Gallerian Marlon

"Money is the best lawyer in Hell."

- Gallerian Marlon

Gallerian Marlon is a Chief Justice of the Union State of Evillious, infamous for his corruption in the Dark Star courtroom. He is the original Master of the Court, known as the Collector by later generations. Believing he could still help his daughter, he made a contract and acted under the influence of the Demon of Greed.

Early Life
Exerting his talents at a young age, Gallerian became the youngest Chief Justice in the history of the Union State of Evillious' Dark Star Court. With his position as the "Master of the Court," he became successful and, at some point, married and had a single child, Michelle; he became acquainted with the playwright Ma around this time.

Sin Fragments
"Please forgive me. Although I love movies, I do not want to spend money on such excess entertainment." "You really are stingy. You only know how to save your money."

- Gallerian and Ma

In EC 978, Ma told Gallerian that she wanted to create a film adaptation of the "Daughter of Evil" written by Yukina Freesis and lent him the novel to read. While on holiday at home while his family was abroad, Gallerian read the story in his study, hoping to return it before Ma grew impatient. After the judge finished reading the book, he stretched and noticed it was sunset and that his family would return the next day. While gazing at the novel and its author's signature, he heard two knocks at the door and was certain it was Rennert. Seeing his judgment was correct, the butler notified him that Ma had come to visit. Rising from his seat, he told Rennert to send her in. Ma entered and noticed he read it; the judge then explained that he had just finished it.

Asking for his thoughts about it, Gallerian commented how the story she lent him was very different from the story he knew. After asking which tale was true, Ma insisted it was the book but the judge doubted its validity despite her assurances, although expressing his satisfaction in learning about his ancestors. Gallerian, returning the book to her, inquired about her desired film adaptation. In response, the playwright grabbed his arm, saying she would need a sponsor. Declining due to the funding such an endeavor required, Gallerian shook her from his arm. When Ma noted his wife's return the next day in a threatening tone, the judge warned her, but the sorceress just laughed, admitting she did not intend to harm the judge's family.

After a long silence, Gallerian attempted to break the unpleasant atmosphere by asking if there was more about the characters. Saying she did have notes on them, Gallerian asked about Elluka and Gumillia's actions after the novel's conclusion, connecting them to the killers of Lemy the Ripper. As their discussion continued, he rhetorically asked why Abyss I.R. collected the vessels of sin. Ma respond that it was to grant a wish and Gallerian realized she wanted his help collecting the vessels. The judge thanked her but declined, happy with his position and family and unwilling to spend money hunting for them. Turned down again, the playwright began to leave and he told her to stop, reminding her for his family's sake not to get them into trouble. At the door, she gave him another chance to change his mind. Certain she would leave, the judge ignored Ma and sat back down and quickly fell asleep. He was later awakened by Rennert and received news that his wife and daughter were in an accident caused by the bizarre attack of a giant octopus. With his daughter disabled and without a cure, Ma approached Gallerian in EC 980 and spoke to him about the vessels of sin. Offered the chance to save his child, the judge decided to collect the vessels for himself.

Dark Star Scandal
"Be careful. If someone were to know about me bringing evidence out, my position would be compromised."

- Gallerian to Ma

Acquiring the Marlon Spoon after the Spoon Corruption Case, Gallerian made a contract with the demon of Greed to help attain the wealth needed to heal his daughter. Afterwards, the Dark Star Court was privatized and lost government funding. Disregarding "justice" in his rulings, Gallerian accepted bribes from anyone willing to avoid execution, easily acquiring a fortune through the Spoon's powers. Those who had been unable or unwilling to pay were found guilty and sentenced to death while countless criminals were found innocent.

Sometime afterward, Gallerian presided over the trial of Second Lieutenant Nyoze Octo and, discovering he had the Venom Sword in his possession, convicted Nyoze and confiscated the weapon as evidence to the charges of murder, storing it in his warehouse. In the following days, Nyoze's brother, Sergeant Major Gammon, attempted to arrange a meeting with Gallerian but the judge continually refused. Many days since ruling on Nyoze's trial, Gallerian hurried home and headed straight for his daughter's room to see her. After closing the front door, Gallerian heard the bell ring, perplexed by who would it was. Opening the door, Gallerian recognized Gammon and told the soldier he didn't wish to speak with him; he attempted to close the door but Gammon stopped him. As the soldier pleaded that Gallerian's judgment was a mistake and that Nyoze was innocent, he warned him of his words' implications, earning Gammon's silence. After explaining the judge's reasoning due to the evidence, Gammon insisted that at least the Venom Sword be returned to him and Gallerian denied him, claiming it was murder weapon that was confiscated under the law. As Gammon attempted to retort, Gallerian warned him that any further pleas would be denounced as defying the law, and Gammon, dejected, left.

