Bull Hester

Foreman Vic Hester (a.k.a. Bull)

Vic "Bull" Hester has been working for the Alfredo Family since the days when Ludwig and Mia de Alfredo still threw a dance every third Relmoot. He quickly gained the respect of his fellow ranch hands, if not their affection. By his seventh cattle drive, Bull Hester was assistant foreman on Suncup Ranch.

When Mr. de Alfredo purchased Sagebrush Ranch, their assistant foreman stayed on. Her name was Gerty "Gore" Eaghra, who translated early experience as the daughter of a butcher into a crisp, no-nonsense attitude as a seasonal ranch hand.

Bull and Gore caught on like a summer grass fire.

Bull saved up as much of his pay as he could for a year and a day before he went, hat in hand, to ask Gore if she would be his bride. he found her baking a cake, of all odd things: and it turned out right quickly that Gore was doing this unusually hearthy chore as part of her plans to propose marriage to Bull.

Many ranch hands working for the Alfredo Family delighted in the love match. They expected the two would temper one another, making both into kinder, more forgiving senior foremen.

This was a grievous miscalculation on the other ranch hands' parts!

Bull and Gore Hester formed a united front. They informed young Mr. Mauricio that he would not be appointing one of them to be Foreman and the other to be the senior Assistant Foreman. Both Hesters would share the title and the authority.

And this would prove a financial, strategic benefit to the Alfredo Family and to Whippetal Ranch as a whole.

They make a strong, sturdy pair. They have their differences of opinion, sure enough. But when a decision point looms, they act for their common interest -- quickly, decisively, either brutally or compassionately as would best serve the long-term interests of the ranch.

By the time Whippetal Ranch bought out the impoverished remains of Old Sarsparilla Ranch, even Big Lui and Big Mauri could not rightly say whether they would emerge triumphant if the Hesters ever moved to take Whippetal for themselves. The smart solution was to sound out the Hesters frankly as to what they want out of life, and then to provide it: a place to live the lives of their choosing, an opportunity to do the work they love, and a tidy nest egg growing toward their comfortable retirement in another fifteen years.

Then The Troubles sprang up.

Few can now testify as to how the Hesters journeyed from a hard-working, clear-eyed duo who put the welfare of cattle and people above all abstract notions ... to the moment when they volunteered themselves for the Hell Hand transformation.

Bull Hester by Chip Malinowski

It must have happened abruptly.

Some soul-twisting event must have happened.

Perhaps it took palce near Chaffoush Barn?

They do still sing together like angels, as they have always done since the first shift they shared!

… fallen angels.…

Mental characteristics

Personal history

The SNAFU Posse experimented on the Hesters via Rose Wafers and one of those high-quality glass bottles sold by the Bicchieri Caravan on the morning of Grolm 12th, 578. The demons inhabiting these two Hell Hands did not muster enough Fortitude to withstand the pure goodness within the wafers, and were repulsed -- but since there was nowhere for the human bodies to go, that meant the demons themselves exited their hosts! Stormborn Sorcerer Miro Teague then cast a Gust of Wind to force the smoky forms into the high-quality bottle, which was sealed up and pocketed.

That's a mighty annoyed pair of demons in that bottle!

It does mean that the Hesters are once again free of fiendish influences on their decision-making.

Of course ... that also means they lost some durability. And a lot of combat power.

Relationships

Princess Alfredo-Alston

employer

Towards Bull Hester

0

Honest

---

Bull Hester

Foreman (Important)

Towards Princess Alfredo-Alston

3

Honest

---

Gore Hester

spouse (Vital)

Towards Bull Hester

5

Honest

---

Bull Hester

spouse (Vital)

Towards Gore Hester

5

Honest

---

Current Location

Sarsparilla Ranch

Species

Human

Age

35ish

Circumstances of Death

turned into a Hell Hand on Grolm 9th 578, exorcised on Grolm 12th 578

Spouses

Gore Hester (spouse)

Siblings

Current Residence

Chaffoush barracks, Whippetal Ranch

Gender

male

Eyes

green

Hair

black shaggy cut

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

rough tanned

Other Affiliations

• Alfredo Family

Related Plots

• Chapter 14: Riders of the Whistling Skull
• Chapter 15: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
• Chapter 16: Compañeros

Known Languages

• Common
• Noru
• Zuyan

Character Prototype

Vic Hester bears a strong similarity to Clint Eastwood around age 35.

CR 3

Ranch Hand

Commoner 1 | Expert 4 M humanoid

Defense

HP: 20 1d6+4d8-4

Fortitude: +1 Reflex: +1 Will: +4

Offense

Melee: Bowie Knife +6 (1d6+7) ;
Unarmed Strike +0 (1d3+3)

Ranged: Lasso +7 (entangles on successful hit)

Statistics

Str 17, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 11, Wis 11, Cha 10

Base Attack: +3 CMB: +4 CMD: 15

Feats: Animal Affinity, Armor proficiency (light, no shields), Exotic Weapons Proficiency, Mounted Combat, Weapon proficiency (simple), Weapon Focus (Ranged)

Skills:

• Climb (Str) +7
• Craft Leatherworking (Int) +1
• Handle Animal (Cha) +10
• Heal () +6
• Intimidate () +3
• Know Geography () +5
• Know Local () +5
• Know Nature () +5
• Perception (Wis)
• Perform Sing () +1
• Profession Ranch Hand (Wis) +4
• Ride (Dex) +13
• Sense Motive () +5
• Survival () +5
• Swim (Str) +3
• Use Rope () +8

Ecology

Environment: Grasslands, prairie, and particularly the vicinity of Oatman Canyon but not inside the scorched desert of the canyon interior.

Organization: duo

Treasure: Oatman Hat with attuned Oatman Band (specific ability varies)

Calloused, rough around the edges, a little bit odiferous at the best of times, and creaky in the limbs as they approach their third decade of rough living on the range: the career ranch hand has learned to be a bit remote emotionally, a BUNCH blunt verbally, and given to drift onward when life pushes them. Ranch hands might be considered "coarse-looking" by civilized city folks. They wear their hair tied out of the way but worn long enough to cushion their necks on a long ride. They wear sturdy clothing in layers that won't get bunched around their limbs or their backsides. They eat what they can, when they can, because they never know when they might have to sleep under the stars in lieu of a few nights' supper.

A ranch hand around Oatman Canyon always has a nickname that is better known than the official one their parents bestowed at birth. They always speak at least two languages: Common, also known as Minosh in that area of the Longgrass Plains, and Noru.
The more fortunate ones have had some book learning at a young age.
A ranch hand tries to live by the Ranch Hand Code, and expects their peers to follow the same:

1. The Ranch Hand must never attack first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.
2. They must never go back on their word, or a trust confided in them.
3. They must always tell the truth.
4. They must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
5. They must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
6. They must help people in distress.
7. They must be a good worker.
8. They must keep themself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.
9. They must respect nomads, parents, and their nation's laws.
10. The Ranch Hand is quick to forgive but never forgets.