Markus Magnum
| Markus Magnum | ||||||||||
| Player: @Markus Magnum | ||||||||||
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| Commission By @timdoodles [Twitter] | ||||||||||
| Character Build | ||||||||||
| Origin: | Mutation | |||||||||
| Archetype: | Blaster | |||||||||
| Security Level: | 50 | |||||||||
| Biographical Data | ||||||||||
| Real Name: | Aleksey Rumyantsev | |||||||||
| Known Aliases: | Gunslinger Ursa Major-117 | |||||||||
| Age: | Mid-30s [Estimate-Records Loss] | |||||||||
| Gender: | Male | |||||||||
| Species: | Augmented Human | |||||||||
| Ethnicity: | East Slavic | |||||||||
| Birthdate: | [Uncertain-Records Loss] | |||||||||
| Birthplace: | Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation [Praetoria] | |||||||||
| Relatives: | * Aleksandr [Father] [Deceased]
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| Characteristics | ||||||||||
| Height: | 7' | |||||||||
| Weight: | 285 lbs | |||||||||
| Eyes: | Slate Blue | |||||||||
| Hair: | Black | |||||||||
| Complexion: | Tan | |||||||||
| Physical Build: | Heavily Muscular | |||||||||
| Physical Features: | * Maintains a closely-trimmed beard
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| Status | ||||||||||
| Alignment: |
Chaotic Neutral | |||||||||
| Reputation: |
Big-time | |||||||||
| Identity: | Secret [Known only to a few] | |||||||||
| Years Active: | [REDACTED BY FBSA-GIFT/Vanguard HELM] | |||||||||
| Base of Operations: | Paragon City, RI | |||||||||
| Citizenship: | United States [Provisional] | |||||||||
| Education: | [REDACTED BY FBSA-GIFT/Vanguard HELM] | |||||||||
| Occupation: | * Security Analyst
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| Marital Status: | Partnered | |||||||||
| Known Powers and Abilities | ||||||||||
* Dual Pistols
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| Confidential | ||||||||||
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| ReldinBox Template | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Every man has his secret sorrows, which the world knows not; And oftentimes we call a man cold when he is only sad.'
- - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Longbow Interview 7742-Gamma Timestamp 00:05
[Interview Transcripts - both typed and video-recorded - authorized by Praetorian Refugee 'Makwa']
Makwa sits comfortably in a well-used recliner. He decorated his apartment in a way that was sparse but orderly. There is a lot of floor space, with most furniture hugging the walls.
His posture is one of a man who is constantly listening - his head cocked to one side, his posture ram-rod straight despite his advanced age. His hair is much longer now than when he first came to Paragon City, and cascades over Makwa’s shoulders and the tribal-print shawl wrapped around his narrow shoulders. There are many streaks of iron grey in his otherwise raven hair, and a stern resolve in his posture. There are also many laugh-lines on a face otherwise accustomed to serenity. His blind eyes stare at the opposite wall. Today, though, his demeanor has only become more solemn.
Makwa: “Hello, Agent.”
Agent X: “Hello, Makwa. Thank you for seeing me today.”
Makwa’s blind eyes suddenly shift to look directly at Agent X. There a long moment of silence.
Makwa: “You know, I never listened to ‘Frankenstein’ until I came to Primal Earth. The Ministry of Intelligence’s Office of Information Integrity had banned that book years ago in Praetoria. I have come to greatly love the audiobooks provided by the Paragon City University library system.”
Agent X: “Umm…”
Makwa: “I am not surprised though; a book which says ‘Just because science says we *can* do this thing, doesn’t mean we *should* do this thing,’ is certainly... questionable to any society built upon questionable sciences, wouldn’t you say Agent?”
Agent X: “That… that is very interesting, but—”
Makwa: *cuts off Agent X* “So. You want to know about Markus Magnum, do you? Hmm. Doesn’t your Federal Bureau of Super-powered Affairs already have a file on him?”
Agent X: “Yes, they do. But the Genetic Investigation and Facilitation Team’s analysis focuses more on his genetic mutations, his weapons, that sort of thing. I want to know what sort of man he is; his personality and so on. Provost Marchand has asked that we allow Markus Magnum to join the New Praetorians, so we’re consulting with those who have worked with him before.”
