Marked Ninja

Marked Ninja
Biographical information
Aliases	Champion
Current status	Player-determined (read below for further information)
Physical description
Gender	Male
Hair color	Bald
Eye color	Black
Personal information
Weapon(s)	The Sword of Tetsuji, Darts, Grappling Hook, more...
Allies	Hisomu Clan, Ora
Enemies	Azai
Chronology
First appearance	Mark of the Ninja

The Marked Ninja, or the Champion, is the chosen ninja to protect the Hisomu Clan and the main protagonist of Mark of the Ninja. The Ninja's real name and origins are never revealed in the game, but it was known that he was trained by Azai and made a deal with him to protect the clan. The Marked Ninja is often aided by a female ninja assassin named Ora.

History

Little is known of the Ninja's past, but it was known that he was a member of the Hisomu Clan and trained under its leader, Azai. Years later after becoming a powerful ninja warrior, The Ninja made a deal with Azai to protect the Hisomu Clan to bear toxic tattoo marks given to him by Dosan. The powers of the tattoos would enhance the Ninja's powers, but would eventually drive him insane, so he must commit suicide once the madness took him over to prevent the destruction of the Hisomu Clan.

Later, the Hisomu temple was attacked by Hessian mercenaries led by Corporal Kelly. The Ninja passed out during the attack, but was awoken by a female ninja named Ora, who told him that she was going to help him. The Ninja eventually found the sword of Tetsuji and killed two mercenaries. The Ninja and Ora proceeded to fight their way through the Hessians and killed most of them. Ora eventually scouted ahead and told the Ninja that the Hessians had taken three ninjas and Azai hostage and left to kill the rest of the Hessians. The Ninja quickly rescued his ninja companions and found Azai held at gunpoint by Corporal Kelly. Kelly told his men that Azai had to retire and left. The Ninja killed Kelly's men and freed Azai. After the attack, Azai encouraged the ninjas to fight back for their survival and presented the Ninja.

After that, Azai told the Ninja the origin of the marks: after the other Clans were defeated and destroyed, a merchant led the Hisomu clan to a flower in the desert with toxic petals and of the champions before the Ninja who committed suicide to prevent madness. Azai then told the Ninja that a businessman named Karajan was responsible for the attack on the Hisomu temple and sent him to Oshi City to kill Karajan before he sent his mercenaries to attack a second time. Upon arriving in Oshi City, the Ninja and Ora made their way past the security of the Hessians and killed a few of them. After making it past Karajan's security, the Ninja and Ora stalked Karajan's courier and Ora escaped outside to await the Ninja's return. The Ninja snuck into the room and stole a tracking device the courier had in his possession. The Ninja heard the alarms go off and quickly fled with the tracking device. The Ninja regrouped with Ora and they used the tracking device to track Karajan to the Hessian tower. However, Ora noticed the hightened security, so she told the Ninja to destroy the exhaust port which would casuse an exlosion to distract the guards so the duo could slip in and take out Karajan. The Ninja quickly destroyed the exhaust port. The Ninja and Ora made their way to the roof of the tower and destroyed an electric generator, which set the tower ablaze. The Ninja and Ora escaped before they could be incinerated.

As expected, the fire drew the Hessians' attention away from Karajan. The Ninja went in after Karajan while Ora stayed outside to make sure the Hessians did not return to their posts. After disabling many security lasers and killing more Hessians, the Ninja regrouped with Ora and they confronted Corporal Kelly, who was sent by Karajan to kill the Ninja. The Ninja and Ora overpowered Kelly and killed the mercenary, but Karajan escaped on a chopper before they caught up to him. After that, the Ninja and Ora returned to the Hisomu temple.

After their return, the Ninja was given the second mark by Dosan. As he received the second mark, Dosan asked the Ninja if he was beginning to go mad. Dosan also revealed his concerns and suscpicions toward Azai as the ink he begged Azai for was not fresh. Dosan also told the Ninja if Azai could not resolve the issue, Dosan himself would go to the source of the toxic flowers and figure out what Azai was hiding from the clan.

