| Jan. 23rd, 2008 05:21 pm Kansas 4.1 With the post of Bone 3.0, I figured it would be a good idea to post the new changes and story line for Kansas. As well as some character history and version differences.
CAST, Clayton, CA, USA
1.0 - Created because the game had way too many "Intellectual" Brujah and needed a little good old fashioned Thug put back into it.
1.1 - Bone comes into play as a friend of Kansas.
1.2 - Kansas gets and actual name. Yeah, he didnt really have one when he started. I wanted it to be a good sounding first name, but then have the last name be a little off. Thus he became Grant "Kansas" Beswick. Though most just called him Kansas still.
1.3 - From the great working relationships of the two characters, it was decided that Bone was Kansas's Grand sire due to the generation difference. It also made for an interesting play since he wasn't Kansas's Direct Sire.
1.4 - Bone ends up dying and Aaron creates another Brujah named Stryker. This character ends up being the childe to Bone and the actual sire of Kansas. For whatever reason, the two characters never really hit is off too much and I was soon to start a new character.
Tabula Rasa, Concord, CA, USA
2.0 - Our buddy Tank had opened a new LARP and since I had another character in CAST and Bone had died, we decided to resurrect the characters and make them up in the game. Quite quickly they had the Brujah kicking ass for the cam even though we were probationary members of the cam.
Zeitgeist, London, UK
3.0 - This is the last version of Kansas to be created in the old world rules set. The wonderful game that is Zeitgeist had a game full of wonderful cheese. It seemed that every character was 7th-5th gen and full of every kind of power you could want. It would have been easy to grab much more than his standard 13th gen, but then his low gen was kind of the nice part of his character. So keeping with that, I took his gen to 13 even though you started by default at 10. He had full potence Fortitude and Celerity, and I even added a few combi disciplines since this game was all for handing out as much cheese as it to to kill you.
3.1 - Having no Bone (Since Aaron isnt in the uk with me) I added a bit more of his Sabbat lore onto him, and ended up making him come in as an anarch. He had no actual cam lore, but kept using his sabbat lore in its place making for some intersting times with a few of the travelling Archons.
3.2 - Kansas ends up going against a Setite Methusela and while not having too much effect, he ends up imprinting his name on her forehead with his cricket bat. Knowing that next round it would all go away with her ageis, he took a photo of it. And thus his strange love for amature photography was created. This would be the bane of all the other memebers in his party when he would spend more time taking pictures, than actually attacking the target.
3.3 - Not having as much cheese on my sheet meant that I really wasnt able to go on the many fun DT events that the game was famous for. I was too squishy and rather ineffective. So, with a lot of my saved up xp, I bought every cheezy buff for my socal stat. I ended up with an effective 34 traits in my social. I also got a nice little combi discipline that allowed for socail attacks to be used with the celerity rules. I now had a non soakable agg attack and that made me quite more effective in combat. He is alot of fun in that game.
Camarilla Requiem
4.0 - Well, there are a lot of changes to this version of the character. It is in the new Requiem setting and since the clan Brujah was kind of squished together with the Toreador to form the Daeva and being that I already had another Daeva character, We decided to make Kansas a Gangrel. This change wasnt too big. It allowed Kansas to continue being a total Zealot for his clan, and also went for the whole biker aspect that was part of the character. Kansas also was to be a whole lot older. Genreation was replaced with Blood Potency and that meant that to be a cerain BP, you needed to be around for a lot longer. So Kansas went from being around 30 years old to almost 200. This also meant expanding the history a bit and also reworking the starting embrace story. He still doenst have much to do with the Covenants in this new game so to be a bit interesting, he was started off as unaligned.
So, thats about it. Kansas and all of his changes. Below is the 4.0 embrace story. I have gone back and forth a bit with Aaron to get Bones speech to fit him a little more. For the Cam players, this info is strictly OOC information and is only to be used by the storyteller staff. That being said, I hope you enjoy the story.
"The Embrace of Kansas"
Grant had a great idea. It was his first and possibly his last. He had a great idea and a small working model that his friend had helped him put together. It was for an electric carriage. He traveled around for a year to New Orleans and to New York trying to get supporters for he new invention, but no one wanted to take him serious. No one could really see how that would replace the horse drawn carriage.
The constant rejection led Grant to let loose anyway he could. He was almost out of money. He had been sleeping where he could not wanting to waste money on such a silly thing as a bed. His money need to be spent on important things like women and booze. He was down to his last few coins. Not enough for a woman but enough to get drunk. He rambled about his invention to all in the place.
