Red Dead Redemption 2is known for so many things: its stunningly detailed portrayal of the American old west, its vast number of gameplay systems, and its abundance of eccentric and true-to-life characters. Indeed there even exists a character so eccentric and unconventional in the game that it drives the player’s character - either Arthur Morgan or John Marston - into a deep confusion once they meet him. One strange character goes by the name of Francis Sinclair and can be found outside of Strawberry in West Elizabeth. He’s a part of thestranger side-questcalled “Geology for Beginners.”
TheRed Dead Redemption 2side quest involves either Arthur or John going around the game world looking for rock carvings which Francis claims he needs to find “really badly.” When the player’s character meets Francis for the first time and they start talking to each other, Francis puts them off mainly because they can’t understand half of what he’s saying. After the side quest is over, Arthur/John leave Francis’ cabin even more confused than when they first met him. Looking at the various rock carvings, players can make out several different events and depictions that all ultimately reveal who Francis Sinclair really is - a time traveler.
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InRDR 2,when players walk up to Francis Sinclair as he sits outside on his cabin steps, players can somewhat immediately recognize how much he stands out from the environment. His tie, shirt, and sweater just make everyone else, including Arthur/John, look like straight-up brutes. The first words out of his mouth - “well what’s eating you, partner?” - instantly throwsArthur/Johninto a loop of confusion, as they have never heard that expression before. Francis continues to use these foreign phrases which in turn continues to make them believe that he’s a “lunatic.”
The main characters’ confusion is the first clue that Francis is a time traveler, as he uses expressions and idioms that mean nothing to them because they haven’t been used in general society yet. His clothes are the second clue, that style and type of clothing weren’t in popularity for the setting ofRDR 2. The rock carvings and the quest’s ending ostensibly prove his time traveling capabilities. When the player visits the cabin after capturing every carving, Francis is gone, or at least reincarnated (or reverted back), into an infant whom Mrs. Sinclair is caring for. After inquiring further, Mrs. Sinclair confirms that the baby is indeed Francis (and that her husband died long ago).
Both Francis and the baby have a large, conspicuous birthmark around their right eye proving the two are one and the same. However, the biggest clue comes from the rock carvings, drawings of which can be found posted together on a wall inside the Sinclairs’ cabin. They depict many things such as an atom and a subsequent explosion, skyscrapers (possibly the Hindenburg disaster), along with a horse drawn carriage, the pyramids of Egypt, and portals linking everything. In a slightlycreepyRDR 2moment, a man is depicted in these drawings who bears a striking resemblance to Francis, complete with his sweater, tie, moustache, and right-eye birthmark.
Francis Sinclair Explained
Based on all of the clues, the following notion can be deduced. Francis Sinclair is a time traveler (or a series of reincarnates with right-eye birthmarks) and he asksArthur Morgan or John Marstonfor help in finding these rock carvings because he needs them to continue time traveling. The drawings and carvings indicate that he has traveled periods lasting thousands of years. The reason why he needs the carvings could vary. They could be a key to his time traveling abilities. After all, baby Francis only appears after the player collects all 10 carvings so maybe Arthur/John end up activating his powers.
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If that’s the case, then it could be argued that Francis time travels by reverting back to infanthood over and over again, living his life in repetition. On the other hand, it’s possible that his reversion to infancy is a curse that can only be alleviated by the carvings. BeforeArthur/Johnset off to find the carvings, Francis tells them that he’s going inside to lie down because he doesn’t feel well. Maybe his illness was due to the fact that his time to find the carvings was running out, thus the transformation back to infancy.
Francis didn’t bother to divulge too much to Arthur or John and his abilities are still somewhat shrouded in mystery. It’s still not clear why these carvings exist to begin with. One explanation could be that they appear every time he is reborn, awaiting his discovery of them. Maybe only the collection of all carvings is able to set him on the right path. In any case, it’s clear that he is a well-versed traveler of space and time. His presence may have even been hinted at in 2013, A.K.A. the yearGrand Theft Auto 5takes place (and was released).
Francis in Grand Theft Auto 5
Just like withRed Dead Redemption 2,Grand Theft Auto 5shows that Rockstar is a huge fan of secrets and Easter eggs.GTA 5’sMount Chiliad andRDR 2’sMount Shann prove that much. InGTA 5,a cult known as the Epsilon Program provides many weird hidden secrets and Easter eggs for the player to find. The biggest one that connects toRed Dead Redemption 2can be found on Epsilon’s website (which can be accessed in-game and in real life). The site shows a picture of a figure whose right eye is covered with a birthmark similar to the one found on Francis Sinclair.
Additionally, the website states that “if you have a birthmark, you may be descended from Kraff, the famous Emperor of the fourth Paradigm.” Although it’s clearly just Rockstar having fun, this strange connection actually fits perfectly within Francis Sinclair’s story and therefore could prove to be something more. It’s possible that Francis only has that name within theAmerican old westand that he went by the name of Kraff in a different life. On the other hand, the Epsilon Program isn’t shy about its animosity toward red-haired people, which Francis is, so maybe Francis isn’t their deity. Either way, his time traveling powers prove he has a lot going on.
Red Dead Redemption 2is available now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
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