Revision 6

Overview

Martinus is the father of Kliff Macduff, the protagonist of Crimson Desert. He was the leader of a mercenary group who met a tragic end before the events of the game. Kliff inherited the burden of command following his father's death, and the weight of that legacy shapes the protagonist's journey across Pywel.

The character was first revealed at G-STAR 2019, where Pearl Abyss introduced the protagonist as "Macduff, son of Martinus." A Pearl Abyss artist (JaeUk Bae) also published concept art on ArtStation titled "Martinus's Son, Macduff," further establishing the father-son relationship as central to the game's narrative.

Backstory

Pearl Abyss described Kliff as "a man in constant turmoil, struggling with the responsibilities of leadership and the survival of those who rely on him. He has a tragic past and no matter how hard he tries, he cannot escape from it." Martinus's death is a core part of this tragic past, though the specific circumstances of how he died have not been publicly revealed.

Whether Martinus appears in the game through flashbacks or other narrative devices, or whether he remains purely a backstory figure, is also unknown ahead of the game's launch.

Relationship to the Greymanes

The exact relationship between Martinus and the Greymanes requires careful distinction. Sources describe Martinus as the leader of "a mercenary group," but do not always specify it as the Greymanes by name. The confirmed chain of Greymanes leadership is:

• Gian led the Greymanes and unified the region of Pailune, maintaining peace across the continent.

• Gian was killed in a nighttime ambush by the Drunken Black Bears, led by Myurdin.

• After Gian's death, Kliff took on the role of leading the scattered Greymanes and works to reunite them throughout the game.

Whether Martinus led the Greymanes before Gian, led a different mercenary group entirely, or had some other connection to the faction has not been confirmed. What is clear is that both Martinus's death and Gian's assassination shaped Kliff into the reluctant leader he is at the start of the game.

Name and Legacy

The protagonist was originally introduced simply as "Macduff" at G-STAR 2019. By 2025 and 2026 marketing, the primary name shifted to "Kliff," with "Kliff Macduff" as the full name. It is not confirmed whether Martinus's full name was "Martinus Macduff" or whether "Macduff" functions as a patronymic or title within the game's naming conventions.

Key Details