Tony Starke

---     Spoiler Warning: Plot details, ending details, or both are in the text which follows. ---

""Why do I always wear black? Well, I never know when i'll have to go to a funeral.""

- -Tony to Clement when asked why his wardrobe is so bland.



Background
Anthony "Tony" Gordon Starke was born into the wealthy Starke Crime Family on the 2nd of March 1987; he was the youngest of the Starke siblings. Tony schooled at Altrincham Grammar School along with his sisters, Clara and Anne. At school Tony was regarded as both incredibly friendly and approachable, but also was easy to anger and would get into many fights, this behaviour would lead to Tony being diagnosed with Bipolar disorder.

After finishing at school in 2005, Tony attended the University of Manchester and gained a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management in 2008. During this time he also began to learn his family trade, training to one day take over his family business after his parents; this would include assisting associates on armed robberies, extortion, kidnapping, getaway driving and occasionally murder.

Upon completing University, Tony immediately took an official role in his family's business, acting as an Underboss to his father for five years to get further experience for when he one day takes over. The plan to hand Tony leadership over the family was halted in 2012, when his father requested he meet up with a rival gang member in Los Santos, US. This plan was made out of mutual interest, as both families wanted to expand into the United States, but were not powerful enough to do so individually. Tony would travel to Los Santos in late 2013 to meet his new partner, Lucifer and their mutual associate Lamar Davis. Tony arrived at LSIA and met Lucifer and his entourage, including Lucifer's brother and two high ranking associates, Tony was shocked by this as he had travelled alone. After waiting at the airport, Lamar arrived to pick up the group, Tony and Lucifer would ride with Lamar while he explained various options to get a foothold in the town. Lamar took them to a street race that evening, Tony would enter the race and then ultimately win it, this prompted him to continue racing to earn money. He gained a reputation as a highly skilled and clean driver by amassing over 250 race wins, leading Tony to be regarded as the main getaway driver while working with Lucifer. Tony's car was often the vehicle of choice, a highly modified black Imponte Phoenix with red details, given to him by Simeon Yetarian. Tony was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, he was paranoid about revealing his identity so would wear face paint and a black skull mask in public, leading him to be seen as very odd and eccentric. Tony's sisters Clara and Anne were sent to assist Tony in 2014 and would often do administration work, but rarely any violent criminal activities.

Once established in town, Tony and Lucifer formed their own gang, The Grove Rebellion, named to honour the legacy of Lamar Davis' gang. This gang would expand over time, the leading members would split in mid 2015 to form the Syndicate Affluence; a large and highly organised crime business rather than a small-time street gang. It was around this time that Clara and Anne were assassinated after being targeted as weak links in LSSA.

Tony would reluctantly fly to Paris, France to surprise his brother Clement and propose a job within Syndicate Affluence to him. Lucifer was becoming frustrated with the amount of money LSSA spent on bribing doctors to perform off-the-records surgery and treatment, saying this during a meeting - "Doctors are costing us way too much to keep quiet, money that would be far better off in our pockets, you know what I mean? Tony, didn't you say your brother was some genius doc or somethin'?", Lucifer requested that Tony attempted to recruit his brother. Initially, Tony refused after what happened to his sisters, but later agreed after conceding that Clement was not reckless like Clara and Anne and would likely be safe and never be seen outside due to his reclusive nature. Clement would arrive in 2016 and establish a private surgery in the Arcadius Business Centre, above Tony's Office.

Between 2016 and 2018, LSSA would flourish as Clement helped Tony and Lucifer with the setup of their drug manufacturing empire. This was the most prosperous time of the organisation during Tony's life and he lived a life of luxury and would frequently indulge in buying luxury properties and cars, most notably buying a pair of gold-plated aircraft.

On the 2nd of May, 2018, Tony hosted a party for the high ranking members of LSSA at his home on 2045 North Conker Avenue, many members were already there along with a collection of bodyguards and associates for protection. While Lucifer, Scarlett, Stephen, Amelia, Keat, Range, Mikhael and Clement were on their way in a limousine, Tony's house was invaded by a huge unit of The Lost to kill Tony for the amount of "brothers" he had killed. A massive gunfight ensued but The Lost overpowered LSSA due to sheer numbers, there were still substantial losses on both sides however. Tony called Lucifer and told him to hurry up due to the gunfight and to be prepared, after this, Tony and the surviving few LSSA members fought out of the house to the garage and attempted to get away in his cars. Tony climbed into the Beast and floored it, only to be fatally shot in the chest as his car rolled out of the garage. At this moment, Lucifer & Co. arrived in two limousines with mounted guns and quickly dispatched the remaining Lost. Lucifer and Clement spotted the Beast motionless and feared the worst, Tony had passed. The latecomers began to search the house for survivors while Lucifer and Clement stood by the Beast, silent and grief-stricken. The only survivors at the house, Cryptical and Zulu, were gravely wounded, Clement snapped himself out of it when he was called of and quickly ran in to begin treating the pair, leaving Lucifer by Tony's side. Police were inbound and everyone heard the sirens, so the wounded and notable dead were quickly dragged into Lost vans along with notable valuables from Tony's house and driven to an LSSA warehouse in Cypress Flats, Lucifer put Tony in the passenger seat of the Beast and regrouped with the rest at the warehouse. The dead were given proper burials at the Vinewood Cemetery and the stolen Lost vans thrown in a river, Tony's body was flown back to the UK and he was buried on the grounds of the Starke Family home, Castle Harken, in a funeral attended by high ranking LSSA members, family and other close friends.

Personality
Tony was, for the most part, very friendly, talkative and compassionate. Despite his usual approachable nature, he was prone to violent tendencies, heavy mood swings and severe paranoia due to his mental issues, these subdued due to Clement's treatment but still existed. He had a love for rock and heavy metal music. Tony was described to be reasonably intelligent but not academically gifted.

Relationships
Tony had a girlfriend in the UK whom he had children with before moving to the US, but the state of the relationship is unknown as Tony never mentioned it.

Appearance
He was of average height, pale with black, well groomed hair and heavily tattooed. Tony often wore black, the reason for this is unknown, some speculate this was on purpose as a defining look, others believe he simply had no fashion sense beyond the colour black. Between 2013 and 2015, Tony would not show his face in public due to his paranoia and would always go out wearing a black skull mask; he would later ditch this after receiving treatment.

Skills and Attributes
Tony was an incredibly skilled driver and pilot, he was also an average gunman and trained to fight unarmed.