Later, the Ninja and Ora used the tracking device the Ninja stole from Karajan's courier earlier to track Karajan to a mansion in eastern Europe and traveled there. The duo arrived and killed many Hessian troops and destroyed body armor that Karajan traded in Oshi City. Eventually, the Ninja and Ora retreated into the catacombs beneath. Ora noticed the platforms were unstable and told the Ninja to keep going and that she would catch up. The Ninja made his way past traps with lasers and poisonous gases and regrouped with Ora. The Ninja and Ora found a way to return to the surface through a large door. The Ninja opened it, but it attracted the attention of the Hessians who searched for him. The Ninja made a narrow escape with Ora through the door and emerged in the mansion's inner keep. Ora told the Ninja to prevent Karajan's escape by destroying the helipad. After fighting his way through the Hessians, the Ninja killed the pilot of Karajan's chopper. After killing the pilot, the Ninja made his way to Karajan's quarters, but Karajan barricaded himself in his room before unleashing his mercenaries on the Ninja. Ora told the Ninja to steal two keys to gain access to Karajan. The Ninja successfully stole the keys and Ora killed the guards. With nowhere to run, the Ninja easily assassinated Karajan.

After killing Karajan, the Ninja and Ora returned to the Hisomu temple, where the Ninja was expected to commit suicide. Upon arrival, the Ninja and Ora noticed technology stolen from the Hessians by the ninja warriors. Ora and the Ninja realized that Azai not only sent the Ninja to kill Karajan, but to steal from him as well. Going further, the Ninja and Ora found a letter from Dosan left behind. In the note, Dosan confirmed that his suspicions of Azai hiding secrets from the clan were true and that he had journeyed to the desert of Tabriz to expose Azai's secrets.

In shock, Ora told the Ninja to refrain from committing suicide until they uncover Azai's true intentions. After the Ninja and Ora reached Azai, Azai congratulated the Ninja for saving the clan and defeating the Hessians. Azai also revealed the stolen technology. Azai then told the Ninja that the time had come for his suicide. The Ninja took the sword, but instead of committing suicide, he stabbed the ground. Azai ordered his ninjas to stop him, but he escaped with Ora into the desert to find Dosan.

Along the way to Dosan's location, the Ninja and Ora encountered and killed several bandits living in the desert, who also captured Dosan. He found Dosan, who told the Ninja and Ora that the bandits forced him to give them his marks, but he refused. Dosan told the Ninja to grab the keys needed to free him. The Ninja left to find the keys while Ora stayed behind to keep an eye on Dosan. The Ninja eventually found the bandit's jailor, whom he killed and took the keys back to Dosan, which freed him. After rescuing Dosan, Dosan revealed that he discovered the toxic flowers that produced the ink had been dead for a year and Azai knew about it and convinced the Ninja to stop Azai. Dosan then gave the Ninja the final mark before he, Dosan, and Ora were ambushed by a trio of ninjas in Hessian armor. The Ninja and Ora escaped with Dosan, but Dosan was wounded during the escape and died shortly after. As returning to the Hisomu temple would cause them to be captured, Ora decided to bury Dosan in the desert. After burying Dosan, the Ninja and Ora split up to avoid detection as they made their way out of the desert.

After departing the desert, the Ninja and Ora returned to the Hisomu temple to confront Azai. After making their way through Azai's minions, the duo finally confronted Azai. Azai attempted to convince the Ninja to put down his sword and revealed to him that Ora was a hallucination created by the marks' powers, claiming that she was trying to trick him into destroying the clan. When the Ninja remained unconvinced, Azai left the Ninja to make his choice. The Ninja and Ora pursued Azai through hallucinations depicting the Ninja's quest in the game before they finally caught up to Azai and battled him. The Ninja eventually defeated his former master. After the Ninja defeated Azai, the game can end in two ways:

1. The Ninja spares Azai and stabs Ora in the chest. Ora quickly gives in to her wound and dies. After Ora dies, her lifeless body explodes into a flock of ravens that ascend into the heavens, revealing the Ninja has stabbed himself as well. The game ends as the Ninja gives his last breath and dies in a pool of his own blood.
2. The Ninja spares Ora and finally stabs Azai in the chest, killing the traitorous clan leader. After killing Azai, the Ninja stares at Azai's corpse for a long time. As the camera pans out, the Ninja's appearance flickers in and out of a demonic appearance. The game ends as the demonic appearance takes hold and the Ninja escapes with Ora and several other ninjas, leaving Azai's body behind.

Gallery

Concept Art for the Marked Ninja