The Runners

"'Hello. What is money worth to you? When opportunity knocks, what do you do? Well, I am opportunity, and I am knocking. Let me give you a direction. Show me your loyalty. Show me your value. It is your choice. Are you in, or are you out?'"

The Runners were a street team formed by Asher Brown, known as Hermes. Shrouded in anonymity, the group was identified by their light blue shoes.

Stage 1, Formation
Asher Brown formed The Runners on the 8th of November, 2021, to recruit those of Los Santos without a purpose or direction and put them to work on the streets. He wanted their work to assist the Bondi Boys MC, without those working ever knowing. That same day, he invited Olivia Garcia to be a Founder alongside him.

When looking for his first recruit, Asher was injured and tended to by Brendan Sharp, who later, through small talk, told Asher that he had been driving aimlessly around for hours.

After he recovered, Asher called Brendan with a voice changer, and invited him to join The Runners. He gave him a mission and Brendan immediately complied; the first set of blue shoes officially hitting the pavement.

Stage 2, Rebranding
On the 10th of November, Rue Minmi was recruited as the newest Runner. Having recently moved to Los Santos, she was in desperate need of work to jump start her life. Some time after meeting Asher, Hermes contacted her for an opportunity. His intimidating presence scared Rue and she told her new friends that a man calling from an Unknown Number was threatening her life if she did not complete a task. Asher was contacted as he had gotten her number earlier in the day, and ultimately joined in the hunt for this man (Hermes). The crew located Pluto and tried to read his phone records and found nothing. However, digging deeper they saw his most recent twats about "Needing a jogging partner", and proceeded to twat the message in hopes they too would receive a call. Radio Silence. After some thought, Hermes decided to meet with Pluto for one final drop-off as The Runners. He explained that he had a change of heart and instead of pulling the plug, the operation would continue with a whole new look and with the trusted crew. Before leaving, Hermes hinted at Pluto's next assignment: "'Are you afraid to get your hands dirty [Pluto] ? ... I might have someone for you to kill tomorrow.'"In the days after, Hermes gifted Ophelia her own exclusive Runner's Pin - The Mark of a Herald. Alongside that pin, he tasked her with befriending Rue in order to corner her in the future and punish her for what she did. He instructed Brendan to do the same. Hermes aims to make Rue fear every friend that she makes.

The Runners grew exponentially in the weeks after, and Hermes decided to base Runner's operations out of Paleto, in his new home; room 11 of the Dream View Motel. On the day of Ophelia's promotion to an Immortal, he invited her to be his roommate.

The Runners were eventually merged into The Collective Family, Brown's organized crime syndicate, which dissolved in March 2022.