RoadRash — Roleplayer Guild

Name: William “Big Bill” Cothran

Occupation / Position : Drilling / Excavation Expert; drill chief on mining ship.

Description: Standing at an imposing 6’5” in his stocking feet, and tipping the scales at 275 lbs, “Big Bill” is more than worthy of his nickname. His sky-blue eyes have seen a lot in his 54 years of life, from the inside of a prison cell to the underbelly of the earth, and his gravelly voice and gruff demeanor mark him as a no-nonsense workhorse with little time for dumb questions or general shenanigans.

Born in Odessa, Texas, to a family of roughnecks, Bill was working the oilfields with his father by 16. Always blessed with size and strength, he hit his growth early and was one of the most sought-after drill hands until his 25th birthday. Then tragedy struck in the form of a birthday party turned barroom brawl that left one man with a broken spine and another beaten blind, and landed young William Cothran a seven year stint for felony assault in the Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville.

After serving his time quietly and keeping his head down, Bill got out and went immediately back to work. The oilfields don’t discriminate based on rapsheet, after all, and he quickly fell back into the old routine, running drills of every size, shape, and description. In his early 40s, in an attempt to build his resume and make himself more versatile, he began working as a miner. He learned blasting techniques unique to mining, how to shore up shafts, and showed himself to be an expert with the smaller, man-portable drilling and cutting equipment used down underground. A brief stint on a natural gas site put him in touch with Owen Reece, and the two became good friends thanks to a mutual love of drinking and cards.

Eventually, the work ran out, thanks in no small part to environmental activists around the world blaming the sudden Change on invasive drilling and mining procedures. Unable to find work, Bill was down to his last few dollars and half a tank of gas when his old friend Reece gave him a call, telling him he was looking for a driller. A quick drive, a few beers, and a poker game later, Bill was ready to sign on. After all; how often do you get to run a drill in zero-g?

Personality: Big Bill is a grump, and he embraces it. He takes his work seriously, and has a zero-tolerance policy in regards to whining and backtalk. The fiery temper than landed him in prison has faded to smolder with age and experience, though vestiges of it can still be seen. A smart comment is likely to result in increased volume on Bill’s part, and he’s not afraid to let the expletives (and sometimes tools) fly when he gets heated, though he learned the hard way to keep his hands to himself. On his off time, he’s a fan of old country and classic rock music, cards, and drinking the day’s stress away, usually with his buddy Reece.

Tattoos : A faded old pin-up girl on his right outer forearm, the state of Texas in black and white on his left. The inside of the right forearm reads “Respect Few” in Old English lettering, and the inside of the left sports the words “Fear None” in the same style. The left side of his neck has a battered old shamrock, with three sixes through the middle.

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