Virgil Bast grew up in a poor neighborhood in New Orleans, learning from his family's work ethic and never once slowing down from the day he could get a job of his own. He's always been kept company by his best friend, Patton La Bouff, son of the richest man in New Orleans. Prince Roman of Maldonia has always been surrounded by praise, money, and /almost/ anything he could ever want. Prince Remus, on the other hand, has never really been what you might call the pride of Maldonia. And the Shadow Man has only ever wanted to punish those who've done wrong, helped along by his Friend on the Other Side.