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Spoiler warning!
This article contains plot details that can ruin player experiences. Proceed with caution!
For the infected version, see Infected White.

I can see you through the camera. You feeling alright, mate? No shakes? Fever? Chills?
— Kevin, impersonating Ryder White.

Colonel Ryder White, often referred to as the Voice, was a survivor featured in Dead Island who served as the main antagonist of the game. He is also featured as the protagonist in Ryder White's Campaign, where it is revealed he had actually been impersonated by Charon when speaking with the Heroes during the main game.

Ryder White's Campaign[]

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Super 64 after the crash in Queenscliffe

During the events prior to the game's main storyline, Ryder was interrogated by one of his superiors, Peterson, to test his loyalty to his country by being presented with photographs of individuals which he was asked if he would agree to kill without question (one of which was his wife, Emily White, which he agreed to reluctantly). After passing the test, Ryder was deployed on Banoi Island in order to aid with containing the recent infection outbreak. During the mission, Ryder and his squad on board of a helicopter were ordered to initiate a bombing run on the highway in the jungle. During their flight back to base, the copilot of the aircraft became infected and attacked the other pilot, forcing the craft to crash land in Moresby. Ryder awakened from the crash several hours later to discover that he was the lone survivor of his crew. He was then contacted by the B.I.D.F. Commander, who instructed him to regroup with B.I.D.F. Unit 4 stationed near Saint Christopher's Church as the evacuation zone he requested pick up from had already departed. Ryder later arrived at the unit's location to discover that everyone had been killed by the local gang known as the Raskols before being stripped of their weapons and equipment, which included the explosive charges needed to destroy the City Bridge in Sector 4 (Old Town), in order to prevent the infection from spreading any further.

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Ryder fighting his way to B.I.D.F. Unit 4 near St. Christopher's Church

He was then informed by the B.I.D.F. to make his way to the Police Station in Sector 3 of the city in order to recover the explosives to complete Unit 4's mission. After fighting his way to the Police Station, Ryder was confronted by members of the gang who taunted him over the loss of his fellow soldiers. After a heated firefight, Ryder managed to kill the gang members and collected the stolen equipment before being instructed to proceed with finding and destroying the bridge. With most of the roadways blocked, Ryder climbed into a manhole that took him to the sewers beneath Moresby in order to gain access to the riverside.

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Ryder leaving to find Tetracycline

Upon exiting the sewers, Ryder's progress was again faltered by a group of Raskols that claimed the City Bridge as their territory, leaving him with no other option but to kill more civilians which the B.I.D.F. intel allowed in order to ensure the mission's completion. With the gang members disposed of, Ryder proceeded with planting the charges on the bridge and demolishing the bridge. With the mission accomplished, the B.I.D.F. intel ordered Ryder to make his way to the evacuation zone in Sector 6 (Gas Station). Ryder then fought through waves of zombies as he waited for the evac chopper to arrive.

While on board the chopper, Ryder contacted Emily telling her to prepare herself to be picked up. Emily however, replied saying that she had been bitten by a patient and told Ryder to go on without her before making her tearful farewell to him. Unable to accept the loss of his wife, Ryder ordered the pilot not to land on the aircraft carrier off the coast of the island and instead change course to the Prison in order to pick up his wife (disregarding her advice). The chopper then landed on the roof of the prison where Ryder frantically sprinted his way inside to find Emily in hopes of not being too late.

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Ryder shoving away a Walker in order to return to the prison control room

When Ryder reached Emily in the hospital wing of the prison, he found her strapped to a bed trying to tell him to leave her in broken English as a result of the gradual transformation into an Infected. Ryder then traveled deeper into the prison in order to find Kevin. Upon discovering Kevin, he discovered that Kevin was actually the hacker, Charon. Ryder was then left with no other choice but to collaborate with Charon in order to ensure his wife's life. Charon instructed Ryder to start the prison's emergency power to activate the complex's surveillance cameras which Charon would then use to guide Ryder. Once the power was back online, Ryder was confronted by a groups of rebel prisoners that managed to obtain firearms from the prison's armory. After fighting through numerous groups of prisoners, Ryder arrived at one of the other medical wards in the hospital where he found an antibiotic to slow the effects of the infection on Emily known as Tetracycline. Once Ryder obtained the antibiotic, Charon informed him that the Heroes were on their way to the island with the antidote and that the antibiotic would slow down the effects of the infection on Emily until they arrived.

