Part 1: In the Company of Wolves

Northern Montana - About an Hour Northwest of Flathead Lake

It was a winter day like any other in the American wilderness. Among the natural beauty of the snow covered trees and mountains was a remote cabin on a modest plot of land. Summer birds had migrated south and the winter birds had taken their place, filling the air with their early morning songs.

William opened his eyes and sat up in his bed. It was still early morning, but the fire in the wood stove was nearly out. Making his way across the room, William added an extra piece of firewood and stoked the fire a bit. Within a few minutes, its warmth permeated throughout the rest of the cabin.

As he made his way back towards his gear, he stopped for a brief moment and checked his reflection in the mirror - taking note of the bits of grey coming out in his beard and hair. For the time being, his illness had not gotten worse; but there was also no telling whether or not he was truly getting better.

Dressed warmly, he gathered his hunting supplies - a knife and 1911 pistol on his belt, a lever action 45-70 slung across his back, and a compound bow. The bow was meant to allow for quiet hunting, while the rifle and pistol were meant for either a quick follow-up shot or general protection.

Though his main query were deer that morning, the mountains were home to all manner of creatures - deer, mountain lions, wolves, bears, and even wer's. It may not be in any of those creature's nature to openly attack, but desperation and hunger change everything.

Heading out to the barn, William saddled up his horse and headed off through the snow in search of prey. A couple of hours later, he returned leading his horse by the reigns with two freshly killed deer lain over its back.

Makoyi Creek Settlement/Wer Community

A few miles down the mountain was a small settlement known as Makoyi Creek. Its inhabitants were a combination of European and Blackfoot descent, but they all shared a common trait - it was a town full of werewolves - some born, some turned.

Many were "purebreds," meaning that the blood of the first wolves or higher lycans ran through their veins. This meant that they treated each other like wolves treat each other in the wild. They provided for their families, protected the weak, and were wary of outsiders.

Sometimes, wandering lone wer's found their way into Makoyi Creek who were more human than wolf. When transformed, they still had enhanced strength and speed; but not to the extent of those with more wolf than humanlike characteristics.

Depending on what kind of human these wer's were before being turned deeply affected their personality. Some accepted the "way of the wolf" and were welcomed to live peaceably among the inhabitants of Makoyi Creek. Others were cast out by the Alpha, the sheriff of that area if they displayed a penchant for aggression, blood lust, and savagery.

The sheriff of Makoyi Creek was a large man who had come from Native American descent whom everyone called Joseph. Truth be told, Joseph belonged to a line of wolves with a deep and rich history. Quick to defend the week and just, he was respected by his pack.

Though he did not know about William's true origin (or even his identity for that matter), Joseph welcomed him into the community. Going by the name "Charlie Grey," William kept his identity a secret and never challenged Joseph's leadership.

To the wolves of Makoyi Creek, William was just old Charlie Grey. He brought in fresh kills to the local butcher along with skins and other useful materials in exchange for money, and that was the extent of his contribution to the pack.

That morning, as William led his horse into town with fresh meat, he noticed Joseph and a local craftsman standing in front of the local saloon. The craftsman had just finished replacing one of the front windows of the tavern and was just cleaning up.

"Morning Charlie," Joseph said with a nod. "Those are some good looking deer you've got there."

William nodded back and replied, "New window?" taking note of the broken glass which was being cleaned up nearby.

"We had a couple of drifters come through last night... they got a little rowdy..." Joseph said.

"A little rowdy?!" a voice exclaimed from inside the saloon. Out walked Kayla, the bartender on duty from the night before. By the look of her clothes, she had not been home yet and had clearly stayed at the bar overnight dealing with what had transpired. "Those pieces of $hit came in, roughed up two of our patrons, put their hands on ME, and then put a barstool through the window when I asked them to pay their tab and leave!" she said. "I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't gotten there so quickly, Joseph..."

It was clear to William that Kayla was still shaken up by what had happened the night before. She was a young wolf born in Makoyi Creek and twenty-three years of age. She had been bartending at the saloon for a couple of years, and for someone so young, William had seen her always maintain a calm and level-headed composure. Something about the wanderers had set her on edge and her survival instincts had kicked in.

"Sorry about your window..." William said quietly.

"It's not your fault, Charlie." Kayla replied with a slight look of relief.

With that, William left Kayla and Joseph to discuss and made his way towards the butcher's shop. He could not help but wonder why those drifters had come through. Various questions and scenarios raced through his head. Kayla said that it was not his fault; but William could not help but feel that some portion of it was.

If he had not been sick, there would have been someone to get bring those rogue wolves to heel. Luckily, Joseph was there. He was one of the few sheriffs in the region who had not deserted his post when William stepped down from the throne.

Still, Joseph was just one immortal - a powerful at that, but still just one real fighter. There were other fighters in the pack, but none that matched Joseph. What if there were more rogues? What if they were just probing the defenses of the town, or sizing up the alpha? What if they returned with greater numbers?

"It's not your fault," William said to himself. "There's nothing you can do... just stay out of it... don't get involved..."

After dropping off his kills to the butcher and getting his payment, William brought his horse to the livery so that it could get a chance to warm up. At nights, the moon was getting fuller. In two days, there would be a full moon.

As his horse got warm in the heated livery, William pondered getting something to warm himself up and headed towards the saloon for a drink...

(More coming soon...)

Lineage:

Lycans

Creatures of the night have existed for thousands of years. They are the substance of legend, nightmares come to life. Among these creatures are the lycans - immortal, shape-shifting beings who draw their power from the moon itself. Their characteristics most closely resemble those of a wolf. Of these many characteristics comes a certain "pack mentality."

Physically, lycans possess superior agility, reflexes, heightened senses, and strength compared to normal humans. Purebred and natural-born lycans display greater strength and speed compared to those who are "turned."

For those who are turned, their human features are more pronounced - whereas the wolf-like features of a purebred are more pronounced. The wolf-like features, strength, and overall power of the "turned" lycans depends highly on the purity of those who turned them.

Additionally, lycans are immortal and display supernatural resilience - immunity to toxins/poisons and a highly developed "healing factor" which allows them to recover from most injuries in a relatively short amount of time.

As a lycan ages, these abilities become sharper and more refined. This results in older lycans displaying sharper senses, greater strength, and increased speed than those of relatively younger lycans.

Lycans, however, have one fatal weakness: silver. Depending on the severity, wounds inflicted by silver may or may not heal. In some cases, those wounds have even left scars (i.e. branding done with silver, amputated limbs not growing back, scars that develop even though the wound has somewhat healed, etc.).

House Greystoke and The Power of the Alpha

For ages, werewolves existed as creatures of the night. However, like actual wolves, there was a pack structure and mentality among. There were two ways to become a werewolf - by being born as one or by being bitten. Those who were bitten were subject to the one that bit them.

Thus, an alpha/beta relationship was created and a pack was formed. If an alpha died, the power that allowed them to control their pack was passed on to their offspring by (order of birth), then passed on to theirs, and so on and so forth.

If an alpha died without having an heir, their pack would likely fall into chaos. Betas often turned on each other, fighting tooth and claw to achieve dominance. If they were old enough and strong enough, some formed uneasy alliances and ruled packs together. Others packs simply disbanded and their members were forced to wander alone through life.

In the beginning, werewolves existed only in small packs and would often war against one another - being territorial in nature. It was a vicious cycle of the strong preying on the weak; but it was no way to truly survive as a species.

Many centuries ago, alphas began to build their packs and take over others in an effort to consolidate their power. Eventually, packs from all over the globe had gathered to fight one another. When the battle was over and blood soaked the earth, one alpha remained - a warrior king by the name of Valko of House Greystoke.

For the first time in an age, the Power of the Alpha rested with one individual. No longer divided and leaderless, the wolves were brought to heel and a time of healing was able to occur. Throughout the centuries, the lycan underworld was always ruled by a Greystoke.

