Name: Ryden Ashford

Age: 37

Appearance:
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Standing at a ridiculously tall, lanky 6'6, Ryden certainly stands out in a crowd. His eyes are a warm golden brown, dark blonde hair usually pulled back into a messy ponytail while teaching. His body is littered with scars, some minor, some not so much - he states they're from dealing with beasts in his travels, but some look as though they could have been done with a knife than a claw or fang.
It won't be uncommon to see a fresh injury about him; it's rare to see his face unblemished with a bruise or cut, and there seems to be constant bandages wrapped messily around his hands and arms. He would go to the hospital wing, but surely they have enough issues to deal with already.


Wand: Alder Wood, 14'' with a Thestral tail-hair core, unyielding.
  
Personality:
In a word, one would describe Ryden as dedicated. To his job, his students, and other things earlier in his life. The man has a real passion in his work, and is only too happy to spread that passion to others, making teaching a perfect job for him. Because of this, he's usually quite patient and easy-going in classes, emanating a trustful and secure environment... which is sometimes necessary when dealing with particularly dangerous beasts. However, woe betide any student who doesn't take his lesson's seriously - a steel will appear to his eyes and words, being a harsh enough difference from his usually pleasant persona to make the student think twice about acting out again.
Out of lessons, Ryden doesn't particularly relax. He continues tending to beasts; venturing out into the forest (paying no heed to dangers that lay within), to research the creatures dwelling there, or to collect certain plants for the next week of lessons. Usually coming back out with some new item (be it a plant or injury; usually both), he'll then stay up late doing some mindless task before eventually giving in to sleep at an ungodly hour in the morning.

When one gets to know him, you'll learn a few things; he adores animals (Not just the fantastical ones; everything from mice to cats and dogs), he drinks more alcohol than is entirely healthy (Although never shows up drunk in front of the children; even if hungover, he hides it as best as he can), and has trouble sleeping. One could easily assign that to events in his past, but it's been a long time since Ryden's been close enough to anybody to speak of such matters.

Bio: Ryden arrived at the school last year, after the previous Care of Magical Creatures Professor was eaten by one of his charges; that's what happens when one continues prodding a Sphinx in the ribs to try and teach it to sit. 
To most, he has a great deal of stories to tell of his past - creatures and places he's visited, from the strange to the mundane. As for where he born, where he learnt to control his magic, family, all of that remains unknown even to the Headmaster. Ryden states that it is because his early life yielded nothing useful for one to know; his knowledge of beasts and monsters from China to the Scilly Isles are what makes him useful today, and that is all he allows anyone to know. For now, at least.

Plotting: 
Dislikes seeing the oppressed or bullied; if he see's any sort of behaviour like that from a student or teacher, he comes down hard and fast on them, regardless of blood status or house. 

While he does not show it to any of the students or teachers, he has a great distrust for the old, Pureblood families of England. He would never treat a child differently to another because of this, but he will rarely speak a kind word about such old houses. 

Plays the Viol; a Spanish precursor to the Viola. While many are large and played at the feet, his is considerably smaller, and he finds it easier to rest it in the crook of his neck while he plays, much like a violin. (Which hasn't been invented yet. *sob*)

Family: None.