Dester Ludere Fraudem

Art by Mason

## Relationships

### Family

Richard Fraudem (father)Dierdre Fraudem (mother)Baron Oliver Enzo Beuregard (adopted father)

## Meta Information

### Appears In

The Emptiness campaignLongest Night oneshot

### Player

Mason

Dester is a PC featured in The Emptiness Campaign. He is a member and current ringleader of the traveling circus, Cirque du Sourire. He was a half-elf but after being reincarnated by Elodea, he is now an eladrin.

## Background

Dester was a fairly droll boy, raised in Starcrest. He had little time for fun or enriching activities, and almost zero contact with his parents. Yet, this changed upon the arrival of the Cirque du Sourire, a traveling troupe under the lead of Baron Oliver Enzo Beauregard. The group's performances cut through the dreary atmosphere of the town, lifting the spirits of many. Dester in particular attended all of their happenings, even their practices. He grew to be a familiar face to the actors, who looked upon his beaming face with pride.

As the seasons blew by, Starcrest became dangerous. Murders became commonplace, and unease about the impending emptiness filled the minds of the masses. With these circumstances weighing upon his heart, the Baron knew it was time to leave. However, he would not abandon the children to a grisly fate; instead, he spoke to the children in private, telling them that they could join the troupe if they wanted to spread smiles across the land. Yet, he did not receive answers. Rather, he directed them to leave their windows open during the night if they wished to leave. When daylight came, thirteen children vanished, along with the big top of the troupe. Among those lost was Dester, with but a rope of tied handkerchiefs hanging out his window serving as his parting words.

As the years went on, Dester became something of the Baron’s right-hand-man, ever eager to learn from the leader. Within the troupe, Dester became quite close with an artist named Max and one of the other children originally from the Starcrest, Roderick. In this new environment, Dester found something of an odd but loving family. Traveling town to town, they brought with them an infectious optimism that they communicated through their productions and acts. Yet, this family was ever-changing; but a year after Dester’s arrival, Max bid farewell to the Cirque du Sourire, as did many of the other members once they grew into adulthood. The Baron always saw them off warmly, before eventually welcoming new children into the troupe. For what seemed to be an endless cycle would end abruptly months ago. The Baron vanished, leaving behind only a note in his quarters addressed to Dester:

> *My dear pupil and friend,*
>
>
> *It is time for me to take my leave. I confer to you the Cirque du Sourire and the future of both its aspiring members and the hope of the land. Fret not, young one: your smile exceeds even mine. Now, go forth and show it to this decaying world.*
>
>
> *I bid you a fond farewell,*
>
>
>
> *Oliver Enzo Beauregard*
>
>

With that, Dester took the role as ringleader of the Cirque du Sourire, traveling across the continent, bringing joy to others. There were many times where Dester was forced to put the rest of the children before himself, often going with out food so they might eat.

## Personality

Dester is cheerful and optimistic, though occasionally antagonistic to anyone he views to be boring. He strongly believes that he can change the world one smile at a time. He often puts others before himself which has put a lot of strain on himself.

Dester carries a sadness due to the lack of permanence in his life. The Baron left, as did Max, and so many of the children simply pass through.

## Appearance

As a half-elf, Dester had white hair with pale skin and sea-foam green eyes. He had slightly pointy ears. He wore a skin tight black acrobatics suit with a purple and white cape over it, as well as his signature matching pointed jester's hat. He wears red diamonds painted on both of his cheeks, and a singe earring depicting the Cirque du Sourire's logo.

After being reincarnated by Elodea, Dester became a full eladrin elf, some of his features changing with the seasons. His skin got a little darker, and his hair became white leaves with seasonally appropriate flowers sprouting in it. Upon this, Dester began wearing more bombastic outfits, with flowing shirts, diamond-checkered tights, and purple pumpkin shorts. He retained his hat, cape, and face paint. He also lost his left arm during the reincarnation.

For the Longest Night oneshot, Dester changed out of his typical purple and white color scheme in favor of a blue and orange cape and hat with a white acrobatic suit with diamond cutouts on his waist and legs. He wore poinsettias in his hair.

## Relationships

### The Baron

The Baron was like a father to Dester, having raised him raised him to be the person he is today. The Baron loved all of his pupils as children, but Dester outshown all of them with his pure drive to make other's smile.

Dester was deeply hurt by The Baron's leaving. When The Baron came to give Dester a final goodbye, Dester had no kind words to say, instead yelled at his father for abandoning him like everyone else had. Dester immediately regretted that the last words he told to the man that raised him were out of anger.

Dester was eventually able to rectify his mistake on Longest Night. The Baron never held it against him, and told him that he was very proud of how far Dester had come and that he loved him.

### Max

Dester and Max grew very close during the time they spend while they were both in the Cirque du Sourire. During this time, Dester developed unrequited romantic feelings towards Max. Max, however simply saw Dester as the younger brother she never had. After a few years of traveling together, Max left the Cirque du Sourire, leading Dester to believe he was never going to see her again. He deeply resented her for leaving him.

When Max reentered Dester's life, he held in the hurt that she had caused him and they resumed their relationship. Dester still had unrequited feelings for her, but knew that nothing could ever come of it, especially after Max and Octavia started their relationship.

Max often teased Dester, and the two pulled pranks on each other quite often.

Before Dester died, he admitted his feelings to Max. Upon his resurrection, Max told him that she didn't feel the same way, but she was extremely happy to have such an amazing friend and little brother. Dester agreed.

### Roderick

Roderick is Dester's oldest friend. While they didn't meet each other while they were both living in Starcrest, once they joined the Cirque du Sourire they quickly became good friends. Roderick is extremely loyal and has vowed to go wherever Dester has.

Dester consider's Roderick a "necessary evil", referencing that Roderick's more down to earth personality and logistical thinking balances out Dester's ambitious enthusiasm that could result in trouble.

### Ebros

Due to Ebros' relationship with The Baron, Ebros has fond feelings towards Dester, though initially they are both unaware of that. Ebros especially enjoys Dester's company because he's not serious and can have fun.

Ebros travels frequently with Dester and the troupe. He shares many of the same values of wanting to spread joy and happiness around the continent, and considers Dester to be as much as a father as Meno is.

### Saros

Dester initially hated Saros, as she basically stood against everything he believed in: she was a boring adult who seemingly did not care about other people. He threatened her several times and was unhappy to have her in The Troupe. One time he beat her near to death for her negligence.

Despite this, even after Liion was defeated Saros traveled with Dester for some time, and even became a performer in some of his shows. They grew to be decent friends. The two eventually started studying together and would occasionally spar to test out new spells.

### Richard & Deidre

Dester's parents did not care for him whatsoever, and Dester never even learned what their names were, despite living with them for most of his life.