Andrew Taylor, a student of European folklore at Anton University (although could be elsewhere, if having knowledge/ties to it, would cause a problem), when the world started turning bad, he went back to his parents home in Charleston. It wasn't because he missed them or loved them, his dad was away with work all the time, and his mum was an alcoholic, but ht wanted to make sure his younger siblings, Dennis and Betty, were watched out for, as he didn't trust his mum to do it.

To escape from his troubles at home as he was growing up, Andrew lost himself in stories, dreaming of being in far away places, of heroes who save the day, just anything to not think about the real world.
When he went off to college to study, he saw a flyer about a reading group interested in the occult. He figured it would help him meet people like him, and maybe meet a nice goth girl. Most of those who turned up were just there to wind up their parents, or seek attention, but for a handful, which included Andrew, they began to discover that there was more to the world than they realised.
Studying tomes, they cast incantations as a group, learning how to control the unknown forces of the world.

Andrew was starting to get a grasp of his new abilities, when The Plague began. Stealing one of the books, Andrew went home, hoping he could learn more from the book as time went on.

Since The Plague happened, Andrew has managed to acquire some gear to help him out.
A survival knife, which helps him when away from a camp or somewhere safe.
A backpack, to carry any salvage or supplies he finds out exploring.
A canteen, to give him a safe supply of water.
A lighter, in case he needs to start any fires, either for warmth, or for protection.
A whistle, if he needs to alert others to his location, even if it does risk attracting the wrong attention.
A pair of hiking boots, as all this walking, and risking going off the main roads, means shoddy footwear won't go well.
A thick coat, to help protect him from light scrapes.
A riot shield, which doesn't fit his overall look, but gives him an edge for keeping zombies at bay, or anyone that tries to shoot him and thinks he isn't human.

A copy of the T'tka Halot, also known as the Umbral Codex, that Andrew studies for his powers.