Rubaan is a gruff old artisan whose skill makes him indispensable even when his temperament suggests he would rather be left alone.
He belongs to an older Taor, one built by hands that understood stone, metal, and the dignity of exacting work. Rubaan brings the tactile reality of craft into the story, giving material objects and fine workmanship their proper weight.
He is memorable because he never feels decorative. Like the best secondary characters, he carries the authority of a whole life already lived before the protagonists arrive at his door. His bluntness only sharpens that impression, making him feel less like a stock mentor than a craftsman with real edges. His craft gives truth a hard surface.