He lives in a post-rapture world, where the remaining humans have been warped and shifted into creatures called Rotlings who are immortal and endlessly rotting. They live on a large island, the last bit of earth not submerged under the water. Their society is now lawless; living under the fear of a prophecy about a live human from an angel egg who would bring an end to the immortality and lawlessness. Ken is a rottling and the leader of The Smiling Dead, the younger brother of Mud, the father of Breadhead, and the adoptive father of Melancholy Hill. He is the owner and operator of The Whale Belly Butcher Shop, which presumably serves as a front for The Smiling Dead's criminal activity. Ken is an large Rottling with a muscular, rotund physique. He has decayed skin, large bright red eyes with pale yellow sclera and yellow teeth and darkened gums. He also has a bloodied kitchen cleaver placed in the center of his indented head, which he can take out as he pleases. His left arm has peeled-off chunks of skin, which expose the fleshy muscles of his biceps and bronchioles. He wears a bloodied white apron that has a pair of oversized straps and small yellow buttons at the front, wearing nothing underneath. He only covers himself with a pair of boxers. He wears black boots. Ken has a short temper, often going into violent rages. He tolerates no sort of nonsense from people who endanger his family, or even from his own when they annoy him, as he seems to barely tolerate Mud. Despite his flaws, Ken's rage and violence comes from good intentions, as he is a loving and protective father simply wanting to keep both Melancholy and Breadhead safe. Ken is extremely protective of Mel, keeping their secret hidden from their own family. He adopted Mel knowing she was the prophesied human who would bring an end to the Gaslight District.

Mud is a tall, lanky Rottling. His green, goop-like skin hangs off the bottom of his head reminiscent of a beard and exposing some of the top of his skull. He has large red eyes, bad teeth with rotted gums and no nose. His neck isn't covered by skin. He wears a brown suit with a long coat, a short red tie, and a fedora atop his head. He's mischievous and plotting.

Breadhead is a rather dimwitted but friendly yeast golem. Breadhead is a lanky, pot-bellied golem whose body is bread. His palms resemble hamburger buns, his fingers resemble hot dog buns. Completing his face is a pair of bulging, beady red eyes and a large, grinning mouth. He has a tattoo of a heart with the word "Dad" on his left bicep. He's dumb, innocent and loyal.