Will "Rook" Holloway is a character in the VVaywards universe. He is one of the central protagonists and a founding member of the VVaywards resistance. Known for his brooding demeanor, tactical intellect, and unwavering resolve, Rook is both a symbol of rebellion and a haunted soul shaped by war, betrayal, and lost love.
Biography
Born in the fractured cityscape of Seattle, 2035, Will Holloway grew up amidst the ruins of a society oppressed by the iron grip of the corrupt Ascendancy regime. A former soldier turned fugitive, Holloway earned the codename "Rook" due to his rigid strategic mind and the way he sacrifices comfort and safety to protect those around him, much like the chess piece that bears his name.
After defecting from the regime, Rook became one of the first to stand against the government's mind-control initiative, Project Valiant. Haunted by the lives he couldn’t save and the love he let slip away, he leads the VVaywards not as a savior, but as a penitent man seeking redemption.
Appearance
Will has short dark brown hair, a short mustache and beard, and wears sunglasses nearly at all times, even in combat. His iconic outfit includes:
A blue and black letterman jacket with the number 3 stitched on the back
A blue jersey shirt with a white number 3 on the front
Black ripped jeans
Black boots
He is rarely seen without a cigarette in his hand
His design exudes a rugged, anti-hero aesthetic befitting his role as a frontline tactician and troubled warrior.
Personality
Rook is often cold and distant, relying on sarcasm and silence rather than vulnerability. He exhibits signs of PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and emotional detachment, though flashes of his former self emerge when he's around people he trusts.
Despite his tough exterior, Rook is deeply loyal. He has a complex moral compass and refuses to allow innocents to suffer, even when it means placing himself in danger. His internal conflict is central to the VVaywards’ emotional core.
Abilities and Skills
While not enhanced like some VVaywards, Rook is a highly trained:
Tactician and strategist
Close-quarters combatant
Marksman
Demolitions expert
Urban survivalist
He is well-versed in battlefield improvisation and often devises bold, high-risk plans that rely on precise timing and psychological manipulation of enemies.
Equipment
Standard-issue sidearm modified for armor-piercing rounds
Concealed combat knife
Communicator earpiece for coordinating covert ops
EMP disruptor to disable drones and surveillance
Hidden explosives woven into his boots and gloves for last-resort combat
Relationships
Whisper – Former lover turned reluctant ally. Their breakup left scars on both, and although they maintain a professional relationship, underlying tension and unresolved emotions frequently surface.
Captain – A mutual respect exists between them. While Captain brings heart, Rook brings heat.
Doc – Rook relies on Doc's medical expertise but keeps emotional distance.
Mike – A voice of reason and one of the few who Rook lets speak into his conscience.
Story Arcs
VVaywards: Rebirth
Rook organizes a breakout from a mind-conditioning facility with the help of DOC, and begins recruiting old allies and new misfits. He must confront the possibility that a part of him still wants to return to the order of war, even if it means destroying himself.
VVaywards: Terminal Fall
Haunted by the ghosts of civilians lost during the Ascendancy airstrikes, Rook sacrifices his body and sanity to detonate a control hub, barely escaping with his life.
VVaywards: Burn the Crown
Rook and Whisper must infiltrate a tower owned by a high-level regime commander. Their mission is compromised by personal tension and a mutual memory implant that threatens to unravel their past.
Reception
Rook has been praised by fans and critics alike for his complexity, trauma-informed writing, and mature narrative arc. Some critics have likened him to iconic anti-heroes like Wolverine, Snake Plissken, and Rorschach, due to his lone-wolf tactics, sharp wit, and willingness to operate in moral gray zones.
Trivia
His favorite drink is black coffee—he claims it's the only thing left in the world that's honest.
The number 3 stitched into his jacket refers to the three people he failed to save during his final military mission.
Rook has only smiled three times across the entire comic series.
His cigarette brand is fictional: Ashfall Reds, a nod to Seattle’s volcanic smog in the VVaywards world.
The developers created Rook’s design before the rest of the team, making him the original “anchor” of the franchise.