John Farson

. However, his actions and the result of his campaign indicate that his true intentions were far less egalitarian than he presented him.

Description

Farson was a tall man, who wore his long black hair in a messy top knot. He wore a frightening red mask as well, covering his entire face. Little is known of his history before he began a revolution against the baronies of Mid-World, except that he started his career as a "harrier (outlaw) who began as a stage-robber in Garland and Desoy." He is first seen in issue #3 of "", where he is shown as having conquered the council-seat of one of the baronies of Mid-World, and taking bets on how far he can hit a dead man's head with the flat side of his sword.

When a door opens up in a nearby rock and Randall Flagg (Marten) steps out, Farson confronts him and asks him where his oil is. Marten says they must speak of that, among other things (presumably the presence of Roland, Cuthbert, and Alain in Mejis).

During a mission, Roland Deschain and his friends, Cuthbert Allgood and Alain Johns were on in the outer barony of Mejis, they uncovered a plot by the local Cattlemen to supply oil to Farson. If Farson could refine that oil, he could use it to power ancient machines of war to wipe out the Gunslingers. Luckily, the three were able to burn the oil and keep Farson from getting it. Unfortunately, they were only to postpone the fall of Gilead.

Little is known about the battle or battles in which John Farson brought down the gunslingers. The last great fight was the battle of Jericho Hill, when all of Roland's old friends died, with him barely escaping with his life. According to the book "Wolves of the Calla", the enemy force Roland and his friends faced on Jericho Hill was a 'savage remnant of John Farson's army', which means that either Farson himself is dead or his revolution quickly fell apart after the fall of Gilead, with "The Good Man" losing control of his armies - this particular remnant being controlled by Walter o'Dim.

Connections between Walter and John Farson

King reveals in the foreword to Book V, "Wolves of the Calla", that John Farson is another of the identities of Walter o'Dim, Roland's nemesis. Specifically, he writes:

:"With the Tick-Tock dead, the "real" Wizard steps forward. It's Roland's ancient nemesis, Marten Broadcloak, known in some worlds as Randall Flagg, in others as Richard Fannin, in others as John Farson (the Good Man)."

There is no other evidence in the story to suggest that the two men are, in fact, one, except that both use the same "sigil" -- the unblinking eye, which is actually the symbol of the Crimson King. In fact, a line in Book VII, "The Dark Tower", suggests that they are two different people.

:"He [Flagg] had done his service to Farson."

This would fit more in line with Walter's usual modus operandi of using a figurehead to rule behind the scenes himself.

Issue #3 of "The Gunslinger Born" clarified this issue by revealing John Farson and Walter are in fact different persons. Surprisingly, Farson is not subservient to Flagg at all, even angrily demanding answers from the wizard. (Some speculate that this is explained by their possible relative positions in The Crimson King's court. Walter, under the guise of Flagg, has been described as The Crimson King's "Minister of State". Some speculate tha Farson treats Walter as an equal because he may be The Crimson King's "Minister of War".) "The Gunslinger Born" alludes to previous statement (about them possible being the same person) linking Farson to Walter by stating that they are believed by some to be the same, although this proves not to be the case.