Name: Maku of the Quiet Mark
Race: Human
Class/Role: Monk (Way of Shadow) 9
Appearance: Maku is a striking figure cloaked in loose-fitting robes of charcoal and obsidian, tailored to maximize mobility and silence. His most notable feature is a crisp, crimson fez embroidered with a subtle black "M" sigil on its front—a signature seen only by those fast enough to live through an encounter. His movements are precise and fluid, as if each motion is choreographed. A cloth mask covers the lower half of his face when on the job, and his eyes are always scanning—calm, calculating, but alert like a coiled spring. His presence carries both grace and an unshakable edge.
Backstory
Raised in the back alleys of Evenfall, Maku was the orphaned son of a once-revered performer. Streetwise, fast-handed, and razor-focused, he was eventually taken in by the Veiled Palm, a monastic order hidden beneath the city’s crumbling amphitheater. There, he studied the Way of Shadow, blending discipline with deception. Maku became their prodigy—the “Quiet Mark”—a title given only to those who walk the thin thread between assassin and protector. He now works as a courier of dangerous truths and a weapon of balance. He doesn’t kill for pleasure—he moves so others don’t have to.
Personality
- “No sound. No scene. No mistake.”
- Disciplined: Every action serves a purpose.
- Wryly Humorous: Dry, quick wit when he does speak.
- Principled: Follows a strict personal code of conduct, even in morally gray work.
Gear and Loot
- Red Fez of the Quiet Mark (nonmagical, but recognized by spies and monks as a sign of status)
- Black silk wraps enchanted for silence (flavor only)
- Smoke pellets (3 uses; create lightly obscured 10-ft. cloud)
- Gold toothpick (worth 10 gp)
- Simple collapsible quarterstaff (ironwood, counts as monk weapon)
- Satchel of dried fruit, incense sticks, and a miniature prayer stone
- Letter sealed with wax bearing a secret contract from an unknown noble house
Adventure Hooks
- Maku approaches the party silently, dropping a sealed contract: someone’s after them.
- A criminal syndicate has put a price on Maku’s head, and he needs help clearing his name.
- The Veiled Palm sends Maku to observe the party—will he aid, report, or intervene?
- A heist gone wrong has Maku separated from an item he was hired to retrieve—he needs subtle muscle.
- A rival monk has stolen a sacred movement kata scroll, and Maku wants it recovered quietly.
Roleplaying Tips
- Speak only when necessary; use body language and silence for impact.
- Emphasize visual presence: adjusting the fez, folding arms, disappearing into shadows.
- Use a soft, dry tone—sometimes ironic, never loud.
- Treat combat as a dance, moving precisely, fluidly, never wasting movement.
- When questioned, often answer with another question or cryptic wisdom.
Maku of the Quiet Mark is a monk of style, silence, and deadly precision. With a crimson fez and flowing movements, he acts as a scalpel in a world of hammers. Guided by a strict code and honed in urban shadows, he’s an ideal ally—or ghostly threat—for adventurers operating in Veridya’s dens of intrigue or Eldervast’s lawless enclaves. Don’t blink—you might miss him.
