Episode ①

Welcome to the strong world!!

This is a cruel world. 

The weak will be eliminated.

Only the strong will be survived.

Even in front of a huge enemy army that we had no chance of winning against, we should stood tall and would not run.

Wealth, fame, power, with the One Piece world - Gol. D. Roger, He was said to be fearless and those who witnessed his execution even claim that he smiled just before his death. Before he sentenced to death, the last sentence he had said is “Do you want my treasure? Want it, just rush towards the sea. Go now! I put all the treasures there." So, all the man toward to the great waterway to chase a dream let the world to meet the "era of big pirates."

Japanese Name:	ゴール・D・ロジャー
Romanized Name:	Gōru D Rojā
English Name:	Gol D. Roger
First Appearance:	Chapter 1; Episode 1
Affiliations:	Roger Pirates
Occupations:	Pirate; Captain
Epithet:	Gold Roger (ゴールド・ロジャー Gōrudo Rojā?), Pirate King (海賊王 Kaizoku-Ō?, King of the Pirates (English Versions))

 

History of Roger

Twenty-six years before the start of the story (four years before his death), Roger came down with an incurable disease. He decided to pitch one last journey with his crew into the Grand Line. Upon reaching the lighthouse at Reverse Mountain, at the entrance of the Grand Line, he recruited Crocus as his doctor that would be responsible for keeping him alive until the completion of his journey.

Their journey took them to Skypiea and later Water 7 where the shipwright Tom built them a ship called the Oro Jackson.

Two of the most powerful opponents Roger faced on his journey were Marine Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp and the pirate Edward 'Whitebeard' Newgate. The former is said to have cornered him many times on the journey, and the latter was the closest rival to his title. It is said that Whitebeard was the only one capable of matching Roger in combat.

Before reaching Raftel on his final journey, Roger was approached by the "Flying Pirate" Shiki, who had learned that Roger had located an Ancient Weapon. Seeing the opportunity, he asked Roger if they could join forces. With his large pirate fleet and Roger's weapon, Shiki believed that together they could take over the whole world, even telling Roger that what happened between them in the past was now forgotten. Despite the urge of one of his apprentices, Roger refused Shiki's offer, saying that he wanted to be free to do what he wanted. Shiki then announced that his answer meant the death of him, while Roger said it meant that he would beat him and a great sea battle soon ensued between their crews.

Roger was spared due to a storm that happened during their fight, half of Shiki's fleet sunk. Despite this and getting a piece of a steering wheel lodged into his head that almost killed him, Shiki came to have great respect for Roger. 

Near his death, Roger had a final meeting with Whitebeard, as he told him about the nickname the government gave him, Gold Roger, and the secret of the Will of the D.

Final Days of the King 

In the final days of Roger's reign, he had attained more wealth, power, and fame than anyone could imagine. Though now known as the Pirate King, Roger was well-aware of his own mortality. As if seeing the end, he disbanded his crew in secret. Before his death, he told Rayleigh he would not die. He also informed Whitebeard that he was going to die before his execution. Whether he was referring to his illness or him giving up to the Marines is unknown. Here, he also informs Whitebeard of the meaning of the people carrying the Will of the D. Also, someday he met Portgas D. Rouge, a woman living in Baterilla, which would later become the mother of his son, Ace. 

Roger then turned himself into the Marines and scheduled to be executed, and while in prison, he asked of Garp to take care of his son when he was gone, saying that an infant child should not be labeled a criminal for his family ties, and although Garp said he had no obligation to do so, Roger knew he would do it anyway.

Thinking they would make an example of him to prevent others from becoming pirates, they immediately set up his execution in Loguetown. But as he was about to die, Roger yelled out his famous last words. The swords of the executioners fell and the greatest pirate of them all died. This was thought to of been a warning to all and extinguish the hopes of all pirates, but it failed. The last words of Gold Roger ignited the excitement of the world, and thus began "The Great Age of Pirates"!, dubbed by a few characters as the "Age of Dreams".