"I had this forged for me, by a certain swordsmith in Nippon. You call yourself a god, cousin. In Nippon, they say that if you meet a god, if he is real, he will be cut by this steel. It is the finest, sharpest steel that can be made in this world. A man can be cut by it and not know for several hours, such is its keenness. Don't worry, cousin. I'll make sure you know when it's time to die."
- —Markos von Carstein challenging his fellow Vampire Lord Mannfred von Carstein.[1e]
Markos von Carstein, the Magus Excelsior Noctis[2a]
Markos von Carstein, known as the "Magus Excelsior Noctis," is a Vampire Lord who travelled to the Far Eastern lands of Nippon and Grand Cathay after the defeat of Vlad von Carstein in the First Vampire War. He is a member of the infamous von Carstein bloodline, which is renowned for its powerful and ambitious members.[1e]
Markos is a cunning Vampire and possesses gift for sorcery that few among his kind can match. He is said to also have a tongue like an adder's bite.[1a] Markos von Carstein's travels to Nippon and Cathay allowed him to increase his knowledge of sorcery. His understanding of magic is likely influenced by the mystic traditions and arcane practices unique to the Far East. In addition to his sorcerous skills, Markos learned the peculiar and highly refined swordsmanship of the locals in Nippon.[1e]
History[]
"You would damn us, and the world that is ours by right of blood, to servitude at the feet of a dusty god. For the good of all of us, in the name of Vlad von Carstein, I will gladly, and cheerfully, strike off your head."
- —Markos von Carstein.[1e]
Markos von Carstein had been one of the lesser get of Vlad von Carstein, during the latters reign as Count of Sylvania.[1c]He had been born as the son of a Sylvanian vintner.[1e] Markos had honest admiration for his sire and had never forgiven Mannfred for being responsible for his masters death. When his cousin-in-blood called the von Carsteins for the Third Vampire War, Markos left the Old World behind, unwilling to serve.[1d]
In the long centuries afterwards, Markos built a network of spies and political influence, scheming and plotting dynastic marriages and political alliances against his rivals both among the von Carsteins and the Lahmian Sisterhood. Again, his plans were destroyed when Mannfred returned from death.[1d] Markos von Carstein, along with most other members of the von Carstein bloodline, were called to Castle Sternieste to discuss how to proceed in the face of the wall of faith imprisoning them.[1a] At that point, Markos served as part of the Drakenhof Templars.[1b]
Mannfred von Carstein took Markos into his retinue, as his cousin had warred extensively in the Border Princedoms before and Mannfred had need of his expertise to reach the domain of Clan Mordkin, who held the Fellblade.[1c]
Markos was beheaded by the blade of Mannfred von Carstein during the events of the End Times when the sorcerer sought to overthrow Manfred's command of the Vampire Count forces in order to prevent Mannfred from resurrecting Nagash, having pieced together what his cousin-in-blood planned from the artefacts he had gathered.[1e] Mannfred later accused Arkhan the Black of having encouraged Markos' failed coup.[1f]
Trivia[]
The Nipponese swordsmith who forged the kata-like blade of Markos von Carstein is a tribute to the fictional legendary swordsmith Hattori Hanzō, a character from Kill Bill: Volume 1, a film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.