Lamark

A native of Leopard Peak, Aildean, Lamark is a former mercenary and gladiator with a knack for combat tactics and getting paid.

Discovery by Gavinus Carey

Taciturn and private by nature, Lamark was discovered by Gavinus Carey and Torwall Ignus as they sought to add a veteran melee presence to the crew of the Mounted Stag. After weeks of scouting bodyguards, mercs, bouncers, enforcers and gladiators around the Wandering City, the 36-year-old burnout with nothing but a single novelty event title to his name was their unanimous choice.

“You lot want Dorian,” Lamark said, dismissing them with a wave at the Adonis in fresh linens over his shoulder. “Summerfall mock battle champ, third rank on the light-heavy charts. 22 years old. Spry. Still cheap.”
Gavinus leaned in. “Lamark, brother, we’re not paying for tin cups and chalkboards. You’ve got something those circuit champions and rising stars don’t have.”
“Charm,” he snorted.
“No," Gavinus said, slowly shaking his head. "Twenty straight years of not getting dead.”
For the first time, those worn cobalt eyes made contact—first with Gavinus, then Torwall in turn. The shibboleth had been spoken.
“Fuckin’ damn right.”
— Gavinus Carey and Lamark, initial meeting

Combat Style

A tremendously frustrating melee opponent, Lamark typically rushed into combat against his environment first, kicking over tables and locking doors to maximize his natural aptitude for situational awareness and his extremely defensively oriented martial style. He became an amateur shieldsmith by necessity as a battle with him would typically run to a draw until exhaustion created gaps in his opponent’s stance. The result in the arena was often a low number of kills by the time an objective was reached or time ran out.
Lamark was mission-critical to the Mounted Stag’s success, and later the Mercy's, as he paced backwards and sideways across battlefield after battlefield, seeming to deny his opponents a clear shot at their spellcasters almost by accident.
The only member of Gavinus’ crew that refused to work on commission, Lamark negotiated a new salary every year and insisted upon payment on time every quarter, failing which he would withdraw services: a threat he carried out four times.

Farewell to the Garlands

Lamark attended the wedding of Beulah Garland and Gavinus, partying uncharacteristically hard and letting loose with laughter and stories for the first time since they'd known him. When it came time to part, he wished them both a fond farewell with thanks for many years of gainful employment, presenting them with an Aildean spindle: a stylized woodcarving of an animal horn meant to provide protection from physical harm. It had the merits of being very personal, meaningfully time-consuming and not costing him literally any money.
As he took his leave near sunrise, the couple asked Lamark what he planned to do next. He matter-of-factly advised them to mind their business and mounted what was undoubtedly the cheapest, most flea-ridden donkey that had ever been ridden off into the sunset.