The Power of the Alpha was treated as something sacred. Not only did it allow it's wielder have dominion over all lycans; but it endowed the wielder with enhanced physical characteristics as well. This power could only be transferred to another if the host died. The order of succession would first fall to any offspring; and if there were no surviving offspring, it would pass to siblings by order of age.

An Era of War

Throughout the centuries, the lycans had encountered another group of immortals - vampires. Sometimes their interactions were neutral, and even somewhat peaceful.

In A.D. 1096, a leader of the vampiric clans, Demetri Nostrovich, called a meeting of the immortals outside Constantinople. Lycans from the West and Elves from the North all gathered to this meetings. Several prominent houses showed up, including House Greystoke, under a banner of peace.

At the time, the Greystoke numbers were few; but their warriors were powerful and without equal under the light of the full moon.

The prominent members of House Greystoke, along with several elven and vampiric houses, had all gathered in the great hall of the Nostrovich stronghold. When the time came, Demetri Nostrovich revealed himself and laid out his great plan - to dominate the world of men. His goal was to go to war with mankind and to enslave the human race.

At that moment, the great hall erupted. Immediately, all of the vampiric houses in attendance rallied behind Nostrovich in full support; whereas the elves in attendance were split - some siding with the plan, others speaking out against it, and others who remained silent in contemplation.

It was a night of the new moon, meaning that the lycans of House Greystoke were in their weakest state. During the new moon, the youngest of the lycans were unable to change. The purebreds (sometimes referred to as those with the "Blood of the First Wolves") could change, but were much weaker than usual.

It was at that moment when lines were drawn. In a preemptive strike, all of the vampires in the great hall turned on those who did not openly support Nostrovich in his plan. Immediately, immortals clashed and a battle broke out in the confines of the great hall within the Nostrovich stronghold.

During the clash, Valko and the rest of House Greystoke were all cut down, except one: one of Valko's direct descendants: Peter. A young prince at the time, Peter was the only member of House Greystoke who managed to escape the carnage of the vampires' betrayal.

Therefore he had no choice, but to prepare for war...

The Hunter

The events of that fateful night were long remembered as the Night of the Silver Moon. When Peter Greystoke escaped the Nostrovich stronghold, he immediately sought out his kin (those who were not present during the massacre). Both of his parents, his older siblings, and even some of his younger siblings had fallen alongside the alpha, Valko, during the Night of the Silver Moon.

Therefore, by way of succession, the power of the alpha transferred to Peter that night - marking him as the true heir and thus making him the new King of the Wolves.

Immediately after gathering what remained of House Greystoke, the newly crowned King of the Wolves went on the offensive. He and his kin began to hunt down vampires all across Europe of Asia - leaving absolute carnage in their wake. To combat their immortal foes, both races of immortals began turning humans and increasing their numbers. Eventually, small skirmishes evolved into large battles.

In A.D. 1192, King Peter had successfully hunted down the remnants of the Nostrovich clan - save for one final army, led by the legendary Demitri Nostrovich himself. In one final clash, the wolves descended upon the vampires in an epic battle. It was there on the battlefield, under a full moon, when Peter Greystoke decapitated Demitri Nostrovich. Grasping onto the vampire lord's severed head, the King of the Wolves let out a mighty roar and watched as the remaining vampire soldiers fled the battlefield.

From that moment forward, King Peter of House Greystoke became known as "The Hunter." As generations passed, all lycan kings who led their packs into battle were referred to as "the Hunter," a title that was both earned and respected.

Castle Greystoke

During the Blood Wars, King Peter Greystoke sought out a suitable den for his packs.

Near the border of modern day France and Germany, he found a secluded spot in the mountains that could be easily defended.

On top of that, the mountain sat on top of one of the largest silver mines in all of Europe - making it both a physical and financial stronghold.

Building a fortress into the side of the mountain itself, the place became known as Castle Greystoke. Up in the mountains and surrounded by trees, the fortress was untouchable. The Wolves of House Greystoke prowled the thick forests around their den, mercilessly cutting down any who might approach uninvited.

Castle Greystoke would serve as the seat of House Greystoke for centuries to come...

William Greystoke:

Physical Characteristics

Name: William Greystoke

Identity: Secret

Origin: Lycan

Age: 336

Height: 6' 4"

Weight: 265lbs

Eye Color: Varies

Hair Color: Brown

Aliases:

• The Hunter
• The Apex Predator
• The Cerebral Assassin
• The Beast Incarnate
• The Lord of the Lycans
• The Greystoke Legend
• The King of the Wolves

Early History

Born in 1687, William Greystoke was the fifth-born heir of King Peter Greystoke and his mate at the time, Catherine Greystoke. As a regular practice, lycans spaced out their breeding cycles by decades and sometimes centuries - choosing only when the time was right to produce their purebred descendants.

William, together with his brothers and sisters, personally trained under King Peter and his closest advisers. They were taught how to hunt, how to kill, and most importantly - how to lead.

During his later youth and young adulthood, William entered the field of battle and gained firsthand experience regarding the art of war.

Each of the lycan lords kept an elite group of warriors as their personal guard. The lycan lords personally turned these individuals themselves, as a way to guarantee their absolute loyalty. These elite groups of warriors, loyal only to the one who turned them, became known as the Sanguis Lupi or "Blood Wolves."

For over a century, William traveled the globe in search of legendary warriors. After he had given them immortality, William and the rest of his Blood Wolves learned the unique fighting styles of those they had brought in as their new brothers and sisters.

By the early 1800's, William's Sanguis Lupi had warriors from nearly every continent - fierce and seasoned warriors from Europe, Japan, the Middle East, Northern Africa, and the Americas.

A New Alpha

Throughout the mid 1800's, William and his kin spent the majority of their lives scattered across the globe. Each of them had begun building their own packs and establishing dens in various parts of the world. William and a few of his kin decided to go to war, enforcing House Greystoke's interest from the battlefield. The battles that took place were often against either vampires of humans.

Though the vampires were among the oldest enemies of the lycans, humans were beginning to challenge them as well - using their increasingly advanced weaponry to sometimes devastating effect.

In the mid 1800's, the first of William's kin were killed. He was not shot with silver bullets or bolts, nor was he impaled by a silver sword. Instead, he was killed silently in his sleep - a silver dagger finding its way to his throat and ending him quickly. Within five years, many more of William's siblings met their deaths in the same manner.

By 1857, William found himself the third eldest (formerly being fifth) of King Peter's heirs. His older sister, Catherine Greystoke, remained the eldest, followed by the now-second-eldest, Malcolm Greystoke. However, the entire lycan underworld was shaken to its core when King Peter, himself, was killed - assassinated within the walls of Castle Greystoke...

As the eldest-born daughter of King Peter, the power of the alpha was passed on to Catherine Greystoke. As she took the throne, Queen Catherine called the packs to Castle Greystoke. Uncertain of who had been murdering her kin, she called for all lycan packs to marshal their forces in preparation to face this unknown, unseen threat. Lycans from all over the globe had begun to converge on Castle Greystoke for the calling of the packs.

After many years of traveling the globe and waging war, William and his forces were summoned to Castle Greystoke to swear fealty and offer a display of unity in support of House Greystoke. There were some, however, who were skeptical about the circumstances regarding Catherine's ascension to the throne. Although the other lycan houses had submitted the Catherine's rule, her own siblings were immune to her power as the newly crowned alpha.

Malcolm, Catherine's younger and William's senior, had begun to suspect that Catherine had been behind the swift, yet brutal killings of their kin in an effort to take power. After all, Catherine was personally known for her swiftness on the battlefield and her unmatched knowledge of stealth tactics. Before William had arrived to Castle Greystoke for the calling of the packs, Malcolm had confronted him - telling William to be watchful of their older sister and, when the time was right, to support Malcolm when needed.

