Appearance

Identifying Characteristics

The lean Marcus Drake stands tall and proud. From underneath his large brimmed and feathered hat, his aqua blue eyes seem to resemble the sea itself. On his face, there is a well-maintained beard. Like his side-parted hair, it is white of color with a slight dash of blond, earning him the nickname "Captain Bonebeard". Some have joked that where his eyes resemble the color of the sea, his beard resembles the salt of the sea and he therefore could be known as "Captain Saltbeard" as well.

Mentality

Personal history

Early years

More than half a century After The Fall of Rome, Marcus Drake was born (66). Marcus had been a sailor from a young age. He had served on a variety of merchant ships and had always dreamed of making it into the Royal Surdan Navy, until one day he did (82). As the years passed, he rose through the ranks, making it to Lieutenant. As a Lieutenant, he eventually served as the first officer to Captain Arthur Bartok on the Pryde. Marcus always had great respect for Arthur, who was not just his captain and a nobleman, but also his mentor and friend. They shared lots of opinions and ideas, tastes and dreams. These concerned The Navy and sailing, tactics and politics, music and women and much much more.
 

Captain of the Royal Navy

In his early thirties, Marcus Drake was granted his first command as Captain of The Surdan Lion, a brand new 5th rate frigate (98). His mentor, Arthur Bartok, was promoted with him and became a rear admiral. It was during this period of his service, Marcus got to know more about the inner workings of the Royal Surdan Navy. Commoners, and especially low-class commoners, were often, significantly more often, sent on dangerous missions. It was also more difficult for a commoner to progress within the Royal Navy. It was a surprise that Marcus, a commoner himself, became a captain as soon as he did. Without the involvement of his mentor, Arthur Bartok, Marcus would probably not have been a captain yet. Both Arthur and Marcus were vivid advocates for equal opportunities and equal pay.
Years after his appointment to the Surdan Lion, Marcus Drake had made quite a name for himself, fending off and defeating pirates threatening Surda and all of civilization, even marrying his second first lieutenant, Leona Lionsmane, with whom he later fathered a child. Where one would expect a promotion, Marcus was sent to chart the Cursed Isles instead (106). Most ships that sail to those Isles are never heard from again. So, sending a more experienced captain out there, a captain that could handle himself, was chosen as a new approach. The Surdan Lion was meant as a lead ship and protector of two exploration vessels. Months later, all seemed to go well, until Marcus received a letter that a war had erupted between Surda and Sa’kava and that the Surdan Lion was immediately expected home. So came an end to Marcus’ Cursed Isles expedition.
 

An all-front war

Once back, the Royal Surdan Navy refused to pay the promised amount to the crews of the Surdan Lion and other two exploration vessels. The expedition was cut short and all funds were to go to the war effort. Marcus, in return, claimed that the newly made charts had taken water damage during a sudden storm. Therefore, only a few maps were handed over. This, on top of his public, outspoken views on inequality within the Royal Navy, did not add to Marcus’ popularity among the Admiral Lords and the Aristocracy of Surda. However, a promotion was inevitable. Although Arthur Bartok, a vice admiral by then, had recommended Marcus Drake to be promoted to rear admiral, the majority of the Admiralty would not have it. Therefore, Marcus Drake was promoted to commodore instead. Marcus’ first lieutenant of three years, Henry van Pelt, was made a commander and was to take command of the Aqualeo.
Both the Aqualeo and Little Lynx, two 6th rate frigates, were part of the small fleet Commodore Marcus Drake was to take to the waters southeast of Surda. The Surdan Lion, however, was not the lead ship for this small fleet. It was the 3rd rate ship of the line, the Griffon, to which Marcus had been assigned. The Griffon, just like the Surdan Lion, was a ship with two gun decks. However, the Griffon was significantly bigger and carried twice as many guns and men.
The orders Commodore Marcus received usually involved the protection of incoming and outgoing Surdan trading vessels, as well as stopping enemy trading vessels from reaching land. The war between Surda and Sa’kava was mostly a land war. Therefore, Surda used its Royal Navy primarily for assuring trade and incoming supplies, while, on the other hand, preventing Sa’kava from doing the same. When not under direct orders to protect specific Surdan vessels, Marcus did not move his squadron where most of the Sa’kavan vessels would pass. He, instead, moved the small fleet where more pirate vessels would roam. Pirate crews had been using the chaos of the war to more effectively plunder both Surdan and Sa’kavan vessels. Marcus, who did not condone unprovoked violence, rather defended Surdan ships against pirates, than attacking and taking Sa’kavan vessels. To Marcus, the war was nothing more than an excuse for aristocrats to use the common man to their benefit. A view he shared with his new first lieutenant, Richard Riker, the commander of the Little Lynx, James Jefferson and, of course, his mentor and friend, Vice Admiral Arthur Bartok.
A few years into the war (110), Marcus and his small fleet were ordered back to port. When they returned, the people cheered for Marcus and the crews of the three ships for their outstanding work. However, the Royal Navy accused Commodore Marcus Drake of deliberately sabotaging Surda in the war. Surda was at war with Sa’kava, not the pirates. Therefore, defeating pirate vessels had no priority over defeating and or capturing Sa’kavan vessels. Marcus in return proclaimed that the war on piracy had always been ongoing and defeating those vessels was as good of a choice as any. Ironically that a decade later the war on piracy would reach its peak and the man the Surdan Royal Navy would need most of all, would not be there.
Marcus Drake, together with dozens of other flag and senior officers, including Vice Admiral Arthur Bartok, were summoned before the Navy Court. Uncoincidentally, all were politically opposed to the current regime and were to face trial. The Aristocracy knew they did not have enough to convict Marcus and most others, but it was primarily Arthur Bartok they were after. Marcus’ word did carry power, however, Arthur was a man of noble birth, soon to be full admiral, and his word carried far greater power among the Aristocracy. Marcus was offered to testify against Arthur. He declined.
After weeks, a conclusion to the trials finally came and Marcus and most of the tried officers were found innocent. Arthur Bartok and four others, however, were found guilty. All five were to be executed.
 

