Name: Rosaline "Rosa" Lowe
Gender: Female
Occupation: Associate (Driver/Bootlegger/Other chores)
Age: 20
Appearance:
Rosa a fairly attractive young woman without trying, of a slightly stockier build than most; with a height of 5'6" and weighing roughly 136lbs. Her reddish-brown hair is somewhat unruly, but kept shorter for ease of wear. She wears simple clothes most of the time, checked dresses, or overalls and a loose shirt. She has couple of evening dresses for occasions. Frequently found with blackened hands from working on cars or trucks, or with flecks of sawdust for working at her father's mill.
Biography:
Rosa's story began when her maternal grandmother fled Ireland during the famine, and her father set sail for America from Germany, seeking a life of adventure. Otfried Lowe met Catherine Ó Sioda when his plans for adventure ran him into hard times by the time he crossed into Illinois. With no money, and debt collectors on his heels from a stint of bad-luck gambling, he got himself a job at a lumber mill, and worked hard. When he met Catherine for the first time, it was an instant connection. The problem was, she was the date of his best friend. By the time the night was out, fists had been exchanged, beers had mended the torn friendship, and Otfried and Catherine started what would become a life long marriage, if only it lasted.
In 1902, Oskar was born, followed by little Rosa in the spring of 1903. Unfortunately, no more children were to come, and in 1908, after Catherine's first pregnancy since Rosa, the cause was discovered: Ovarian cancer, which was spreading rapidly now. She passed away in the fall, leaving Otfried to care for his two children the best he could. Soon after however, Oskar contracted Polio. He lost the use of his legs, and would from then on, be bound to his wheelchair. This left Rosa the fortune, and unfortunate position of being the only fit child to take on the chores and responsibilities of the household. From maids and caretakers, she learned to cook, clean, help her brother get to school, take care of her own school work, split firewood, tend to the small farm in the back yard, including the chickens, milch cows, and the horses. She learned to shoot, to defend the chickens from weasels, cats and dogs, thanks to lessons from her father. Oskar found a passion in math, and went from helping Otfried with the family finances, to keeping track of it himself when he turned fourteen.
In mid 1914, Otfried who had worked hard and long enough to have become a manager at the mill, was offered partnership when the mill underwent expansion. He found out later that the expansion was being funded by an Irish gang, as a silent backing partner, but money was money, and the gang seemed content that the mill just kept operating as it had before, just a bit larger, a bit more productive, and with a back storage room where nothing was ever stored. Six years later, Prohibition was ratified, and the O'Mally and Otfried Saw Mill was simplified to the OO Mill, during the exchange of partners. O'Malley had ties to the Irish gang, and had forfeit his life when, under the violent aggression of Anthony De Palma, the gang was eliminated in power grab that landed the Sapienti Family access to three stills, and a saw mill.
During this period, Rosa had taken a shine to things mechanical, helping the mechanics fix the trucks, and the company cars. She learned to drive as though she had been born to the seat, and against her father's wishes, like all teenagers do, when looking for something stupid and fun to do, did something stupid: She agreed to bootleg the shine from the farms, into town. It started out easy: No one expected a sweet teenage girl driving a work truck loaded with wood to actually be hauling casks of illegal whiskey. Even when she was caught, the heat flew over her: she was a girl, too innocent to have done something illegal. That didn't fly the third time she was caught, and underboss was getting pissed on from above that shipments were getting nabbed.
Rosa decided to take a different route than the truck, modifying her own car to conceal the booze beneath the rear seat, and finding out that a larger engine simply bolted to the transmission from the next model up, she had herself a fast bootleg car. As her deliveries continued to make it, her profits kept increasing, her car kept getting faster, and her skills kept getting honed. She got a call from Iacapo, he had a job for her. It wasn't running shine, but a simple job of driving three men from out of town around the city. A little sightseeing. When she arrived at the speakeasy, she realized they were in town to see the city, from behind the sights of their guns. She tried to back out of the deal, and found herself kissing concrete a moment later. Either she drove, or he would rape her, and force her into prostitution.
Rosa hardened after that. She may appear like a hard working, innocent girl from the sticks, but she's taken an edge. Her skill at driving has earned her a position of minor notoriety as nearly fearless behind the wheel, and deftly skilled. A decent shot, and competent with her hands.
Personality:
Rosa is still a young country woman at heart, and while she likes the occasional night in a speakeasy, she's more at home behind the wheel of a car, or under one. She represents and interesting mix of country and city, a country girl growing into a woman of a dangerous city. She is quite friendly most of the time, but can be quite assertive about her intentions, and unafraid of defending herself from the predations men who think they can buy some time with her.
Currently pleased with the disappearance of Anthony, and his replacement, she has come to view some of the associates and soldiers of the family as good friends, almost extended family.
Weapons and Equipment:
1921 Studebaker Special Six with a Big Six engine, larger carb, and some porting, producing 70 hp.
Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless in .380
Small folding knife she keeps tucked in her belt, or in a fold of a dress.
Contacts:
- Boss Manuel Galiante