At the time of her ascension, Catherine had already taken a mate from another prominent lycan house but had retained her family name. Together, they already had a few young children, further solidifying her claim and ensuring that the power of the alpha was remain within her bloodline.

The End of the Blood Wars

With Catherine and her lineage firmly entrenched as the head of the family, Malcolm and William both realized that they needed to support their older sister. For the time being, Malcolm's dissent grew more and more quiet with each passing year. Eventually, he began to even support his sister and her efforts to expand their holdings.

However, Malcolm seemed to have truly achieved the impossible when he almost single-handedly brought about the official end of the centuries-long Blood Wars. Ever the diplomat, Malcolm sought to end the feud between vampires and lycans through marriage. Though their family was nowhere near as strong as they once had been, the Nostrovich clan still held sway among the prominent vampire covens of the world.

With the blessing of Queen Catherine, Malcolm joined the houses of Greystoke and Nostrovich as he himself took a vampire for his bride. The wedding took place within the walls of Castle Greystoke as both houses set aside their differences to enter into an era of peace... or so they thought...

Betrayal

As a show of unity and honor, Malcolm had arranged for his personal Sanguis Lupi and the personal guard of his new wife to guard the feast within the great hall. As vampires and lycans engaged in the celebrations, they were personally guarded by nearly two-hundred immortals.

Catherine, her mate, and all of her children were in attendance. While Malcolm and his new wife's immortals guarded the great hall, William's Sanguis Lupi patrolled and guarded the outside - keeping a steady watch over their vampiric guests within the stronghold. Every now and then, William would make his way into the great hall to check on the feast.

However, just as the moon reached its highest peak, William made his way towards the great hall. This time, as he approached the doors, his brother's guards stopped him. They instructed him that, since the ceremony was reaching its highest point, only he was allowed to proceed. While the rest of his Sanguis Lupi had to stay behind, William reluctantly made his way into the great hall.

As he made his way inside towards the ceremony, William could not help but feel that something was not right.

Suddenly, he heard the sounds of battle coming from the great hall... gunfire... the clashing of metal... growls... roars... cries of pain... Bursting into the great hall with weapons drawn, his eyes were met with the horrors of betrayal: Catherine, her mate, their young children, and members of their personal guard lay dead on the ground. At the head of the table Malcolm stood, his eyes glowing a bright yellow color.

In one last effort to sway his younger brother, Malcolm beckoned for William to join him. Together as brothers, they would slaughter any who stood in their way - vampire and lycan alike (including their own kin if necessary). Working with the vampires all along, Malcolm had orchestrated the assassination perfectly - managing to kill not only his own sister, but her children as well; thus clearing the way for him to become the next alpha and the new King of the Lycan Underworld.

Quickly observing the situation, William realized that Malcolm was untouchable. Malcolm (now possessing the power of the alpha) was surrounded by obedient lycans and vampires. He had no choice but to fight his way out. In the blink of an eye, William's Sanguis Lupi crashed into the great hall fully transformed and ready to defend their blood lord.

Together with his Sanguis Lupi, William fought and clawed his way out of the great hall, managing to save a small handful of his younger brothers and sisters. Barely escaping with their lives, William and the rest of House Greystoke faced their greatest threat yet - their own...

The Chase

With an army of both vampires and lycans at his disposal, Malcolm wasted no time in the pursuit of his kin.

William had escaped Castle Greystoke with only a few of his younger brothers and sisters, along with a handful of lycans that were still bound to him through blood (those he had turned). He knew their small pack stood no chance against the masses under Malcolm's control. Castle Greystoke was now more impregnable than ever, and a battle out in the open would be suicide.

Therefore William and his kin had no choice but to run.

Concealing himself within the depths of Castle Greystoke, Malcolm sent both vampire and lycan assassins to hunt down his kin. For months, William and the remaining Greystoke's had to either fight off or evade Malcolm's assassins. As they remnants of House Greystoke fled throughout Europe towards Asia, their path was cut off. Lycans pursued from the North while vampires began closing in from the East and South.

Eventually, William and his kin turned West. By way of France, they booked passage to Great Britain.

The Calm Before the Storm

While in Great Britain, William sought to connect with some of his mortal (human) allies. One such ally was a veteran of the British Army, Major General Alexander Thorpe. However, when William was finally able to reconnect with his old friend, he found Alexander on his deathbed. When Alexander was a much younger man, he and William had traveled the world and had many adventures - but those days were long gone.

Having sustained severe injuries during the Crimean War, Major Thorpe had been sent home with the honors. He was the owner of a vast estate in the English countryside and he was allowed to keep a personal garrison on the property as well. Many years before, Alexander's wife had died giving birth to their only child, Elizabeth.

At the time, Elizabeth was nearly twenty-three years of age, unmarried, and without children. Alexander knew that his death would leave his daughter with nothing, and that his assets would be redistributed by the Crown. He knew that William was a capable fighter and leader. Furthermore, he realized that William could protect his daughter and guard their assets. He knew of the immortal blood which coursed through William's veins, but it did not matter to him.

It was time to join their houses.

However before William agreed to the task, he first sought a private audience with Elizabeth. Truth be told, it was the first time they had ever been alone together. It was then that William explained his ancestry and revealed what he was to her. Though it was entirely common for arranged marriages to still take place, William wanted to gain Elizabeth's consent beforehand. Knowing that it would be a mutually beneficial alliance, Elizabeth agreed and allowed the plans to be made for their union. For the purpose of maintaining discretion, the lands were kept in the Thorpe name and all records were modified accordingly.

After a small, intimate ceremony on the estate grounds, William and Elizabeth were man and wife. However, they did not immediately consummate the marriage. Each of them viewed their union as precisely what it was - an alliance. Finally, Alexander's death drew near. Wanting to die in peace, he refused William's offer to turn immortal - choosing rather to die as a man. After telling bidding his daughter farewell, Alexander Thorpe slowly closed his eyes and died.

The night after Alexander's funeral, it was a full moon and time was of the essence. Having no choice left, William needed to begin building his numbers. Therefore, he and his kin attacked the garrison of the Thorpe estate and turned every soldier. Once named Elizabeth Thorpe, Elizabeth Greystoke stayed in her chamber and listened to the cries of the men outside. When the sun rose the next morning, Elizabeth was the only mortal left within the estate. William had let her know that he would not turn her until she was ready.

With an army of immortals guarding their new stronghold, William took only his closest guards and booked passage to North America in search of new allies. After nearly a year of his first tour, he returned home to find the stronghold still intact. At this point, his wife had spent nearly a year living among immortals. Ready to accept them as her own, she finally gave her consent and allowed William to turn her as well. It was then that they consummated their marriage as well.

Not long after that, Elizabeth became pregnant and gave birth to a son whom she named Alexander (after her father). Even with a son of his own, William would take a small pack and travel the globe - sometimes for over a year at a time - in search of new alliances and establishing dens of his own. Though he personally wanted to spend more time at the stronghold with his mate and firstborn son, he knew that his scent would attract unwanted attention if he lingered too long.

However just as William had begun to expand his operations primarily in the West, Malcolm had begun building his in the East... and he had not forgotten about his remaining kin...

The War of the Wolves

Over two decades had passed since the last engagement between Malcolm's assassins and the rest of the Greystoke's. William spent that entire time both establishing and fortifying dens throughout parts of Europe and North America. Once members were recruited and turned, they were trained to fight light lycans - mastering combat in both forms.

Malcolm, however, had begun building his own numbers as well. He deployed groups of vampires and lycans to lead raids in an effort to procure both living and non living assets. Humans that were captured were primarily used as cattle to the hordes at Malcolm's disposal. Those with the potential to fight were turned. Their lands were seized and converted to training grounds and supply depots.

