Welcome to Gaia! ::

...:: Marlene Rhodes, a.k.a. "Tawny" ::...

This is the log of Tawny Rhodes. Please keep your filthy hands off, on pain of death.

1. Johnny's Post
2. Contents
3. Tawny's Biographical Information (Raw Basics)
4. Basic Data (Before Becoming a Pirate)
5. History (Since becoming a Pirate)
6. Acquaintances
7. Allies
8. Enemies
9. Candid Moments (Official and Unofficial Art)
10. Investments (Inventory)
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Life Story (Before Becoming a Pirate)

Marlene "Tawny" Rhodes was most certainly an unwelcome Christmas gift. Born on December 25th, Year of our Lord 16XX, her mother almost just left her in the snow. Sally was a 15 year old prostitute, and earned her living with sailors, soldiers, and townsmen alike. Luckily for Marlene, her eyes marked her as the daughter of the local tavernsmaster, Eric. Sally used the baby as leverage to convince the man to marry her. Unluckily for Eric, this did not stop Sally's prostitution. When Marlene was 10 months old, blonde, blue-eyed Lucy was born. When Marlene was two, she acquired little brothers, twins, William and Rory. And the last child born to Sally was Sarah.

Marlene's oldest memory was her mother and father arguing. 22 year old Sally was drunk, and screaming, and 50 year old Eric was stoic and stern, as always. Her mother was throwing the dubious paternity of her younger children into Eric's face, and Marlene would remember the crack of her father's hand across Sally's face, sending the young prostitute's head to the side. She and Eric would never speak again, and two years later, they would hear that their mother had been murdered while on a job.

Eric was not a smart man, by any means, but nor was he stupid. He had known the paternity of his children, and knew only Marlene was his... and even that was in doubt, sometimes. The shade of her hair, the tilt to her eyes... but the color was all his. He had loved Sally, and so he had said nothing about the other children. Had done his best to be a good husband, convince Sally to stop. Until that night. It was something he'd always regret.

Marlene was nine when her mother died, and old enough to help Da in the bar. Lucy, 8, took care of the twins and Sarah, though they would all help out in the bar sometimes. The five of them grew up fast, listening to the stories told by grizzled warriors and sailors, feeding on secrets whispered in dark corners. Marlene took to listening to the warriors, learning knife-throwing thricks, and how to win a bar fight. Lucy turned to more... womanly... pursuits. Like their mother, sneaking into the back with customers when Eric was not being attentive.

Lucy was pregnant at age 13, and did not survive the birth. It was hard on all of them. The twins took on jobs- William apprenticed himself to the blacksmith, and Rory joined the royal navy. Sarah and Marlene remained at home, helping their father run the tavern. Anyone who thought either of them may sell more than ale met with a fist- neither young woman would put up with the thought.

By 17, Marlene was accomplished with the daggers, and could take out some of the visitors in a barfight. She was a tomboy, to her little sister's despair. Sarah married that year, to the blacksmith's son. That was two weeks before they recieved word that Rory had died at sea. His body had vanished. So much loss, in only a few short years... Eric closed the tavern, and moved to the city, taking Marlene with him. She intended to care for him, but she fell in love with the sea.

She took on a job at the local bar, where she would watch, listen, and scout for opportunities. She started to learn to use a pistol, learned to dance, to play cards, and enjoy her job away from her protective father. Learned to flirt, but never gained a reputation for being easy. Then, a month before her 19th birthday, her father passed in his sleep, at the age of 62. Neither Bill nor Sarah would come to the funeral, but they sent a letter. Marlene got all of her father's savings. She would go to the sea.

The Navy might not take her... but the pirates would.

She left behind her name, Marlene Rhodes, and went by her nickname, Tawny. Her father's old pistol, his life savings, and her throwing daggers were all she kept, and she boarded the Dementia, mere hours before it would take off.

June 15th, 16XX. Marlene Rhodes died, and in her place, was Tawny.