Ruben has seen two and thirty namedays, and looks particularly intimidating despite not being especially tall. His own personal sigil replaces the grey and white of House Hightower with red and black. (Sidenote: Ruben's eye is fine, but this picture was too good not to use.)
Age: 32
House/Affiliation: House Hightower (Master of Coin and Intrigue)
Biography: Ruben “Blacktower”, sometimes called “Lord” Ruben Blacktower, is the youngest son of the late Ser Otto Hightower, is far more pragmatic and selfish than his brother. He have would loved nothing more than to see his sister’s children sit the Iron Throne so that he might have his own power swell. Ambitious and cunning, Ruben stops at nothing to get what he wants. Though he can seldom be found on a battlefield, he is a highly capable duelist, using a rapier in one hand and a parrying dagger in the other as he fights. Ever graceful, even Ruben's footsteps have become silent as a whisper as a result of the mysterious training he received in the Free Cities.
Ruben’s lack of subtlety in matters of intrigue is often to his own detriment. He is charismatic and sly enough, but shrewd individuals will be able to easily catch on when he is up to something... though exactly
what he’s up to is never certain. House Hightower has found good use for him as an effective diplomat, and his negotiation skills have helped to cushion the blow of the house’s more recent misfortunes. Most agree he is far, far too successful a spymaster for someone so... blunt. A few people like Ruben well enough, but almost nobody trusts him. Even if loyal to his house, he looks out for his own interests more than his brother or liege lord.
Even as a child, Ruben showed little interest in knights and chivalry, instead focusing his attention towards books. Ruben read incessantly, picking up bits and pieces of information about everything under the sun from a very young age. As a matter of fact, his first “schemes” typically involved stealing rare books and scrolls. Some he took from the Citadel, others from his fellow nobles, and some he even stole from the personal collections of the Targaryens themselves. He came upon rarer and rarer books as he grew older, developing deft, sticky fingers, a silver tongue, and an impressive personal collection of literature.
When he was twenty-three, Ruben left on “business” to the free cities for four years with three hundred gold dragons. When he returned, he had over four thousand gold dragons, a baseborn daughter by a Lysene woman, a ship of his own, and a parrying dagger made of genuine Valyrian steel. He has rarely spoken about his trip since, though his dueling skill began to excel that of every knight in House Hightower, including Tobias. Though he has returned to Lys, Myr and Braavos since, most of his time is spent tending to financial matters at the Hightower, or those of intrigue.