Age: Staff Archives - Marked Larp

49: S. McDonald // Network

Subject: Combined Power Use
Power: Link Perceptions

You were working as an intern in multinational company when you developed your Mark. You could feel other people’s minds and even found you could hack into them, making people aware of each other’s sensations: you kind of knew this was wrong, but found it thrilling. Your secret was discovered and you were committed to a hospital, where you met Ruan. When Dr. Mistry brought you to the Academy you appreciated the training, but you didn’t like the rules she laid down. You value absolute freedom above all else, so long as it doesn’t restrict another’s freedom. On the other hand you also crave power. You don’t care if that power comes with peace or with war; for you it is not a means to an end – you don’t really mind if society accepts the Marked or not, you just want authority because it feels good. All you want is to come out on top. If the hero thing’s working for you, you’ll be a hero. If it’s not, you’ll be a villain. It wasn’t a difficult decision for you to leave when the time came. But when Dr. Mistry unexpectedly contacted you and asked you to fight against the Beacons of Purity you saw an opportunity to protect freedom and perhaps to gain back some of the authority you had before. Despite your differences, Dr. Mistry’s death was a great tragedy and you mourn her. But at the same time it leaves an opportunity for change – a chance to do things differently in the Academy. That’s why you agreed to stay on and teach ‘Combined Power Use’. You will make your presence felt, and lead the Academy in a new direction.

49: S. McDonald // Network Read More »

50: P. Mukherjee // Showstealer

Age: Staff, Origin: The Remarkable Marked Alliance, Training Team: Tempest /

Subject: Marked History
Power: Fireworks

Mukherjee grew up just outside Bradford, the youngest and most volatile of three siblings. When they found their Mark, nobody was surprised when their power turned out to be fireworks. But when their experiments with their powers caused a near-fatal fire, they left home and resolved to find out how to truly control themselves. Their first real test was meeting O’Reilly, but they were losing against them when Dr Mistry showed up. After a tense stand-off the three of them headed back to the Academy, but Mukherjee has never forgotten or truly forgiven it. They joined the Remarkable Marked Alliance as soon as they could, calmer but no less stubborn, and specialise in causing distractions. They are well-liked by the students for their quick sense of humour (which has gotten the whole team into hot water several times), but Dr Mistry’s death has sobered them. Without her, Mukherjee isn’t sure what to do next for the first time in their life.

Content warnings: Fire, being cut off from family/friends

50: P. Mukherjee // Showstealer Read More »

51: B. Mahelona // Songbird

Age: Staff, Origin: The New Heroes, Training Team: Lightning /

Subject: Power Control
Power: Power Dampening

Mahelona was born on Oahu, Hawai’i to a small, loving family, and if you believe their father, Mahelona was born singing. Mahelona’s Mark first appeared during a school recital, where they sang in front of a packed house. Mahelona’s power travels through their voice, shutting down the abilities of other Marked, but when not kept under control it can do so much more. The audience convulsed and fell into unconsciousness as Mahelona’s song echoed throughout the auditorium.

Mistry Academy came to Mahelona’s aid. Though they would never be able to sing again without unleashing their power, the Academy helped Mahelona find the strength to harness their abilities. They quickly made friends with the other students at the Academy, and happily volunteered for every “field trip” mission.

When Mahelona and the others were drafted into the battle with Beacon, they were happy for the chance to prove that they could help others. Instead, it all went horribly wrong; Mahelona froze in the moment and now Dr. Mistry is dead. In the wake of that death, Mahelona has returned to the Academy as a teacher to try and pass on the lessons that Dr. Mistry taught them, and to maybe atone for the fact that they couldn’t prevent her death.

51: B. Mahelona // Songbird Read More »

52: O. Watson // Guise

Age: Staff, Origin: The Original Marked Alliance, Training Team: Blizzard /

Subject: Marked Biology
Power: Chameleon

You were always good at hiding. All you had to do was change your skin to blend in with your surroundings. This was good, because your Mark developed early and the kids at school were relentless in their teasing. It was also why the agents never found you when they came for you at your university halls. You were in the first year of your Biochemistry degree when that happened. But you couldn’t hide from Dr. Mistry when she sought you out. She convinced you to go with her only by promising to teach you biochemistry. And she taught you a lot – enough to fill a dozen PhDs. You only ever used your gift when absolutely necessary, and you never much liked the fighting aspect of the Alliance. When McDonald left following the bridge incident, the time seemed right to reassess your prospects. You decided to make your own path too. You have a family now with a non-Marked spouse, and you hold a prestigious research position at a top university. When you got the call recently from Dr. Mistry saying that she needed you in the fight against Beacon, you did not want to join. Only when she said that Dias would be fighting too did you know that you couldn’t refuse – they are like a younger sibling to you and you would do anything to protect them. In the devastating aftermath of that battle, you agreed to step in to teach ‘Marked Biology’ temporarily.