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Ryder planning on using the serum to create a complete cure for the infection in hopes of saving Emily

After administering the antibiotic to Emily, Charon notified him that a group of prisoners were approaching in retaliation for the ones that Ryder killed in order to obtain the Tetracycline. With the prisoners dead, Ryder traveled to the control room in Block C and met up with Charon. As Ryder approached Charon, he discovered that Charon was behind the deaths of the scientists at the Laboratory but hides his suspicion. He was then instructed to clear the infected from the shower room in Block C for when the Heroes arrived. With the shower room cleared, Ryder used the sewers in order to return to the control room. While eavesdropping on Charon's conversation with the Heroes, he discovered that Charon had been posing as him (the Voice). Out of rage, Ryder threatened to kill Charon for endangering Emily and making him betray his country. Charon then ensured him that the Heroes had the antidote and that they wouldn't trust either Ryder or Charon if it was revealed that they were never actually speaking to Ryder.

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With the Heroes turned against Ryder, he threatens to kill Charon

Charon then instructed Ryder to store knockout gas above the elevator lift that the Heroes would be using in order to steal the antidote from them to avoid having to make any negotiations. After placing the gas and returning to the control room, Charon and Ryder watched the Heroes pass out from the gas. Before leaving to retrieve the gas, Ryder destroyed the control rooms computer in order to prevent Charon from pulling off any more tricks. He then locked Charon in the control room and told him that he was going to go get the antidote for Emily. Charon then replied to Ryder stating that the antidote would only work on people that were only in the early stages of infection - while Emily was already past the first stages. Shaken by his words, Ryder ran off to get back to Emily in the intensive care unit. After Ryder left, Charon revealed that he had a hidden backup key card and taunted him, stating that Ryder should have killed him when he had the chance.

Afraid of being too late, Ryder collected the antidote from the Heroes and frantically fought through countless waves of zombies to get back to Emily. Upon finding Emily, she had already become an Infected. Ryder then vowed to make a complete antidote out of the serum and brought Emily to the roof where he discovered that Charon had turned the Heroes against him.

Dead Island[]

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Ryder pointing with his pistol

He is believed to be the first survivor the Hero comes in contact with, but it is revealed in White's Campaign to be Charon, assuming White's identity, as he guides the Hero out of the hotel, via an intercom. Once the Hero has escaped and reached John Sinamoi and his group, their primary goal is to contact the Voice. Unfortunately, their equipment isn't strong enough to do so.

During Act II, upon the Hero's return from Moresby, Sinamoi reveals that he sent Dominic and a few others over to the Royal Palms Resort hotel in order to try to contact the Voice from there. Once the Hero arrives at the hotel, a cut-scene plays in which they talk to him. He reveals that his name is Ryder White, and that he is a Colonel in the B.I.D.F. When questioned as to why he is at the prison, he further reveals that his wife, Emily, is a doctor employed at the prison and he had gone there to find her. However, he does seem suspiciously reluctant to reveal his identity, as he only does so after open skepticism from the Hero. In order to reach him, the Hero must travel through the bunkers to Mingende and find a smuggler named Mowen. Mowen is needed to guide the Hero through the minefield around the prison. After that, the Hero cuts contact with Ryder in order to follow his orders.

During the quest Chasing the White Rabbit, the Hero catches up with Colonel White during his escape attempt. Ryder claims he must leave the island with Emily in order to save her while making more of the antidote. He claims he will return and save everyone, but Kevin is aware Ryder's real plan is stop the outbreak by bombing the island, most likely with nuclear ordinance. However, Jin becomes angry with him and unties Emily who promptly attacks Ryder, forcing him to kill Emily. Angered by Jin's actions, he kills Jin, and attempts to use the "vaccine" on himself. Unfortunately, instead of curing him, it seems to have the opposite effect as he rapidly mutates into a large, muscular undead form. The Hero is then forced to kill the mutated Infected White.

Appearance[]

Ryder is a middler to older aged man with short brown hair and a clean shaven face. He wears military scrubs consisting of a camouflage jacket, a white undershirt, camouflage cargo pants, and black boots. He also has a strap across his chest, with a knife sheath clipped to it, a tourniquet on his left upper arm, and several wrist bands on his left wrist.

