Rojo

Despite his name, fair skin and strawberry blond hair, Joseph O’Grady is as much a chilango (Mexican City denizen) as his swarthier brethren are. Five generations of O’Gradys have lived in Mexico City, and they are not the only Irish-Mexicans in the region. In fact, the Patricios or “Patricks” maintain a sizable community, since many fought in every significant skirmish in contemporary Mexican history. Their contribution during the Mexican-American War was enough to earn them a statue dedication in Mexico City. Joseph O’Grady never felt different from other chilangos, and was thus shocked when a gang of Patricios attacked him specifically because of his Irish heritage. They wanted more “green-blooded kinsmen” in the pack, and forced the Embrace upon O’Grady before subjecting him to the even more dubious Creation Rite called “pitching” (as in pitching someone off a high building to see if he survives). That was all the violence O’Grady could handle, though he didn’t realize it at the time. Forced into an existence of brutality, O’Grady tried convincing himself he was a fiend and a monster. After all, his pack of Patricios, the Bean-Sidhe (banshees), acted like beasts, and he was now supposedly no different from them. Despite his rationale, however, each murder and act of brutality sickened Joseph and eroded his already waning spirit through attrition. Still he felt no other recourse available, especially since he knew the Bean-Sidhe would end his existence if he rebelled or questioned their principles. Fortunately, O’Grady eventually discovered more about the Sabbat and the options available to him. He realized he wasn’t relegated to an unlife of brutality nor to the Path of the Feral Heart like the Cainite Patricios who Embraced him; he also learned about packs like El Calpulli Rojo and Cainites like Frances Derossi. Exasperated with the mindless carnage of his kin, O’Grady fled to El Calpulli Rojo’s communal haven and asked for asylum. Derossi accepted the young vat0 into his care, then asked Bishop Natalio to intervene with the Bean-Sidhe on his behalf to forestall any actions against O’Grady. Although the Bean-Sidhe proved a constant thorn in O’Grady’s side, nearly destroying him on a couple of occasions, they eventually drifted north and fell with New York. During those latter years, O’Grady discovered the Path of Honorable Accord and even succeeded Derossi as ductus of El Calpulli Rojo. Since assuming the pack‘s leadership, O’Grady has been far more active than his predecessor, actually meeting with packs and locating Cainites trapped by circumstance and ignorance as he once was. Unfortunately, some packs barely tolerate O’Grady’s evangelical efforts. A few Cainites challenged him to Monomacy, but O’Grady’s time with the BeanSidhe instilled him with a surprisingly strong fighting spirit. Few opponents properly account for O’Grady’s hidden ferocity. The El Calpulli Rojo compound is the only “home” O’Grady has known since the Embrace. O’Grady is privy to many minor secrets, thanks to those seeking asylum or sanctuary from him. He has become a confessor of sorts, discovering tidbits of information about the various packs from their expatriated members. Most of his bits of info are embarrassing foibles more than gritty secrets, but it does offer O’Grady some leverage over his adversaries. His principle influence lies with Regent Galbraith and Bishop Natalio, though the Regent has been distracted of late. Otherwise, O’Grady knows many of Mexico City’s Founded Packs, and is on cordial terms with some of them. A few Cainites owe O’Grady thanks for helping them in personal matters, which O’Grady capitalizes on when the need arises.

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