For a time, it seemed as if both were hesitant to take the first step towards open conflict. They knew what would happen once the first blood was spilt.

Then, after nearly two decades without conflict, Malcolm sent a considerable force of lycans and vampires to Great Britain. First, they began to raid and attack smaller dens that William had set up in London's underworld. Under the full moon, immortals took to the rooftops of London and battled one another in small, yet violent skirmishes.

However if was not long before Malcolm's forces tracked down the remaining Greystoke's, and their stronghold in the English countryside...

Alexander Greystoke (William's son) had grown to adulthood. Trained by his father, Michael grew into a capable fighter. For quite some time, he was put in control over the packs of London. However, as more of Malcolm's hordes entered the city, Alexander and his forces were pushed out. They had no choice but to head for Thorpe Manor - barely escaping with their lives.

It was all a ploy, however. Malcolm allowed his nephew to escape so that he could be led to William and the rest of his kin. Trackers were sent after Alexander and, sure enough, they discovered Thorpe Manor. William was nowhere near the stronghold, but his mate, his son, and a few of the remaining Greystoke's were inside - a suitable prize regardless. Within a few days, Malcolm's forces attacked and laid siege to Thorpe Manor.

After several days of the onslaught, Malcolm's forces still could not break through the reinforced walls of Thorpe Manor. Instead of losing more of their own, Malcolm's commanders set up a blockade around the stronghold. It would still be a few days before their artillery made its way up from the coast. Once the cannons arrived, they would bring down the walls of Thorpe Manor and their hordes would swarm over the remaining Greystoke's.

A few days later, the artillery finally arrived... but not as expected. As the units of artillery appeared on the hill, they instead opened fire on Malcolm's forces. William had intercepted the artillery and had turned it upon the forces of his brother. William's pack had won the first major battle of the War of Wolves, but the war was far from over.

Knowing that Thorpe Manor was compromised, William had no choice but to escape with his remaining family. This put an incredible strain on his relationship with Elizabeth. She had already given up so much, and now she was forced to leave her family's home. Still, as she remained firmly committed to William's cause, what little tenderness which might have been developing towards him became increasingly dim over the years.

In time, they each took their separate paths in terms of romance and passion. From the very beginning, neither of them had asked for love. Their union was built out of necessity - an act of survival, and a means to further the bloodline - nothing more, nothing less... and they each accepted it.

For the next several decades, the conflict between William and Malcolm escalated to global proportions. As world wars took place and armies of mortals clashed, armies of immortals clashed in the shadows as well. Both sides had immortals joining within their ranks. Battles evolved from using horses and swords, to planes and tanks. Some battles were won by William, and others won by Malcolm.

Before the start of the first World War, Malcolm secured a fiscal advantage for his forces. No longer able to financially sustain his endeavors through the silver mine within Castle Greystoke, he reached out to the German government and entered the weapons' market. Over the course of several years, Malcolm received generous financial compensation in return for providing weapons to Germany's armed forces.

William countered by raiding supply lines and attacking Malcolm's facilities throughout Europe. As World War I commenced, immortals infiltrated the ranks of both sides. During this time, William chose to remain hidden. Through whispers, he was said to have appeared in skirmishes throughout various parts of Europe. There was no clear path to his appearances. Then, for over two years, he vanished without a trace...

Malcolm's spies and trackers had no luck in locating William during this time. The remaining Greystoke's could not be located either. For a time, Malcolm began to wonder if they were dead.

Finally, after years of silence, William and his son emerged. They began to raid Malcolm's supply lines and facilities in Northern Europe, and they did so... openly. In fact, William and his son made certain to leave at least one survivor at each incursion - instructing them to inform Malcolm of their whereabouts. It was an open challenge.

Eventually the fighting led both William and Malcolm's packs to the North... the forests of Scandanavia. Malcolm was finally drawn out, leading a combined force of vampires and werewolves against William. In addition to the vampires and werewolves at his disposal, Malcolm brought his offspring as well... powerful hybrids who shared vampiric traits (from their mother) and lycan abilities from their father. These creatures were able to walk in daylight and, when needed, transform into powerful winged beasts capable of flight.

During the battle, William was finally able to engage Malcolm in personal combat. As the two brutally tore at each other, William slashed his brother's throat. While Malcolm lay there bleeding out, William did not hesitate to go in for the kill... but Malcolm's sons intervened - swarming over William while others carried flew Malcolm to safety.

Alexander, William's firstborn, rushed to his father's aid and the two of them fought off his cousins. However, Malcolm made it to safety and was able to heal from his wounds. William and his forces made their stand, as Malcolm's were forced to retreat.

Once again concealing himself within Castle Greystoke, Malcolm began to make changes... Turning his back on his lineage and kin entirely, Malcolm cast off the Greystoke name and created a new one - Leinhardt - as a symbol to unite both vampire and lycan clans under a new banner. Castle Greystoke was renamed Castle Leinhardt, new sigils were cast and hung over the old ones, and all of the ancient Greystoke relics were either destroyed or sealed away.

Decades later, the World War II ravaged most of the Easter Hemisphere. The intensity of William and Malcolm's war escalated as well. Malcolm formed Leinhardt Industries and forged an alliance with the German government as a weapons manufacturer.

As the war raged on, William joined the Allies in the fight - joining their battles in an effort to get closer to Malcolm. Finally as the war drew to a close, William's pack made their way to the very gates of Castle Leinhardt. For weeks, they laid siege and cut off all supply routes.

Near the end of the siege, William was relieved when more Allied forces arrived. At that point, the rest of Hitler's forces had fallen or surrendered. However, just as the Allies arrived, they ordered William to ceasefire. While under siege, Malcolm had negotiated a deal with the Big Three: Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. By agreeing to provide weapons to their governments, Malcolm had secured both immunity and protection for himself and his forces.

Vastly outnumbered by both Malcolm's forces and the Allied armies, William had no wish but to ceasefire. Later that evening, William and the Alllied commanders met in a command tent. Tensions went up like wildfire as Malcolm entered the tent as well - fully confident of his own safety. After plans were discussed, Malcolm looked around the table at the other commanders... then back over to William...

Not caring about the others in the room, Malcolm looked William directly in the eye and said, "For now, there will be peace... I'll let you leave with your little pack and go about your own business... but rest assured, if you EVER challenge me... if I ever consider you a threat... I will not hesitate to END you... your pack, your mate, your sons, your daughters, your entire bloodline... the House of Greystoke will be forever wiped off the face of the earth... now leave."

With that, William was forced to leave. Malcolm was still alive, and now he was more untouchable than ever... but for now, there would be some semblance of peace...

Wolf Pack

Refusing to trust his murderous older brother, William set off across the globe as a soldier of fortune and a warlord of sorts. Setting up his base of operations in North America, William recruited skilled fighters to his cause. Together, they became the international mercenaries and assassins known as Wolf Pack.

While initially hitting the market on a private level, it was not long until government agencies began enlisting the aid of Wolf Pack. At the end of the day, those who were willing to pay for Wolf Pack's services received it. Those who were targets, or those who tried to double cross the pack always ended up the same way - dead.

As the organization grew, William decided to establish small charters - initially around North America, and then eventually the globe. These charters were run by trusted captains, but they all reported directly to William himself.

A Short-Lived Peace

As Wolf Pack became more established and began to turn a profit, William took his portion of the payout and allowed his captains to distribute the rest appropriately. Eventually, William acquired enough funds to purchase an old estate in England - Thorpe Manor.

Nearly one hundred years prior, Thorpe Manor had been lost during the War of the Wolves. It was the ancestral home of his wife, Elizabeth Greystoke. Its loss had put a strain on their relationship. In an unprecedented act of sentimentality, William worked to restore Thorpe Manor to its former glory - presenting it to his Elizabeth upon completion. In his own way, it was William asking her for a fresh start... and she accepted.

