Bertrude Knox

Bertrude Knox (a.k.a. The Inventor)

CEO of Kron Industries and a maverick businessman, Bertrude Knox is a man who relies on his good-nature, slightly eccentric public reputation to carry him through tough times like the tragic death of his long-time business partner, Konzhu Kov, and a very messy divorce from now-deceased B-list actress and former college of glamour Bard, Triss Goldust. The Moricanna-born son of a successful Tangloveen businessman, Knox is a shrewd, uncaring, ego-maniacal bully who threatens and cajoles his way through life.

Rumors

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It is rumored that Bertrude Knox killed his business partner Konzhu Kov in Kron's early days, so that he alone would prosper from its success. The threat of this information being published in a tell-all book by Kov's son, Vel, has caused Knox to contact an assassin to eliminate Vel before the book's release.

Physical Description

Identifying Characteristics

The left side of Knox's face is heavily scarred from an old racing accident. In his early years of AG Racing, Maximilian Terune was about to come in first, so Knox sabotaged himself and Terune by rear-ending Terune's vehicle, giving himself facial burns and Terune spinal damage.

Physical quirks

His eyes are very sensitive to dry air as a result of his accident, forcing him to work in humid environments. He uses eye-drops if necessary.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Bertrude started out small, spending his father’s money on several small startups but failing them all due to his inherent interest in product rather than business development.

At age 21, his family finally pulled a few strings and got him a PhD stipend at The Institute for the Development of Scientific Magic and Engineering, where he started developing Artificer magical tinkering, spells, and item infusions. Here, Knox also met a young post-doc, Ren Underwood, with whom he got romantically involved. Ren unexpectedly became pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Sadly, Ren died from sepsis following the birth, leaving Bertrude Knox alone to raise a child and pursue his career at the same time.

Over the next decade, Knox carefully crafted an image as a maverick CEO, willing to not only risk things to get his company (and critically its investors) a big chunk of the exploding medical and Artificer magic developments, but also willing to go along with whatever publicity stunt his PR Director came up with. Knox, a charming eccentric, started dating bards and actresses, and soon found himself on regular covers of tabloids and enthusiast magazines. He found an interest in Anti-Gravity racing and quickly formed a team of his own, using Kron patents to boost the performance of the vehicles.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Coming out of IDSME with a handful of patents, Knox started Kron Industries. His technical skills and reputation caught the attention of a powerful group of people and one morning, after having shaken hands with a strange, nondescript man, Kron won an incredibly lucrative contract with the Moricannan army to develop Artificer magic. Three years later, suddenly, everyone in magic and money knew who Bertrude Knox was. His bold personality found that the public eye is one that pleases him immensely.

Failures & Embarrassments

One day, while experimenting with a new boost applicator while driving his prototype car, something went wrong. Knox was horribly burned and despite the best efforts of some of the best clerics in Kai, he’s carried the scars from the accident to this day. Another race driver, Maximillian Terune, who was involved in the accident, sought justice against Knox for damages but failed. Terune now works for Overtel via the race commission and is known to hold a grudge against the Knox family.

Personality Characteristics

Likes & Dislikes

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Knox enjoys spending time looking at fish in the company's aquarium.

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He often eats at a food stand located outside his office in Fessime.

Vices & Personality flaws

Despite his achievements at IDSME and starting Kron Industries, his skill as a businessman failed to improve. However, though and over the next few years, Knox's skill at manipulating people through threats, lawsuits and straight bribes kept the company afloat.

Age

Early 50s

Pronouns

He/Him

Gender

Masc