Marco Polo

**Marco Polo** is one of the many Champions in Aeon Clash.

## Background

* **Source:** Wikipedia Article

Marco Polo (September 15, 1254 – January 8, 1324) was a Venetian merchant, explorer, and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in The Travels of Marco Polo (also known as Book of the Marvels of the World and Il Milione, c. 1300), a book that described to Europeans the then mysterious culture and inner workings of the Eastern world, including the wealth and great size of the Mongol Empire and China in the Yuan Dynasty, giving their first comprehensive look into China, Persia, India, Japan and other Asian cities and countries. Born in Venice, Marco learned the mercantile trade from his father and his uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, who travelled through Asia and met Kublai Khan. In 1269, they returned to Venice to meet Marco for the first time. The three of them embarked on an epic journey to Asia, exploring many places along the Silk Road until they reached Cathay (China). They were received by the royal court of Kublai Khan, who was impressed by Marco's intelligence and humility. Marco was appointed to serve as Khan's foreign emissary, and he was sent on many diplomatic missions throughout the empire and Southeast Asia, such as in present-day Burma, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. As part of this appointment, Marco also travelled extensively inside China, living in the emperor's lands for 17 years and seeing many things that had previously been unknown to Europeans. Around 1291, the Polos also offered to accompany the Mongol princess Kököchin to Persia; they arrived around 1293. After leaving the princess, they travelled overland to Constantinople and then to Venice, returning home after 24 years. At this time, Venice was at war with Genoa; Marco was captured and imprisoned by the Genoans after joining the war effort and dictated his stories to Rustichello da Pisa, a cellmate. He was released in 1299, became a wealthy merchant, married, and had three children. He died in 1324 and was buried in the church of San Lorenzo in Venice. Though he was not the first European to reach China (see Europeans in Medieval China), Marco Polo was the first to leave a detailed chronicle of his experience. This account of the Orient provided the Europeans with a clear picture of the East's geography and ethnic customs, and was the first Western record of porcelain, coal, gunpowder, paper money, and some Asian plants and exotic animals. His travel book inspired Christopher Columbus and many other travellers. There is substantial literature based on Polo's writings; he also influenced European cartography, leading to the introduction of the Fra Mauro map.

## Stats

**Marco Polo** is a Hybrid Champion and a part of the **Specialist Class**.

* **Health:** 1000 (Lvl. 1) / 1570 (Lvl. 20)
	+ **[LVL = +30 HP]**
* **Damage:** 200 (Lvl. 1) / 485 (Lvl. 20)
	+ **[LVL = +15 DMG]**

## Skills

### Default Skills

* **PASSIVE 1: Speed Boost**
	+ Killing enemies increases the PLAYER's attack and movement speed, this can stack up to 5 times.
* **PASSIVE 2: Conviction**
	+ Killing an enemy heals the PLAYER for 25% of their health.
* **SKILL 1: Arc Strike**
	+ The PLAYER attacks in an arc, damaging all enemies hit.
		- **COOLDOWN: 6s**
* **SKILL 2: Trap**
	+ The PLAYER places down a trap that roots the first enemy caught in it for 2.5s.
		- **COOLDOWN:** 8s
* **SPECIAL SKILL 3: Passive Change**
	+ Upon killing an enemy the PLAYER can change between their 2 class passives and weapons.
		- **COOLDOWN:** 10s
* **WEAPON ATTRIBUTE:**
	+ **BOW:** The PLAYER has a 25% chance to fire 2 arrows at once with every 3rd basic attack.
	+ **SWORD:** If you heal yourself to full health with Conviction your basic attacks deal double damage for 5s.

### Champion Skill

* **CHAMPION SKILL:** Merchant
	+ Over the course of the match Marco Polo can sell special items to his allies that permanently boost a specific stat. The more items Marco sells the more he unlocks for sale.
		- **COOLDOWN: 25s**