Elder

The **Elder** is a prepper and delivery recipient of Sam's. As his name suggests, he is probably the eldest prepper.

## Story

### Background

The Elder was born on the other side of the southern United States border, or "the wall" as he described it later, and migrated to the U.S. at some point before the Death Stranding. Growing up an immigrant, the Elder felt that the U.S. government did not have his or other immigrants' best interests at heart. During this time he feel to be bought into the American Dream for a minute, seen a black guy and a woman take a shot at the presidency but somewhere along the line, all of a sudden people become intolerant and indifferent for other opinions—or other people, electing a new president right before the Stranding that wanted to build a wall along the whole border to protect the people and stop immigrant, like him, from coming.

As a result, he gained a distrust for authority, and decided to become a prepper so he could look out for himself instead of depending on the federal government when the next disaster happened. Becoming a prepper ended up allowing him to survive the Stranding. The Elder witnessed much of the Stranding, including the destruction of entire cities and distribution centers, long range communications going silent, and the US federal government ceasing to become functional in its prior form. During this period, he witnessed private courier bands taking it upon themselves to keep the Stranding survivors supplied and connected, and came to depend on them like all other preppers in the Central Region.

The courier group he came to depend on the most was Fragile Express. This was until Fragile Express resources were used by Terrorists to nuke Middle Knot City and Fragile ceased operations.

At some point he befriend a fellow preppers, who like to talk about how the good ol’ days.

### Sam's Westward Expedition

By the events of the Sam's westward expedition, the Elder needed a delivery of medicine, which Sam delivers on behalf of Bridges in order to connect the Elder to the UCA and chiral network. He is initially hesitant to join the UCA due to his mistrust of the previous USA, and so he instead initiates a contract with Bridges to take advantage of the information network and weather forecasts. After Sam proves the UCA's and Bridges' worth, the Elder is convinced to fully join the chiral network and the UCA.

### Possible Death

Sometime after joining the UCA, the Elder might stop taking his medication and permit himself to die.  Despite this, the shelter can still be rested in.  This can be avoided if Sam, or delivery bots, continues making deliveries to him even after reaching connection level 5.

## Connection rewards

* Grass Green Ludens Mask and Backpack Color
* Grass Green Sam Sunglasses Color
* Rest Area
* Grass Green Cap Color

## Miscellanea

### Mails

* Why Join the UCA?
* Y'all Could Learn from Fragile Express
* Countries Are Bullshit, But...
* Rebuild the Roads, Rebuild America
* So Long, Sam

### Interviews

* The America of the Past
* Prepper Shelters

## References

1. **^** Countries Are Bullshit, But...
2. **^** Y'all Could Learn from Fragile Express
3. **^** So Long, Sam
4. **^** The Elder’s Dead