New York. Bastian grew up in a very bad part of New York. It took hard work and faith to pull him up out of the gutter.
Church. The main way he pulled his way out of darkness was by finding his place in the Church. He ended up taking Vows and becoming a Catholic Priest. He now tends to a small, underfunded Church here in town.
Good. He is a good man. A truly empathetic, caring and tolerant man. Seriously.