Difference between revisions of "David Charleston"

When David was eight years old, he witnessed his father, [[Blain Charleston]], be killed by the High Epic [[Steelheart (Epic)|Steelheart]] on the [[Day of Annexation]]. After a short time living homeless and alone in the city of Newcago, David was taken in by a Factory, where he, along with many other children, worked in exchange for food and board. During this time David became obsessed with researching Epics and finding their weaknesses, particularly that of Steelheart.

 

David manages to track down the Reckoners, a rebel group fighting against the Epics, and finds [[Megan Tarash]], a member of the Reckoners, in Newcago. After he helps her as the Reckoners plan a hit on [[Fortuity]], David convinces them to let him join. He tells them that he had seen Steelheart bleed, and convinces them to target Steelheart next. After planning the hit, David manages to integrate himself into the group and befriend all of the members of the group. He later finds out that Megan was an Epic named Firefight, an Epic with reincarnation and "fire-based powers" that was part of Steelheart's innermost circle, and even Prof, the leader of the Reckoners, was a struggling High Epic trying to remain sane. Together, the Reckoners successfully execute a plan which results in the destruction of Steelheart's government and the eventual death of Steelheart himself.{{book ref|Steelheart}}

 

After the death of Steelheart, the Reckoners have to defend the city of Newcago against Epics from elsewhere in the world. An Epic with replicating powers known as [[Mitosis]] arrives in Newcago and confronts David after hearing that he had killed Steelheart. Upon fighting [[Mitosis]], David realizes that Epic weaknesses always have to deal in some way with the Epic's past.

 

The Reckoners learn that Epics, including Mitosis, were being sent to Newcago by a High Epic known as [[Regalia]] in Babilar, formerly New York City; so David, [[Jonathan Phaedrus |Prof]], and [[Tia]] travel to Babilar to take on Regalia; but David primary reason for going to the city is to find Megan after hearing that she killed a Reckoner based in Babilar known as Sam. Throughout the book, David struggles with finding a new purpose and changing his perspective on Epics after meetin Prof, Megan,and even [[Dawnslight]], an Epic responsible for the nourishment of the people residing in Babilar. In Babilar, David meets more members of the Reckoners and finds Megan camping out in the city. There, David learns that Megan is illusory powers are really reality warping powers and that she struggles to fight the corruption resulting from the use of her powers. After sharing intimate moments with Megan, a bond between to the grow and a potential romantic relationship begins to bud. Regalia reveals to David that [[Calamity]] is really an Epic or some sort of higher bring that gifts people with powers and attempts to turn him too into an Epic. Because David refuses to accept the powers and confronts his fear of the ocean, Regalia believes she failed to turn him into an Epic. She then reveals to David that she intends to make Prof succumb to the corruption of his powers so he can succeed her. This, with Megan's revelation of her fear and weakness to fire, leads David to the conclusion that confronting your fears can fight the corruption resulting from your Epic powers. David eventually succeeds in bringing down Regalia and Newton, another High Epic in Babilar, but loses Megan after Prof lures her into a burning building to "save" David. After repeatedly convincing Prof to accept his Epic status and that he too can fight the corruption, Prof fails and wreaks havoc. Prof's destruction leads to the deaths of both [[Val]] and [[Exel]]. Because Megan confronted her fears by running into the burning building, her death was not permanent and she manages to save David.