For the first time in several decades, William and Elizabeth rekindled their relationship and grew closer together. Eventually they even had more children. Though he still travelled the world and carried out missions for Wolf Pack, William always found his way home. He even had thoughts of leaving Wolf Pack behind and finally settling down... but a harsh reality would soon make its presence all too well known...

Blood for Blood

The summer was coming to an end... William had just completed a mission in North America alongside his two most trusted captains at the time - Hawk and Risky. When the three of them entered the field, they worked in perfect harmony. Death was an art to them, and each mission served as its own masterpiece.

Already, William and Hawk had discussed his possible departure. They each honestly thought that particular mission would most likely be their last. After, William would hand the reigns of Wolf Pack over to his dear friend and the two would go their separate ways.

As they were getting ready to part ways, William received a secure call from Elizabeth - who was pregnant and residing at Thorpe Manor at the time. Activating his earpiece, William answered expecting to hear his wife on the other end. There was nothing but silence at first... then he heard his wife in the background - not her voice, but muffled screams instead.

That was when Malcolm's voice came over the line... "You've been doing a lot, little brother... I warned you what would happen if you ever challenged me... if I ever considered you a threat..."

Hawk and Risky came over to William's side and listened in... William pleaded with his brother that he had no interest in the throne... no interest in taking the power of the alpha... but it wasn't enough.

William was forced to listen helplessly as Malcolm and his sons killed Elizabeth. "Consider this mercy." Malcolm said when he had finished. "Once again, I will allow you to live... but not your heirs. Tonight I will exterminate your heirs... whether they bear your name, or if they're one of your bastards... and I will cripple your precious pack."

Just as the call ended, one member of Wolf Pack came over and informed them that their safehouses and compounds in the Eastern Hemisphere had just been compromised. Reports were pouring in of Wolf Pack bases and charters becoming compromised - their members being bloodily slaughtered and their facilities left in ashes...

For months (or perhaps even years), Malcolm had sent packs of his deadliest assassins - comprised of both vampires and lycans - to hunt down William's heirs and to gain intel on Wolf Pack.

In one night, Malcolm gave the order and the slaughter had begun. Though only a few escaped, most of William's heirs and bastards were hunted down and wiped out. Those closest to him had suffered the most - including his pregnant wife and the child which she carried - dead. Among the survivors, however, were Alexander and Victor, William's oldest sons.

After safeguarding his remaining heirs, William and the remaining members of Wolf Pack set out for vengeance - blood for blood.

The Hunter's Ascension

In their quest for vengeance, Wolf Pack arrived in Germany and set their sights upon Castle Leinhardt. Like all other threats they had faced, Malcolm Leinhardt (fka Malcolm Greystoke) needed to be dealt with permanently. Though William and his own pack had faced Malcolm's hordes on their own in the past, they were not alone in this fight.

Through careful planning and execution, Wolf Pack infiltrated the once impregnable Castle Leinhardt. Sending an inside operative to lower the outer defenses, the rest of Wolf Pack was able to enter the compound via air drop. It was not long before shots were fired and a battle erupted within the castle walls.

Hawk took to the sky to battle Malcolm's winged hybrid spawn, Risky teleported throughout the field - sending silver-tipped bullets into vampires and lycans alike, and Talon unleashed her raw fury on the beasts.

Meanwhile, William made his way to towards Malcolm. Malcolm and his vampiric wife were waiting for him up in the throne room. As she moved to aid her husband, she was intercepted by William's inside operative - allowing both William and Malcolm to engage in combat one last time...

With his eyes glowing a bright yellow, William picked up the head of his brother and walked the rampart. Standing over the battle which raged on below, William lifted Malcolm's head and let out loud roar.

Immediately the battle stopped. All lycans suddenly looked up and howled. Those who were not already transformed did so. Together they let out a loud howl in unison... then turned on the remaining vampires and ripped them all to shreds.

With that, William ripped down the banners and sigils of House Leinhardt... revealing the ancient sigil of his own house... the sigil of his people... the iron wolf of House Greystoke.

Dawning the mantel of the Hunter, William's life changed forever as he took his rightful place as the true alpha... the King of the Lycan Underworld... the King of the Wolves...

Modern Operations

During his reign, William established territories across the globe where his kin would be looked after and the wolves would be kept in check. Higher or "purebred" wolves held greater control over their abilities. Those who were turned displayed more humanlike features and temperaments - being more susceptible to power struggles, savagery, and giving in to their blood lusts.

Across the globe, William assigned territories. Each territory was assigned a warden. Each warden designated smaller areas within their territories to be governed by sheriffs. The packs answered to the sheriffs, the sheriffs answered to their wardens, and the wardens reported back to the king himself.

It was an effective system which fostered positive growth and evolution for wolves across the globe, while most importantly minimalizing conflicts with human governments. The last thing William wanted was for his people to be thrown into another war or to be hunted by the world.

Peace only lasts so long though...

One night, an unknown assassin's bullet found its way into William's spine. It penetrated his armor and, as soon as it hit the spine, the bullet shattered into thousands of microscopic pieces of silver along with a hefty does of silver nitrate which flooded William's bloodstream.

Though his sons intervened and surgeons did their best to remove the silver shrapnel, the damage was already done. William survived the ordeal and spent months in recovery. His healing and other abilities were diminished. His very survival was attributed to the Power of the Alpha, but even that ancient and sacred power was waning...

Eventually, William's dominion over the lycan underworld faded. He offered to end his life so that the Power of the Alpha could pass to his eldest son; but there was no guarantee that it would work in his weakened state. It was agreed that he needed to find a cure or risk losing the Power of the Alpha forever.

As the years went on, William sent his remaining heirs away to safety and he stepped down from the throne. No cure had yet been found, and it seemed as if none would be. Thus, he resigned himself to travel and to live on his own as a lone wolf...

Characteristics:

Real Name: William Greystoke

Age: 92

Height: 6' 6" (Human Form) / 7' 10" (Lycan Form)

Weight: 240 lbs. (Human Form) / 800 lbs. (Lycan Form)

Affiliations: British Armed Forces, New Zealand Defense Force, MI6, Sector 13, Wolf Pack

The Bloodline

Malcolm Greystoke

Originating in Scotland around A.D. 800, the Greystoke clan of Lycans was under the leadership of its patriarch, Malcolm Greystoke. The Greystoke clan of Lycans separated itself from most Lycans of the time. In previous ages, Lycan race had depended upon the moon for their survival. Once an individual had transformed into their powerful Lycan form, they would strike. However, it gave them severe limitations. Therefore, the Greystoke line began to concentrate on their human form. Thought to be a point of weakness by many other Lycans, the Greystoke bloodline would prove different. In the end, they would rise above "instincts."

This process included intense combat training in order to enable members of the Greystoke clan to defend themselves without relying solely upon their Lycan abilities. Another step of this transformation included sessions of deep meditation. During these sessions, the individual would work on controlling their Lycan abilities. In doing so, they wished to merge their human and Lycan characteristics. This would give their human form increased strength, agility, speed, senses, and reflexes. Also, their Lycan forms would be granted greater control, resulting in increased intelligence.

The Noble Lycans

Eventually, all of the hard work and dedication of the Greystoke bloodline was rewarded. The human forms possessed many enhanced physical characteristics such as physical strength which enabled them to lift approximately two tons, leap great distances, and reach running speeds of nearly 80mph on foot. Their human senses were greatly improved as well. They could smell an enemy from nearly five miles away, see in total darkness, and hear the heartbeat of a mouse from nearly a mile away.