An older man walked up too him. Or did he shuffle up? He wore elegant clothes which were stained. The old man stuck. Or maybe it was Grant. The old man sat opposite him and goaded Grant to tell him more. They spoke late into the night. Grant’s money has since run out but the old guy kept the booze flowing. Both men got so drunk that they could barely stumble out of the place with each other’s support. But they managed. They went to the old guys place. It was a run down manor house. It was huge and at one time must have been one of the best in the area, but like the old man’s clothes the house was stained and in disrepair. Inside the old man told Grant he needed to travel. The French always loved that kind of stuff and with the defeat of Napoleon a few years before, they are especially looking for new ideas to boost their economy.
They agreed that Grant would go to Paris . The old guy would fund him and when Grant came back they would bring his invention to the new world. Grant awoke sometime the next day, naked. The old man lying next to him, drooling on his shoulder. Grant decided not to think to hard about what happened that night.
After a few weeks in Paris and little success the weight of rejection brought Grant back to the drink. He was running out of money and had no way of contacting the old man, as he did not have an address or even his name. Grant walked into a bar, dropped his suit case on the floor and sat at the table ordering a drink. Darkness approached and Grant’s senses departed. The bar saw more traffic coming in. The place got louder and Grant decided it was time for the world to hear him speak. He started the tale of his woes. Most people ignored him as English wasn’t the preferred language of Paris.
One man did seem somewhat interested. He spoke English and asked Grant some questions about his idea but Grant was past the point of making sense.
On the other side of the tavern 3 individuals sat around a table. A knife with a sharpened wooden handle, a small stack of coins and a mug sat upon the table. A man, large with long dark hair and go-tee, wore dark, thick wool pants, a cotton white shirt and black linen vest sat opposite two women. One has long light, almost white hair. He features were rugged but held a wild beauty. Her eyes shown like a light jade, or would if they were closed at the moment as she was in a gentle kiss with the other woman. The other woman was a stark contrast to winter. Her full red lips engaged with winters pink ones. She had dark hair which she wore up. Both women were dressed much more elegantly than their male companion. Sasha kissed Winter again much to the annoyance of Cyrus . The belligerent ramblings coming from the individual on the other side of the bar was also riding on Cyrus' nerves. As the ladies kissed, Sasha kept one eye open watching both Cyrus and the loud individual. Cyrus was now doing everything in his power to ignore everything going on in the bar, probably only moments from walking out himself. Grant was on his feet, moving around to tables and spouting his story. He moved closer to the three. Grant looked around to see the long haired man sitting with his back to him. Sasha beckoned Grant over with one finger, never stopping her attention on Winter.
She finally puller her mouth from Winter's. "Why are you making all that noise" she asked. Her words alone were enough to melt butter. Cyrus shot Sasha a dark look.
"I’ve been here for 3 weeks and I’ve learned that I hate the Parish.”
“The what?” Winter asked with a look of disdain on her face. "Why are you even over here?"
“The Parish. You know, these people in Paris.” Grant responded.
Cyrus’ face darkened. He could be a patient person and could ignore a lot but with his nerves being chewed upon by his two female companions and the stupidity of this one shouting over his shoulder he found it harder and harder to maintain his composer. “They’re French you moron. Go back to your table he said in a gruff voice that left little room to argue.
Grant dropped his hands onto Cyrus’ shoulders. “I’ll go back home. Give me that stack of coins and I’ll go back home.” Grant said with a slight slur to his speech.
“What will you do for this coin?” Sasha cooed.
Winter, obviously wanting Sasha's attention back grew more impatient. She wanted Sasha to pay her the attention she desired. “Leave” Winter said in a tone that matched Cyrus’. Winter places her hand on Sasha's cheek and forces their gazes to meet, Sasha smiles.
“I’ll fuck.” Grant said with a smile. “I’ll fuck you anyway you want me to.”
Cyrus’ face changed from a dark dangerous place to something lighter. He actually smirked.
This time Sasha’s face darkened. "I find this individual crass and no longer wish him in my presence." She said.
"Did you just call me an ass?" belted Grant.
“No, but you are an ass. Have a seat” Cyrus offered pulling out a chair.
Winter stood up, looking Grant in the eyes. "I didn't say 'ass' I said 'Crass' though I believe you fit both descriptions.
“What does that mean?” Grant questioned. “Is that a Parish word? Why can’t everyone speak English?”
“It is English moron” Winter snapped back. “It means unrefined, inappropriate.” Cyrus looked at winter, his eye brow raised at Winter’s irony, a Norse woman who knew what the word crass meant. That was Sasha’s doing. Winter used to be crass.
“Yeah?’ Grant questioned. Cryus felt his the hands lift from his shoulders. "Would a 'crass' person do this?" and Grant lunged forward and licked Winter's forehead.
“Shouldn’t’a done that”. Cyrus said.
Winter felt her beast boil to the surface and welcomed it. She was a warrior and the beast was a gift from Fenrir. She would slaughter this “crass” individual and any remained in site. Her hand and the back of it caught Grant in right cheek. He flew into a table next to him, knocking one guy over and spilling all the glasses over. Many of the patrons stopped their conversations to watch. More got up and left.
