As we approach the launch of the next story on Thursday, April 20, I’m publishing a few character previews. Next up is Rocco Lynch. Lynch is one of Maximus Savage's top men, and Savage has tasked him with leading the gang's efforts in Sapphire Angel's hometown. Like his boss, Lynch is a musclebound freak and a lethal combatant. He strikes an almost monster-like presence, with a thin scar running from his left eyebrow to the top of his bald skull. He has deep set eyes, with dark circles under them, giving him a ghoulish appearance.
Lynch originally hails from the Bronx, and lived a life of poverty after both of his parents died from drug-related deaths when he was a teenager. He grew up on the streets, learning to fend for himself, and eventually joined a gang, taking over as its leader in short order.
When the Savage Gang moved into his territory, he saw the writing on the wall. He doesn't like playing second fiddle to anyone, but he knew his choices were to either join up with Savage, or be crushed by him. Lynch joined, biting back his pride, and moved up through the ranks of the new gang almost as quickly as he had moved up through the ranks of his old one. Over time, he has become one of Maximus Savage’s two most-trusted lieutenants, moving to the gang's headquarters in Ohio.
Lynch doesn't like taking crap from anyone, but he fears Maximus Savage as much as the next person does, and worries about what might happen if he fails in his new assignment.
Lynch sounds like a complicated character indeed. In the first few sentences, I thought him to be Maximus Savage’s #2 and not much more than that, but oh, dear......he’s got quite the story behind him. Again, we’ve both got that theme of “loss” going on in our stories, and how it can affect those hurt by it. Lynch’s parents’ deaths via drug-related incidents can’t have been good for him in any way, and if he ended up joining a brutal gang as a result, then he likely wasn’t taught how to live legitimately; of course, that would depend on exactly how old he was when they died.....he may not have been old enough to understand the things taught to him yet.
To me, this character could go a lot of ways. Stay loyal to Savage and ultimately get beaten by Sapphire at the end, turn against Savage and end up dying for it, turn against Savage and get out of it still breathing (highly unlikely, considering how Savage is), commit suicide because of conflicting loyalties/mindsets (a la Inspector Javert from Lés Miserables), or just get captured and thrown in jail by authorities, at which point he’d be able to gradually build himself back up. Or they could execute him. That, too.
He’s only one of two important henchmen, though, but I don’t know whether or not their character bio will be the next one. If Savage actually treats Lynch with respect, then I could see Lynch staying loyal to him, but seeing as how ruthless the gang overall is, I wouldn’t count on it. Maybe it’s one of those that’s nice to its members, but outright villains to everyone else?
So far, these do feel like character bios, but it’s also like we’re just putting together Sapphire’s hit list. 🤣
Like.....“here are your targets, now go eliminate them”.
(snaps fingers) Maybe the Savage Gang were hired by the Silver-Eyed Man to find/draw out either Sapphire Angel or a champion strong enough to defeat her! These guys seem very tough and strong.....maybe the Silver-Eyes Man thinks that anyone (besides Sapphire) who could defeat them would be an equal match?