Charles Smith

Nicknames Sulky Lone Wolf Nationality American (Native American descent) Gender Male Location Transitory Affiliations Van der Linde gang (formerly) Marston family Family Unnamed mother Unnamed father Unnamed uncle Occupation Outlaw (c. 1899) Street fighter (c. 1907) Rancher (temporarily; 1907) Weapon Custom Sawed-off Shotgun Tomahawk Machete Throwing Knife Bow Lancaster Repeater Double-barreled Shotgun Bolt Action Rifle Mount Taima (1899) Falmouth (1907)

A relatively recent recruit to the gang, Charles is quiet and reserved but extremely competent in everything he does and virtually unbeatable in a fight. A decent, honest man who also happens to be deadly.

Appearance: 1899 Charles has dark skin, with light stubble and scarring on his face. He has a very muscular build, which is accompanied by great strength and athleticism. He has very long, free-flowing black hair which he later styles into a mohawk/braid look, seen after returning from Guarma. Charles usually wears a blue shirt with a dotted white pattern, brown trousers, black boots, a gun belt and a necklace, which is accompanied by a black, winter coat, a blue buttoned up coat with a green vest, in Chapters 1 and 2 respectively. He also wears a thick green wool coat with a hood when going out on missions. During later chapters, Charles can be seen wearing a dark green buttoned up vest with a white undershirt, faded green trousers and a black hat with a red feather. Another outfit includes a dark red shirt under a light brown vest with a blue Indian style pattern on both sides, along with black trousers and brown boots. For the Saint Denis bank heist, Charles wears a dark brown suit with black cuffs, a black vest, an open teal-green vest and a red necktie, as well a teal-green pants and fancy black shoes.

1907 By 1907, Charles' hair has returned to its original style of being very long and free-flowing. He has an Eagle feather attached to his hair and wears a pinstriped white shirt with an undone brown vest, dark grey trousers, and black boots. During the hunt for Micah Bell, he wears a black leather coat with black gloves.

Ultimately, he can be described as altruistic. He is quick to help anyone who has helped him or who is in need of help in spite of however bad his condition may be or how little benefit it may be to him. He teaches Arthur to use a bow while still wounded (in spite of Arthur's protests) to save the gang from certain starvation, proactively searches to reunite the German family (in spite of Arthur's protests again) and unconditionally helps John and Uncle construct the ranch at Beecher's Hope in 1907. Charles is also emotionally distant and socially awkward. By his own admission, he prefers people when he does not have to listen to them, evidenced by his annoyance at Sean MacGuire's chatty attitude. However, he does warm up to both Arthur and John, notably showing rare visible happiness upon reuniting with the latter in 1907, and states that he is done with being alone for the sole reason of being able to sleep easier at night. He also feels directionless, which, combined with his desire for social interaction, is likely why he joined the gang in the first place. During a possible campfire conversation, Charles vents about his lack of understanding of life. He feels that he has no purpose but to suffer, and after considering his mother's kidnap, father's alcoholism, early escape from home, and subsequent extreme loneliness, it is easy to see why. He feels his life is stuck in America, and this is likely why he chooses to emigrate to Canada for a true fresh start by the game's end.

Charles has been described as a quiet and reserved person, yet very competent in everything he takes part of, especially fights, to the extent that he is able to successfully compete with a flawless record in fighting tournaments such as in Saint Denis in 1907. He is very courageous and selfless, providing whatever help he could to the Wapiti Indian reservation, rescuing Captain Monroe and Eagle Flies from the US Army, and telling Sadie and John to run from Micah's men first while he would supposedly catch up later despite being critically wounded. He is nearly always calm, even when being confronted or dealing with passive aggressiveness from people like Javier, only showing visible happiness or anger on a few short occasions. Arguably the most honorable and moral member of the gang, Charles is cool-headed and is unwilling to kill unless absolutely necessary; the continuing blood spilled by the gang (mainly from Dutch and Micah later on) is ultimately what causes him to become disillusioned with it and helping the Wapiti Indians instead. He disapproves of people who are nothing but vicious killers, such as his notable disdain for the Callander brothers and Micah. He is also compassionate towards wild animals and shows rare visible anger when encountering the poachers' killing bison for sport. He despises racism, throwing Micah to the ground instantly for calling him a redskin, and being visibly impressed by Dutch's fair treatment of all races. He is also shown to be thoughtful and kind, burying Susan and Arthur after discovering their bodies. In the case of Arthur, he buried him in a particularly picturesque spot with a decorated gravestone.

Background: Charles Smith was born to an African American father and a Native American mother. He and his father lived with his mother’s tribe until the U.S. Army drove them away. His mother was captured by soldiers a couple years later and was never seen again, whilst his father fell into a depression and became an alcoholic. According to Charles, his uncle taught him how to create poisoned arrows using Oleander Sage when he was young. At the age of 13, Charles ran away and wandered the country alone. A veteran survivalist, Charles joined the Van der Linde gang while they were passing through the Grizzlies around November 1898.