Elijah Townsend

The founder of the Lions and uniter of Western Salt Lake City who has established the communal society there within. He now serves as the figurehead of the Claws, who enforce the Lions code, defend the Farmers' Coalition and people, and put the militaristic might behind the Lions necessary to maintain their society. No one believes in the cause more than Shredder.

Background

During the events of the Farmers' murders occurring around May 23rd, 2004, Townsend reached out to individuals not of the Lions to investigate what he reluctantly believed to be an inside job.

Personality

Elijah is an intelligent, driven, and physically imposing individual. He has arrived at his version of an ideal society based on rigorous study of the samurai moral code, Bushido, as well as the rise and fall of revolutionary governments such as the Paris Commune. He follows this code resolutely, and expects the same of those in the Lions. He would sacrifice himself willingly for the Pride.

He views the APCA as the corruption of the old world, and believes that such bureaucracy has no place in the new world. While he views the tribal warfare occurring in the West Jordan following the Flood as the natural result of society's collapse', he views the rise of the APCA as a philosophical and moral failing of its members to protect the community in the East Jordan. The APCA serves as the first opponent to which he feels is diametrically opposed.

Townsend wields a great deal of power in the West Jordan, serving as the De facto leader in most of the peoples' eyes. This is much to his chagrin, and he tries to move away from this image, encouraging the community to care for itself and not adhere to central leadership. However, when perceived threats arise or something harsh needs doing, he is the first to step up, significantly diminishing any attempt on his part to distance himself from the title of leader.

Appearance

Elijah is a mid 30s, black man with a sturdy, muscular build, and a poorly matched smaller head with low cheekbones and sunken face. He shaves his forehead to mimic the elder Samurai of old, but keeps his remaining hair in short dreads. He prefers wears a mix of leather biker's gear and classical haoris and hakamas. In the summer he chooses a simple white, cotton yukata.

He carries both an odachi and a revolver on his person, and both see fair use.

Quotes

#spirit_city #character