History Characters / Marathon

* AmbiguousDisorder: Does not come across as the most stable in ''Infinity'''s dream terminals.

* {{Precursors}}: They aren't around any more; no one knows why. The leading theory is that the W'rkncacnter may have had something to do with it.

* AmbiguouslyEvil: For as much of an AncientEvil as the story perceives them to be, the games never once actually ''explore'' any facet of their morality, perspective, or even so much as a conversation; simply by existing in the localized space with an awakened W'rkncacnter, YouAreAlreadyDead. The Jjaro and Durandal don't broach the subject as some sort of good versus evil, just that they must be sealed or everything will be destroyed. They also never seem to never operate to free themselves despite ''Pathways into Darkness' strongly implying their sleeping dreams can manifest into the real world to a degree. It's entirely possible that they are [[BlueAndOrangeMorality simply beyond any concepts of evil]] and ''exist'' as the embodiment of chaos in reality.

* AmbiguouslyEvil: For as much of an AncientEvil as the story perceives them to be, the games never once actually ''explore'' any facet of their morality, perspective, or even so much as a conversation; simply by existing in the localized space with an awakened W'rkncacnter, YouAreAlreadyDead. The Jjaro also never seem to broach the subject as some sort of good versus evil, just that they must be sealed or everything will be destroyed. They also never seem to never operate to free themselves despite ''Pathways into Darkness' strongly implying their sleeping dreams can manifest into the real world to a degree. It's entirely possible that they are [[BlueAndOrangeMorality simply beyond any concepts of evil]] and ''exist'' as the embodiment of chaos in reality.

* EmpoweredBadassNormal: [[spoiler:[[http://marathon.bungie.org/temp/cmullins.html?image=trilogy.early Mjolnir Mark IV #7.]]]]

* EternalHero: Implied, particularly in the mysterious KYT terminal late in ''Marathon 2''.

!!'''Humans'''

The human race, who have just started exploring beyond the confines of the Solar System. As they do not yet have FTL travel, they are considered low-tech by the rest of the galaxy, and the slaver empire of the Pfhor has Earth in its sights as its next conquest.

* ArtEvolution: They have a completely different appearance in the first game than they do in the latter two, which give them a somewhat less cartoonish, but also moderately less alien, appearance. Notably, the placement of their third eye differs between games. The XBLA port once again deploys a substantial shift in art style.

* TheBadGuyWins: It takes them seventeen years, but they manage to capture the Security Officer, seemingly kill Durandal, and take over Tau Ceti IV with their sights set on the greater enslavement of the rest of humanity. Then the [=BoBs=] manage to free the Officer, and Durandal was [[NotQuiteDead not quite as finished]] as they thought he was...

* EmotionsVsStoicism: T'fear's [[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/slimythings.html#M3.19.3.1 monologue]] about the Hindmost Creche and the Commanding Rank in particular implies that the Pfhor Empire extols some form of stoicism at the expanse of personal desires, at least among higher ranks.

* GiantMook: The Drinniol, or Hulks, are much bigger (they stand ten feet tall) and bulkier (and that's all muscle -- they have almost no body fat) than their Pfhor masters. They still go down to enough grenades though.

* HiveCasteSystem: The Pfhor are hinted to be like this. In ''Infinity'', Tycho says "bugs are so obedient" in reference to the Pfhor under his command, and they have a clear caste system in which the slaves races (Condtioned rank) and lower ranking members (Aggregate rank) are considered more expendable than the upper ranking ones (Willful rank), who are subordinate to an even higher ranking ones (Attentive rank), who in turn are subordinte to the high command (Commanding rank) who in turn serve the Hindmost Creche.

* KingMook: Mother of All Hunters and Mother of All Cyborgs in ''Durandal''. ''Infinity'' adds unnamed bigger and stronger versions of the Fighters and Troopers, and a Super version of the Juggernaut.

* MightyGlacier: The Drinniol/Hulks. Slow-moving on their feet, but deadly at close range, and take at least four grenades to kill at the ''lowest'' difficulty level.

* NoDelaysForTheWicked: Quite a few terminals in the sequels tell that this is averted.

* OrganicTechnology: The Pfhor make extensive use of this, most clearly seen in their weapons, the Hunter armor, the Juggernaut, and their Space Jockey/Alien Hive like spacecraft interiors.
* PraetorianGuard: Tycho pits you against Admiral Tfear's personal guard in ''Infinity'' level ''You Think You're Big Time? You're Gonna Die Big Time!''. They consist of pairs of Elite gray-armoured fighters, troopers, hunters and one brown Juggernaut. And they are all '''mean'''. [[spoiler:The Vidmaster Challenge version of the level includes even more black or gray-armored fighters, troopers and hunters, and another brown Juggernaut.]]
* ScaryDogmaticAliens: Closest to the Conquistadores type. They essentially seek to conquer and kill or enslave any race that gets in their way, and are willing to destroy entire solar systems if they feel they're losing.

* GasMaskMooks: The Fighters have their lower half of the head covered with the breathing mask.

* ShortRangeLongRangeWeapon: The Troopers' rifles are as innacurate as the Security Officer's, so they don't even bother to shoot with them until nearly point blank, prefering to use their grenade launcher equivalents for longer ranges, which itself falls short of what even the lowly shock staff's bolt can reach.

* EvilIsBigger: Hunters are quite tall among the already tall Pfhor, and Mother and the Praetorian variant are even bigger.

* ShieldBearingMook: They have an attached shield on each arm, thought you won't see them using them. In the ''Apotheosis X'' mod they at least cover themselves when under fire.

* ReplacementMooks: They replaced the Drinniol as the damage sponge that now can shoot back with variety of weapons.
* TankTreadMecha: Their lower body ends in treads.

* TortureTechnician: In addition to their commisar duties, they also work as these.

* AirborneMook: It is basically a helicopter-equivalent with an armor of a tank.

* DegradedBoss: Compared to their late apperances in ''Marathon'' and ''Durandal'', the Juggernauts appear earlier and more frequently in ''Infinity'' and various mods.
* {{Fireballs}}: In the sequels they replaced their machine guns with dual N-Cannons that shoot out fiery fireballs, similar to Enforcers' guns.