Gol D. Roger, originally named Gol D. Roger but commonly known as Gold Roger, captained the Roger Pirates and earned the title of Pirate King. He possessed the legendary treasure, the One Piece, and became the first pirate in centuries to conquer the Grand Line, reaching its final island, Laugh Tale. His execution sparked the Great Pirate Era when his final words dared others to seek his fortune. Roger stood tall and muscular, distinguished by a thick neck, intense eyes, and a long curved mustache. He typically dressed in a red captain's coat with gold accents over a blue shirt, a yellow sash, dark blue pants, and black sea boots. In his youth, he wore the straw hat later connected to Monkey D. Luffy and bore a strong resemblance to him. His look changed over the years, including wearing a necklace thirty years before his death and a pirate hat bearing his crew's Jolly Roger shortly before surrendering. Roger possessed a fearless spirit reflected in his ever-present confident grin, even facing execution. He shared Monkey D. Luffy's reckless adventure-seeking nature and habit of recruiting crewmates based on instinct over specific roles. Though proud and quick-tempered, reacting violently to insults against his crew, he also showed humility, such as bowing to request Kouzuki Oden's aid. He forbade stealing from civilians and displayed gentleness towards children of all races, like the mermaid Shyarly and the mink Pedro. Believing children shouldn't inherit their parents' sins, he entrusted his unborn son, Portgas D. Ace, to Monkey D. Garp for safety. Roger's voyage began over 52 years ago when he recruited Silvers Rayleigh as first mate. His crew achieved legendary status, reaching Lodestar Island 39 years before the present and participating in the God Valley Incident 38 years prior. There, Roger allied with Garp to defeat the Rocks Pirates and discovered the infant Shanks in a treasure chest, adopting him. Key events included recruiting the doctor Crocus to manage Roger's terminal illness 25 years before execution and enlisting shipwright Tom to build their primary vessel, the Oro Jackson, from Treasure Tree Adam wood. Twenty-seven years prior to his death, the Roger Pirates fought the Golden Lion Pirates to a stalemate in the Battle of Edd War. Later, Roger recruited Oden from the Whitebeard Pirates for his ability to read Poneglyphs, essential to locate the four Road Poneglyphs charting the path to Laugh Tale. After finding these stones—in Fish-Man Island, Wano, Zou, and an unknown fourth location—the crew reached Laugh Tale 25 years ago. There, they learned the world's true history: the Void Century, the Ancient Weapons, the meaning of the "D." initial, and Joy Boy's legacy. This revelation prompted Roger to name the island "Laugh Tale" for the crew's reaction of uncontrollable laughter. Roger disbanded his crew after realizing he arrived "too early" to fulfill Joy Boy's prophecy, as figures like the mermaid princess Shirahoshi (Poseidon) weren't born. His terminal illness also prevented confronting the World Government's leader, Imu. Instead, he surrendered to the Marines, trusting a future successor—later implied as Monkey D. Luffy—would challenge the world order. In *One Piece: Stampede*, Roger's discarded Eternal Pose to Laugh Tale resurfaces during the Pirate Fest on Delta Island. The antagonist Douglas Bullet, a former Roger Pirate, sought it to incite a new piracy era. Roger had discarded it, deeming it contrary to the spirit of adventure needed to reach the island legitimately. Luffy ultimately destroyed the Pose, aligning with Roger's belief that the One Piece must be earned through perseverance. Roger commanded formidable combat abilities, mastering all three forms of Haki—Supreme King, Armament, and Observation—and wielding the Voice of All Things to hear Poneglyphs and communicate with nonhumans. He clashed evenly with rivals like Whitebeard and Garp and destroyed armies single-handedly. His bounty of 5,564,800,000 Berries remains the highest recorded. Relationships defined Roger: first mate Rayleigh considered him a "magnificent man," while rival Garp earned enough trust to safeguard Ace. He respected Whitebeard enough to offer him the route to Laugh Tale, though Whitebeard declined. Enemies like Shiki and Rocks D. Xebec acknowledged his strength, and crew apprentices Shanks and Buggy deeply mourned his death.