Arthur Morgan (Outlaw’s Saga)

Arthur Morgan (b. April 17, 1863 - d. August 25, 1899) was a fictional outlaw who was lead enforcer of the infamous Van der Linde gang and one of Dutch Van der Linde’s most trusted associates. He was orphaned as a young boy and when he was about sixteen, he was adopted into the gang and has been faithful for over twenty years up until his death in 1899. Although unseen in The Outlaw’s Saga, he is directly mentioned by Joel Wallace in Grand Theft Auto: Renegade.
== Biography ==
=== History ===
Arthur Morgan was born in the northern United States (possibly Indiana) in 1863 to parents Lyle and Beatrice Morgan. Lyle was a petty criminal and outlaw and often abused Arthur when he was young. Eventually, Beatrice died of an unknown illness when Arthur was young while Lyle was eventually caught for larceny and hanged in front of his eyes, something he thought could have happened sooner.
Arthur grew up alone until he was roughly sixteen years old. Around that time, he met two conmen: Dutch Van der Linde and Hosea Matthews. With this, the two men decided to take in Arthur and form a gang, picking up more recruits along the way, including John Marston, a teenaged boy who was nearly lynched in Illinois.
At some point in his early adult years, Arthur met a waitress named Eliza and following a sexual encounter, got her pregnant with his only son, Isaac. Although he could not promise much, he offered any help he could and often stayed with them a few days every few months. However, one day, when Arthur visited them once again, he noticed two crosses outside of their house and once he investigated what happened, he realized that Eliza and Isaac were robbed and murdered for a meager amount of ten dollars, a fact that changed Arthur greatly, leading to his bitter resentment towards John for abandoning his son, Jack and Jack’s mother, Abigail for a year.
As time went on, the Van der Linde gang grew and it picked up new recruits: Bill Williamson, Javier Escuella, Abigail Roberts, Mary-Beth Gaskill, Tilly Jackson, Karen Jones, Susan Grimshaw who was one of the founding members, Annabelle, Sean Maguire, Davey and Mac Callander. However, with new allies, came new enemies, such as Colm O'Driscoll's Boys, who had formed a rivalry that only sparked more when Dutch had killed his brother, and in turn, he had murdered Annabelle.
By 1898, Arthur and the gang made their way out to Montana, accidentally abandoning one of the gang members, Sean Macguire.
=== Blackwater Massacre of 1899 ===
Sometime before May of 1899, Arthur and the gang traveled through the foothills of the Grizzlies in western Ambarino, picking up new recruits along the way, including Lenny Summers, Jenny Kirk, Charles Smith, and Micah Bell III. In May, Arthur accompanied the gang to Blackwater, West Elizabeth, and stayed at their camp that was established outside of town. He also purchased a journal to keep tabs on himself as well as document all of his peculiar findings and noteworthy events. However, Micah suggested robbing a ferry that was docked in town, which was rumored to have a lot of money, enough for the entire gang to run away from the government pursuing them. Arthur and Hosea were not present during the initial robbery, but when they heard that the robbery went south, the two arrived as reinforcements and saved most of the gang from being killed by law enforcement. However, John was shot non-fatally in the arm, Mac was shot and later captured, Jenny and Davey, Mac's brother, were shot fatally, while Sean Maguire was captured. The gang then fled north through the Grizzlies, away from law enforcement. It was noted that Arthur used to have a horse named Boadicea, but it likely was shot and killed during the robbery, leaving Arthur without his steed.
=== Arrival in Colter ===
Arthur assisted the gang through the harsh snow storm in the western Grizzlies, despite it being May. Jenny had already succumbed to her gunshot wound, while Davey was on his way out. Arthur, using Charles' horse, Taima, discovered the mining town of Colter and led the gang there. Once they arrived, the gang managed to recover somewhat, despite low morale. Davey had finally succumbed to his wound shortly after arrival. Dutch then gave a pep speech to the gang to help with morale while Arthur listened. The two then left and took their respective horses to look for Micah and John, whom they have sent out to scout ahead. Along the way, they encountered and found Micah, who had discovered a homestead further up a hill, which was blazing with light and noise. When Arthur, Dutch, and Micah arrived, the leader ordered Arthur and Micah to take cover in a shed and behind a wagon respectively so that they did not spook the residents. However, when Dutch called for them, the residents looked suspicious, and Arthur and Micah's suspicions rose up much more when Micah discovered a corpse belonging to Jake Adler in the wagon.
