Russel Tolly Crisp

Biases

Russel holds a deep respect for innovation born from necessity and tends to view traditionalism as a hindrance to progress. He’s highly suspicious of anyone who dismisses practical design in favor of flashy but fragile tech.

Positive Bias

He has immense admiration for young tinkerers who push boundaries with reckless curiosity, believing they represent the future of the Engineers. This bias triggers for any character that uses an engineering check to take a risk. He need not see the event as long as it is something that he reasonably could have heard about.

Negative Bias

He distrusts anyone from the Syndicate, viewing them as manipulators who exploit chaos rather than build solutions.

NPC Traits

Russel is fiercely opinionated, prone to long-winded explanations, and often talks over people in meetings—though not out of rudeness, but because his mind runs faster than social norms.

Talent

Though not the most technically brilliant engineer, he has a remarkable ability to see the big picture and integrate disparate systems into a coherent, working whole.

Mannerism

He constantly fiddles with a pocket watch he rebuilt from scrap, clicking it open and shut when thinking or annoyed.

Interactions with Others

Russel is blunt but not unkind, treating subordinates like younger versions of himself—pushing them hard, but celebrating their successes with rare but genuine pride.

Ideal

“Ingenuity is the true salvation of humanity. If we can’t build our way out, we don’t deserve to survive.”

Bond

He feels a fierce loyalty to Camp Hope itself, having helped draft the original infrastructure plans. The settlement is both his legacy and his ongoing project.

Flaw

Russel refuses to admit when he’s wrong, often doubling down on flawed ideas until evidence becomes overwhelming—or catastrophic.