After closing the door, Gallerian headed to Michelle's room, only to find Ma there with her. Welcoming him, she offered him food and bath, to his surprise, and he responded that she didn't have to do that, even though his wife was no longer around. At Ma's mention that Michelle had been hesitant, Gallerian glanced at his daughter, seeing her not react and carry a distant expression. Ma continued to say she couldn't allow that, as she was the child's "mother". Peeved, Gallerian told her he would become angry if she continued such jokes, ordering her to leave. Ma remarked she would once she took what she needed; the judge complied, leaving the room and reclaiming the sword from his warehouse. Returning to the room to show her the weapon, he asked if there was any doubt about its identity. Confirming his suspicions, Ma asserted it was indeed the Venom Sword. After reconfirming with the playwright that his daughter would be healed, Gallerian cautioned her that if he was discovered removing evidence, his position would be compromised. Ma responded she would try to be discreet, but that it might be best to protect the weapon at a place away from human eyes. The judge told her he would think about it. As she left, Ma stopped to remind him to not lose the spoon, telling him that he couldn't speak to his daughter without it. Gallerian assured her he always had it, removing it from his breast pocket to show her. Satisfied, Ma left. After that, Gallerian turned to his daughter and told her he was home, asking if she was lonely while he was gone. Gallerian continued, promising to continue searching for her "friends" as soon as possible.

Corrupt Dealings
At some point, Gallerian presided over a case regarding the assault of a woman by a leading celebrity. Sometime before the trial, the defendant, Scherzer, approached Gallerian and offered him a bribe for exoneration; accepting the offer, Gallerian ruled him innocent. He later returned home and listened to the news report of his ruling over the radio, expressing irritation at the report. That night, Gallerian discovered Scherzer by his study window and the man thanked him for ruling him innocent; Gallerian responded that anyone could find salvation with him as long as they had money. After warning Scherzer to be more careful around women, the judge watched him depart via the same window.

Later on, Gallerian was contacted by one of Scherzer's associates and told to meet him at a rundown bar for information regarding his employer. Soon after, Gallerian was visited by Ma while he was working in his study. When asked by the playwright if he knew about the rumors of several women's disappearances and Scherzer's suspected involvement, Gallerian asked her if the information was true. She debated that it was possible; interested in the case, the judge grabbed a cloak and told her he was going out. Traveling in the rain to the specified meeting place, Gallerian noted the nature of their meeting place and asked about the validity of the rumors. After Bogaerts introduced himself, he explained to Gallerian that Scherzer was the cause of the women's disappearances, kidnapping several famous women, including his niece, and mimicking the Venomania Event by locking them in his suburban mansion's basement. Bogaerts then offered to give Gallerian all of Scherzer's wealth if the judge convicted him, being in charge of managing the celebrity's finances, and Gallerian agreed.

Afterwards, the judge sent the police to investigate Scherzer's home and discovered the missing women. While working at his desk that night, Scherzer visited Gallerian from the window and petitioned him to be his savior again. Gallerian conceded to the offer if he was paid ten times the amount of the previous bribe. Out of curiosity, he asked Scherzer why he kidnapped women when he was already wealthy. After Scherzer explained his reasons and stated one could never have too much money, the man asserted that he and the judge were the same. Gallerian smiled and agreed, stating that he would save anyone who paid him money, regardless of who it was.

After presiding over Scherzer's new trial, Gallerian announced that he found him guilty of thirteen charges that had been brought against him, to the latter's shock. As Scherzer was dragged away screaming, Gallerian commented that he was a nuisance. Later, Gallerian, wearing a cloak, visited Scherzer's prison cell. After asking him how he was feeling, Gallerian removed his hood and stated that he came to explain his reasoning for finding the man guilty. Calling Scherzer's loyalty to his own lust foolish, he revealed what Bogaert's had told him. He went on to say that it ultimately didn't matter that Scherzer paid for Gallerian to save him, because convicting him would gain the judge his entire fortune instead. Gallerian mocked how, although his heart ached a little to do it, he ultimately struck the gavel cleanly for the sake of money. As he prepared to leave, he added that Scherzer would be executed the next day, per Bogaert's wishes. Telling Scherzer that he'd see him in Hell, Gallerian left the screaming criminal to his fate. Once he arrived home, Gallerian approached his daughter, looking down upon her and thinking that he just needed a little more time. He then knelt before her chair and called her by name.

