Bertrum Handeeman

**Bertrum Handeeman** is an antagonist in the *Divine Comedy*.

He is a sinner that owns one of the most infamous carnivals in Hell. He was once a renowned purveyor in amusement park-based entertainment that was condemned to Hell for negligence of the rides' safety leading to numerous deaths.

Now in Hell, Bertrum would expand his operations and draw in as many sinners and demons as he could into his parks so as to drain their souls for his own benefits. He would become a major antagonist towards Charlie and her crew as the princess's plans for redemption threaten to hinder his business.

## Appearance

Bertrum is a sinner resembling a humanoid wooden ventriloquist dummy in the image of an elderly gentleman, given his grey hair and mustache. He seems to be a stereotypical "high-class fellow" as he wears a black suit with a blue neckerchief, a black top hat with a red band, and a golden monocle. Naturally as a sinner, Bertrum's appearance became devilish such as the end of his hair sticking up into pointed ends, his teeth being crooked and developed claws on his fingers.

## History

### Background

Bertrum was a human that lived during the late 1800s. He was a renowned purveyor in amusement park-based entertainment with his greatest achievement being a carnival known as the Midway Mayhem. Bertrum soley set his sights on the profit he would earn from all the attendees of his amusement park that go on his rides and play his games to where he would go more than one extra mile in pushing his workers to build more thrilling rides to gain more traction and attention. The workload would not only result in the workers dying from sheer exhaustion but the stress of it would create several mishandlings of the rides that resulted in many mishaps leading to deaths and accidents.

But this did not deter Bertrum as he moved forward for his supply and demand. He somehow also managed to convince health inspectors that his rides were safe in order for his parks to not be shut down. Of course, he was not above murdering said inspectors when they did not fall for his tricks. In addition, the park attendants themselves would have their bodies buried either by the outskirts of the carnival or even in it where they become decorated as attractions.

### Arrival in Hell

Naturally, it was not long before Bertrum would meet his end by his own rides no less. While he was inspecting one of the roller coaster's tracks, the lever was pulled by an unknown individual which set the coaster to speedily make its way to the unknowing Bertrum and brutally bisect him in half below the waist, killing him almost instantly. For his crimes and greed, Bertrum was condemned to Hell and sentenced to the Pride and Greed Circles where he was reborn as a humanoid wooden ventriloquist dummy.

Bertrum would need to possess a sinner in order to get around and properly function. Despite his damnation, Bertrum saw that he still could make a profit by conducting business in the Inferno through rebuilding an amusement park in Hell. This actually caught the attention of Lucifer himself who had an affinity for carnivals and amusement parks. Impressed with the way Bertrum can draw in sinners and demons with the kind of ideas he can conceptualize for his theme parks, Lucifer gave him his blessing and promoted Bertrum to be part of Nybbas's court.

Using the resources provided to him by Lucifer alongside Nybbas's own workforce, Bertrum's carnivalistic empire was restored but now demonically themed where it would dismember and mutilate sinners and demons without consequence repeatedly and empowering him with their souls. He would also gather his own little ensemble of carnies that do his every bidding without question. Bertrum would continue his operations without hindrance (barring the annual Exterminations) until he heard of Princess Charlotte's plans of rehabilitating sinners which would threaten his business.