Marius: The Dwarven Ranger Who Defies Expectations in Avowed!

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In the game Avowed, players assume the character of The Envoy, who is dispatched by the Aedyran Empire to explore the Living Lands and expand its power while uncovering the truth about the Dreamscourge. Since The Envoy has no prior experience in the Living Lands, a guide is essential. Enter Marius, who plays a significant role in this story. The game Avowed introduces four companions: Kai, a former soldier; Giatta, a scholar of souls; Yatzli, an historically-obsessed wizard; and the wilderness guide, Marius, who assists The Envoy through their journey in the Living Lands.

Marius is a native dwarf from the secluded Pargrun keep of Solace, nestled within the treacherous Galawain’s Tusks region in The Living Lands. This area is as tough to navigate as it sounds, earning its reputation as the most unforgiving part of The Living Lands. To survive here requires an intricate knowledge of the land or face certain death. Marius mastered this harsh environment swiftly, adapting not only to Galawain’s Tusks but also thriving across The Living Lands. Despite his proficiency, he finds it challenging to connect with others, even the companions in Avowed. A recent interview with senior narrative designer Jay Turner, associate narrative designer Katie Tenney, and narrative designer Paul Kirsch delved into what drives Marius’ complex personality.

Making Marius

According to Turner’s account, Marius started off quite modestly. Initially, he was envisioned as a character with hunter/warden skills and rogue traits. However, as the developers delved deeper into his creation, Marius evolved into an exceptional individual excelling in his role as a guide within The Living Lands. Interestingly, despite his proficiency, he feels uneasy venturing beyond that particular area of expertise. This character development continued, with Turner revealing that Marius’ discomfort extends even further.

Through his profession, he found himself living on the fringes of society, growing increasingly at ease in solitude. For me, Marius’ development is deeply personal, and I eagerly anticipate that players will find him as intriguing and complex as I do.

As Marius evolved in his part within The Living Lands, his general character, individual storyline, and significant role in the narrative unfolded. Turner elaborated that each companion’s personal journey intertwines directly with the main plot. In essence, the principal direction of Avowed‘s narrative is primarily a component of each companion’s personal mission. Given the impact of the Dreamscourge on the diverse realms Marius leads travelers through, it becomes clear how they are connected. However, there are additional aspects to this for most companions, Turner added, noting that “the companions are all present because they deeply care about the Envoy’s mission.” Although it may take some time to see how much Marius cares in the early stages, this is a separate matter entirely.

Though many aspects of his character were established initially, he developed greater complexity during the writing stage. A significant factor in this development was the other characters in the story, particularly the companions of Marius, who are known as the Avowed. It’s often through contrast that we truly understand a character, and this was certainly the case with Marius as his interactions with others revealed much about his reactions, concerns, and so forth. As Turner put it, these encounters provided valuable insights into how Marius would behave in various situations.

My primary focus was ensuring Marius came across as a witty but not annoying deadpan character. This goal became more achievable when other companions joined the scene.

Marius and Other Avowed Companions

Since a significant part of Marius’ identity stems from his relationships with others, it was only natural for us to inquire about his interactions with the other Avowed companions. Turner elaborated on Marius’ sentiments towards his fellow companions.

  • Kai: “Marius and Kai are old “buddies,” having worked together before in Marius’ work as a wilderness guide. Marius wouldn’t admit it out loud, but he has a lot of respect for Kai, even if the aumaua soldier can be a bit talky and overly curious from time to time.”
  • Giatta: “Marius and Giatta have a sort of distant respect. Marius has no idea what to make of souls or animancy or any of that, but he knows Giatta’s a whiz with that stuff, and that’s all he needs (or cares) to know. Giatta can tell that Marius has some old wounds she can maybe help him with, but she respects him enough not to pry further than he’d like.”
  • Yatzli: “Marius has no idea how to handle Yatzli. She’s curious, nosy, inappropriate, and quick-witted, whereas he’d rather be left alone. If you listen to them banter in camp, however, you might find a curious friendship between them (and some fun interactions).”

Besides sharing some insights on Marius’s relationships, Tenney and Kirsch also provided some personal perspectives. For instance, Tenney clarified that Yatzli often playfully teases Marius, which she considers as a form of platonic encouragement. On the other hand, Kirsch mentioned that Giatta expresses worry about Marius, even going as far as stating that she perceives in him a lively spirit burdened by old wounds.

To put it another way, Turner noted that Marius was likely to be chosen as “The one most likely to ignore you after you’ve taken his special cheese” in a character competition. This shows that he’s got depth.

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2025-02-17 19:05