Gabriel Roman

Lore & Background

Gabriel Roman is a man of old money and newer ruthlessness, a collector of rare artifacts who funds his expeditions with the casual ease of a businessman. He hires Atoq Navarro and his mercenary army to muscle through the jungle, dismissing Nathan Drake as a glorified grave robber. Roman's arrogance is his armor, polished by years of getting what he wants—until the island's curse proves that some treasures don't care about your bank account. He craves the glory of finding El Dorado, but his greed is a blindfold, hiding the supernatural horror waiting in the sarcophagus.

In Their Own Story

The jungle air was thick with humidity and the distant chatter of gunfire. Gabriel Roman stood before the ancient sarcophagus, its golden surface gleaming in the torchlight. He smiled, ignoring the strange symbols carved into the stone. 'Finally,' he whispered, 'the treasure of El Dorado is mine.' But as his men pried open the lid, a foul stench of rot and centuries-old blood filled the air. The shadows seemed to writhe, and from the darkness came the shriek of something that had once been human. Roman's triumph curdled into horror as the cursed creatures swarmed, their twisted, spore-ridden bodies a testament to the treasure's true nature. In his final, breathless moments, he realized too late that some treasures are better left undiscovered—and that greed is a debt paid in flesh.

Reader's Guide

Gabriel Roman is the secondary antagonist in *Uncharted: Drake's Fortune*, a wealthy treasure hunter who finances the El Dorado expedition. He serves as a foil to Nathan Drake: where Nate chases adventure and history, Roman chases profit and prestige. His arc is a classic fall from arrogance—he dismisses Drake as an amateur, ignores supernatural warnings, and pays with his life when he opens the cursed sarcophagus. Roman is killed by the mutated descendants of Spanish colonists, a direct and ironic consequence of his greed. Key relationships include his partnership with Atoq Navarro, who secretly plots to betray him, and his rivalry with Nathan Drake. His signature moments include a tense confrontation with Drake on the island and his grotesque death as the creatures he unleashed tear him apart. Voice actor Simon Templeman delivers a performance that balances refined menace with brittle sophistication, making Roman a villain you love to hate.

Did You Know?

• Gabriel Roman is voiced by Simon Templeman, who also voiced other Naughty Dog characters like the Elder God in *Legacy of Kain*.
• Roman's death is a direct result of his greed, as he opens the sarcophagus despite warnings, unleashing the cursed creatures.
• The character's design was inspired by classic adventure film villains, blending sophistication with ruthlessness.
• Roman's role in the story highlights the theme of greed versus preservation, a recurring motif in the *Uncharted* series.