Winslow

1. Overview

Winslow Coltrane (real name Clayton Driftwood) was a leader of the Vigil credited with keeping the group together during the bloody East vs. West conflict of 2020-21. Throughout 2021, Winslow developed a reputation for “snitching” after he was careless with information which Zirka believed could get her killed. Rather than killing him, she chose to spare his life in exchange for a “life debt” which she intended to use to have himself serve as bait to lure the Cult of Papa. Winslow’s loose lips also drew the attention of the Forsaken Loyalists, who had suspected him of working with both Dark as Midnight and the Scribes against their interests. Without informing the Vigil, Winslow began making a series of decisions in an attempt to clear the Vigil and himself of the trouble he got into.

Upon discovering Zirka’s plan, Winslow was terrified and unsuccessfully attempted to murder her (who he had grown close with) leading to her eventual capture by Dark as Midnight. After surviving an attempt on his life by the Wanderers, Forsaken Loyalists, and Serdtse Stai, Winslow went into hiding with Dark as Midnight.

Culminating in his death at the hands of his best friend and co-leader, Shifty.

2. Appearance

3. Origins

Prior to the apocalypse, Clayton was a member of a family of serial killers which operated in Texas between 1965 and 1985. In 1986, state police uncovered evidence of the Driftwood family’s murders and Clayton’s mother was shot and captured during the resultant shoot out. During the chaos, Clayton, his brother, and his sister escaped through an intricate network of tunnels and graves located below the family home. The pair of brothers attempted to flee the country with the assistance of a family friend and accomplice. Meanwhile, the sister continued alone on a further killing spree before eventually being brought into custody.

Clayton, his brother, and accomplice were eventually captured after crashing their vehicle on a major highway. While in custody, the three men learnt that the mother committed suicide in the middle of interrogation. The trio each received a death sentence. While awaiting the lengthy appeals process, Clayton and his brother escaped during a prisoner riot where they murdered multiple corrections officers. The family took the family of the prison warden hostage and blackmailed him into arranging the escape of their sister. Clayton’s siblings decided to flee to Mexico, whilst Clayton opted to go his own way. He broke into the house of his cousin, Winslow Coltrane, stole his passport and assumed his identity. Clayton left the United States to live in an isolated cabin within Siberia where he lived alone for many decades until the events of the infection began.

Having lived in hiding for close to thirty years, Clayton attempted to find redemption in the post-apocalyptic new world and vowed to help people.

4. Demeanour

Choosing to dress in the post-apocalyptic world in typical rural American attire, Winslow made no attempt at hiding his origins. Despite living in Russia for three decades, Winslow never lost his distinctive Texan accent. Slow to anger and difficult to intimidate, Winslow rarely resorted to violence - despite the temperament of people in the new world. By the end of his time in South Zagoria, Winslow had killed very few people, and only ever in self defense. The guilt of his past weighed on his mind significantly, and the deaths of various bandits at his hands brought the man a large amount of pain.

5. Actions

An overview of the character’s decisions, achievements and overall story development. This should form the main body of the article, and may be broken down into further sub-headings if appropriate.

Co-leader of the vigil w/ Shifty

Friend of Zirka, snitched about them going to Altar in disguise, nearly died for it, then snitched to DAMN about it, causing Zirka to give him a second chance / life debt

Zirka wanted to sacrifice him to cult, he decided to kill her to save his life but couldn’t do it

Got entangled with DAMN and Vriska because ?? they were current enemies with FL. Enemy of my enemy.

Attempted murder by FL, Wanderers, Heart

Went into hiding in Gorka

Killed by Shifty when DAMN brought him to GM and paraded him in front of the Vigil

Example:

Andi embraced Dixie, Tex, and the rest of the Fire Keepers in her time of suffering, using her experience with her brother as a source of strength. Andi took her oath to the Fire Keepers as the Paragon of Perseverance. A fellow Fire Keeper named Judge Richter asked her to become the Head Marshall after she executed a rogue Fire Keeper and close friend, Flow, who had jeopardized the lives of her new family; the action showed her dedication to justice and the protection of her family.

While a Marshall, she became close to Dragarian before he became a member of the Cult of Papa With Tex dying, Dixie leaving, and the new generation of Guardians seeming foreign to her, she went to carve her own path as a solo Fire Keeper. Her travels brought her close to her old friend and newly appointed alpha of Black Paw named John Stalvern, and they shared many moments with each other in the apocalypse. However, John’s morphine addiction could not be cured, and Andi chose to aid John in ending his suffering.

Unfortunately for Andi, John’s demise would not be taken lightly by his many friends and other survivors. Groups like Serdtse Vollka, Flock, the Cult of Papa, and Dark as Midnight all saw Andi as either a murderer or a pawn for political gain. She was captured and miraculously escaped the clutches of Dark as Midnight after being used by them to betray the Cult of Papa, taking refuge among other survivors such as the Black Sheep trying to outrun those that would cause her harm.

6. Where are they now?

After surviving the attempt on his life by the Forsaken Loyalists, Wanderers, and Serdtse Stai, Winslow went into hiding in Gorka under the care of Dark as Midnight. The apocalypse gang grew increasingly frustrated at who they saw as a mooch and were in the middle of negotiating his handover to the Forsaken Loyalists. After a month in their care, Winslow attempted to leave Gorka, enraging Dark as Midnight who dragged him to Green Mountain, where they expected the Carnival to “prove themselves” and execute the man for going into hiding and betraying the West.

Members of the Vigil were present and berated Winslow for dragging them into numerous conflicts and betraying what the Vigil stood for, including leaving them behind to pick up the pieces. Winslow was killed by his long-time friend and co-leader, Shifty on the 17th of August 2021. His final words of “I’m sorry” went unheard to all present but Zirka, who later consumed his corpse in its entirety.

7. Relationships

Shifty - Winslow's closest friend and co-leader of the Vigil. The two were central figures in South Western politics and were virtually inseparable. After learning the extent of Winslow's deeds, Shifty executed Winslow for dragging Vigil into so much trauma.

Ted - Another of Winslow's closest friends

Zirka - war child that started it all

Jean - Vigil member he sought advice from

Blake Tirty - someone he helped that later came into conflict with

Vriska - spymaster he snitched to

Ekho - Tried to help with his psychosis and ultimately failed

Kate - Someone else he tried to help that ended up being the catalyst to his death

Harry Churches - Reminded Winslow that there was still hope