Content warning: Bullying

52: O. Watson // Guise Read More »

53: K. O’Reilly // The Chimera

Age: Staff, Origin: The Remarkable Marked Alliance, Training Team: Monsoon /

Subject: Power Ethics
Power: Telepathy

O’Reilly grew up in Derry in the 1980s, right in the middle of The Troubles. The constant barrage of fear, pain, grief, and confusion was nightmarish. It culminated in them discovering the other side of their power: when they came across a fight, they told them all to stop – and they did, dropping dead on the spot. O’Reilly decided to use their power to end all conflict forever. They were almost inside the Houses of Parliament before being stopped by Mukherjee and Dr Mistry; but not before leaving a string of bodies across the Irish Sea. Once they entered the Academy and could protect themselves from everyone else’s thoughts, they began thinking clearly again. They put their hopes into education and diplomacy – two things that they saw making a positive difference for their students every day – and ignored the attacks from the press demanding their arrest. However, that hope has been shaken since Dr Mistry was killed. O’Reilly is beginning to wonder if the high road is worth it.

Content warnings: Sensory overload, PTSD and war

53: K. O’Reilly // The Chimera Read More »

54: R. Haley // Spriggan

Age: Staff, Origin: The New Heroes, Training Team: Drizzle /

Subject: Survival
Power: Bark Skin

Haley can still remember the exact moment it happened. Walking home from the pub in Cork City, Ireland, a sandwich dangling from their hand, thinking back on the good craic, when a bus just came out of nowhere and plowed into them! The next thing Haley knew, they were upside down, their skin was made of bark, and they’d even grown tiny roots into the ground. Dr. Mistry found Haley hiding in the woods a week later, an axe stuck in their butt by a very confused camper, and brought them to the Mistry Academy.

The Academy taught Haley how to live with their new body, and how to use their barky exterior and weird roots to help. And help they would. The battle against Beacon was a dismal failure; but it taught Haley one thing: how dangerous the world is. Haley’s learned that final lesson well, and they’ve returned to the Academy to pass that lesson on to the next generation of students.

Still miss that sandwich though.

Content warning: Physical deformity

54: R. Haley // Spriggan Read More »

55: H. Ruan // Remembrance

Age: Staff, Origin: The Original Marked Alliance, Training Team: Heatwave /

Subject: De-escalation and No-powers Self Defence
Power: Unlock Memories

You were an aspiring actor training at drama school. When doing emotion memory exercises you discovered that you were able to see people’s memories and will them to remember more. When you explained this, your friends just thought you meant you were particularly empathetic. It wasn’t until you caused a classmate to have a nervous breakdown by unlocking their past trauma that anyone thought you were dangerous. All the classmate would say was “Ruan was inside my head!” You were committed to a hospital close to where your family lived, where you met McDonald. Dr. Mistry tracked you down and brought you both to live with her and the strange, brooding teenager Dias. You respected Dr. Mistry, but you would always get drawn into mischief with McDonald – they were your best friend after all, plus it was fun! Fighting crime as part of the Alliance was an important duty, and one which you would have continued if it was deemed necessary. But you were relieved when Dr. Mistry said that it was no longer an option. Your new duty was to train a new generation, to make sure the same mistakes didn’t happen again and for you this is a better way to succeed in shaping a future for the Marked. That’s why you stayed on at the Academy to teach ‘De-escalation and No-Powers Self Defense’. You enjoy teaching, but sometimes you long for the old days, especially getting up to mischief with McDonald. In Dr. Mistry you have lost a mentor and a close friend, and you know that now more than ever it is important to uphold the ideals she taught you.

55: H. Ruan // Remembrance Read More »

56: R. Blum // Admiral

Age: Staff, Origin: The Remarkable Marked Alliance, Training Team: Hurricane /

Subject: Combat Strategy
Power: Explosively Charge Objects

For a long time, Blum didn’t realise that they were using their power. Being in the US Army meant that a lot of things exploded regularly. But then they lost their partner in an explosion caused by Blum’s powers. Their trauma was obvious, so they took an honourable discharge without arguing. They found Dr Mistry on a list of experts in the Marked phenomenon, and decided to join the Academy to help ensure that no one else causes such a tragedy. Despite a reputation as the grumpiest teacher, Blum is fiercely devoted to their students, and still has a good reputation in the wider world. Becoming a teacher gave them a useful role to fulfil, and joining the Remarkable Marked Alliance helped them feel that they could redeem themselves. The Academy is their life now, and they will protect it as long as they can.

