Marden Terenz

**Marden Terenz**, 1st Lord of Terenz Manor, is a human lord of the Kingdom of Kurosekai, former revolutionary member of the Emerald Vipers, leader of the Sapphire Snakes, former lover of Rocco Brightmane, and a warlock with command over shadow magic.

A homeless orphan, the impressionable child was picked up by Rights and molded into an anti-scientarian fighter. He grew up alongside 'Oskar Uno' and they conducted a large amount of criminal activities together, becoming blood brothers and eventually lovers. When Oskar was 'killed' by the scientarians in 38 asr (he was actually exiled), Marden was further radicalized and engaged in the terrorism campaign of the Emerald Vipers.

When the Oyashiman-Scientarian War began, Marden was conscripted into the Scientarian Army by roving bands of soldiers picking up any and all able bodied people. At first he planned to desert immediately, but he was commanded by Rights to stay put and act as a mole for the group. When the war ended and Rights was captured by the empress, Marden was able to keep his association hidden and finagled a transfer to Marenwald to assist in rescuing the group's leader.

While serving in Marenwald, the city came under the attack of Demons in the service of Gespla the Plague General, under overall service of Vile Cruelty. He survived the first week of the siege before meeting Rocco who was fighting his way into the city. Shocked to see his blood brother alive, he surreptitiously confronted Rocco about all that had occurred since they had last seen each other. Angry that Rocco had not even attempted to contact him following his exile (and admittedly jealous of Rocco's new boyfriend Forrest Brightmane), he was standoffish until later in the siege when they fought alongside each other to protect the city.

After the battle, Marden discovered that Rights had managed to escape, and was calling for the disparate remnants of the Vipers to congregate in Caliyan. He requested that Rocco join him, but he refused, saying he had other obligations now. He summoned his familiar Mr. Whiskers in a shadowy tiger form, and entered the shadow plane. Upon his return to the Vipers, Marden was plagued by uncertainty. Now that he knew that Rights had willingly sacrificed Rocco for the sake of his political campaign, he began to watch his leader and mentor more closely. It was clear that he had become more vicious and paranoid, and was beginning to get involved in more terrible assassination and terrorism plans, but Marden felt that he had nowhere else to go.

About two months later, Marden ran into Rocco casually walking down the street just above the secret entrance to the Emerald Vipers new base. Shocked to see him, he told Rocco that he needed to get out of there before they were seen. Before he could convince Rocco's party to leave, they were spotted by Joseph Comstock and invited into the base. It became clear to Rights that Marden had been trying to keep Rocco away from Rights, and that he had not told the boss that he had met their old comrade while in Marenwald. When Rocco refused to rejoin the Vipers, Rights intended to have Marden executed for his treasonous withholding of information. Rocco and Forrest leapt into action, teleporting Marden to safety.

Marden then stayed at the abbey of the Luciferian Church in Caliyan with Rocco's 'associate' Judix Grigallu, and survived a further assassination attempt by Joseph Comstock and several of his allies from the Vipers. Distraught over the death of a former friend and brother figure, Marden felt like his entire life was falling apart. Convinced to attend the concert of Dru Petals by the command of Amdusias of Hell, he was involved in the Demonic Invasion of Caliyan, taking power from Liber's herald Jazz to aid in the fighting. At the end of the combat, the agreement was struck between Vile and the other highest powers of the battle that all would take a card from Vile's magical tarot deck, and be appropriately cursed or bestowed a gift as the fates decided. Marden's card gifted him nobility, and a small castle in the Kingdom of Kurosekai.

Now Lord Marden, he decided to take the remnants of the Emerald Vipers who decided to leave following the confrontation between Rights and Rocco, forming the Sapphire Snakes under his leadership. He left Caliyan to set up the castle, and began pushing for equalitarian reforms in Kurosekai.