Bonebeard and the Bone Lion

Two weeks later, the time had come. All five traitors were to be lined up, nooses were to be placed around their necks, sacs over their heads. Arthur Bartok had been held in the “Tower of Alexandria”,
a place where high-profile criminals were kept behind bars until their execution. Rescuing Arthur from this prison would have been impossible. However, saving him from execution, was not.
Marcus Drake, with the help of family and friends, loyal crew members and politically aligned partners, had devised a plan over the past two weeks. A plan that was already in motion. Everything had led to this very moment. The end was finally there. The end of his naval career, the end of life as he knew it, but not the end of his friend’s life. Depending on whom you ask, what happened that day was either inspiring or disgusting. However, everyone agrees the plan had been perfectly executed.
Commodore Marcus Drake, although the Navy would strip him from all titles, made it to the harbor. With him, a large part of those who helped him, and of course his mentor, Arthur Bartok. They escaped Alexandria and Surda on a ship that was having repairs. A ship none other than the Surdan Lion. The men considered it a late, but welcome payment for their efforts during the Cursed Isles expedition.
From that day on, Marcus Drake lived as a freer man, yet a wanted man. Wanted by the Surdan government and wanted by many people for his new services. The former caused a feeling of sorrow to always follow him as a dark, sad shadow. For Marcus would always miss Surda and would always carry the common folk in his heart. The latter would prove to be Marcus’ livelihood. The Surdan Lion, now simply called The Lion, and its crew would often be hired as protectors and guides for merchant and exploration vessels. With their base of operations located on Yetha, the neutral island city of trade, business went well for the crew of the Lion.
In the years that followed, Marcus would keep to see lots of action on the open seas. With his hair and beard going from blonde to white, he became known as Bonebeard and the Lion as the Bone Lion. Well, that is one tale. The other speaks of the captain of the Lion taking on a form of terror and dread. A form where he is more dead than living. A form that shows what Marcus truly is. Undead.
Most people that talk about Marcus Drake, talk about his impeccable protection and escort services, and his time as Surdan Royal Navy captain and commodore. However, most people that talk about Bonebeard, talk about the undead myths surrounding him, and the events that are believed to have somehow caused him to take this unnatural form, events that transpired only a few years ago.

Personality

Quotes & Catchphrases

"There is no loyalty in blindly following orders. When something bothers you, speak up!"

"Stay loyal to yourself and those who you care about most."

"Who does their part of the work, gets their share of the reward."

"The Law cannot serve justice when it is made by the unjust."

"Let us defuse the problem." (when stood in a cave rigged with a massive amount of gunpowder)

Social

Birthplace

Surda (Alexandria)

Current Residence

Ytha (Harbor district)

Honorary & Occupational Titles

• Captain


• Captain of The Lion


• Captain of The Bone Lion


• Commodore


• Commodore of The Lion


• Commodore of The Bone Lion