Content warnings: War, violent death of partner

56: R. Blum // Admiral Read More »

57: Q. Oliveira // Jury-rig

Age: Staff, Origin: The New Heroes, Other Staff /

Position: Computer Technician
Power: Gadgets

Oliveira’s super-intelligence doesn’t come from any Mark; it comes from their parents. You see, Oliveira’s mother is from Northeast Philadelphia, and their father is from Gliese 667 Cc. Growing up with super-intelligence was tough, especially in the American public school system. Oliveira often felt disconnected from their fellow students, and their teachers couldn’t keep up with them. Standing out felt uncomfortable, so Oliveira just did the bare minimum. They found their joy online, absorbing incredible amounts of information and just learning everything and anything there was to learn. After a couple of years of reading all of the internet they noticed something that no one else had: a hole in the information, something intentionally missing. Oliveira was able to discern its shape and purpose from what was lacking – a hidden world of superpowered people, and a school for them. So they texted Dr. Anya Mistry and asked her if they could come to school there.

The Mistry Academy became their home, but it also became their project. Olivera saw each student’s abilities as a new opportunity to test their skills. They crafted the holo-emitters and personal assistants that dot the school grounds. They designed the special gear that the Marked Alliance used in the field.

They saw the battle with Beacon first hand, saw all of the death and the bloodshed. This all needs to stop, and they might be the only person smart enough to invent a solution.

57: Q. Oliveira // Jury-rig Read More »

58: F. Dias // Tremor

Age: Staff, Origin: The Original Marked Alliance, Other Staff /

Position: Groundskeeper
Power: Earthquakes

They say that you were too aggressive, that you didn’t know how to control your gift properly. Perhaps it was your childhood, neglected and tumultuous, or perhaps it is the rush you feel when you see the ground shake at your command. Dr. Mistry found you when you were just a teenager. Your Mark had only recently appeared but a moment of frustration and anger left half the family home in a sinkhole. Your rich, neglectful parents were only too happy to commit you to that centre for wayward youth, to wash their hands of you. It was Dr. Mistry who saved you, and cared for you in a way you had never known. She nurtured your talents and calmed you when things got too much to bear. You enjoyed fighting as part of the Alliance, though you felt that you weren’t always treated as an equal member, even though you were there first. You didn’t want to retire, but Dr. Mistry convinced you it was for the best. She cared for you and gave you the responsibility of maintaining the grounds of the Academy, in charge of defenses and security. And you loved and trusted her perhaps more than anyone. You don’t know what might happen now she is gone – now that those Beacons of Purity have taken her away from you.

Content warning: Childhood neglect

58: F. Dias // Tremor Read More »

59: B. Asumang // Delphi

Age: Staff, Origin: The Remarkable Marked Alliance, Other Staff /

Position: Librarian
Power: Predict Interweaving Consequences

One day, Asumang began seeing things that weren’t there, and nearly lost their mind. It took some time to realise that they were seeing potential futures. Asumang knew Dr Mistry from their university days, and decided that joining her Academy was the best way forward. They have lived at the Academy ever since, developing exercises for different powers and planning for every contingency. Asumang has been happy. But with the loss of Dr Mistry, they are in territory they prepared for but never expected. They certainly never wanted to be a leader, but as the oldest and longest-serving member of the Remarkable Marked Alliance, they don’t feel they have a choice (particularly with the press and the social media personalities immediately making very loud assumptions). They have to act the part now. They only hope they can guide the others to the right decisions, for everyone’s sake.

Content warnings: Death of a friend, mental health issues

59: B. Asumang // Delphi Read More »

60: M. Novak // Technique

Age: Staff, Origin: The New Heroes, Other Staff /

Position: School Medic
Power: Telekinesis

Novak’s childhood was spent in the foster care system. It was a tough childhood, the constant changing of homes and schools made it feel like nothing was stable. When their telekinesis first manifested and ripped the back off of a school bus, it just sealed Novak’s fate that they would never have a home.

The Mistry Academy proved Novak wrong. The teachers there showed Novak how to channel their abilities from torrents of crushing power into the finest and most elegant of touches. Just as Novak had been helped, they wanted to use their powers to help others, learning how to use their telekinetic skills with such finesse that they could literally conduct surgery with their mind.

Novak wasn’t ready for what was to come. The battle with Beacon left only death and destruction in its wake. All of the hope that had been instilled in Novak fled them, and in its absence grew one a dark and cold conviction–that war was coming, and the only way to win it was to fight the hardest. Novak has returned to the Academy to make soldiers for this coming war.

60: M. Novak // Technique Read More »