Makwa: “Well, he helped the Resistance and the exiles in First Ward greatly. Many owe their lives to Markus Magnum and his… nobility in action. His actions have given others an opportunity to atone for past crimes. Like the New Praetorians, yes? Considering his background, it’s astonishing to me, honestly.”
Agent X: “His… background?”
Makwa: His facial expression takes a faintly shrewd expression “Oh yes, Agent X. His background. The questions you've asked about him before today, that have never been answered. You know... the real reason you are here talking to me today.”
Makwa is silent for several moments, as if listening to something though the apartment is silent until the Bricktown Elevated Tram rattles by the building
Agent X: his one visible eye blinks in surprise “How did you know…?”
Makwa: smirks and huffs “Agent, shall we drop this pretense? You offered to gather information on Markus Magnum for Longbow, and yes, your official reason was true; to evaluate him for membership into the New Praetorians. And I have words to say about that. But you have an ulterior motive; to gather information on him because there are too many gaps in his FBSA-GIFT dossier, yes?”
Agent X: “There is that, yeah. But…” *takes a deep breath* “All right. While I could dance the ‘just how much does Makwa know’ interview jig, I’m just going to save time and assume that your… sources…” waves at the air “… are going to tell you everything in due time, anyway.”
Makwa: smirk fades “You are a smart man, Agent. Markus Magnum has walked a convoluted and painful road, full of horror. The spirits whisper the letters 'PME3' over and over again. Melodramatic, and only vaguely hints at the horrors he has had to endure, but... yes, that is a good name for our Russian Gunslinger’s timeline.”
Agent X: “Ah, his Malta connections.”
Makwa: nods slowly after a pause “Yes, there is that. Becoming a Malta Gunslinger was considered a natural fit, with his skills and they did save Aleksey on Kotlin Island after his parents and brother were murdered. Of course, the order was controversial since he is… Augmented? A Cape? Your Primal Earth terminology still confuses me sometimes.”
Agent X: “Well, the FSBA had him listed as a Villain, not a Cape, so… Augmented is as good a term as any."
Makwa: “But that wasn’t the first time he appeared on your… radar. The ‘terrorist bombing’ in Saint Petersburg was when his story on Primal Earth began. And that road has led him to your notice as Longbow’s spymaster, only to vanish, only to surface, disappear again, and then reappear in a place you never expected. Am I right, so far?”
Agent X: “You’re… not wrong.”
Makwa: “The longer you sit here, the more the Spirits and the Winds whisper about Markus Magnum.” another pause “Almost makes me wonder what Vanguard has on him. After all, didn’t the Dark Watcher work with Markus Magnum in Praetoria as well?”
Agent X: “Well… yes, he did… now, about the Malta Group and considering their disdain for ‘Capes’…”
Makwa: “…it made little sense that they would spend so much effort and the risk of exposure to save him, yes? And of course, the amount of coordination required to show up just as the bomb went off…”
Agent X: “…led a lot of investigators - especially from Russia’s FSB to believe that Malta had been behind the attack. But if that were true, then…”
Makwa: “…why rescue Markus Magnum from their own assassination attempt? And that didn’t even explain…”
Agent X: “…the Kholat Sakyl video dump…”
Makwa: “…which came out right after the bombing…”
Agent X: “…all of which made the FSB’s official report blaming Malta very suspicious. Then he just dropped out of sight. We didn’t see him again until…”
Makwa: “Galaxy City. That poor man. The Path of PM-E3 had always been unforgiving.” *He sighs, his face becoming mask of sorrow for a long moment* “He was going to propose that day. Had bought a set of rings. The fires destroyed them. Melted into slag, right in his hands - just like the district itself…”
Agent X: *pauses, then shakes his head slowly in realization* “It was his left hand, wasn’t it?”
Makwa: *nods slowly* “Blue Spectrum - Jason - was going to say, ‘yes’. Instead he became just another casualty, memorialized in black stone, and stitched in black ink on our Russian Gunslinger's left arm.”
Agent X: “We’ve been able to gather a little bit of intel on that. We didn’t know the proposal angle, but… Blue Spectrum? But why did Markus…?” *he pauses* “‘My training activated, then’. Oh. Oh, my God.”
Makwa: "You spoke to Markus Magnum, then."
Agent X: "A year ago. He was... Dr. Sheridan was running performance tests on his abilities. Even then, he was not happy to see me... again"