Evil's Theater
In EC 982, Ma convinced him to build a small theater in the middle of Millennium Tree Forest to store the vessels of sin he collected. Having a clock tower constructed at the cinema, Gallerian named it "Heartbeat Clocktower" like the one at Castle Hedgehog. At some point, Ma promised to continue his quest should he die before completing it, leading Gallerian to credit Ma as the inheritor of his collection in the event of his death. In EC 983, General Tony Ausdin, a war criminal and serial killer, was exonerated by Gallerian after accepting a bribe. Because of this injustice, a civil war broke out in Levianta, leading to Ausdin's death. Gallerian received the brunt of the revolters' wrath and his home was burned while he and his daughter were inside, killing him. In the afterlife, he awoke in the underworld and encountered its guardian, the Master of the Hellish Yard, who offered him a deal: give up all of his fortune in exchange for exemption from Hell. Greedily, he refused the deal, willingly walking then falling into the depths of Hell. There, he awaited the vessels of sin to be gathered and have Hell become a utopia for him and his daughter.

Legacy
Gallerian's work in the Dark Star office was spoken about with disdain by later generations and his obsession with finding the vessels of sin earned him the name of the Collector. After his death, Ma inherited the vessels of sin and stored them in Evil's Theater, leaving Gallerian's heritage missing to the public. The Theater became forgotten by the masses until his "daughter" began singing while attached to the inner-workings of the theater's clocktower. A legend sparked afterward that Gallerian's treasure was inside the theater and that those who entered "Evil's Forest" to seek it would never return. The awakened Clockworker's Doll's burns were later healed by GEAR and succeed her father as the Master of the Court, looking to Gallerian for guidance as she continued his plan to gather the sins and create a Utopia with Ma's encouragement. A film concerning the incident was created by Ma over a decade later and subsequently reviewed by the Master of the Court. While organizing the "court cases", Gammon Octo noted the judge's corrupt temperament and how it seemed to be inherited by the Judicial Doll instead of GEAR.

Personality and Traits
"Judge Gallerian's unscrupulous temper seems to have been passed down to the Director Doll rather than his Marlon Spoon collectable."

- Excerpt from Gammon's writings

Gallerian was stingy and would often penny-pinch when any affair involved spending money. As a U.S.E. judge, he collected kickbacks in exchange for pardoning criminals and was more concerned about the wealth he collected than meting out justice. He was indiscriminate towards the defendant's appearance, race, age, or gender and only showed interest in their social status, where the rich were able to pay for exoneration. As a result, he was perfectly willing to convict innocents for not having the affluence or the will to pay him. After his soul arrived in the afterlife, Gallerian exemplified his obsessive greed by refusing to give up his material wealth to the Master of the Hellish Yard even after his avarice brought about his demise. After being banished to Hell, he was confident that Ma would complete his quest and amiably awaited the day Hell would become utopia.

Despite this apparent apathy, Gallerian loved his wife and daughter greatly. When first offered the chance to gather the vessels of sin and be granted any wish, he refused in part because of his family. After their deaths, Gallerian was motivated to reconsider his decision due to the disability of his "daughter" and was determined to continue his corruption for her sake.

Skills and Abilities
As a learned judge, Gallerian was well versed in law and had risen to become a powerful magistrate in the USE at a young age as a result. With the powers of the Marlon Spoon, he was able to easily acquire wealth through his corrupt dealings in the government court and shrewdly obtain a fortune.

Character Connections
Ma: Gallerian's friend. Gallerian saw Ma as a very beautiful and mysterious woman, although he was annoyed by her jabs at his family, particularly his "daughter," and her lackadaisical, cryptic nature. Initially he did not find Ma's goals worth the monetary investment, but after his family's accident he decided to aid her for his own reasons.

Michelle: Gallerian's real daughter. Gallerian had a loving relationship with her and was very considerate of her well-being, turning down Ma's offer of looking for the Sin fragments initially due to his concern for her. He was greatly shaken by her accident.

Clockworker's Doll: Gallerian's perceived daughter. Gallerian cares about "Michelle" very deeply, wishing to help her walk and ease her boredom by collecting the Seven Deadly Sins. He was very concerned for her safety, keeping her inside the house at all times to protect her from the outside world. Gallerian also derived comfort from her presence.

Master of the Hellish Yard: The one who condemns Gallerian to Hell. Gallerian held contempt of the Master of the Hellish Yard for trying to judge his actions, and became defiant before her when she asked him to give her his fortune.

Conceptualization and Origin

 * Gallerian's name is derived from the Italian word galleria, meaning "gallery".
 * His surname Marlon is a reference to the demon of greed, Mammon.

Curiosities

 * It is unknown how Gallerian came to believe the Clockworker's Doll was his daughter.

Gallery
Concept Art=