According to the rules of the SE4 Ratings System, Mark the Merciful has not adhered to the rules (#6 -
Ratings Site) and he will be removed from the game and an adjustment made to his rating. He has failed to submit his turns according to the turnaround time specified in the game, failed to respond to emails from his teammate, and continues to browse the forum and submit turns for other games he is engaged in. Therefore, it has been decided that his inability to participate in the game he has enrolled in is NOT due to RL concerns.
In order NOT to penalize the remaining players, who may or may not achieve a win (and resulting Ratings gain), the remaining players have agreed to allow a substitute player of a lessor rank to continue in his place. The "substitute" player will be playing "gratis" and the game, as it relates to Ratings, will be computed against the remaining 3 Rated players.
I dislike taking this sort of action but considering the circumstances and the remaining players, it is unfair to declare the game "null and void" for Ratings purposes.