelled of blood and roses." Marcus cleaned up his mess, used the bodies as fertilizer, and tended to the cottage and garden alone. Several Imperials visited his new home in search of the visitor, and Marcus would deny ever seeing them, even if he was such a terrible liar. Months went by, and it was only a matter of time for the Empire’s forces to reach Eelry. An imperial knight knocked on the door seeking entry, and Marcus obliged them to enter. The knight demanded everything of worth in the house, and he obliged him again by tossing a handful of poisonous powder in his eyes, potentially blinding the knight permanently. Marcus evaded their flailing as he packed to leave imperial occupation once more. He escaped through the back door with a satchel full of tools, a bucket full of fresh cut flowers, and a new disposition for his life on borrowed time. 
Arrival in Adwick (2 months ago) Marcus trudged north then west along the main road through Ambershire and Holbeck. He may have been an imperial defector, but pretended to be a refugee displaced by the war and tried his best to act like a local. He joined a caravan carrying refugees, offered to help them with any crafts, and had reached the soon to be subjugated capital city, Castle Adwick, with hope and love for humanity and those adjacent.
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= Links =
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Category:Fractured Thrones Characters
Category:Humans