THE BASICS

Name: Teiku'tsĭ'-na (Small Silent Thistle)

Nickname: Buckshot


PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Gender: Female

Age: 26

Hair: Coarse, glossy, dark brown, long.

Eyes: Almond-shaped, dark brown.

Distinguishing Marks: Medium complexion; obvious native.

General Appearance: Buckshot stands at five feet and weighs 100 pounds. Her dark almond-shaped eyes, medium complexion, and long, coarse, glossy dark-brown hair, which she keeps in two equal braids, betray her Native American lineage. She's probably not overly appealing beauty-wise to most non-Native Americans due to the cultural and racial divide. While it's hard to tell what her physique may look like because of clothing choices, it's probably a surefire wager that her breasts are small, her hips aren't very wide, and she likely has a more sinewy physique than being soft and demure like most women.

Whether prospecting, panning, or acting as a guide, Buckshot usually wears rugged boots, dusty denim pants, a leather belt, a pit-stained white cotton long-sleeved shirt, a red shawl tied around her neck, a well-loved dirty white Boss of the Plains hat with a hatband worked in exquisite blue, red, and green beadwork with two black feathers with red dipped tips tucked into it and a tan leather duster-style coat.

For protection, Buckshot carries a Bowie knife horizontally sheathed on the right side of her belt. She also carries an Avery side by side 12 ga. shotgun which she's altered by cutting the butt and much of the barrels' length off so it resembles more a large pistol, and is the probable origin of her namesake, holstered on her left hip. Her trusty companion Penelope carries a Springfield Model 1855 holstered on the right side of her pack load.

Buckshot's traveling companion, Penelope, is a Gray Jenny (female donkey) with a black mane and tail. Penelope carries all the other stuff Montana needs for her trade of prospecting; blanket, lantern and fuel oil, matches, hatchet, canteens, shovels, pans, foodstuffs, a pick, ammunition, powder, and other assorted gear. To pretty Penelope up and make her feel like the lady she is, Buckshot has altered an old straw hat with ear slits and a fine-looking white bow that fits atop Penelope's head.

Occupation: Prospector/Indian Guide

Personality: Buckshot is an odd mixture of her heritage and being immersed in "the white way of life". She generally presents a stony, less-than-approachable countenance to those she meets, but can usually easily be lulled into conversation if pressed to do so. She is trustworthy, but not easily trusting. Stands out, but is not part of any crowd. Basically, she's a product of being the victim of western expansionism, living a solitary, nomadic life, and relying on herself above all else.

Sexual Preferences: Heterosexual so far

About Your Character: Teiku'tsĭ'-na, better known in the town as Buckshot, has been encountered on and off for the past four years. She remains mainly out of town on the fringes. She rarely travels into town, and usually only to resupply. She's known to the town folk who live there at least but is not necessarily a welcomed appearance when she makes it. She sometimes is able to pick up "real work" as a guide, and she's quite good at it actually. She has excellent tracking and survival skills, knows the area better than most, and speaks rudimentary English, Shoshonean (her native language), and a sort-of universal sign familiar with most Basin tribes so that she can communicate with just about any natives the group she's working with might likely encounter in the region.