Roman Stroud

### Occupation

Gerald Roland's personal bodyguard *(Pre- and Post-Apocalypse)*Former CIA Agent *(Pre-Apocalypse)*

## Biography

### First Seen

Season 5 Episode 10"The Fanatic and the Freak"

Roman Stroud is a supporting character and a survivor of the outbreak in Route to Paradise. He is a former CIA agent that went on to become Gerald Roland's personal bodyguard, both pre- and post-outbreak, and currently resides at the community of Worthwood, led by Gerald. For the most part, Roman is taciturn, choosing to do his job and let others speak, only speaking when he has to, or feels the need to. He's shown to be one of Gerald's most trusted in Worthwood, given that he's one of few people aware of the extortion Worthwood faces from Shiro Shizuko's biker gang.

## **Pre-Apocalypse**

Roman worked as an agent of the Central Intelligence Agency for an unknown period of time before retiring to become a personal bodyguard for Gerald Roland, a wealthy publishing company owner.

## **Post-Apocalypse**

### **Season 5**

#### "**The Fanatic and the Freak**"

When William Reynes is brought to Gerald's office by Heather Solis, Roman is seen mid-conversation with Gerald. Upon seeing William, Gerald dismisses the conversation and has Roman leave he and William to talk.

### **Season 6**

#### "**All Good Things**"

During the Worthwood welcoming party for William and his group, Roman steps outside onto a balcony, approaching Jon Matthews. He pulls out a pack of cigarettes and a match, which he uses to light a cigarette. He begins to smoke, noticing a knife that Jon is fiddling with, but chooses not to be bother by it. The two share few words about both of them not really caring about the party, as Roman enjoys his cigarette. After a short while, Roman stomps out his cigarette, and goes back inside, passing by Daniel Rockwell, who's on his way out.

#### "**The Tick**"

Roman is seen walking quickly with Gerald and Allan White towards a fight that's happening between William and Todd Glover. However, they get there too late, for Todd has already been beaten to death by William.

#### "**A House Divided**"

Early in the morning the day after Todd's death, Roman stands out on a road with Gerald and Allan. They're in the middle of handing over a truckload of supplies to Shiro Shizuko and his biker gang. Roman remains silent throughout the entire encounter, watching angrily as Allan is punched by one of the bikers, and then Shiro reveals to them that one of his men was killed - and the killer, Austin Kingston, went back to Worthwood. Now, Shiro wants Austin handed over to him, or he and his biker gang will storm Worthwood and kill everyone. When Gerald realizes there is nothing he can say to change Shiro's mind, he retreats back to the truck, followed by Roman and Allan. Roman gets in the drivers seat, and drives the three of them home.

Back at Worthwood, Roman is standing guard in front of Gerald's office. Kate Bloodstone and Marcus Downes come walking up to the door, but he's not allowing them inside. Marcus kindly asks him to move aside, but when Roman refuses to, Marcus decides that Roman's duty isn't as important as them seeing Gerald. He tries to enter the office, but Roman throws a quick punch to the center of Marcus' face, causing him to stumble to the floor, in pain, but also impressed. Kate checks on Marcus as he stands back up slowly, wondering just who Roman is. "CIA," Roman answers simply, which Marcus believes. Having grown impatient, Kate yells through the door at Gerald, cursing at him, before she punches a portrait on the wall and storms off. Marcus goes to follow her, but she's already long gone, and so he goes to use the bathroom instead, with Roman directing him where it is.

In Worthwood Castle, Gerald is standing in his office, looking out a window. Roman is standing silently near him, while Gerald's son Fletcher Roland is sitting on a couch, and Allan is pacing back and forth, ranting about how William's group are animals, and they're going to try and take this place away from them. Roman stays quiet, simply listening to Allan bicker with Gerald, while Fletcher chimes in every once in a while, at one point mentioning that the situation with Shiro seems like the more important matter, half-jokingly suggesting that they go and tell William that Shiro is beating his daughter, and maybe William will kill him too. Eventually, when Allan and Fletcher leave, Roman turns to face Gerald, and tells him that Fletcher has a point -- the business with Shiro is top priority. As Gerald sits down behind his desk, he asks Roman if he thinks they could really use William and his people to take care of the bikers. "I wouldn't... rule out that possibility," Roman responds. Gerald looks down in thought, and says they should keep that possibility between them for now.

During William's trial later that day, Roman stands by Gerald and the rest of the council as they address William, keeping his eyes peeled. After a relatively short trial, when it's about to conclude, members from William's group suddenly intrude in on the trial, armed. They take over the room, retrieving the two weapons from officers Cody Wakefield and Kevin Norton. Panic ensues, and Roman glances at the pistol in his holster, but decides that William's people have the advantage, and so all he can do is stand there as Kate explains to Gerald and the council that going forward they **will** co-exist and work with William's people.

## **Appearances**

Any episode with a checkmark over it signifies Roman Stroud appearing in any way.