✵APPEARANCE
One would hear Ruadh before they saw him. He's loud, boisterous and prone to words that would make men and women alike blush in court. Yet, once you laid eyes on him, you'd understand. The man looks like only comes in one volume. Ruadh is tall, but not in a way one would call fantastical. Some may have to look up, others down, but most of the populace just tilts their head a bit. His bright read hair is where most people's eyes land. He leaves it short on the sides but longer uptop, usually forgoing fixing it. His beard is far more kempt, cut close and neat. That's with the exception of the scar that runs over his lip and across his cheekbone. The story changes about where he got it with each retelling, but that's for another time. He has glassy green eyes that have seemed to grown paler as he's grown older. He says his eyesight is quite fine, but others might disagree. Strong nose, shapely lips, possiby stark cheekbones, but they've lost their prominence as Ruadh has become more sedintary in his position.
Ruadh doesn't keep up with the latest fashion and, for the most part, is dated when it comes to outfits. Though, he will make a conscious effort to try when invited to a public event or gathering. Still, it's without all the fineries that people of higher stature lean into. Usually, a button is unbuttoned, a tie is not fully tightened, or his boots will be caked with mud. Despite many a tailor's attempts, his outfits are ill-fitted for his form. He's broad-shouldered and barrel-chested from years of fighting. His arms retain muscularity from that time as well, but his middle has gone soft giving him an obvious belly that strains even them most forgiving of waistcoats. Yet, that does not take away from any intimidation his height and width provide him, nor does it mean that he is soft in the manners of speaking or acting. Ruadh still knows how to fight, and will go easily into a challenge.
✵PERSONALITY OVERVIEW
Ruadh is transparent as well-shined glass. He's not a political man. He does not scheme. Sometimes he plots but only for profit. His feelings, concerns, and opinions are laid bare as flesh. This polarizing attitude is the sort that makes easy friends and enemies. Friends are welcomed into his company with the ease of one sliding into a chair. He is prone to embraces, hard slaps to the back, and sharing alcohol with the ease of sharing the same space. Due to his upbringing, he fails at having a courtly attitude and will gab with amusement and laugh so hard it vibrates crystal.
On the other side, if he finds himself in the company of enemies, he will not go quiet and dark. He will still be warm and welcoming, but he'll also be quick to insult and quicker to lose his temper. Oh, Ruadh's temper. It is a nasty and fast thing, like a snake treading water. It is usually only reserved for those that he does not trust nor care for. It can flare up as easily as insulting his hospitality, looking at one his favorite people wrong, or speaking ill of his homeland. He's quite keen on punching, though he can use other weapons if need be. He enjoys heavy and blunt things. And it should be known, he is never guilty about his actions or words--temper involved or not.
✵BIOGRAPHY
Ruadh was actually born Iacobson De More, but his mother always lovingly called him Ruadh due to his bright red hair. So, his birth name was quickly swept away and is only known to those that he trusts fully and without a doubt.
Honestly, Ruadh would have never had the life he's had, had it not been for the English. Born in the early 1560s, his upbringing was not noble or rich. What little wealth his family had could be accounted for in land and only land. Still, he didn't starve and he was taught enough to get by.
During the first Desmond Rebellion, Ruadh watched from afar. Like many an Irishman, he hoped they succeeded. Yet, the destruction that was wrought turned Ruadh from a spectator to a member. When the English employed their "scorched earth" tactic, Ruadh's farm was one of the many that were hit. While his family made it out alive, their farm, their livestock, and their entire lives were turned into smoke and ash. Ruadh swore revenge.
He would get that revenge in 1580 when the second Desmond Rebellion reared its head. He participated in the rebellion, learning guerilla tactics and war strategy. Yet, Ruadh was not a noble and lacked the clout to do anything but participate in dirty tactics and violence. When it seemed as if the Irish were losing, he knew that he would not be given sanctuary if he bowed the English. So, he escaped in a ship that was headed to Spain, one of the few allies that Ireland had in that battle.
There Ruadh would make a name for himself. He would use what he learned of guerilla tactics to ambush British spies, ships, and military. He would feed the information back to the Spanish, and in return, he would sell the goods he obtained.