The Lycan form underwent several amazing changes as well. Foremost, a human could transform into their Lycan form at-will during any time of the day. For some reason though, any area on the globe between 15 degrees North and South of the equator would prohibit the Lycan transformation during the daytime. Nevertheless, this bloodline had its strengths. The Greystoke Lycans possessed strength that was greater than normal Lycans. Usually, it would register between Class 20 and Class 40 on the strength scale. However, some Lycans of the Greystoke bloodline were said to possess strength registering as high as Class 70 or 80. In addition, the Greystoke lineage of Lycans developed their own form of combat which was specifically made to utilize the physical features of the Lycan. While they improved many of the Lycans' strengths, they could not solve its greatest weakness. Despite the Greystokes' attempts to create Lyconic perfection, they still had one particular bane.... silver. They could touch it; but once it entered the heart, it was all over....

In time, the Greystoke's rose in Lycan nobility. Malcolm Greystoke was once and for all declared King of the Lycan Underworld. At the time, it appeared as if the Greystoke Legacy would endure forever. The Lycans had finally united as one group. However, trouble lay on the horizon.

Blood Wars

Vampiric Sects

The Greystoke bloodline separated itself from most other Lycan orders in more ways than one. In particularly, the Greystoke lineage made a vow never to spill the blood of the innocent. In many ways, this was the greatest change ever witnessed among the Lycan race. Finally, they had risen above instincts. However, several vampiric sects and a few lycan orders did not embrace the same ideals of the Greystokes. Fearing the lycans would rise in power, the vampiric sects set out to divide the lycans and turn them against the Greystokes.

The Survivors

The result was a war which went on for centuries. The Greystokes managed to form an alliance with a few other Lycan clans. However, none of the vampiric sects sympathized with their cause. Outnumbered and shunned, the Greystoke Clan of Lycans was forced to fight. When Malcolm Greystoke was slain, the lycans were left without a leader. As a result, they became divided and scattered.

With the constant blood wars, the Greystoke bloodline was nearly depleted off the face of the earth. Eventually, the bloodline had been reduced to one male and female, Peter and his wife Elizabeth. With the rest of the Greystoke lineage destroyed, it appeared as if the legacy of noble Lycans would end.....

The Survivors

Peter Greystoke

Born in A.D. 1200, Peter Greystoke was one of the finest Lycan warriors on the planet. He was a master in the ancient form of Lycan combat. In addition to learning the ancient techniques, Peter created new techniques as well. He traveled the globe with his wife, Elizabeth. Peter and Elizabeth traveled throughout Europe, Asia, and even Africa. Wherever he went, Peter would learn new techniques and add them into the steps of Lycan combat. In order to keep her safe, Peter taught Elizabeth everything that he had learned. However, no matter how strong or skilled the Greystokes were, they would never be safe.

Elizabeth Greystoke

By the early 1700's, Peter and Elizabeth were the very last of the Greystoke Lycan bloodline. They were constantly hunted. Despite their superior physical traits, the Greystoke lineage was still viewed as an abomination by most vampiric and Lyconic orders. For that reason, the Greystokes refused to produce an heir. The Greystoke's heir would never be safe. Also, while Elizabeth was with child, she would forever be in danger as well. There would be a time to have an heir, but it would have to be later. All the Greystokes could afford to concentrate on at the moment was their immediate survival.

In 1911, the entire world was at war. The Great War had begun. Through that worldwide conflict, Peter and Elizabeth were finally given the chance to fade into obscurity. Staying in the shadows, the Greystokes withdrew back to Scotland. There, they were given sanctuary in an abbey outside of Edinburgh. The priest knew of the noble Greystoke legacy. In addition, that same priest belonged to an order of warrior monks known as the Sacred Guardians. For several years, the two Greystokes were able to live in peace alongside the order. Eventually, Peter and Elizabeth were able to have a child without having to worry of the constant danger. On April 10, 1917, Elizabeth gave birth to a son and they called him William. However, it would be only a matter of time before the Greystokes were found once again.

Abbey of the Sacred Guardians

One cold December night in 1917, Peter and Elizabeth were staying at an abbey outside of Edinburgh under the protection of the Sacred Guardians. In the dead of night, dark figures could be seen leaping over the walls of the abbey. They were vampires. The Greystokes had been found and the blood wars were restarted. Quickly, an alarm was sounded and the order of warrior monks sprang into action. On the grounds of the abbey, a massive battle erupted between the Sacred Guardians and the vampires. Peter Greystoke joined in the fight and slaughtered many vampires, thus furthering the bounty on himself.

Elizabeth and her infant were smuggled out of the abbey by a few Sacred Guardians, then taken to the sea and placed aboard a ship bound for New Zealand. Fighting his way out of the abbey, Peter escaped joined his wife and young William. The family was then taken to New Zealand and set ashore. There was a secret safehouse which the Sacred Guardians had built many years ago. Giving the Greystokes several supplies, the guardians left the Greystokes in New Zealand to start a new life. With the birth of William, the Greystoke legacy had just been given a savior....

The Savior

William Greystoke

With the birth of William, the Greystoke bloodline had been preserved. In so many ways, William was the savior which the Greystoke legacy needed. Through his existence, the Greystoke legacy would never die out. In the wilderness of New Zealand, William Greystoke went under the instruction of his parents. As William grew up, Peter and Elizabeth taught him everything that he needed to know. Human combat, lycan combat, weapons mastery, tracking, and hunting were all taught to William by his father. In addition, his mother and father together instructed him in scholastic studies such as reading, writing, logic, and philosophy. A powerful body would be useless without a keen mind. Most importantly, Peter and Elizabeth taught William about his role in the world. They also taught him about his noble roots and his ties to the Lycan Kingship.

William's Lycan Form

William's Lycan abilities began to manifest around the time of his thirteenth birthday. Right away, he was taught to control his instincts. In doing so, William would be able to best utilize his powers as a Lycan. Throughout his young life, his parents had always told him about the blood wars. However, William had never seen a vampire or another Lycan in his entire life. At the time, he did not realize the true threat which these creatures posed. As time went on, William Greystoke grew into quite a strong young man. His Lycan form was extremely powerful. With sleek muscle toning, rich dark fur, strong solid white fangs, and razor sharp silver talons, young Greystoke represented the perfect specimen of a Lycan.

Return to Scotland

In 1935, the Greystokes left New Zealand and discretely traveled back to Scotland. As a grown man, William was finally able to see the place his ancestors came from. For the first time, he shook the hands of the men who helped his family flee from Scotland in the previous years. Back in New Zealand, William had been acquainted with many locals in the British towns which were there. It had given him some sort of social interaction. However, he was always careful never to reveal too much or to allow himself to get too close to anyone. The dreaded blood wars that had driven his family from Scotland in previous years seemed non-existent. To some, it would make the training from his youth appear to be insignificant. All that William knew then was that he was at peace. His mother, Elizabeth Greystoke felt that way as well. Certainly his father, Peter Greystoke, always felt on-edge. He was the protector of his family for so many years. It was his nature to always be ready for anything. Eventually though, even he found peace.

First Taste of War

William During WWII

In 1939, another war began on the European front. Hitler's blitzkrieg was on the move, and Great Britain was a target. William Greystoke, then twenty-two years old, decided to fight. Peter Greystoke had personally fought in many epic wars and had taken part in many conflicts since that time. Therefore, William was willing to follow in his father's footsteps in hopes of gaining some practical experience in the art of war. No matter what training William would receive, his father told him to never forget his instruction. With the blessing of his father and mother, William left Scotland and went to war.

Gen Esis

William joined the British Marines. Already acquainted with wilderness survival, tracking, weaponry, and personal combat, Greystoke excelled as a soldier. However, the entire time, he had to constantly maintain control over himself. Keeping his Lycan abilities in-check, William gave the appearance of a normal human being who just happened to be in top-condition. His fellow soldiers did not know anything about his Lycan roots, and William thought it best if things remained that way. The only one who knew of his lycan ancestry was his close friend, Gen Esis. Like William, Gen was also superhuman and had many unique gifts which aided him in killing.