“Fuck” was Grant’s response as he laid on the floor. Winter advanced. Cyrus called out to her. But she wasn’t listening. She wasn’t there. It was the beast in her place.
Sasha said nothing. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the scene. Cyrus dropped his gaze to Winter’s hands. He stood up with urgency and a snarl erupted from him. “Winter”
She paused. Sasha scowled. Cyrus had enough control to make Winter’s beast pay attention. But winter’s pause was for but a moment. Without a thought or sign of remorse, Winter struck Grant in the chest with her clawed hand. The wound was deep. Grants face went white as he crumpled onto the floor.
" Winter” snarled Cyrus again , obviously upset that his childe just killed a mortal where others could see. Her beast satiated, it withdrew.
Most of the patrons who had stopped to watch now made a frantic dash to the door after see Winter come up with blood dripping from her fingers.
One man, the one who Grant had last been speaking too grabbed Grant’s suitcase as he exited.
"Ah... you broke him" coo'd Sasha "You should treat your toys with more respect if you want them to last." she said to Winter. She closed her eyes and let her thoughts wonder though Cyrus's mind.
(Damn fool...) (What kind of idiot licks someone’s forehead?) (Winter should have known better, she should have had more control...) (I taught her better…) (She overreacted..) (I’m a failure…) (Killing a mortal in public was just plain stupid...) (Sasha better not draw this out...) (This is going to need to be cleaned up...) his thoughts just came rambling out to her as if he spoke them. Instead, he just sat there with a face that said he wanted to be anywhere else.
"Winter my love, please bring your toy here." she instructed. Winter looked over towards Cyrus. He did not move. His stared bored into her. She could see danger in his stare, but he did not stop her either. She picked up the body of the now dying Grant and pulled him up to the table, his body slumped over.
Sasha hated the fact that Winter always referred to her sire. The control he seemed to have over her needed to go. Only then would Winter belong to her. And she knew that a nice little opportunity has just been delivered to her. ("Cyrus will be upset when the mortal sitting by her side dies. He always gets moody when his precious mortals parish. He will blame Winter for this, and that will upset her, the two will fight again and I will be there to pick up the pieces.") she smiled as she thought to herself. ("Though he might forgive her. His soft heart could once again get the better of him. It always has.... Though if she were to embrace him, that would be something that he would have to deal with for a long while.")
"Decisions, decisions..." she mutters to herself. Looking around the table, Sasha picks up one of the coins. ("Heads, this poor fool gets embraced. Tails, Cyrus gets to watch him die. Either way, it should cause quite the little show between him and Winter...") Sasha smiles and fliped the coin... Heads.
Cyrus leaned in, "Get rid of that body"
"No need letting it go to waste, You don't mind letting us get a small bite to eat do you?" asked Sasha. Cyrus glared at her. He looked around. The place was empty save the bar keep who seemed to be so busy stocking his inventory that he hadn’t noticed the place clear out.
Cyrus just sat back and tried to ignore the other two. The ladies descended upon the body, his blood still warm. Sasha's fingertips brushed Winter's cheek and she looked up for a moment, a drop of blood on her lips. Sasha's gaze was direct and intense. "You should embrace this guy to keep Cyrus from feeling too out of sorts over his death." Her quiet words were hypnotic as they softly rolled off her tongue. "You do not want to answer to him forever, but let’s not force the issue with this. This will be your own little idea..." and her gaze broke as she continued to feed on Grant.
Winter sat there for a moment dazed. Then with a few blinks, she looked over at Cyrus and then back at Grant. Her nail slit her wrist and she leaned over to kiss Sasha, placing her wrist over grants mouth. At first nothing, then she felt the pseudo-life pour into Grants corpse. His almost lifeless movements were replaced by much more animated scrambles as his hunger took over.
Cyrus looked over and caught the last moments of what just happened. "Winter No!" he jumped across Sasha and pulled the wrist from Grants mouth moments too late. The three, had become four. "What were you thinking? You would waste yourself on this trash? Have I taught you nothing?"
"I... I thought... You didn't want..." The right words seemed out of reach as she worked though why she just embraced this piece of trash. Sasha just sat back and watched, a wicked smile painted across her face. As Winter searched her thoughts, the look of confusion turned into one of anger. "I am not going to follow you forever Cyrus. I won't be your little slave any longer!"
Cyrus’ face twisted between anger and incomprehension.
The bartender wandered over to see what the disturbance was about. Sasha looks up and meets eyes with the portly gentleman. "There isn't a problem here. Please forget about everything you see here."
"Little slave? You have never been treated in any such way." rebutted Cyrus, his temper bringing his words louder.
