Bestiary

Benjamin Rushing

Executive Director

Warm and welcoming, almost grandfatherly, Rushing comes with the ruddy cheeks, bearded face, and kind eyes of a masterly professor. Indeed, Rushing was once a don at Cambridge and still wears the University colors when he attends Board meetings. Rushing is very conscious of history, especially that of his family and their long snaring roots through the ages. He does well to remind others that one must look back in order to see what is coming. Rushing looks upon the misdeeds of his colorful youth with a wide smile.

The image of a sage counselor among the Board is however a false one. Rushing is among the most ambi­ tious, competitive, Machiavellian schemers in corporate management. He has screwed and killed — figuratively and literally — his way to the position of Executive Direc­ tor. By coordinating the other members of the Board he has given Pentex some of the direction it has needed all of these years, pouring more money in to PR to mitigate damages, more resources in to Special Projects to gain a foothold over the enemies of the company, and even personally guiding subsidiaries in times of crisis when necessary. Rushing is increasingly of the opinion that global apathy will give Pentex the power it needs to control everything. Disinterest and disbelief have allowed him to get away with many crimes committed personally, so he reasons this would be the same for his corporation. His actions have ensured the ongoing improvement of a more stable company with unified goals in mind.

Rushing would like nothing more than to remove his predecessor Peter Culliford from the corporation entirely. However, he is aware the man possesses some rare gifts for communing with the real entity in charge. While Rushing can manipulate and coerce the Wyrm in certain respects, until he is capable of the strange feats Culliford occasionally displays he will keep the old Direc­ tor in place as his second. In the meantime, Rushing has gained the popular support of the Board majority, and in doing so has honed Pentex to a dangerously sharp edge.