-Personality: Marlin is best known for his laugh, and his ability to make anyone else laugh. He is impossible to figure out completely, since once you peel away one layer of his personality you realize there are fifty more waiting for you. At first glance, he seems just a happy-go-lucky elf, who likes the garden, the sun, jokes and songs, but once you get closer, the layers start appearing. He has a passion for stories, and spends hours with goldvoice mulling them over. He likes to draw his tribe-mates, getting them to hold still usually by telling them a joke or two or offering them a bowl of wine to keep them busy. He is ever gentle, and has never been seen angry, but when he's called upon, his dirk comes out of the boot, and never misses it's mark. He thinks the world of Snowfall, and will hear no gripes against her, but laughs and sends them of to speak to the Chieftess herself, and is more a friend than an authority figure to his sons, who he loves more than life itself. He makes frequent trips, and always has, to Knotwood to talk about the great circle and understanding being, and he equally frequent visits to Thistletricker to test out the latest brew and spend a night and day drinking and singing merrily with the plant-shaper. There is nothing that does not interest him, and nothing he will not try once.

-History: From the beginning, Marlin was a bit of a fidgeter, plagueing his older brother Jay and following him around, never stopping his jaw from moving and his feet from dancing. As they grew older together, they realized they were really quite similar, and became fast friends, but by that time, Marlin was fast friends with half the holt already. If someone is depressed, they immediately turn to the symbol-maker (or his younger son!) to cheer them up. Rather soon after he Came of Age, he and Snowfall recognized and he lived through two star periods of misery as she tried to deny it ever happened. Finally, however, Silvan managed to convince her to at least answer the immediate call, and she and Marlin have not parted since. He knows he is not serious enough at times, and that Snowfall is there for that reason, and he is equally as important to her to keep her smiling (it's not always an easy task).

-Relationships:
*Snowfall* The ultimate in reciprocal relationships, seeing them together makes one wonder how they could've functioned individually. They fit together perfectly. Marlin can't bear to be parted from his lifemate, even for one night, she is so much his life. He laughs when she complains, but respects her Dragon blood and knows when she means it or not.
*Fireshadow* It was obvious from the beginning that this one would be like his mother, but sometimes Fireshadow surprises him. A quick joke, although usually so dry no one catches it, from his older son can send Marlin into a night long fit of laughter. He is endlessly proud of his son's nobility and prowess, and has to keep his seriousness in check just as often as his mother's, but is never happier than when both of his sons come to him just to spend time with him.
*Highsun* Normally, one would think that two so alike could not get along. But when they're like Marlin and Highsun, its impossible for anyone not to get along with them. Highsun has wanted to tag along on some of his father's learning adventures since he was just a cub, learning as quickly as Marlin himself in many cases, and that makes a father's pride well up like nothing else. If there is an evening of song and drinking you can more than depend that the two of them will be there, and together. But, as mentioned before, Marlin is most content when both his sons are present and happy.
*Jay* Despite his older brother's irritation at being followed by an overzealous little Marlin, the two free spirits were quick to bond. They have never been known to argue or even disagree over much, and the relationship is often compared to that Fireshadow and Highsun share now, although not very accurately.
*Knotwood* In Marlin's mind, there is no elf wiser than Knotwood, not even his own Wandering father. He has always felt something special in the air around the older man, even when he was a cub, and has been seeking him out all perpetually for advice and explanation.
*Sleepflower* As soon as he found the lass doodling on willow bark in the woods with a lump of coal, he knew she was the next symbol-maker. And that was when she was no more than 10 turns in existance. When she and Highsun delveloped a friendship, he was sure she'd be his lovemate, and maybe he'd even settle for one. Oddly enough, however, the two seemed to not even give it a thought. He finds his apprentice as full of surprises as her father, in short.
*Goldvoice* Too much fun is had when these two are working in the garden together to call it work. And surprisingly, the work gets done too.