Bonnie Campbell
Bonnie Campbell
"The whiskey talks loud, the men talk louder, and I listen to what both of them are saying."
The Diamond of Dodge City
Physical Appearance
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 110 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Bonnie is a lithe, slender woman with fair skin, expressive dark-brown eyes, and thick, naturally dark hair that often frames her face in soft waves. Her features are refined yet striking, marked by a wide, warm smile, high cheekbones, and a graceful neck. She carries herself with an elegant posture that blends classic beauty with an approachable presence.
Personality & Traits
General Overview
Bonnie Campbell is a woman shaped by survival, ambition, and sacrifice. Born into poverty, she learned early that intelligence, adaptability, and composure were as necessary as beauty in a world that offered her few protections.
Bonnie understands power; how it is wielded, how it is negotiated, and how it can be quietly redirected. As a courtesan, madame, and later saloon partner, she has cultivated not just wealth, but leverage, reputation, and control over her own destiny. Her elegance and charm are carefully constructed tools, supported by a sharp mind and an unflinching awareness of human weakness.
At her core, Bonnie is defined by devotion and resolve, particularly where her son is concerned. She is capable of deep loyalty and love, even when those feelings demand painful personal sacrifice.
Bonnie balances refinement with frontier pragmatism. She thrives in morally gray spaces, navigating corruption, violence, and the supernatural with the same calm precision she once used in aristocratic salons. While she prefers comfort, influence, and subtle manipulation, she is not afraid to step beyond the safety of the saloon when her interests,or the survival of the town she has tied her future to, are at stake.
Bonnie Campbell is neither naïve nor sentimental. She is a survivor, a strategist who understands that in a dangerous world, prosperity and protection are never given, only taken or carefully bargained for.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths:
Poise Under Pressure: Years spent navigating aristocrats, criminals, and frontier dangers have given her an unshakable composure. She rarely panics, even in volatile or supernatural situations.
Strategic Thinker: Bonnie plans for the long term, favoring calculated risks over impulsive action. Her decisions are shaped by foresight and a deep understanding of consequences.
Refined Education & Cultural Fluency: Her French upbringing grants her knowledge of languages, finance, etiquette, and music, allowing her to move comfortably among elites while still operating effectively in rough frontier environments.
Adaptive Survivor: From poverty to high society to the frontier, Bonnie thrives in changing environments. She adjusts quickly, learning new rules and exploiting new opportunities.
Loyal and Devoted:Once someone earns her trust, Bonnie is deeply loyal. Her devotion to her son and to those she considers allies is unwavering.
Supernatural Resolve: Having bargained with Baron Samedi, Bonnie possesses a grim spiritual courage. She is not easily shaken by the existence of the occult and can confront the “weird” without disbelief or hesitation.
Weaknesses:
Emotionally Guarded: Bonnie keeps strict emotional boundaries, which can make genuine intimacy difficult and cause others to see her as distant or calculating.
Over Reliance on Control: She prefers situations where she holds leverage, and when events spiral beyond her control, she can become stressed, rigid, or reckless in her attempts to regain it.
Moral Compromise: Bonnie is willing to cross ethical lines if the outcome benefits her son or secures her future. This pragmatism can lead to dangerous bargains and lasting consequences.
Haunted by Past Choices: The loss of her soul and the decision to send her son away weigh heavily on her, creating quiet guilt that she rarely acknowledges but that can influence her decisions.
Limited Physical Combat Ability: Bonnie is not a fighter by nature. While capable of self-defense, she relies more on allies, negotiation, or planning than physical strength or violence.
Reputation-Based Vulnerability: Her power is tied to perception. Scandal, exposure, or the wrong rumor could unravel her influence and social protections.
Fear of Powerlessness: Having grown up destitute, Bonnie is deeply afraid of returning to helplessness. This fear can drive her to take risks that endanger herself or others.
Ambition
Bonnie’s greatest dream is that James grows into a respected, secure gentleman who is free from the stigma of her past and untouched by the bargains she made to save him. Everything else in her life is secondary to this hope.
