Hollis Kendrick

Hollis Kendrick, just Kendrick to most, is a procurer of artifacts and valuables who is available to the highest bidder. He is very intelligent and very good at what he does. He has gained many friends in powerful places through his employers and is also a skilled fighter as a veteran of the Union Army.

Background: Hollis Kendrick joined the Union army as a young man and found himself on the front lines before the ink was dry on the muster sheet. Under Lieutenant Colonel Samuel P. Cox he saw action in Missouri hunting bushwhackers all along the Missouri/Kansas border. On top of the list was Bloody Bill Anderson and in October 1864 Kendrick's unit had Anderson in their sights. For Kendrick this was literal as he had a bead on Anderson as he rode over the ridge before him. Up in a tree, Kendrick fired and killed the Missouri border ruffian and was an instant hero in the unit. As a reward he was given Anderson's Colt 1851 Navy pistol. Following the war Kendrick used his new found reputation to go into business.

Actually for Kendrick the draw to a new profession was his gun itself. The spirit of Bloody Bill haunts his old pistol and Kendrick is all too aware of it. He did not believe it himself at first, but once he got his head around the fact that Bloody Bill Anderson was haunting the gun and in fact talking with Kendrick and helping him in some respects caused him to wonder what other incredible objects he could find.

Strengths and Weaknesses: Kendrick's pistol, a Colt 1851 Navy, is a thing of eerie wonder. The spirit of Bloody Bill Anderson, who died at Kendrick's hand, haunts his old gun and grants Kendrick the privilege of owning and using it. The pistol warns Kendrick when there is trouble about by physically getting warm - or hot if the trouble is dire! Bloody Bill also speaks with Kendrick telepathically so Kendrick has access to Anderson's instinct and strategic ability. At times when Kendrick is really angered Anderson has a habit of taking over a bit, this is manifested in the fact that Kendrick's speech turns from refined northerner to a foul mouthed back woods ruffian.