Biography:
Wooden Heart: Of all the emanations, Ross’ history is perhaps the most disturbing. Originally emanated to negotiate for rights to mine on Dumati, Ross is a lawyer and a sharp businessman as well as being handsome and charismatic.
Ross steps into a bad situation. Dumati, on the edge of the Skarsian system, had been sold to the Taseans, but it turned out to be worthless until the discovery of cercrotic acid. RootRiot and CenGov are bidding for Dumati, and Ross enters as a third party bidder – Big Tree Enterprises. Ross plays his hand well, and Big Tree makes the purchase – but General Panic recognizes him as an emanation of Ashtara and ambushes him with a fast-acting nerve gas. Because Ross is an inexperienced emanation, and because he is so far from Atlas, he is unable to fight back. Panic allow shim to be gang-raped by her men, then tortures and mutilates him to see how much Ash can take before having to revert to mothman form. (In Eden Blues, General Panic tells Ailann that she kept Ross alive for three days.)
When Callum emanates, Tara assumes that Ross had been killed. She is not told the truth until years later, when Suibhne confesses to her. Because of the importance of n’aashet n’aaverti, the Cu’enashti engage in enormous victim-blaming when emanations are raped. Ross is ostracized, partly by choice, as he remains completely silent for two years until Suibhne tells his story. As it turns out, this is a horrible mistake – Ross has vital insights about the Taseans which could’ve avoided the Tasean War, but it was more comfortable for everyone to ignore his existence.
When Tara learns the truth, she vows revenge against General Panic; she also confronts Ash about what has happened to Ross. Tarlach is emanated and discovers that Cu’enashti in Ash’s situation generally destroy the violated branch by truncation or burning – or immolate the entire tree. He reveals the truth on his talk show in order to destigmatize the victims.
Ross begins to occasionally emanate, but he avoids meeting Tara. In 3598, he founds No Beans About It to take advantage of the javamelon developed by Davy and Cüinn. The purpose is to start another business which will hide the income Tara earns from the contraband she synthesizes at RR-2 Labs. He enlists Slickweasel Vera as the company president and uses Driscoll and Tarlach for endorsements. NBAI is a runaway success, with franchises everywhere.
Nevertheless, Ross is still depressed when Tara asks him to do the legal paperwork for Patrick’s disclosure. It is to Ross that she announces her intent to marry Ashtara in the Cu’endhari way. Ross is overjoyed, yet a bit resentful – he knows now that because his branch is the repository of such a vital memory that he will not be allowed to die – his pain will be preserved.
Eden Blues: At the beginning of the novel, Ross argues for a judicial hearing to be held in the matter of Dermot and Davy’s creation of Goliath.
General Panic, trying to provoke Ash into a war, releases a vid she’d made of Ross’ humiliation. Tara wants it banned, but Ailann says that banning it will only increase its desirability. Ailann’s instinct is good – the holovid produces outrage and a fanatical subset of Archonism calling themselves the Church of the Holy Martyred Ross arises.
Tara learns that Ross’ perspective has changed greatly. Now that the emanations have seen the vision of Tara’s Destiny, Ross has a context for his suffering. He sees his experiences as necessary on the path they have chosen. While he is emanated, he buys media conglomerate Vega Vids.
Ross emanates again to negotiate the inclusion of the K’ntasari as citizens of the Domha’vei and members of the Convocation of the Forest. He then argues the case that the Convocation should recognize that Goliath is included in Tara’s marriage to Ash. Miranda and Claris support him, and the Cantor is backed into a corner despite her personal objections.
Ross spends some time with Tara, relaxing on the beach. He explains that he was cultivated for success, and now that he can let go of his suffering, he can assume that role. He clarifies his relationship with Callum – Callum was created to bear suffering, and Ross letting go of it strengthens Callum.
The final battle with General Panic is settled by Constantine, Ross’ brother, who emanates for the purpose of avenging him.
The Poison Garden: In “The Laughing Cloud Prophecy,” Ross says that they have installed an NBAI franchise in Tommy’s casino.
Callum emanates in “The Prophecy of Snakes” to inform Tara that Ross is discouraged because the holovid of his torture is widely available, but Tara has never watched it. Tara is horrified by the thought, but ultimately understands the perverse Cu’enashti logic which makes him want to share it. Tara forces herself to watch it with Callum, but it is Callum who breaks, and Tara comforts him.
The Perpetual Rose: Ross coaches Valentin in his business dealings with the Floatfish. He surprises everyone with his sympathy for Lorcan – Ross understands what it means to be ostracized – and supports him consistently when he is traumatized by his encounter with the Denolin.
The Portable Grove: When Tara goes to Hyperland, we learn that Ross has been fighting a legal battle to allow Tara to build a treehouse in Atlas; apparently it has been declared a galactic heritage object. In experiment 12, Ross is recruited into the Big Budders Program by Tarlach and is the only emanation who has any success in talking with the reclusive Ellery. He gives Tara a marketing research survey which is designed to get her feedback on the redesign of Ash’s mothman body. He also takes part in the fourth stress-test during which Tara approves of his relationship with Constantine.
Correspondence Chart Entries from The Portable Grove
| Denotation | Ross Adare (Gaelic: promontory or headland; Gaelic: from the ford of the oak tree). |
| Numeration | 16th emanation of Ashtara; 16th branch of Atlas; 40 in the correspondence chart. |
| Age | 35 |
| Hotness | 9/10 |
| Vital Statistics | 1.777 meters tall, cock size 16.71 cm when erect. |
| Description | Fit, tanned, moderately muscular, very handsome, the kind of man women dream of as a trophy husband. Light brown hair, bleaches blonde in the sunlight. Wears expensive, exquisitely tailored suits. Has flare, but always tasteful. |
| Skills | Lawyer and CEO of Big Tree Enterprises. Excellent business and planning abilities. |
| Sexual Prowess and Kinks | Normative. |
| Average Duration of Play | 10 minutes, 15 seconds. |
| Totem Tree | Metrosideros excelsa, the pōhutukawa or iron heartwood tree. |
| Fixed Star | Ankaa, the phoenix (α Phe). |
| Color |  |
| Esoteric Symbol | The Etruscan letter (v) |
| Function | Administrative release. |
| Official Title | J.D., LL.CD; Lord Chief Justice. |
| His Prophecy | A heavy element formed by a dying star. |
| Dessert | Nau’gsh scones with honey butter. |
Persistence of Weeds Addendum
| Branch Growth Characteristics | Natural branch growth prompted by Tara; she needs a new branch capable of economic strategy against the Taseans. Used as a template for his half-brothers on Goliath, Constantine and Alexander. |
| Nul-history | Was joined to Mickey and Cüinn, and in the process of synchronization with Owen-Lugh when they were all drawn into Atlas. |
| Proto-conscious Root Concept | Justice, designated Law. |
| Prime Number of Energy Resonance | 173 |
| From Self-Portraits Not-of-Me II: Baby Pictures by Driscoll Garrett |  |