Denny Leeds
In his sixties, whip thin and leathery from years of exposure, Denny Leeds calls himself the ruler of the vast pine forests of the Barrens. He is far more capable with a knife or rifle than most visitors expect, and far more cunning than his humble origins suggest. He rules from an old hunting lodge deep in the woods, entertaining guests at his "court" by playing up their assumptions of his mental inferiority, only to turn the tables when they think they have the advantage. His second favorite pastime is turning his guests loose and hunting them for sport, a hobby he finds increasingly attractive.
The Leeds family were Pineys, proto-Merican folk whose roots in the area ran deep. They belonged to a ridiculed minority that had been predicting collapse for years and stockpiled food, weapons, and built shelters. After the Fall, the Leeds clan thrived, taking over their hometown and several neighboring towns and claiming acres of pine forest. Those Denny does not rule outright pay protection to avoid raids. Travelers pay tolls for the privilege of walking the Pale Horse Pike in safety. His most lucrative arrangement is guarding Pleasantville for the Board, a contract that pays enough to choke a Vegasian crimelord. He knows that if he double-crosses them, they would pay someone else as much or more to burn his empire to the ground. Even his own family fears him too much to ever disobey.
The Leeds family were Pineys, proto-Merican folk whose roots in the area ran deep. They belonged to a ridiculed minority that had been predicting collapse for years and stockpiled food, weapons, and built shelters. After the Fall, the Leeds clan thrived, taking over their hometown and several neighboring towns and claiming acres of pine forest. Those Denny does not rule outright pay protection to avoid raids. Travelers pay tolls for the privilege of walking the Pale Horse Pike in safety. His most lucrative arrangement is guarding Pleasantville for the Board, a contract that pays enough to choke a Vegasian crimelord. He knows that if he double-crosses them, they would pay someone else as much or more to burn his empire to the ground. Even his own family fears him too much to ever disobey.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
The Leeds were Pineys, a proto-Merican folk ridiculed before the Fall for their obsession with collapse preparation. They stockpiled food and weapons, built shelters, and predicted catastrophe while their neighbors laughed. When the Fall came, the Leeds clan did not merely survive; they thrived. They took over their hometown and several neighboring towns, claimed vast stretches of pine forest, and built the foundation of Denny's current empire. The original family is proud of their Merican heritage and Nuclear Family faith, though over time they adopted Retrogrades, Remnants, Iron Slaves, and even Rovers into the clan. Denny inherited the empire and sharpened it, turning the Pine Barons from survivalists into warlords. His most dangerous partnership is with the Board of Aysea, which pays him handsomely to guard the secret of Pleasantville and keep its manufactured innocence intact.
Children