In 1588, when the Spanish Armada swept off to go fight the British, Ruadh realized that he had to change his game in order to still stay relevant. He's gathered quite a few contacts from the time he'd sold off British wares. He used them to start a lucrative, and somewhat legal, business. Against all odds, he became an Irish tradesman in the middle of Spain. Though, he was backed by a Spaniards that had government ties, which never hurt. He used his talent and knowledge to procure hard to get items, through less-than-legal means, for rich clients. At first, he helmed these operations, but as the company became larger, Ruadh sat behind a desk and hired the right people to take care of things. If anything, his clients enjoyed not dealing with stubborn Irishman.
Behind the scenes, Ruadh began learning how to read and write. English came first followed by Spanish and its sister language Italian. He still knew Gaelic by heart, and he would use it many of his secretive goings-on. In that time of him becoming a more cultured individual, he was invited to a party in France. Usually, he would send one of his most trust delegates, whose words were as good as his. Yet, this client ensured quite the profit if Ruadh showed up himself. He realized quickly, standing amongst the elite and pampered, he was here to be more of a show piece than a businessman. That would have led to an unprofessional fight had it not been for the interest of one Salvadore. They discussed business and fine art all evening. While Ruadh didn't have the taste for it, he did have the taste for how rare things were and why they were that way.
Salvadore and he would run into each other a handful of times afterward. Each time discussing the various goings on the world and always circling back to art. There would come the day, though, that Salvadore would ask for him to gather a piece that otherwise was not on the market. It was the in the basement of a rich French noble, who would not let it see the light of day. The noble wasn't enjoying it or celebrating it. No, he was hoarding it because he could hoard it. Given their budding friendship, Ruadh stated that he would do this for free if Salvadore would remain his confidant in finer things, he having no taste for it.
Getting the art was easy. It was like an exchange of hands. Ruadh was actually amused by Salvadore's inclinations and wishes, that he would see to whatever the Italian man wished and usually without a price. Things progressed in a way that Salvadore revealed what he was and wanted to put Ruadh and his company in his family. It was a proposal that Ruadh didn't quite understand at first, but as things became more clear Ruadh became more interested. So, he accepted.
Ruadh grew his trading empire as the years progressed. He stayed mostly in his villa in Spain, but he would travel to and from France to be with his new family. The "Ruadh Trading Company" became a staple for both legal and illegal goods. While it never shadowed legitimate, country owned traders, it did make quite the handsome sum in acquiring all sorts of goods from all sorts of places. Yet, Ruadh has never forgotten his roots. Even though Salvadore owns a nice share of his business, Ruadh still employs more Irishmen than most, and thoroughly enjoys ridiculing the English.
✵HOLDINGS OF NOTE
Ruadh owns his own trading company. He has a Villa in Salmanca that he runs most of his business out of. He also has a small piece of land in Ireland, that's mostly for housing the descendants of his family. Obviously, he has an apartment in the Sauveterre estate.
✵NOTABLE SKILLS
Ruadh is a businessman above all else. While he is not a man that is comfortable politicking, he knows how to deal with his clients and get things done. He also knows about infrastructure, and how to manage all of its parts. That being said, he's not the charismatic face of his own company. He's the brains and sometimes the muscle.
He is a brawler, easily enough. While he does not have formal training, he has fought in guerilla based wars and tended to many a drunken adversary. He's tall and tough, and he can handle himself in a fight. Yet, if one was to give him a formal sword and ask him to duel, Ruadh would laugh. His fighting comes from a more primal place.
The Iron Skin ability he received upon becoming a vampire is quite useful. It makes his skin impenetrable to most weapons, blunt blows, and it makes his own attacks far strong and more formidable. That being said, it doesn't stop him from being burned, frozen, drowned, asphyxiated, or otherwise incapacitated in ways that do not imply puncture. Also, he can only activate the ability for a limited time. The longer he has it going, the weaker he will be coming out of it. Usually, he requires more blood after using it and a long nap. So, he only uses it when he needs to.
✵MISCELLANEOUS
✵ Even though his battle is over a hundred years old, Ruadh still doesn't like the English. Quite frankly he'll choose to fight them over talking to them.
✵ He isn't a violent man, but if he is insulted or his livelihood, of the livelihood of those he cares about, is threatened, he will react in a bloodthirsty manner.
✵ Drinks too much.
✵ He loves dogs. He owns several of varying pedigrees. They range from Irish Wolfhounds to Small Poodles.
