Goatherd

Goatherd

Courtier Spring Mantle ••

Beast Broadback

Played by Vice (Inactive)

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History

There are places in the city you can go to where, if you pay the right price, you can get whatever you need. This is Mark's domain, just another resource for people to use, whether it be his strength, his advice, his connections, or his body. If it gives you a rush, Mark will help you get it, as long as his fee is paid. His entire goal in life is to serve you.

However, there's more to Mark than you, or even he, knows about. There are days when his services are needed for a people he only has a vague idea of existence, but they know him. And Goatherd knows them. In the end, that's all that matters. There was a time, several years ago, before the puppet known as Mark wasn't known by anyone in the slums. For that matter, no one knew who Mark was. Before then, there was only Goatherd, and Goatherd knew only the Farms.

Goatherd was, and is, a satyr, slaving away in the lands of Gawain Greenhorn. Gawain was a nature Faerie who desired constantly for new entertainments, new workers. It was during one of these fits that he decided to leave Arcadia, and came across the young boy who would grow up to be Goatherd. At the time, Goatherd was still a human, a happy child who lived in a suburb bordered by the woods. The boy was an inquisitive and adventurous child whose spirit attracted Greenhorn.

Pretending to be in danger, he cried for the boy until his curiosity got the better of him. He began looking for Gawain in the underbrush, and not long after, the foliage became thicker, wilder. The boy realized then that he was no longer in his hometown. Gawain then came to him and took him for some time as a consort. The two made a contract, and after Gawain became bored with the boy, put him in charge of watching his flocks.

All but forgotten, the boy's only friends became the livestock, whom he shared his sorrows with until the memories faded away, and with them, humanity. He became more like his charges as the days passed, and saw fit to name himself Goatherd. It was on one of these days in the fields that his inquisitive nature got the better of him, when once again, another sound came from nearby woods. It was this time music. Something familiar, but unheard of since he'd come to Arcadia. He followed the sounds, and slowly, some memories returned. He could remember snatches of his old life as he followed the music, unknowingly going through the Hedge, into the world beyond.

It'd been twenty years since Goatherd had left his home, but he soon discovered only three days had passed in this world of men. He was no longer a boy, and could not return to his family. The continuing trauma caused his mortal memories to fragment, and in those first few days, the personality of Mark appeared, completely separate from, but somewhat controlled by, Goatherd.

The Changeling soon after found himself in the Spring Court of the city's Freehold, though one could barely call him a member. He made the contracts, yes, but the Beast soon found himself becoming more and more drawn to the outside world, which in turn floated along to the personality of Mark. Goatherd became a sort of underground broker for the Spring Court, trafficking whatever the Changelings needed, provided they paid the correct price. Mark, meanwhile, became more cunning in his day-to-day dealings, finding himself going from prostitute to drug dealer to pimp. Gangs and mobsters alike know and respect him. Some even utilize Mark before considering any other options. Goatherd/Mark still reside in the city slums, but they're much more comfortable than what they once were.