She was born in the year 1528. The seventeenth child, twelve brothers before her, four female children, disposed of at birth, deemed useless by her father Cahan. Her mother, Bevin shut her eyes, assuming the same fate for this child. Cahan O’Gallagher had never had a use for the female children, only the strapping boys that he could put to work and would carry on the noble title of his family name. However, on this day, the midwife spoke, “ ‘tis a girl” she said and handed her to Cahan as she had done so many times before, and then all was silent in the room.
The wee child looked into her father’s eyes, not a peep had come from her mouth as of yet. Not three minutes among this world and the only sound she made sounded suspiciously like “Da”. She closed her eyes and fell soundly asleep in her da’s arms that day, and her da very rarely let her go. Very quietly he spoke to his wife, “This one we shall keep, Rionach shall be her name, this one is perfect.” He did not know that his wife couldn’t hear him. The midwife wasn’t able to stop the flow of blood.
There was a grand ceremony celebrating the life of the Countess O’Gallagher, and mourning her passing. The Count and his sons were sad beyond belief, yet they knew things would be right with the world as little Rionach made cooing noises from her fathers arms.
Ten years later in the woods behind their country cottage Rionach was gathering flowers. Several of her brothers were out in the woods roughhousing, as boys would do. Her father was away, being noble, as he often had to do. The woods went deathly silent, Rionach looked up from her bouquet to see a pack of wolves staring at her. Growling, snarling and drooling, they surrounded her. Four of her brothers came running to help, she tossed her red curls over one shoulder hushed her brothers with a quiet glance and walked quietly away. Stroking the alpha male on the head as she walked by. Her brothers were dumbfounded, but they followed her back to the cottage and the wolves walked away.
The next morning there was a white wolf pup whining at the door, Rionach took him in her arms, and named him Ryley. When they returned home Count O’Gallagher didn’t question his daughters pet, he rarely questioned anything she did. His sons mentioned nothing of the incident in the woods, they didn’t know what to say.
Another ten years go by, born into privilege, loved by all the Countess Rionach O’Gallagher, and her constant companion, a giant white wolf, were walking a lonely road one evening when a band of dark men came upon her. In a blinding flash they had bound Ryley to a tree, torn the clothing off of Rionach raped her repeatedly and left her beaten and bloody, waiting to die. Ryley, mad with rage, tore through the ropes and flew to his mistress’ side, sensing the end of her he threw his head back and a sound came forth that only a few could hear. Not other wolves, but other creatures of the night. A tall handsome vampire came out of the shadows. Patting the wolf on the head, he spoke softly, “fear not, my friend, she will be fine.”
This was her sire, her eldest brother, Bran, and her guide to this new world. Several hundred years later, with an ancient immortal wolf by her side, having lost her beloved brother to an angry clan of warring vampires The Countess goes looking for new people to associate with, and comes upon Ventrue Mansion. Once she thought it was a myth, now she is here.