Character Selection Bio[]

"I've seen some real hell holes in my time. Been all over the world, you see. I was with the SASR. The Aussie version of the British SAS. Fought in Iraq, East Timor, and Afghanistan. Each of those places was worse then the next. The politicians want to turn them into Western Democracies, but they're primitive. Tribal. Steeped in all kinds of crazy shit. They don't want us there. Just like they don't want us here. Of all the brutal, chaotic places I've been, Banoi takes the bloody cake. They got warring tribes in the highlands, Raskol gangs terrorizing the shantytowns, and some shit-for-brains billionaire has the brilliant idea to build this luxury resort. Guess the land was cheap and it is a beautiful place, but deep in the jungles here, some of those indigenous tribes still practice cannibalism. You know what they call human flesh? Long pig. They say it tastes just like pork. My wife convinced me to come here with her because she thought I'd be safer. Out of the line of fire as it were. So now I'm training the local Banoi defense force and I gotta be honest. I got a bad feeling about this place. A real bad feeling."

Quotes[]

Oh, Jesus Christ... Base, this is Colonel White. I just located what's left of Unit Four. Whoever attacked them, stripped them clean of everything. Weapons. Ammo. Explosives. Everything.
— Ryder, upon discovering that Unit Four has been attacked

Wait a second. I recognize you. Your name isn't Kevin. You're Charon! You were on every terrorist watch list in the world… until they put you away.
— Ryder, upon meeting up with Charon/Kevin

I know you, Charon. You're smart, but this time you outsmarted even yourself. I could've given Emily over to the experts.
— Ryder, angered with Charon

And I betrayed my country! So I would say we're even, mate. But you wasted my Emily's time with your tricks. You've sentenced her to death. Now I'm sentencing you.
— Ryder, angered with Charon

You're too late! Emily and I are flying out of here and you'll stay behind with no bloody chance of escape!
— Ryder's first words to the Heroes in Ryder White's Campaign

Notes[]

  • During the first phase of the final battle on the roof, Colonel White will fire at the player from the helipad while the player fights his BIDF Soldiers. However, he cannot be harmed by the player, much like a regular survivor.
  • It is revealed in the Ryder White's Campaign that he is not the Voice, but in fact being told what to do by Kevin/Charon who is the real Voice.
  • During Ryder White's Campaign, it is suggested he is immune to the infection due to him not contracting the disease despite fighting through so many zombies. The wounds on his body (visible on cutscenes, such as when Ryder threatens Charon) appear to support this. It is possible the "antidote" (the super-version of the virus) he injected himself with actually destroyed his immunity to the infection. Alternatively, this may simply be a case of separation between gameplay and storyline, with Colonel White managing to fight his way across the island without ever being bitten, and that the wounds are only sustained during the crash at the beginning of the Ryder White campaign.
  • In Ryder White's Campaign, it is revealed that Ryder has two daughters named Kate and Pamela.
  • Ryder's fury is similar to that of Purna, however, he uses the gun as time is slowed for the duration of the fury.
  • It should be noted that Ryder White can carry 75 Rifle bullets instead of the Hero's 60, 60 Pistol bullets instead of 50 and 30 Shotgun shells instead of 20. He also starts with 15 inventory spaces, 3 more than the Hero unless the Deeper Pockets skill is upgraded.

Trivia[]

  • The Ryder White's Campaign can be found in "Extras" from the main menu, where the player can do his story.
  • He is referred to as "Colonel" but his shoulder insignia has the insignia of a U.S. Army Sergeant (E-5).
  • During Ryder's attempt to save Emily, he tells a soldier not to initiate "Executive Protocol 66" which gives the B.I.D.F. permission to bomb the island, wiping out all inhabitants. This is a reference to Order 66 from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, which gives out an order to kill all Jedi, regardless of any other given commands or objectives.
  • During the conversation with "Ryder" at the hotel, he refers to himself as a B.I.D.F. Colonel. When Logan mentions the suspicion of him communicating with them from the prison, he states he is a B.D.I.F. Colonel. This is likely a scripting error.[1]
    • Interestingly, Logan cocks his head as if he notices the mistake. This could likely be that Logan knows the lettering of the organization, but Kevin (the voice) does not.
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Ryder's sidearm with the Pride Gun Mod in the DLC

  • When playing Ryder's campaign, Ryder will occasionally have a modded pistol, even though the player does not have access to the base game's mods.
    • The gun appears to be a remnant of the player's original game save, if a modded pistol was in the player's inventory.

References[]

Gallery[]

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