His life as a hero is a two centuries old promise coming to pass. His life as a hero is as an example of a nation coming to life. Rodney Grant (quickly dubbed “Running Rabbit” ) was born on the Lakota Reservation in Rosebud, South Dakota, to a typical broken, disturbed, and impoverished Native American family. His mother was an overburdened parent of three and a wife to a broken and obsessed man. His father, an frustrated alcoholic activist of sorts, consumed with wrongs in the distant past, futilely seeking reparations and revenge but doing little more than destroying his own family. Daniel grew up torn between the glorious traditional Lakota nation of yesterday and the realities of the current condition.
While Rodney’s father indoctrinated him in his version of their history, more than anything his father imparted his pain upon his eldest son. However, Rodney took it upon himself to go the sources of his peoples’ history and wisdom. While on that educational journey, his younger siblings found themselves with typical troubles fairly quickly. His sister prematurely found the responsibilities of a family. His brother headed down a more criminal path, in juvenile hall by his early teens. These disappointing circumstances brought Rodney to consult a local shaman, Many Spirits Caller, who sent him off on his first vision quest. After five days, a vision of a brighter but turbulent Native American future, and his path in that future, was made clear to the now very changed young man.
Rodney returned from his personal journey in the Black Hills and consulted the shaman about the revelation he had experienced. After a few days of recovery from his ordeal Rodney was approached by a local prophet named The Raven (later to be revealed as Shane, returned from finding his history). Something that had been more on the periphery of Rodney’s world came to the fore; the growing movement of American Indian Nation’s succession from the United States of America (a growing “revolt” still known as AIM - The American Indian Movement). Many Spirits Caller and The Raven tapped the youth's mana and brought forth his spiritual power... as “Ghost Dancer."
Just like in the 19th century, his vision had told of how the dead peoples would rise again, but with a new clarity. The dead would not “live” again in the conventional sense. Their ancestors would spiritually imbue their descendants with protection, strength, and ability in the coming fight to rebuild their Nation. Ghost Dancer is but one soldier of many who would see that old prophecy come to fruition. So the army began to grow. These new warriors were trained to fight, to harness their new abilities, and become familiar with their ancient spirit inhabitant.
What lay next strategically for AIM was to infiltrate and learn the methods of their likely adversaries in the likely coming war. It was then that Ghost Dancer was sent to St. Louis under the name Jonathan Wright to join a group of heroes and learn, and wait, just as others were being sent across the country to do.
Rodney “Ghost Dancer” Grant is a younger, bronze-skinned, and powerful-looking man, with the dark eyes and usual strong facial features of a Native American from the northern plains. His attire is always ancient traditional Sioux, including nothing of the modern day. Each item of clothing and jewelry was hand tailored and decorated by his people; doeskin leggings, loin cloth, and moccasins. His elaborately decorated doeskin shirt is a real 200+ year-old Ghost Shirt, resistant to bullets as prophesied. He wears a necklace and a choker made of animal sinew stringing together local stones and the bones, teeth, and claws of sacred animals. His hair is black and worn long, decorated with the numerous feathers he or his ancient spirit guide earned. His primary weapon is a spiritually enhanced war club, looking like a bent ax-handle with a spear-head on the outside of the elbow but capable of ripping through steel without dulling or breaking. He also carries a small classic “Indian” bow with a very small quiver of hand-made arrows on his back. Both are covered with beadwork and decorations implying a severe spiritual quality.
Almost a stereotype, Ghost Dancer is a man of ancient ways in a very modern world. He is a warrior and philosopher, a contemplative hero that only appears out of time and place.
Some color on Ghost Dancer.
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