Lone Buffalo
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Actor: Chief Dan George, ref: Outlaw Josey Wales
Concept
Enigmatic Naturist & Philosopher
Tropes
Cool Old Guy; Cuckoosnarker; Magical Negro: Native American variant
Details
By all accounts—mostly his—Lone Buffalo has lived in the same half-buried sod-house upstream of the town some distance since the turn of the century, well before the white-man started digging holes here. If you get him started (often by buying him a drink) he will go on and on about his many wives, and adventures, and tricks he's pulled off. He is a stranger to the local Utes; when asked, he's named a number of tribes he belongs to which folks are pretty certain he's made up on the spot. He'll appear out of nowhere to try to pass off some rock he found on the road as some valuable ancient relic, or pass along some cryptic ancient wisdom, and when someone's looking for him, he's nowhere to be found. He talks to animals as if they're friendly people—even ones he probably shouldn't Sometimes, though, he shows up when he's needed: He's been able to help some sick folk when white doctors couldn't, and some credit his wisdom for turning their lives around. Rev Clayton warns against following his heathen ways, but Lone's not around enough to be considered "competition."
When Chipeta recently came to Babylon for help, Lone Buffalo turned up to act as her translator. It was he who pointed out that her tongue was cut out, not by the McCastles, but as part of a shamanic ritual. He said the assault against her was a bad omen, and after Papa McCastle's trial and execution, he disappeared for a few months. Since then, he showed up once or twice at Tilly's brothel, where Chipeta was laying low, to check on her and bring her some supplies.
Contact
Category: Cultural/Ethnic (Native), Religious (Native)
Core Skill: Philosophy (Native)-15
Traits
Indigenous tribes & lore expert; Speaks several local tribal languages; Esoteric medicine expert; Expert naturalist; Expert hunter; Keeps out of other peoples' business; Prankster