When it turned out to be the O'Driscoll Boys, they immediately opened fire and killed all of the squatters. They then searched the cabin to look for essentials. Arthur took what he could find and searched the barn, being jumped by a hiding squatter. Arthur then proceeded to beat up the O'Driscoll, forcing him to reveal information about their hideout being located at an old basin further south of Colter. After Arthur had dealt with the O'Driscoll, Arthur then proceeded to calm down the stabled Tennessee Walker horse and walk him out, hitching him with the intention to keep him. However, they soon heard loud screams coming from the cabin and rushed in to see Micah horrifying a woman, who was terrified and enraged. Micah then flipped the table, resulting in a lantern bursting and starting a fire. The trio then decided to take the woman in, who revealed herself to be Sadie Adler, Jake's wife, who was in shock and mourning for her husband. The men then took Sadie back to Colter to get her warmed up and comfortable. The gang then continued to settle into Colter for the time being due to the harsh storm preventing them from getting anywhere at the moment.
=== Fleeing into East Country ===
=== The Southern Family Feuds ===
=== The Saint Denis Incidents ===
=== Guarma Rebellion ===
=== Diagnosis ===
On his way to meeting Sadie, Arthur started coughing violently and collapsed in the middle of the street in Saint Denis. A good samaritan assisted him to the doctor’s office, where he was immediately treated. The doctor tested him and came to the core-shaking news that he has contracted tuberculosis. Arthur then deduced that he has contracted it when he had beaten up Downes a few months ago and he coughed blood into his eyes. With this, Arthur then realized that he does not have much time left.
=== The Wapiti and Army Conflicts ===
=== Train Robbery ===
=== Gang Downfall and Death ===
After the successful train robbery and the apparent death of John, the gang rode back to Beaver Hollow, only to discover that the Pinkertons have come to capture Abigail and take her to Van Horn to be put on a boat and tried for murder, as told by Tilly, who had managed to hide with Jack. Micah convinced Dutch to let Abigail go, effectively orphaning Jack. Arthur, heartbroken by this decision, made the decision with Sadie to go and rescue Abigail themselves. After giving some money to Tilly and instructed her to wait at Copperhead Landing for Sadie and Abigail, Arthur and Sadie quickly rode for Van Horn, which was guarded heavily by Pinkertons.
Arthur took position on the lighthouse and shot the Pinkertons with his sniper, allowing Sadie to easily get through to the trading post where Abigail was being held by Agent Milton. Although Sadie reached the shop, she was quickly overwhelmed by Milton, prompting Arthur to make haste to the shop, where he attempted to unbind the women, but was stopped by Milton, who revealed to Arthur that it was not Molly O’Shea who ratted the gang out, but Micah Bell. With this, Arthur attempted to overpower Milton, but failed. Before Milton could shoot Morgan, Abigail managed to get free and shot Milton in the head, killing him and saving Arthur. The three managed to get unstuck and quickly escaped on horseback.
When the coast was finally clear, the three came to a stop. After delivering the heartbreaking news of John’s possible death or capture, Arthur decided to send the two women on their way to Copperhead Landing, before which, Abigail gave him a key to Dutch’s chest full of the gang’s money. Arthur went back to confront Micah for his treachery. After some final tearful farewells, Arthur rode back to Beaver Hollow, where the gang were packing up their belongings. Arthur arrived and confronted Micah over his treachery, which he denied. The two eventually drew their guns and immediately entered a standoff, with nobody taking sides as of yet. Suddenly, someone called out Dutch’s name and it was revealed to be John, who survived his gunshot wound and fall from the train as well as avoided capture, confronting Dutch over leaving him to die, which Dutch tried to defend himself of doing. As Arthur announced for everyone to pick a side, Susan joined Arthur and demanded Bell to put down his gun. All of a sudden, Javier came back and notified everyone of the incoming Pinkerton agents coming in, which gave Micah an open window to shoot a distracted Grimshaw, killing her. Dutch immediately aimed his guns and demanded who was with him and who was betraying him. Everyone sided with Dutch and Micah against Arthur and John. Before the duo could be killed, the Pinkertons arrived to kill the remaining members. Arthur and John fended off reinforcements until they had to retreat into the caves, where they climbed a back ladder back up to the surface, where they called their horses. After Arthur told John to not look back, the two quickly mounted and began fleeing a now pursuing Dutch and his gang.
