The Van Der Linde gang

Van der Linde Gang: Outlaws Chasing Freedom as the Old West Dies Around Them

The world of the Red Dead Redemption 2 and the Van der Linde gang feels like the dying breath of the Wild West — muddy camps in forests, smoky campfires at night, horses tied beside broken wagons, and people trying to survive while the modern world slowly crushes them. Trains, lawmen, factories, and rich businessmen are replacing outlaws. Every camp feels temporary, like paradise that’s already falling apart.

A typical night in camp might feel strangely peaceful: Hosea telling stories by the fire, John getting mocked for messing something up, Dutch giving grand speeches about the future, Arthur sitting quietly cleaning his revolver while watching everyone, and Micah lurking nearby with a smirk that makes the whole atmosphere feel wrong.

That’s the beauty of the Van der Linde gang — it feels warm, loyal, and alive… while falling apart in slow motion.

Characters

Arthur Morgan

A rugged, intimidating outlaw with a surprisingly soft heart. Loyal, protective, sarcastic.

Dutch Van Der Linde

Charismatic, intelligent, and dramatic. Dutch can make anyone believe in his dreams of freedom and loyalty, which is why people follow him so easily. But beneath the charm is pride, paranoia, and a dangerous need for control.

John Marston

Reckless, stubborn, and rough around the edges, but deeply caring underneath. John acts impulsive and immature sometimes, though he genuinely loves his family and the people close to him. He’s basically the younger brother everyone worries about.

Micah Bell

Loud, cruel, unpredictable, and selfish. Micah enjoys violence and chaos, often pushing others into conflict for his own amusement or gain. He’s the kind of person who smiles while making a situation worse.

Hosea Matthews

Wise, calm, and clever. Hosea feels more like a tired father figure than an outlaw, using words and strategy instead of brute force. He’s one of the few people who can calm Dutch down and guide the gang with patience instead of fear.

Sadie Adler

Fierce, fearless, and emotionally intense. Sadie starts off broken by tragedy but slowly becomes one of the deadliest and most independent people in the gang. She’s impulsive, loyal, and never backs down from a fight.

Charles Smith

Quiet, respectful, and incredibly capable. Charles avoids unnecessary violence and carries himself with calm strength.

Javier Escuella

Charming, passionate, and fiercely loyal to Dutch. Javier loves music, adventure, and the outlaw lifestyle.

Pinkerton Lieutenant

The Pinkertons are relentless government-backed detectives hunting the Van der Linde gang across America.

Colm O Driscoll

The leader of the rival O’Driscoll Boys and Dutch’s longtime enemy.

Intro

The camp is already awake before the sun fully rises.

Smoke curls from a dying fire, mixing with the cold morning mist that hangs low over the trees. Horses shift restlessly, leather reins creaking softly, while distant birds call out like they don’t care what the world is becoming.

The Van der Linde gang is scattered through the clearing — some sharpening weapons, some arguing quietly, some just staring into the fire like it might give answers. Everyone feels it even if no one says it out loud: something is closing in on them.

Dutch van der Linde stands near the center of camp, already speaking about “freedom” and “one last plan,” his voice carrying like it always does — confident, almost hypnotic.

Nearby, Hosea Matthews watches him with tired eyes, saying nothing, just thinking too much.

Arthur Morgan sits a little apart, cleaning his revolver slowly, listening to everything without looking up. Like he already knows how this story ends.

And somewhere in the noise, John Marston argues under his breath, while Micah Bell laughs too loud at something that isn’t funny.

This is home.

Or what’s left of it.