Madboots Marly

Madboots is a veteran of the seas and an expert in 'trade' and martial combat, strongly affiliated to the Ancestors of Chaos. He has a soft spot for gold and an unhealthy love of plunder. He is a Pinnacle of Erdreja and a Paragon of Strength.

He is weatherbeaten and physically strong. His ship, Das Boot, is bedecked with gibbets on chains filled with dead Sea Captains reanimated in eternal torment. Her sails, once crimson but now a sea-worn pink, were dyed in blood. It is rumoured that Madboots' crew is made up of undead controlled by Necromancy.

Madboots is one of the most feared fighters in Erdreja. He won the ambidextrous short weapon title at the Heartland Games three years running. He has also won the polearm contest and has been the Gryphons' gladiatorial champion. His choice of armour varies; however in seaborne combat and tournament fighting he wears leather protection in the form of a pouldron on his leading shoulder and upper arm, a cuisse on his thigh, vambraces on his forearms and a protective girdle, but otherwise forgoes armour in favour of his speed and weapons skills.

Following the retirement of his ship's Necromancer, Madboots decided to eschew combat skills to a large degree and throw himself into the study of Magecraft. He is a member of the Corruptors Guild and a practitioner of Shadow Magic, able to control his undead crew by his own will and magical ability. Ashore, he dons silks in back and red with mystical designs threaded in gold. He backs uo his Mage Armour with vambraces, couters for his elbows, poleyns for his knees and greaves on his shins. Madboots' weapon of choice is a bladed polearm of exotic origins.

Madboots is the Chosen One of the Cult of Areshcigal, following her as his Ancestor and is an Awakened human. On the Saturday of the Gathering in 1122, Madboots was taken by a Rapture, which transpired to be a visitation from Areshcigal. The Ancestor declared him to be a Pinnacle of Erdreja and a Paragon of Strength, granting him the gift of Luck. Twice a day, for a year, no matter how badly injured Madboots was - even to the point of incapacity - he could rise fully healed of all injuries, ailments and diseases and with any damaged armour and weapons fully restored and whole.

Since First Mate Madzinas was given his own command, Madboots is now, allegedly, the only living being (or 'Breather', as those who are alive are contemptuously known by the unliving) on his ship. Still, at least he still has his zombie cabin boy, Rotting Robbie. Nice lad. Smells a bit, though. Could do with a wash and a scrub. Not a good idea, though. He'd probably fall to pieces.

Man the ballistas and load the chain, for tonight we catch large prey - Quote from Madboots Marly from his book Feeding the Dead