Thriving in Combat

While in the infantry, William showed great aptitude as a sniper. However, he did not want to just sit back and shoot enemy troops from a distance. Instead, he wanted to be in the thick of battle. It was shown that Greystoke displayed quick thinking skills. He was able to quickly assess a situation and determine a proper course of action. Therefore, he was promoted to squad leader. At times, Greystoke and Esis would both charge into battle to engage in hand-to-hand combat. The whole time, Gen Esis sought to bring out a more animalistic side of William and, at times, he did so.

Going into Battle

Whenever it was time to fight, William Greystoke was never afraid to put himself in harm's way. Still, he had to maintain a somewhat low profile whenever possible. There would be no telling who would be able distinguish him as a Lycan. In times of heated battle (especially melee-based engagements), William really had to work on controlling his Lycan abilities. Later on, William would be in countless engagements and would prove himself to be a cunning warrior, time and time again. Peter Greystoke would have been so proud of his son's valiance and prowess in battle.

The End of One War, the Beginning of Another

In 1945, the Second World War was finally over. William Greystoke's ship entered the English Channel and docked in London for a few days. One night, William was in a pub with several of his comrades. From a across the room, a group of women were sitting. They kept glancing over at William, smiling and giggling as they did so. One of the women stood up and made her way over to where William was sitting. Placing her hand on his leg, she leaned in a whispered into his ear. That evening, the two of them conversed over drinks. During the time, the woman would lock eyes with him. Something about the woman was so enticing.

Eventually, the two left the pub. Outside, they just started kissing insanely. Usually, William controlled himself so well. It had to be more than the alcohol which was causing him to let his guard down. Greystoke had never seen that woman before in his entire life, yet he was behaving like that. Pausing for a moment, he looked into the woman's eyes once more. This time, the woman's eyes were gleaming in the moonlight. Opening her mouth, she exposed two large fangs. She was a vampire. By using her ability of seduction, she had lured him in. The entire time, she must have been probing his inner thoughts. William did not know exactly what she saw, but he surmised that it had something to do with his Lyconic origins. In the blink of an eye, the seductive vampire was gone.

The Victor....

He needed to reach his mother and father quickly. There was not telling what kind of danger they would be in. The blood war had begun once again. William took off in a sprint down towards the docks in hopes of finding a boat to take him up to Scotland. As he reached one set of docks, William could not see anyone around. However, his ears picked up the sound of something approaching. He then closed his eyes and began to tap into his Lycan abilities. When he opened his eyes, Greystoke could see into the dark spaces of the dock. At that moment, several vampires appeared all around him.

Instantly, the creatures swarmed. Fighting them off left and right, William allowed his body to change into its Lycan form. The powerful beast rose up and let out a deafening roar towards the vampires. Then, in a display of raw power and speed, he quickly dispatched of the threat. For the first time, he had put his Lycan combat training to the test. For the first time, he had killed a vampire. Now, William had taken his first taste of a blood war. He had taken the lives of several vampires, and now he and his family would be hunted as a result.

Because there would be no ship leaving for Scotland for the next few days, William had to do something else. That night, he transformed into his Lycan form once more and set out on land. In the moonlight, the powerful Lycan made his way up towards Scotland. There would be no telling what danger his mother and father were in. Moving swiftly up through the English countryside over the course of two days, Greystoke finally crossed into Scotland. It would be only a matter of time before he reached the safehouse where his mother and father were being protected.

Becoming the Hunter: Never to Run Again

Eventually, William reached the secluded farmhouse where Peter and Elizabeth Greystoke were residing in their relatively old age. It was nearly dawn by the time he had reached the farmhouse. As he approached the door, the scent of his mother and father were present. However, the scents of several other individuals were in the area as well; but they were not present. They were not vampiric, but human.

Last of the Bloodline

William reverted back into his human form then, with a trembling hand, reached up and placed it on the door. As he touched the door, it opened because the latch had been broken off. When the door swung open, tears flooded William's eyes. On the ground in front of him lay his slain mother and father. From the look of it, Peter Greystoke had gone out fighting. His body was pierced with several large silver bullets. The human scent became clear as to what had happened. Peter and Elizabeth were not killed by vampires, but by humans instead. Another scent was there as well, but William did not know what it was.

For ages, forces of humans gathered to fight the Darkness. They were hunters. However, sometimes the forces of Darkness swayed against these men. Due to their greed, some hunters would give into the wishes of their supposed enemies. Such was the case there. A group of vampire and Lycan hunters had apparently been bribed to go after the Greystokes. The seductive vampiress from before had probed William's mind, thus gaining the information that was needed on Peter and Elizabeth's whereabouts. She had then contacted the hunters who were already in Scotland and had given the information to them. From there, the hunters came and attacked the Greystokes.

With tears in his eyes, William stumbled out of the farmhouse. Remaining in his human form, he fell to his knees and let out a cry of agony. For the first time in his life, he was alone. William Greystoke was now the last of the bloodline of noble Lycans. Early in the morning, William buried his mother and father. It was then that William's life took on a new focus. He was the last of the Greystoke lineage. Therefore, he decided that he would run no more.

The Hunter

Going back into the farmhouse, William gathered many of his father's weapons. Remembering everything that he had learned, William set out with a new direction. No longer would he be hunted by the forces of Darkness. In slaying his family, the vampiric orders awakened something inside of William Greystoke. He then developed a hardened resolve to become his enemies' worst fear. While he was rightfully entitled to take on the role of King of the Lycan Underworld, William did not want that power just yet.

Traveling the world, William Greystoke became began to seek out those who once hunted him. One by one, he brought everyone single one of his enemies down. The manner in which he did this was completely ruthless. He would kill silently and effectively. After that, he would leave no trail. It was as if William was able to become a wraith in the minds of his enemies. With the intelligence of a man, the power of a beast, and the brutality unlike none other, William Greystoke became more than just a Lycan. He had become... the Hunter.....

Over the next several years, William served in a variety of special ops units. Whether he was in special ops or just a mercenary, the job remained the same... killing. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Greystoke had a knack for killing. He turned death into an art, utilizing what his father had taught him and even adding on a few additions of his own. Over the years, it made him into what he is today: one of the deadliest fighters on the planet.

Samson

Samson

One day while William was in the forests of Italy, he came across a juvenile Golden Eagle that had been injured. However, instead of leaving the creature to die or putting it out of its misery, he decided to help the young eagle. William had grown up around animals. When he was young, he would sometimes go out into the wild. There, young Greystoke would communicate with the animals. In many ways, he himself was an animal. William's Lycan abilities enabled him to communicate with all the creatures.

Eventually, William nursed the eagle back to health. From that moment on, the eagle joined him as a fellow hunter. As the bird matured, it showed great intelligence and power. Greystoke named the eagle Samson. Throughout time, Samson has remained a faithful companion to William. He serves as a scout when needed. Also, there have been times when William was in danger. Samson risked his own life to protect William in those situations. Samson is William's loyal scout, aid, and friend.

Destiny:

While he is constantly on the move, there is one thing which even William Greystoke can not elude... his destiny. For the time being, the lycans scattered, divided, and leaderless. However, the time would come for William Greystoke to take his rightful place as King of the Lycan Underworld. William knows all too well what he has to do.

Despite his confidence in most areas and his success as a leader, William has not yet taken on the title of kingship. Some say that is is stupidity. However, in William's heart, he truly understands the responsibility of such a task. No matter how much experience he has, William is not yet certain that he possesses the wisdom to rule over the entire Lycan Underworld. Nonetheless, the time will come when a king shall take his throne and lead all lycans towards better lives.

Wolf Pack:

Relentless, Ferocious, United.