Bonnie is determined to secure wealth that is truly hers. Enough to support James, protect herself in old age, and free her from reliance on men like Lafayette or Brennan.
Though she never speaks it aloud, Bonnie harbors the dangerous ambition of finding a way to renegotiate, delay, or outmaneuver her deal with Baron Samedi.
Personal History
Bonnie was one of seven children born to a Scottish immigrant family in Charleston, South Carolina. Poverty shadowed her childhood, and at times the family hovered on the brink of destitution. By the age of ten, Bonnie was working as a hotel maid to help keep food on the ever-growing table. It was there that she caught the attention of Victor Lafayette, a French-born aristocrat turned ambitious entrepreneur who had come to America determined to build both fortune and reputation. Lafayette possessed a keen eye for talent, particularly in young people whose beauty, intelligence, and adaptability could be shaped into opportunity.
Recognizing Bonnie’s quick mind and natural composure, Lafayette arranged for her to be taken under his patronage by “persuading” her parents with a year’s worth of wages. He sent Bonnie to France, where she spent several years receiving a refined education in languages, music, etiquette, finance, and most importantly the art of navigating powerful men without being consumed by them. Those years transformed her from a desperate child into a poised and perceptive young woman, fully aware that her wit was as valuable as her beauty.
At seventeen, Bonnie returned to Charleston and formally entered her role as a courtesan under Lafayette’s careful guidance. Her debut caused a sensation, earning her a reputation unmatched in South Carolina and establishing her as one of the most sought-after companions of her era. She remained in Charleston for several years, honing her skills and cultivating influence, before Lafayette sent her to Memphis to assist with his latest business venture. It was there that she met Colonel Agustus “Gus” Brennan.
Gus was a devoted poker player, and despite his stoic demeanor, Bonnie could read his tells as easily as the cards in her hand. When she beat him five times in succession, his irritation gave way to fascination, and soon she became his exclusive companion. Bonnie remained at Gus’s side before and during the war, even staying with him through his long recovery after the loss of his arm. Loyal and deeply devoted, she became one of his greatest sources of comfort yet she always maintained the discretion and distance his public image demanded.
When Bonnie became pregnant with Gus’s child, she refused to exploit the situation or risk his reputation. Instead, she returned to France under the pretense of an extended business trip for Lafayette. There, she gave birth to a son whom she named James Agustus Campbell. The birth of her child was the happiest moment of Bonnie’s life, and she discovered that motherhood was a role she cherished above all others.
When James was two years old, Bonnie returned to America and settled once more in Charleston, purchasing a small townhouse where she intended to raise her son while working as a madame for Lafayette. Not long after their return, James fell gravely ill with a strange, dark fever that no physician could cure. Desperate to save her child, Bonnie turned to the Gullah communities of the Lowcountry, whose spiritual traditions blended African belief, Christianity, herbalism, and folk magic. Through them, she summoned Baron Samedi. A bargain was struck: Bonnie would surrender her soul to the leader of the Guede spirits in exchange for her son’s life. She agreed without hesitation. James recovered almost immediately, though he remained thin and pale ever after.
When James grew old enough to attend school, Bonnie began to see how the shadows of her past threatened his future. If he remained in South Carolina, James would forever be labeled the bastard son of a whore. No amount of wit, money, or careful planning could fully shield him from that stigma, and his prospects would always be limited. Knowing she wanted more for him, Bonnie made the most painful choice of her life. She sent James to an elite boarding school in Savannah, Georgia, far from Charleston, and far from the whispers her lifestyle invited. In Georgia, James could be presented as the son of a decorated, deceased Confederate colonel, raised by a wealthy mother determined to give him the finest education money could buy.
As Bonnie grew older, she began to think seriously about her own future and eventual retirement. Despite Gus covering a respectable portion of James’s education, the financial strain of raising a southern gentleman while maintaining the luxury and comfort she had grown accustomed to was significant. If she was to provide James with a secure future and age with dignity, she would have to go into business for herself. Yet acquiring an established enterprise in either the North or the South was nearly impossible for a woman. Out West, however, rules and social norms blurred or vanished entirely. With the Disputed Territories in mind, Gus encouraged her to turn her attention to the booming frontier town of Dodge City, Kansas.
