Group Leader Victor Rourke

Character Information

Gender		Male
Age		55

Physical Appearance

Family

Personality & Traits

General Overview		Philosophy & Leadership Style: Rourke sees himself as a necessary evil—believing that only through absolute control can civilization endure. He despises weakness, values obedience, and rewards loyalty. Those who serve him well are granted protection, resources, and power within his ranks. However, defiance is met with swift and often brutal punishment.
Strengths & Weaknesses		While Rourke presents himself as an unshakable leader, his past haunts him in ways he refuses to admit. He justifies his brutality as necessary, but there are moments—late at night, in the quiet—that he feels the ghosts of his past. He does not speak of Evelyn, Jonathan, or Hannah, nor does he acknowledge any grief. To him, emotion is a weakness, and weakness is death. Yet, some who have served under him claim that they’ve caught glimpses of something buried deep—a flicker of humanity he quickly buries under cold pragmatism. Rourke is a man who has lost everything except power, and he clings to it with an iron grip. Because without it, he has nothing.

Personal History

Victor Rourke was once a decorated officer in the U.S. Army, known for his strategic mind and unwavering authority. However, his career ended in disgrace following a dishonorable discharge—official records cite "gross misconduct," though rumors suggest war crimes, insubordination, or a failed coup attempt. With no place left in the military and a reputation tarnished beyond repair, Rourke drifted through life, taking security contracts and working with mercenary groups. The Fall of Society – September 2010: When the undead outbreak swept through the nation and the government crumbled, Rourke saw an opportunity. Arriving in Steven’s Point, he quickly gathered survivors under his command, presenting himself as the only one capable of restoring order. His experience in warfare and psychological manipulation made him a natural leader in the chaos, and by the end of September, he and his loyalists had seized complete control of the city. The Militia & Rule of Law: Under Rourke’s command, the Steven’s Point Militia was formed—a ruthless band of ex-military, survivalists, and desperate civilians willing to do whatever it took to survive. Rourke established a brutal regime, enforcing strict martial law with public executions, forced labor, and military-style conscription. Dissenters were dealt with swiftly, often vanishing overnight or being thrown to the undead as examples. Pre-Apocalypse – Family & Home Life Before the world fell apart, Victor Rourke was a husband and a father—though, by all accounts, not an affectionate one. He married Evelyn "Evie" Rourke in his early 20s, a woman who came from a strict military family herself. Their marriage was one of practicality rather than romance; Evelyn understood the demands of a military career and tolerated his cold, authoritarian nature. She was a steadfast, disciplined woman who ran their household like a well-oiled machine, raising their children with the same rigid expectations that Rourke had learned in the military. They had two children: • Jonathan Rourke (Would be 28, presumed deceased) – Their eldest son followed in his father’s footsteps, enlisting in the military. He was deployed overseas when the outbreak occurred, and Rourke never learned his fate. He assumes Jonathan is either dead or one of the infected. • Hannah Rourke (Would be 24, unknown status) – Unlike her brother, Hannah rejected the military path and pursued a career in journalism. She and Rourke often clashed over her "soft ideals" and disdain for his harsh worldview. She was in college in Chicago when the outbreak happened. Her whereabouts remain unknown, but Rourke has refused to acknowledge any emotion over it. While Rourke was often absent due to deployments, when he was home, his presence dominated the household. He expected discipline, obedience, and respect from his wife and children. Displays of emotion were seen as weakness, and he had little patience for failure. His harsh parenting style drove a wedge between him and his daughter, while his son sought his approval by emulating him. Evelyn, though a strong woman, suffered under the strain of their marriage. As Rourke’s military career began to unravel due to the scandal that led to his dishonorable discharge, his temper worsened, and their home became a place of tension and silent resentment. She stayed, not out of love, but out of duty and because she believed in structure above all else. Post-Apocalypse – What Became of His Family? When the outbreak hit, Evelyn and Hannah were still in their home in Madison, Wisconsin, while Jonathan was deployed. Rourke was away when society collapsed, and by the time he returned to their house, it was in ruins. Bloodstains covered the walls, but there were no bodies—only a few scattered belongings. There was no way to know if they had fled or if they had fallen to the undead. Rourke never tried to look for them. He rationalized that if they were strong enough to survive, they would find a way. If not, then they were dead, and mourning them would be a waste of energy. Despite his cold dismissal, some say that Rourke keeps Evelyn’s wedding ring on a chain around his neck, though he has never spoken of it. In Steven’s Point, Rourke has built a kingdom, and with it, a new kind of "family." Though he never remarried, he surrounds himself with loyalists, treating his most trusted officers almost like surrogate sons. There are whispers that he has taken multiple women as "companions" over the years, but none hold any real influence over him. He sees relationships as transactional—loyalty and obedience are rewarded, and anything else is a liability. Some suspect that he may have illegitimate children among the militia, but if he does, he does not acknowledge them. His "family" is now the militia, and his only true love is control.