Proficiencies: Weapon: Group Swords, Longsword, Dagger, One-Handed style. Weapon of Choice: LongSword. Expertise: LongSword.
Non-weapon Proficiencies: Spellcraft (12), Cooking (12), Herbalism (11), Ancient History (9), Reading/Writing (13).

Class Modifiers: Armored Wizard (wear any type of armor and still cast spells), Bonus Spells, Combat Bonus (uses Priest THACO chart for combat).

Disadvantages: Powerful Enemy (see background).

Equipment: Leather vest, backpack: 2 flasks of oil, candle, spellbook, parchment, chalk, quill, ink, flint&steel, rope, needle & thread, 2 weeks iron rations, wineskin. 2 belts pouches (small), 2 large sacks. Cloak, breeches, belt, hard boots, gloves, wide-brimmed hat.

Weapons: LongSword, Dagger

History: Marik Nevard (real name Eldrin Galzar) is not your typical wizard. Marik was orphaned at the age of 6 when both his parents were killed by roaming bandits as the family was moving across country. The bandits decided to sell young Eldrin to a group of slave traders from Thay. He was rescued before making it to Thay by a group of adventurers lead by Rossak WarBlade and a female mage named Sarrask Goldenhair. The group was looking for a kidnapped daughter of a local Baron but were unable to find the girl. Rossak and Sarrask took pity on Eldrin and decided to take him with them to raise as their own son, leaving their companions to continue their search for the missing girl.

From his newfound parents Eldrin learned the crafts that he now plies daily to survive. Rossak taught the young man the art of war and at first how to wield a dagger and then as he grew, how to fight with a sword. Sadly though, the young boy did not grow into the man that his adoptive father was and did not have the strength to become a great warrior. Besides, his mother wanted the boy to be educated and although an accomplished swordsman at a young age, Eldrin excelled in learning. Sarrask immediately began teaching the boy the ways of the mage and Eldrin took to it like a moth to flame. Not wanting to disappoint his father, Eldrin continued his lessons in war but during these times he always kept his mind on the teachings of his mother and tried to find ways to work the magic that she was teaching him while wearing the cumbersome armor and weapons of his father.

For the next ten years, Eldrin lived happily with Rossak and Sarrask, learning from them daily as well as teaching them several things as well. The family had moved to an area just outside Voonlar and as such had several run-ins with agents of Zhentil Keep. Rossak and Sarrask, and now Eldrin even, had taken to protecting the local townspeople from agents of the Keep and as such had developed several enemies with the Zhent, most notably a high-level mage named Tenzil BlackEyes. One summer day while Rossak was off helping a local merchant by guarding his goods as he took them to market, Tenzil showed up at the home of Rossak and Sarrask. Having had enough of the meddling from the husband and wife, Tenzil was intent on destroying them (and stealing a number of the magical items that they had accrued over the years). Tenzil was able to come upon Sarrask and Eldrin unaware and he immediately set upon Sarrask, eventually killer her as Eldrin watched helplessly after being magically held by Tenzil. Having been angered that Rossak was not there for him to destroy as well, Tenzil turned Eldrin over to the local bron (sheriff) of Voonlar, a man named Buearstag Hlammythyl who was a puppet of the Zhentarim. Tenzil claimed that Eldrin had viciously murdered his adoptive mother and that Tenzil showed up too late to save her but in time to catch the murderer.

Then by magically manipulating the townspeople and pulling the strings on his puppet Buerstag, Tenzil worked the people up into a frenzy that wanted to hang the young man. With little resistance from the bron, the lynch mob took the boy and strung him up in the center of town. Luckily for Eldrin, Rossak showed up at this moment and after fighting off several of the town guards was able to free his adoptive son, literally cutting him free of the hangman's noose. Seeing the fury evident in the eyes of the warrior Rossak, Tenzil decided to save the fight for another day. Again manipulating the crowd, he had them turn on the warrior and his wounded son, trying to kill them on the spot as he fled. Rossak fought off the townspeople and the guards, killing several in the process but he and Eldrin were forced to flee the area. Tenzil then had Buerstag place a warrant for the arrest of Rossak and Eldrin for their assault on the citizens of Voonlar. After getting the boy to safety though, Rossak shortly died from the numerous wounds that he had received from the battle and Eldrin was forced to continue running on his own.

After burying his adoptive father, Eldrin packed up the possessions of his father that he could and he set out to travel the land, running from the authorities of Voonlar and Zhentarim agetns. He swore on his father's grave that he would exact vengeance on Buerstag and Tenzil but he knew that he was not powerful enough to achieve this yet. Therefore, he has set out to seek adventure and practice his art in an effort to one day defeat Tenzil. He is currently looking for a teacher of the arts who can speed along his training. He is also looking for hearty companions who can assist him in his efforts to destroy the Zhentarim. In order to stay alive and avoid the law, Eldrin adopted the name Marik Nevard and does not mention the name Eldrin or Rossak or Sarrask to anyone. Also, knowing that Tenzil searches for him, he tries to avoid the open use of his magical abilities, hoping that people looking for a young mage would not consider him to be one.

Description: Marik wears a long flowing cloak with a hood, as well as a vest of leather armor usually over a normal tunic and breeches. He also wears high riding boots and black gloves. Around his neck he wears a red scarf that covers the burn marks from his hanging. Marik never takes the scarf off in public or lets anyone know about the mark beneath it. Standing 5' 8" tall and of slim build, Marik is not an imposing sight. But what he lacks in size, he more than makes up in quickness. Many a bandit has lot his nerve after trying to bully Marik or thinking he was an easy kill after seeing the quickness and precision with which he wields his longsword, not to mention the other nasties that he can bestow on them is he so chooses. Marik has long, flowing black hair that he usually has gathered at the back of his neck in a silver clasp that was given to him by Sarrask. He has dark eyes and a deep tan from his journeys across the continent.