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The Van der Linde Gang is a central plot point of the original Red Dead Redemption; as John Marston, you're tasked by the government with eliminating the remaining members of the notorious band of outlaws you once were part of. But it turns out this clan of criminals was way bigger than many thought, and Red Dead Redemption 2, being set before the events of RDR, is your chance to meet the whole crew.
There are a whopping 23 members of the Van der Linde Gang, and it's quite the colorful assortment of characters for you to interact with. Developer Rockstar Games recently released short biographies and quotes for each to give you a sense of who these folks are, which you can read below:
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“They’re chasing us hard, because we represent everything that they fear.”
Dutch Van der Linde
The leader of a sizeable gang of outlaws and misfits. Idealistic, anarchic, charismatic, well-read, well-lived, but possibly starting to unravel under the pressures of the encroaching modern world.
“I wish I had acquired wisdom at less of a price.”
Hosea Matthews
A master con artist, gentleman and thief, Hosea has been Dutch's closest friend and right-hand man for over twenty years. Intelligent and quick-witted, he can talk his way into, or out of, just about anything.
“You’re playing a dangerous game.”
Molly O'Shea
A Dublin girl and the object of Dutch’s affection, for now at least, Molly is too high-strung for a life on the run and it’s all starting to take a toll on her.
“I swear half of you would just rot in your own filth, if nobody kept you in check.”
Susan Grimshaw
The undisputed boss and arbiter of justice in the camp, everything would have fallen apart years ago without Susan in charge. Tenacious and iron-willed, she stands for no nonsense.
“The people are happy and well fed. I think perhaps we'll be okay.”
Pearson
The camp’s butcher and cook, Pearson served a short stint in the navy that he likes to talk about at length. A loud, jolly degenerate who is somewhat in denial about the turn his life has taken.
“I believe there’s winners and losers... and nothing else besides.”
Micah Bell
A career criminal and hitman. Wild and unpredictable but he lives for the action.
“The amount of hell we've raised, we're owed some back.”
Charles Smith
A relatively recent recruit to the gang, Charles is quiet and reserved but extremely competent in everything he does and virtually unbeatable in a fight. A decent, honest man who also happens to be deadly.
“Don't try anything stupid and we won't do anything unkind.”
Bill Williamson
An ex-soldier discharged from the army, possibly dishonorably. Hot headed, he tends to act first and think later but is tough, dedicated and always ready to fight.
“It's a nasty world out there, and it's catching up with us...”
Leopold Strauss
Originally hailing from Austria, Herr Strauss is responsible for keeping the gang’s books and running their money lending operation. A serious, somewhat shifty and unemotional man, he has all the qualities a loan shark needs.
“Guess about all I got left now is doubts. Doubts and scars.”
John Marston
Once an orphaned street kid taken under Dutch's wing at the age of twelve, John has always had to live by his wits. Shrewd, fearless and strong-willed, he and Arthur are Dutch’s proudest protégés.
“If they so much as put one bruise on him I swear, I'll bring the fires of hell on them myself.”
Abigail Roberts
An orphan who grew up scraping out a living in dive bars and brothels in the West, Abigail is a strong, straight-talking woman who has seen a lot of life and knows what it takes to survive against the odds.
“Did you catch the bad guys?”
Jack Marston
Young Jack has grown up with the gang, although everyone has done their best to shield him from the more nefarious elements, especially his mother Abigail. He loves everything about nature and the outdoor life, and is carefully watched over by his many aunts and uncles.
“Running scams, robbing banks, screwing over the rich and horrible.”
Karen Jones
A consummate scam artist and trigger woman who can drink pretty much anybody under the table. Bold and full of fun, she loves the outlaw life and wouldn’t have it any other way.
“If we have to fight, we fight. If we have to run, we’ll run. If we must die, we’ll die, but... we’ll stay free.”
Javier Escuella
A notorious bounty hunter and Mexican revolutionary. Javier immediately had a strong connection to Dutch’s ideals. Very committed, passionate and loyal.
“Most of us grew up hungry and scared and alone, one way or another.”
Tilly Jackson
An outlaw from the age of 12, Tilly ran with another gang before joining up with Dutch. Savvy, resilient and dependable, she can more than handle herself and isn’t afraid to speak her mind.
“People call me lazy. I'm not lazy. Just don't like working. There's a difference.”
Uncle
A hanger-on and good-time guy, Uncle is always around when the whiskey is open and never around when there’s any work to be done. If he wasn’t so entertaining, Dutch would have cut him loose years ago.
“Gentlemen, I think I’ve got something good.”
Mary-Beth Gaskill
A kind, good-natured young woman, which makes her the perfect criminal. By the time people realize they’ve been duped, Mary-Beth is already on her way home with the money.
“Living free out here, like this... I wouldn't have it any other way.”
Lenny Summers
Young Lenny has been on the run since he was 15 years old after killing the men who murdered his father. Smart, educated, competent and ambitious, he is always ready to do his part.
“How can romance ever be silly? It's all we have.”
Josiah Trelawny
A flamboyant conjurer, conman and trickster, Trelawny is a very hard man to pin down but he’s always able to bring good leads.
“I had real suffering and I lost everything, my vocation, my faith, my family…”
Reverend Swanson
An ex clergyman now lost to debauchery, Swanson has fallen a long way from the standards he once set himself. If he hadn’t saved Dutch’s life in the past, it’s unlikely the gang would have kept him around for this long.
“Just leave it to me. I can talk a dog off a meat wagon.”
Sean Macguire
A cocky young Irish thief and stick-up man who comes from a long line of criminals and political dissidents. He always wants a piece of the action and believes in himself…perhaps a little too much.
“Nobody’s taking nothing from me ever again.”
Sadie Adler
A widow who is hellbent on taking revenge upon those who killed her husband. Relentless and afraid of nothing and no one. The wrong woman to cross, but very loyal to those she loves.
“We're thieves, in a world that don't want us no more.”
Arthur Morgan
Dutch's most dependable and capable enforcer since he was a boy, the outlaw life is all Arthur has ever known. Sharp, cool-headed, and ruthless, but with his own sense of honor. A man who gets the job done.
There's a surprising amount of variety to these cutthroats, low-lifes, and misfits, and I admit reading about them has probably made me more interested in RDR 2 than anything else. I grew up on a farm so the fantasy of riding a horse and playing cowboy doesn't really appeal to me, but I can't say my childhood playtime imaginings ever involved having an ex-clergyman, a flamboyant conman, or a shrewd Austrian in my crew. But hey, that's what video games are for, right?
Rockstar's open-world crime and thievery simulator goes on sale October 26, 2018. If you're having trouble passing the time, why not catch up on all the Red Dead Redemption 2 news we've gathered thus far, or read up on what makes RDR 2 different from GTA 5, according to the devs?
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Sam is a former News Editor here at GamesRadar+. His expert words have appeared on many of the web's well-known gaming sites, including Joystiq, Penny Arcade, Destructoid, and G4 Media, among others. Sam has a serious soft spot for MOBAs, MMOs, and emo music. Forever a farm boy, forever a '90s kid.
