Simon Williams

Name:	Simon Williams
Occupation:	Software Developer, Hobby Farmer
Home:	Southern Michigan
Gender:	Male
Age:	42
Height:	6'0"
Abduction Date:	~May 2014
Alliances:	His Team

Simon Williams is a software developer and hobby farmer who lives in Southern Michigan. He begins the race on the planet of Offworld alone, with only himself and God along for the journey. But then, over time, he picks up five other team members, including Trevor Thompson, Ariana Peterson, Birash, Yurg and Alexander Baker. All of the members of his team, save only for Birash, start out their time with him as atheists, but each gets saved along the way, save only for Yurg. Also, despite being a Software Developer, Simon is an experienced and highly skilled woodsman and farmer, having received lots of training in these skills as a child. His spiritual gift is teaching, of which he is very good at, even though he very humbly denies that he has any real gift for it. While being a leader is not one of his gifts, he proves to be very good at this, and even promises to those under his care that, God willing, he will do all he can to ensure that everyone makes it to the end, alive, and in one piece. Or, at the very least, alive.

Later on in their journey Simon learns the local language of Bonisi, and becomes surprisingly fluent in it. Simon is also a very strong Christian, and because of this he initially gains the ire and disdain of the demon Sheobaal, who spends countless days trying to find ways to kill him. However, God, through the angel Caleb, and his legion of angels, work diligently to protect Simon and his team from him. But, despite this protection, there are times when Simon suffers severely for his faith, including receiving a severe, debilitating being at the hands of Narcella's guards in the land of Venodor. Simon's strong faith in God is what sustains him throughout his journeys on the planet of Offworld. When the team initially receive a gift of horses, he takes possession of the oldest, which he names Caesar, who later suffers a debilitating illness, forcing Simon to put him down, after which he takes possession of Tiny as his primary steed.

History

Simon was born on a small family farm in 1972 not far from the city of Marshall, Michigan, and the village of Marengo to a farming family and is the fourth of seven siblings. As he grew he was exposed to both modern and traditional farming techniques, woodsmanship, tanning (via an old Chippewa man), horse care (via the Amish), woodland survival (Boy Scouts), and may other things. When he graduated from High School he enrolled in Michigan State University (MSU) in their agricultural program. However, in his first year there he fell in love with computers and switched majors to computers and software development, transferring his education to University of Michigan (UofM) where he received a degree in computer science. He then went to work for a series of software and technology companies across the USA, eventually taking a job in Michigan to be closer to his family. Also, during his time in Texas, working for TechSys, he had an opportunity to study under several prominent teachers from Dallas Theological Seminary, receiving a degree of unofficial seminary training in the process. After moving back to Michigan he bought a small hobby farm of about 120 acres, and raises chickens, horses, cattle, sheep, goats and a limited number of crops, mostly for his own use, or to help offset the costs of the farm.