Dušan Dern

Dušan originates from a coastal kingdom South East of Vesuvia known as Akoma, and is the youngest of four children born into the royal family. Whilst magic ran in their family, it was only after an incident when he was 10 years old that he exhibited a very different trait from their normal expectations; interacting with the dead on a phenomenal scale. His eldest sister would witness him bring a bird back from the brink of death after hitting her window, and at age 12 all three of his siblings and both parents would witness Dušan's one and only significant meltdown after witnessing the true form and gore of a ghost haunting the halls of their palace. This caused his magical abilites to surge and affect the statues within the palace, though he would later visit the graveyard in an attempt to "sugarcoat" what he was actually witnessing.

As the years went on, and he got a little older, Dušan would assist in the Search & Rescue departments of their city to locate and assist those that lost their way in the deep and hazardous mountain passes that contained Akoma. It was during one of these expeditions that he would find his Familiar; a small beige Pitbull found with a dead adventurer and horse. In an effort to broaden his horizons and world view, Dušan would set off an adventure of his own via the sea, taking his Familiar and four other dogs that made up his search team with him. Along the way, he would adopt and take in eight more dogs as he travelled from Akoma to Nevivon, to Zadith, to Prakra, before finally landing in Vesuvia.

Landing in Vesuvia, Dušan would leave his ship at the docks of South End where it remains to this day. It was not his intention to stay, but after staying with an old caretaker of the local graveyard, he was left the place in the mans will after he passed several months after. Now saddled with an unkempt graveyard that was one the verge of falling apart, Dušan took to making flyers advertising his sculpture work to make some form of income to at least live off of. The rich flocked for his services, finding his sculptures perfect for what they were looking for with a very fast turnaround to boot. One of these commissions wound up paying him with a small Borzoi puppy, similar to the ones the latest Count had been gifted. Despite his popularity with the rich, the common people adored him and his company as he wandered through both the South End Markets & the Main Square if he wasn't held up in the graveyard.

However, this would quickly change once Count Lucio caught wind, and sight, of his work whilst visting the rich, who immediately sent for him to meet at the Palace to create up to four sculptures for him. One to be in the main square, two in his own estate, and one for the fountain in the Palace gardens. Having not even known there was a new Count of Vesuvia, Dušan took him up on it and created the statues Lucio asked for. Despute his reputation, Lucio did pay in full and a little extra for his work whilst Dušan slunk back to the Graveyard to continue renovations where he knew Valerius, who had become enchanted by him, would not dare to look.

The Red Plague trickled in like a stream, taking the children and the elderly quicker than the adults and despite this, Dušan was blissfully unaware Death had stepped into Vesuvia. It was only until he noticed the markets were practically empty, and more ghosts were starting to roam the streets did he realise something was horribly wrong. He volunteered for body removal services, given his large size and calming presence, as many were still alive by the time he got to them. The Plague Doctors initially attempted to have him stationed at the Lazaret, but whilst the screaming stopped for the majority once they were burnt alive in the furnace, Dušan was given no such luxury. He left after the third day, taking to escorting the dying or dead to the rowboats that led them to the small island with blackened sand of ash.

This would mark one of the first times Vesuvia was very aware of his existence, and he once again coined the nickname of the "Wandering Angel" on the streets. The dying or dead would ask him to pass on letters, messages, trinkets, or even their material items to the living - some in Vesuvia and some not. Though another dog would come into his possession, as the original owner had no living family or friends in Vesuvia, and insisted they would be better knowing they could see them in the Graveyard. Despite his close dealings with the infected and lack of safety equipment, did not contract the Plague.