Thanks to Colonel Brennan’s influence, Bonnie secured a partial claim in the Long Branch Saloon in exchange for managing the women who worked there. Her French training and cultivated charm could proved invaluable, adding a layer of European elegance and refinement unmatched by any other establishment in Dodge City. Opportunity waited in the West, and without a second glance back at the Spanish moss and ocean air of Charleston, Bonnie set her sights on the dusty plains, buffalo herds, and hard promise of Dodge City.
Bonnie soon became the Long Branch Saloon’s most desired attraction, earning her the nickname “The Diamond of Dodge City.” Her affection came at a price few could afford, yet she possessed a warmth and magnetism that charmed even those who could not pay. Her proximity to Gus’s financial dealings brought additional protection, and the pair reunited whenever circumstances allowed. Thanks to her connection to Colonel Brennan, most of Dodge City thought twice before attempting to double-cross Bonnie Campbell.
But men are not Bonnie’s greatest concern. It is the strange and dangerous forces creeping in from the frontier, the weird that threatened Dodge City and everyone’s livelihood. Bonnie understands that her success is tied to the town’s survival. And so, when necessary, she is willing to step out from behind the velvet and gaslight of the saloon to aid the Troubleshooters and Fixers because when Dodge City prospers, gold continues to flow into all their pockets.
Hobbies & Interests
Bonnie’s interests reflect the balance she maintains between refinement, survival, and quiet longing. Trained in music and languages during her years in France, she enjoys playing the piano, singing softly in intimate settings, and engaging in intelligent conversation in French or Spanish. Fashion and presentation are not frivolities to her but carefully honed tools; she takes genuine pleasure in selecting fabrics, tailoring garments, and cultivating an appearance that projects elegance, confidence, and authority.
In private, Bonnie favors quieter pursuits that allow her a sense of control and reflection. She reads extensively, from novels to philosophy and financial texts, often late into the night once the saloon has gone still. Journaling and letter writing serve as emotional outlets, particularly letters addressed to her son or Gus that she rarely sends.
Bonnie is also drawn to activities that sharpen her strategic instincts. She enjoys games of skill such as poker, chess, and billiards, not for the thrill of winning money, but for the opportunity to observe people closely and read their intentions. One of her greatest talents and quiet pleasures is listening rather than speaking, collecting secrets and patterns from those who underestimate her. She takes similar satisfaction in managing finances, tracking profits, and identifying investments, viewing money as another language she understands fluently.
Beneath her composed exterior, Bonnie harbors softer, more private indulgences. She keeps small sentimental objects tied to moments of safety and love, watches children at play from a respectful distance, and allows herself rare daydreams of the ocean and the moss-draped streets of Charleston. These moments of nostalgia ground her, reminding her not only of what she has endured, but of what she continues to protect.
The birth of Bonnie’s son, James Agustus Campbell, was the single defining moment of her life, eclipsing every ambition, sacrifice, and triumph that came before it. Until then, Bonnie had survived by calculation, measuring risk, influence, and advantage with practiced precision but motherhood rewrote her understanding of purpose. James was not a tool, a strategy, or an investment; he was the first thing she loved without condition. From that moment forward, every decision Bonnie made was shaped by his existence, whether it meant protecting his father’s reputation, bargaining her own soul to save his life, or enduring the quiet agony of sending him away so he might grow beyond the shadow of her past. In James, Bonnie found both her greatest vulnerability and her greatest strength, and it is for him—and only him—that she is willing to surrender power, pride, and even eternity.
Worst Nightmare
Bonnie’s worst nightmare is not death, nor poverty, nor the supernatural forces she has already faced, it is the moment her son learns the full truth about her. In her mind, she sees James standing before her not as a child, but as a grown man, his expression hardened by disgust and betrayal as he realizes that his life was bought with blood, lies, and a damned soul. She fears the day he discovers that his name, his education, his comfort, and even his survival were built on bargains made in shadows, and that he was sent away not because she did not love him, but because she loved him too much to keep him. Worse still is the vision that Baron Samedi will one day come to collect, forcing James to witness her fate or inherit the consequences of her choices. In that nightmare, Bonnie is not punished with pain or oblivion, but with her son’s rejection and the knowledge that the life she sacrificed everything to protect ultimately condemns her in his eyes.
