Marcia Overstrand

Marcia Overstrand
Septimus Heap character
Marcia Overstrand as illustrated by Mark Zug
First appearance	Magyk
Created by	Angie Sage
Information
Nickname(s)	Marcia
Aliases	The scary lady
Occupation	ExtraOrdinary Wizard
Title	The ExtraOrdinary Wizard

Marcia Overstrand is a fictional character in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage. She is a powerful ExtraOrdinary Wizard. Septimus is her apprentice.

Marcia is described as a tall woman with characteristic green wizard eyes and long, dark, curly hair. She wears a deep purple tunic, held at the waist by her "ExtraOrdinary Wizard" belt and a purple cloak which is part of her Magyk. Around her neck is the "Akhu Amulet of Hotep-Ra", the source of power for "ExtraOrdinary Wizards". Marcia also wears a pair of pointy purple python skin boots made for her by shoemaker Terry Tarsal. She has an aura of Magyk around her. Marcia can be fascinating and bossy, and scary to those around her. She is ambitious.

The Marcia character was key in Sage's development and continuation of the Heap series.

Marcia always wanted to be an "ExtraOrdinary Wizard". She made sure she apprenticed to Alther Mella, the "ExtraOrdinary Wizard" of her day. Alther was a patient teacher and a good wizard. After Marcia completed her final wizard examination, the heir to the Castle was born. Marcia and Alther went to the Palace to congratulate the Queen. However, the Queen and Alther were both murdered by an assassin. Before dying, Alther gave Marcia the "Akhu Amulet" making Marcia the "ExtraOrdinary Wizard". Marcia was able to protect the new baby princess and gave her Wizard Silas Heap for hiding. He raised her as his own daughter, Jenna.

When Jenna is 10, Marcia takes her away with the assistance of Silas, his son Nicko and a "Young Army" boy called 'Boy 412'. Marcia does a Projection while escaping to Marram Marshes to fend off the Hunters. At Zelda's cottage, Marcia learns that the Necromancer, DomDaniel, has taken over the Wizard Tower. She wants to take revenge but Alther's ghost warns her. While teaching the children about Magyk, she learns that Boy 412 has immense Magykal powers. Marcia asks him to be her apprentice, but Boy 412 refuses. One day, Marcia receives a message from Silas and goes back to the Castle, but it is a trap and she is caught by DomDaniel's guards. DomDaniel throws her in "Dungeon Number One' and takes away her amulet, which drains all her powers. Boy 412, assisted by Jenna and Nicko, board DomDaniel's ship and a fight ensues which results in Marcia taking back her amulet and escaping on the Dragon Boat. Boy 412 accepts the offer of apprenticeship, and Marcia comes to know that he is the real Septimus Heap. Marcia returns to the Wizard Tower in Flyte. She rids the Tower of the Darkenesse left by DomDaniel, but cannot rid it of a shadow that trails her. Marcia builds a Shadow Safe, but DomDaniel's bones have been placed within. They later reassemble and try to kill Marcia, but she prevails.