Sasha spoke with her 'innocent' voice "That's the problem with men. They always expect us to just do whatever they say....".
Cyrus let his hand fly and the back of his fist struck Sasha across the face. She hit the wall and slumped to the floor.
Winter dropped Grant’s glazed form stood between Cyrus and Sasha. “What are you doing?” she yelled.
Cyrus' face contorted even more. Anger flowed though his body. His beast was clawing it’s way to the surface and it was showing.
Sasha felt fear but she was not weak by any means. "You no longer control me. I have learned all I can from you. Any more and I fear to become like you."
"What the fuck is going on?" Grant mumbled coming out of his hunger daze.
"You are about to see what happens when a Gangrel gets upset. You might want to sit back for this one." whispered Sasha who had crawled away from the wall but still behind Winter into Grants ear.
"What the fuck is a Ganggral?" he asked starting to gain some control over his body
"Be silent dearie." Sasha places a finger over Grants lips and turned once again to watch the two Gangrel work out their personal issues. The Ventrue turned just in time to witness the beast erupt out of Cyrus. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and his fangs came into view. In an instant, His claws were visible and tearing into Winter's left shoulder. She picked up the knife with her right hand.
Cyrus grabbed the front of her clothes and wretched her toward him, then past him. His beast wanted a different target, a target that had taunted it before. Cyrus and his beast both wanted the same thing, Sasha. He stalked forward slowly. The beast smiled with Cyrus’ face.
Winter collected her self quickly. Her grip on the knife tightened cutting into her flesh. She spun around. "This is over" she whispered and stabbed the handle into the back of Cyrus. His actions froze instantly. Winters blood flowed down the blade as the two stood there for what seemed like forever. "I will take my leave of you now." She whispered into his ear. She let go of the blade and the wound healed almost instantly. "Sasha, lets go."
"You fuck'n killed him?" Grant was a little more than confused at the situation.
"He's not dead. Go find a quiet place and pull out the knife. There is much for you to learn and I have more a need for Winter's time than you. Enjoy." The two ladies walked out into the night. Grant picked up the coins off the table, placed them into his pocket and walked over to grab his suitcase. "Where the hell is my suitcase?"
The bartender looked up “I have to close up and it looks like your friend has had too much to drink, You might want to get him home."
"Well this night sucks" muttered Grant as he grabbed Cyrus's body and drug it out of the bar. Little did he know what was in store for him later on when he pulled that knife out. At that point, his night sucked.
Current Day:
Grant or Kansas as most people have come to call him is a wonderer. He drifts from one city to the next. Though not the brightest light bulb, he does have a sharp wit and a quick tounge which has more than once (Much much more!) has landed him into trouble.
His nickname comes from the Domain of Topeka, Kansas. A terribly boring place on the map and one he is always drawn to for one reason or another. Mainly due to him oweing so many boons to a few of the local elders for a few problems nearly a centruy ago. Kansas seems to have some strange honor thing going on when it comes to boons and will uphold his end far past what others have thought resonable. This is usually quite dangerous as he also accepts boons that are not exactally fair to him. Bone usually is around to keep him out of trouble and has imparted to him not to sign over any more life boons. There are still times where Kansas is on his own and has ended up owing major for minor or even trivial matters. Bone usually shakes his head and Kansas holds up his end of the matter. I think he is afraid of people seing him as shirking his responsabilities. Rather interesting since he will openly try to get out of any posiion given to him.
In the last game I played this character in, he held every position except for Prince. All pretty much against his will. When made Seneschal (For a rather short time) he openly told the PRince to fuck off in the middle of court. It is strange that when you dont want something, you will have it thust upon you. When you seek it, things become unabtainable.
Kansas travels around on his bike. He has the opinion that if you cant fix your own bike, you don't deserve to ride it. Its a nice thought but he isn't the best mechanic and his bike does tend to brake down alot causing him to remain in some domains for an extended period of time while he tries to fix things. Fixing them usually leads to more complications until members of the domain usually sneak into his garage and fix his bike just so he will leave town.
Grants greatest friend and most trusted ally is another Gangrel by the name of Bone or as he used to be known, Cyrus Bonapart. Grant is Bone's grandchilder, as Winter was the child of Bone, and the sire to Grant. Thou shortly after his enbrace, Winter took off with her lover Sasha. Rumors have placed them in South America but who knows. Point is Bone took Kansas in and did his best to get him presentable to kindred society. At least to stop shouting profanities in the middle of court. Well, almost.
Bone and Grant have made quite the pair over the years. They have a reputaiton of getting the job done, though usually not as the client has requested. Bone is the smarter of the two, but every so often he thinks Grant has a good idea, whether by chance or by accident. Towards the end of the caper, the idea never seems to sound as good. Current Mood:  nostalgic
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