Connections
Family
Spouse: None
Children: James Augusts Campbell (age 12)
Mother: Maisie Campbell (deceased)
Father: Callum Campbell (deceased)
Siblings: Euan Campbell (Age 43), Rory Campbell (deceased), Olivia Campbell (age 30), Arran Campbell (age 25), Sorcha Campbell (deceased), Harris Campbell (Age 19)
Allies & Contacts
Colonel Agustus "Gus" Brennan: Bonnie served as Gus’s companion and mistress for nearly twenty years. She first met him in a card hall in 1860, where she caught his attention not through striking beauty, but through sharp conversation and a quick mind, beating him hand after hand at the table. Though Gus was known publicly as a stern, militant man, Bonnie was among the few allowed close enough to witness his private, more vulnerable side. Even so, their relationship was always governed by boundaries and a shared sense of discretion that kept either of them from doing anything truly reckless.
When Bonnie became pregnant by Gus, she handled the matter with the same careful restraint. Determined to protect his reputation from scandal, she remained discreet and secretive, ultimately giving birth overseas. She has never publicly acknowledged Gus as the child’s father, nor has she brought the child to Memphis to meet him. Because of her loyalty and the quiet sacrifice of keeping their child a secret, Gus owes Bonnie a favor should she ever choose to call upon it.
Enemies
Godly Folks: Any individuals who live a righteous or pious lifestyle would look down on Bonnie and her profiting off of sin and debauchery.
Deadlands Character Statistics
Traits
Derived Statistics
Wounds & Fate Chips
Edges
Belongin’s 1: Fast horse
Dinero 3: Start with $1,000, can get $2,000 extra
Don’t Get ‘Im Riled 2: Fight like a cornered wildcat when wounded. Add Xd4 to hand-to-hand damage, where X equals your highest wound penalty (not counting abilities that reduce it).
Friends in High Places 3: Ranger with cavalry backup appearing often
Gift of Gab 1: Pick up spoken languages quickly. After a few minutes of conversation, effective oral skill of 1 in any language.
Keen 3: Notice details others miss. +2 to Cognition, Search, Trackin', and Scrutinize rolls for raw observation (hearing, seeing, smelling, etc.).
Purty 1: Attractive. +2 to Persuasion and other situations where good looks help.
Renown 3: Famous reputation. May be good or bad notoriety. Cost reflects how widespread fame is.
Veteran o' the Weird West 0: Your character has survived supernatural encounters before. Starts with 1 point of Grit automatically. Can only be taken at character creation.
Nerves o' Steel 1: Too stubborn to run. When failing a Guts check that forces you to flee, you can choose to stand ground instead (still suffer other penalties).
Level-Headed 5: After drawing Action Cards, discard lowest and draw another. If first draw is black Joker, you're stuck with it.
Tough as Nails 3: High pain tolerance and endurance. Each point adds +2 Wind.
Hindrances
Greedy -2: Obsessed with wealth and possessions. Will do almost anything for money. Has trouble sharing loot or spending money on others.
Obligation -1: Duty to organization, person, or cause. Cost depends on demands and frequency. Agency operatives, soldiers, and clergy often have this.
Loyal -3: Never abandons friends or allies. Will risk life to help them. Both a strength and a weakness.
Aptitudes
Hexes / Miracles / Powers
Type: [Huckster / Blessed / Shaman / None]
For detailed descriptions and full rules for each ability, consult your character's hex book, prayer book, or medicine bag.
Mad Science Devices
Note: Delete this section if character is not a Mad Scientist
Equipment & Possessions
Weapons
Personal Items
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[Optional: Highlight one particularly important or meaningful item - a treasured possession, a family heirloom, a lucky charm, etc.]
Additional Notes
[Any other relevant information - special circumstances, secrets, ongoing story arcs, character development goals, etc.]
Last Updated: [Date]
Player: [Player name]