HIGHBORN, MARKO HARLAW

marko harlaw

Rebels and mutineers

The Drowned God ridiculed House Harlaw with the birth of Marko. Premature, runty, and nearly swept away into the sea; it is a wonder that the boy managed to survive. But survive he did, and survive he has. Teetering on the edge of death the first few weeks of his life didn’t prevent his father from raising him to be truly ironborn – forced into paying the iron price for everything since his earliest memories, having killed his mother on the day of his birth simply to obtain life.

Motherless and the offspring of a maddened fool, it is no wonder that Marko had a rather crazed childhood. He learned to sail a ship before he rode a stallion, and drove iron into flesh before even recognized his first piece of literature. Although absence of a mother, or any true female presence for that mattered, prevented him partaking in the practice of taking a salt-wife; leaving him for a time never having felt the touch of a woman despite having seen others indulge in such sexuality, time and time again. That didn’t prevent him from taking men however much to the chagrin of his family, for he felt an attraction to both sexes and had no qualms with forcing himself on another man. Or bedding them willingly for that matter.

And Marko was somewhat contempt with such a crazed life, never truly questing for more than what The Drowned God had allotted him. He was accepting of the fact that he resided among the ironborn but lacked somewhat in their character. Things changed however, as all things do, when Katsa decided to set sail for the world. And so he accompanied her as her first mate, exploring foreign lands and partaking in whatever fun was to be found. They did what they wished when they wished. Took what they wanted regardless of what any thought of it. They enjoyed the freedom that most modern ironborn could only dream of as they struggled for life back on the isles. It was a glorious period of time.

Until he died.

Or perhaps he didn’t truthfully die, he doesn’t know as he can’t recall the event fully nor does he care to dwell upon it. He remembers the essentials though. Katsa created her own chaos that erupted like wildfire. And before any could see it coming, before any could put a stop to it, they found themselves in a dire situation with only one logical option for escape. Marko paid the iron price that day, and in exchange he saw to I that his crew survived to see another day.

“What is dead may never die.” Those words haunted Marko for the first few weeks of his rebirth. He awoke in a temple of the divine R’hllor and for a time was in disbelief when told by priests that he had been resurrected to serve some divine purpose, some plan that was unbeknownst to him. But the deep diagonal scar that trails the entirety of his torso made a believer out of him, for no man could simply sleep off such a grave injury. And thus was the process of leaving an ironbron male alone in Essos and confused about what he believed as far as his faith and understanding of the world.

The iron in his veins prevented him from doing anything besides thriving however. And he endured and prospered in such an environment like none before him would have imagined. Travelling to Braavos , he would become the First Sword and held the position for over a decade, serving a multitude of sealords.

Several years ago, a name was whispered into his ear and he felt a fire set to his veins and the desire to continue his residence in Braavos completely extinguished. Katsa. News of her newfound life in Dorne stirred more than a jealousy in the male and soon enough he set sail and returned to Westeros, although he didn’t immediately set out to find his former friend. Instead he opted to make a name for himself and wait for her to come to him. He formed a small band of outlaws that has since grown into the brigade it is today, a ragtag group of ‘scum’ dubbed the Brotherhood Without Banners. He revels in his lifestyle, enjoying making a mockery of the Westerosi customs. All the while, waiting.
you do not start with anything! this section will be edited upon being awarded magic or powers.

[b]ONE PIECE, dracule mihawk[/b] as [i]marko harlaw[/i]