Arthur and John, now having two sides after them, quickly rode through the Roanoke Ridge woods, barely escaping Dutch, Micah, Cleet, and Joe, but as the two attempted to ride over into the Ambarino state line, their horses were shot out underneath. After Arthur took some moments to thank his dying horse and say his goodbyes, the two think about their next course of action. Arthur brought up the gang money as Abigail gave him the chest key. John resolved to reuniting with his family and refused to go back, telling Arthur that if he wanted to, he can. Arthur made the decision to go with John and ensure his escape, even if it was the last thing he would ever do. The two continued over into Ambarino, taking notice that Dutch and his boys were falling back for the money and they needed to escape. As the two climbed a mountain, they noticed Pinkertons coming in eastbound for them. The two decided to climb the nearby cliff and took over behind some rocks, dispatching the attacking agents. After managing to catch a break in the shooting, the two came to a stop on the ridge, where Arthur, now more sick and unable to push on any further, told John to keep going as both of them will never going to make it together. After giving John his satchel and his hat, he told John to go to his family. When John protested, Arthur told him to go and “be a goddamned man.” After John said he was his brother, Arthur acknowledged it before preparing to fire back at the Pinkertons, ready to die. However, although he survived the Pinkerton assault, he was suddenly attacked by Micah from behind. Arthur pushed Micah off of him but both men fell down from the cliff onto the ridge of the mountain. The two engaged in a brutal and bloody fight, with both men taking serious injuries. Arthur managed to get one of Micah’s guns to fall out of its holster and after several attempts in reaching for it and shooting him, striked him again, allowing Arthur to attempt to crawl to the fallen gun.
As Arthur finally managed to reach the gun, Dutch stepped on his hand, stopping him. Arthur, pleading for Dutch to see that Micah is the rat and that he gave him all that he had, managed to convince him, leaving Dutch speechless and heartbroken. Micah attempted to convince Dutch to go with him, with Arthur having added that John was the only one who had made it out, while everyone did not, but he tried himself and won in the end. Dutch left both men alone. Micah stormed off in anger, leaving Arthur to die alone peacefully. He then crawled to a gravel pile, where he rested his back against it. With the morning coming in, Arthur faced the rising sun to the west out of the face of the cliff. With a few last breaths, Arthur Morgan finally passed away from tuberculosis as well as blunt trauma and severe exhaustion. He was 36 years old.
After word reached north, Charles found Arthur’s body on the cliff and took it to a mountain north of Bacchus Station, where he had buried him with a beautiful view of the southwestern valleys.
=== Legacy ===
Arthur’s attempts in giving John a new life proved fruitful as John managed to reunite with his family after Arthur died and escaped to Canada to take part in the gold rush. They did not strike it big and instead, went back to the southwest, in the familiar territory of West Elizabeth. John eventually bought a plot of land on the Great Plains called Beecher’s Hope and built a ranch, allowing a happy life for himself and his family. However, when John, Sadie, and Charles received word of Micah’s whereabouts, the three went to kill him to avenge Arthur and the gang. They successfully did so with the help of Dutch, who had resurfaced after eight years. However, this set off a series of events where former Pinkerton agent Edgar Ross and his partner, Archer Fordham, would discover Bell’s body and link it back to Marston, leading to the forcing of the murders of Bill Williamson, Javier Escuella, and Dutch himself and eventually, his own death four years afterwards. John paid his last respects to Arthur’s grave after filling up his journal and killing Micah. By 1914, Jack’s life was spared and after Abigail died of an unknown illness or a broken heart, he became the last known surviving member of the Marston’s and the Van der Linde gang.
Jack presumably discovered Arthur’s journal in John’s collection and, using it as material, Jack wrote a book detailing all of the adventures of Arthur, John, and himself and titled it “Red Dead Redemption,” retelling all of their stories. Around the 2010’s, present-day criminal Joel Wallace read the book and became fascinated with it, despite not being much of a book reader and was a fan of Arthur’s story in particular.
Since Arthur had only one known son who died, his bloodline presumably went extinct with his death as well as his name.
== Appearance ==
== Personality ==
== Killed Victims ==
== Relationships ==
== Gallery ==
== Trivia ==
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