How to Solve Strange Man Mystery and Reveals His Identity in RDR 2?

This story will focus on explaining the story of the strange man. Lets begin with strange man's shack in Bayou NWA.

It's filled with numerous painting and writing on the walls, the portrait in the middle of the shack changes with time. Eventually it'll be finished and strange man's reflection will appear in the mirror.

Let's understand the story behind the writings on the walls, The first one says: "From the snow to the cave".

It's nothing more than a reference to Arthur's journey in the game from the colter camp.

To the one in beaver hollow.

The next One is: "I gave everything for art and i learned too much and nothing at all".

Some of the painting here are based on your honor level; if you're good, you'll see bucks and eagles. If you're bad, then wolves, coyotes and a volture will be in the paintings.

The Jimmy Brooks poem also changes.

The writing refers to strange man knowing everything about your playthrough.

But he also doesn't know what to make of it since he sees millions of people's playthroughs. It could be implied that strange man breaks the 4th wall since he knows that he's in a game.

He also mentions that he doesn't remember his name, because the developers named him "Strange man".

The next writing says: "I know you".

It is the name of the three strange man missions in RDR1.

His missions, much like the paintings, are focused on the player's honor decisions. You can choose to do good, or you can choose to do evil.

The three gunshots are a mod to the amount of graves that will be here after the story is complete.

One is John's.

And the one Abigail's.

And the one Uncle's.

Before John can fire for the fourth time, his gun jams, a reference to Jack being spared.

This one says: "The moon will shine on in the darkness".

It refers to herbert moon being the only one not infected with Cholera in Armadillo.

It's heavily implied that strange man is the one who caused the epidemic in Armadillo.

Here's a map of Armadillo and a writing that says: "i offered you happiness or two generations, you made your choice."

Herbert moon made a deal with strange man. After opening the letter, you can find out that he chose two generations; one being his daughter and the second his grandchild.

But because of his choice, unhappiness fell upon him, his daughter married a jewish man and moon doesn't approve since he's an anti semite. It's also mentioned that he loves selling groceries.

And with all the people dying in Armadillo, he doesn’t get to do that either. Also, it's mentioned that Herbert worships strange man as his god.

That's probably why he was offered the deal in the first place, the town crier mentions that it's not the first plague in Armadillo.

It looks like the epidemics started after moon made the deal.He wanted two generations, so the plagues began when his daughter was burn.Armadillo is perfectly fine and healthy a few years later in RDR1, so the cholera is the last of the plagues, because Herberta gave birth to Herbert's grandchild and the deal is Complete.

Also, the next writing confirms that cholera is the last epidemic, "His final toll will sound my greatest coming" The Cholera plague is strange man's greatest coming.

His final toll refers to the town crier and that he rings his bell for the last time, The last writing on the wall goes like this: "The water is black with Venom".It could mean one of two things.

First one-The water in Armadillo is polluted.

Second one-John Marston's journey, we first see John in blackwater (" The water is black") and his last epilogue mission is called American venom.

The townsfolk call the strange man a devil because they don't know who he is, the devil wouldn't give John a chance for redemption, like in these mission.

When you make a deal with the devil, he takes your soul. Herbert on the other hand gave up his happiness. Everything points at strange man being something of Grim Reaper.

If you take a photo of his shack, you'll notice that it says “serial killer”.

Which is literally the definition of the Grim Reaper. Grim Reaper is commonly referred to as an "Accountant", it also explains why everything about strange man revolves around death.