He is the younger brother of Jacob and Joseph Seed, the ruler of Holland Valley, and one of the three Heralds for the Project at Eden's Gate. A former lawyer, John is in charge of gaining resources such as food and water for the cult needed to wait out the Collapse, as well as indoctrinating people into the cult. With sadomasochistic tendencies stemming from being abused as a child, John believes that the only way for people to join the Project is to "atone" for their sins.