Mearkis Rotsteiner was an Aenarin, a Half-Elf, born on the outskirts of Cherafir, Melderyn, in TR24, during the very early years of the formation of the Kingdom of Melderyn. His father was a Sindarin emissary and his mother a courtesan from Meokolis with connections to local nobility. Mearkis was much smaller and weaker than his peers as a child, but much more clever. He found refuge from the physical bullying in sneaking around the hallways, backways, hidden passages, alleyways, and attics of the myriad buildings in Cherafir and , especially those connected with the wealthy and powerful. He listened and learned - languages, the games of court intrigue, and the rhythm of power. By the time Mearkis reached his mid-teen years he had secured a position as manservant to a lesser noble in the Cherafir court, Sir Basal Chorlon, Baron of Wharo.
Over the next two decades Mearkis honed his ability to make his services indispensable to his employer. He was especially adept at acquiring information. While he never aspired to join the Lia-Kavair he nevertheless taught himself many of the skills normally employed by the brothers and sisters of that guild. He learned how to disguise himself, take on new personae or copy those of others, blend in and be unnoticed, and gain access to places and things that were locked or hidden from most. He avoided conflict to the extent possible, but learned to fight with ruthless precision. His preferred weapon was the rapier, but a dagger would do fine in very close quarters. He travelled regularly between Cherafir and Wharo.
As Mearkis' services became more valuable to his patrons he began to acquire mastercrafted items to enhance his work - among them a swordcane that concealed a rapier with a pipe for a pommel, a collection of lens devices, and a set of tam, cummerbund, and livery vest that matched in the colors of black with gold embroidery depicting a unicorn rampant with vine patterns surrounding - the heraldic colors and achievement of the Great Clan Chorlon. The Baron's wife was a quite talented Shek P'Var, so Mearkis learned through his illicit observations that well-made items could be enchanted and then imbued with magical properties. Mearkis subtly hinted to Sir Basal that he was interested in making himself more useful to the Knight's intrigues by obtaining better … tools. Sir Basal quickly recognized that this could be a win-win situation, especially if he could make it worth his wife's while to do the work. By the end of another decade Mearkis had obtained minor enchantments on each of his prized possessions: aa vest, a swordcane, a pipe, a magnifying glass, a telescope, and a monocle.
Within another decade the first Baron of Wharo, Sir Basal Chorlon, passed away. Sir Basal's son, Basal II, had little love for Mearkis, thinking him a purveyor of subterfuge against his father. Mearkis read the writing on that wall long before his benefactor passed, and resigned his position to enroll in the Chantry of Arcane Lore in Cherafir.
Mearkis prospered in his studies, and eventually as a talented Shek P'Var Master. Mearkis put much of his time, magic, and treasure into strengthening his enchanted possessions, combing multiple pieces into one, and imbuing them with more power. During this time he also engaged in extensive research of the archives in the Chantry. He eventually accepted an offer of employment as Clan Wizard and Counselor to Sir Shobald of Shosel. In TR105 Mearkis accompanied Sir Shobald in his campaign to unite the warring kingdoms of mixed Lythian and Jarin heritages around the Ulmerien Valley in Northern Melderyn. With his skills in spying, fighting, and arcane arts, combined with his unique and powerful enchanted items, Mearkis was instrumental in helping Sir Shobald learn critical strategic and tactical information and quickly win the war. In TR160 King Shobald I of Chybisa granted Mearkis his own floor in the cellar of the new Shobald Tower on an island in the Ulmerian River, to build his laboratory and library.
Mearkis set out to become a Grey Wizard, to master each of the six schools of the Shek P'Var. Tragedy struck for the wizard in TR162 when he lost control of a summoning spell. He ported in more water elementals than he could handle, and barely escaped with his life. He sealed off the cellar, advised King Shobald that no one should attempt to enter the cellar, and left for Cherafir post haste. In Cherafir he locked his journals away and prepared for battle.
When Mearkis teleported back into his cellar he was unprepared for what he met. He had been hasty closing the portal when he fled, and more entities from the Plane of Water had wondered in. In the ensuing fight, Mearkis destroyed all of the creatures except for two Water Elementals before he succumbed to his wounds.
Today Mearkis is a dormant Deathlock lying on the floor of the flooded cellar of Caer Shobald, bones wrapped in the finery of Chorlon's Livery and the algae lined mundane clothing he wore when he died. He clutches his swordcane in his right hand, its scabbard attached to his belt on the left hip bone. His lens sits clipped to his belt by the right hip, and his spellbook sits open on the crumbling table next to him. Mearkis will awake if anyone touches any of his possessions. He will declare, in Azeryian, "Who dares enter my laboratory and touch my wares?" ("Wer wagt es, mein Labor zu betreten und meine Waren anzufassen?") He will fight intruders until they leave or are all dead.
Mearkis is a creature in the Clear Caer Shobald quest.