During the events of the Doomsday Crisis, the world was forever changed. At Sector 13, Anderson had reached his limit. Horrible acts of treachery occurred during Apocalypse's massive assault on the mountain fortress of Sector 13. Anderson suspected that the United Nations were behind a greater threat. Since their involvement, the entire operation had been sabotaged.

Then, the hero known as Kurrent was locked away for the acts of murder and insurrection. All along, Anderson knew of Kurrent's innocence in the matter. Furthermore, he had undeniable proof that would restore the honor to Kurrent's name. However, certain powers did not want an investigation of the United Nations launched.

Because the world had suffered enough trauma with the destruction of New York City, the invasion of Apocalypse, and several other catastrophic events, certain authorities tried to justify their actions. Despite his orders to abandon the subject, Agent Anderson defied his orders. The world was at stake. The time for politics and other niceties had passed and it was time for action. Therefore, Anderson went to a man who lived his life in the shadows..... The Hunter, William Greystoke.

Going under the radar completely, he gave the Hunter the authorization to create an elite team. This would not be just any team. The goal of this team was to dispense with the barriers which held back progress in past times. Instead of merely defending the world, this team would go on the offensive. Sparing no one, this elite group of individuals would do whatever it took to get the job done. At times, they would become just as ruthless and dark as the evil which they hunted. Their motto would be "Relentless, Ferocious, and United."

Thus, they became known as..... Wolf Pack.

An Animal Unleashed

The Procedure

While away, one of William's close lycan brethren known as Thomas Lee Jamison was kidnapped by the group known as Weapon X. Through the use of Lady Nightmare's telepathy, Thomas was located. Immediately, the Hunter and a detachment of his deadliest warriors of Wolf Pack (known as the Death Dealers) were teleported into the Canadian wilderness. There, they each helped to track down their comrade.

Unleashed

Eventually, they reached Thomas' location; but it was a trap. With his pack facing annihilation, William decided to make a deep sacrifice. In order to save his friend and his pack, William Greystoke offered himself up in exchange for Jamison. Because William was an alpha lycan who could call upon his lycan brethren at any time, the director of Weapon X agreed wholeheartedly to the compromise.

A New Animal..

In order to allow Greystoke to change freely into his lycan form whenever needed, the Director surgically implanted three adamantium claws into each of William's forearms, then fused to his bone and muscle tissue. In addition, Weapon X proceeded to wipe the Hunter's memory and place him under their total control. At last, his body was taken and changed forever.....

However, something happened which they had not anticipated. William Greystoke's mind could easily be read. Yet, the physiology of it prevented any manipulation. It was one reason why telepathic blocks had never worked on the lycan alpha. It was also the reason why his mind could not be controlled. In excruciating pain, the Hunter found something new inside himself..... something wild and savage.

Instantly, the Hunter began moving about the facility rapidly killing those around him. With his newly-acquired claws extracted, he tore his enemies to shreds. However, he was not alone. The other members of Wolf Pack showed up and helped him escape his captors. Following a brutal battle against Sabretooth which ended in a draw, the Hunter left the burning Weapon X facility more of an animal than when he had arrived.

Ascension:

Fearless

Shortly after William had attained his adamantium claws, he sought to test them out against one of the most ruthless criminals of all time - Jean-Luc LeBeau, otherwise known as Gambler. After that battle, Talon, one of Wolf Pack's youngest members, was kidnapped by a group known as the Hidden Lotus. At that time, Greystoke thought of young Laura like a daughter and would do anything to get her back. To find Talon, he would need an army of the world's best trackers - the lycans....

King of the Lycan Underworld

Therefore, he decided to take his rightful place as King of the Lycan Underworld. Making his way deep into the Underworld, the Hunter made contact with the lycans of the Corvinus clan. Though he was initially met with resistance, he fought for his crown and eventually asserted his dominance. In doing so, the lycans were finally united under one banner and Wolf Pack had an entire army of immortals forever at their call....

A Daughter...

Traveling up to Canada, the Lycan King led his brethren in an assault on the base of Sparda. After a battle of epic proportions, Greystoke discovered that Talon had escaped and was somewhere in the Canadian wilderness. Leaving the main battle, William went alone deep into the wild in search of her.

Eventually, the Hunter found Talon nearly dead. She had been injected with a serum that had suppressed her mutant ability to heal. At last, if seemed as if Greystoke's quest had been in vain as Laura slipped into darkness. Therefore, the Greystoke Legend did the only thing that he could - he bit her. His rich lycan heritage poured into Laura's body as he blessed her with the gift of immortality. Truly, that brought the two closer than ever as their bond strengthened. No longer was William Greystoke the last of his kind, for now he had a daughter....

Passion:

Fighting On...

Once, Wolf Pack's quest to annihilate evil brought them to the planet Ninjeta. While there, they took part in a war to stop the forces of evil from taking over the planet. In an effort to unite the forces of Wolf Pack and Veritas, Inc., Talon was sent to contact them. However, a group of hostile Ninjans quickly pursued her as she went. Therefore, the Hunter had no choice but to intervene. Sending his detachment of lycans after his daughter, William Greystoke engaged the entire group of Ninjans alone; but was eventually brought down in the heat of battle by the overwhelming odds.

The Queen of Darkness

During the battle though, his body was secretly rescued and taken to a secret location. As it so happened, Lady Tlieso did not want the noble lycan to die so soon. Therefore, the Queen of Darkness performed a ritual of blood magic in which the Greystoke Legend was resurrected. Because she had saved his life, William would not harm her.

Lady Tlieso and Lord Greystoke

Over time, the two began to understand each other. William discovered that Lady Tlieso was not like other villains of the time. Instead, she retained a code of honor and was a true lady. Likewise, she saw that Greystoke was a true warrior and that he held true nobility. The two began to understand and relate to each other with each passing day. Eventually, a deep passion grew between them and the two became lovers. Certainly, Lady Tlieso was a villain; but William did not care. Some would consider what he was doing to be wrong. However, he thought it would be more wrong to ignore the passion within his heart....

Powers:

Lycanthropy

William Greystoke is the descendant of the Greystoke Lycans. This allows him to transform at-will into a lycan. The Greystoke bloodline are a different breed entirely. While in their lycan form, the Greystokes possess complete and total control. In addition, the Greystokes have managed to rise above instincts, thereby refusing to feed on human flesh. William has no need or desire to feed on human flesh. This is what separates him from most other lycans.

Strength

Greystoke Lycans are usually able to lift an excess of forty metric tons. However being an exceptional specimen, William can individually lift near sixty tons. On some occasions, he has even been able to lift near seventy. While some of his ancestors were strong enough to lift much larger amounts, William Greystoke has not reached that level yet. In his human form, William can lift nearly four tons. He can also perform powerful jumps if needed. Along with his muscles, his bones are also extremely tough and durable. His claws can slash through chain link fences, his teeth can contort metal, and his bones rarely break.

Speed

In his human form, William Greystoke is extremely swift and agile. While running on two legs, he can maintain prolonged sprints of sixty-five miles per hour. When pushed to a limit, he can reach near eighty miles per hour. In prolonged durations of running though, he maintains an average speed of forty-five to fifty miles per hour. However, in his lycan form, William is able to run on all four legs if needed. His lycan form can maintain prolonged sprints of nearly seventy-five miles per hour. The lycan form also possesses more endurance. It can sprint for much longer periods of time. William's average speed as a lycan is around sixty miles per hour.

Agility

William Greystoke is also skilled at acrobatics as well. In his human form, William can easily leap nearly thirty feet upwards and nearly one hundred feet in length. In his lycan form, he can leap nearly one hundred feet upwards over five hundred feet in length. When he was young, his father taught him to use the environment to his advantage. No matter what the environment, William is perfectly comfortable in it. His lycan abilities give him superb balance, allowing him to perform amazing feats. When in his lycan form, his claws allow him to latch onto surfaces when needed. He can scale virtually any surface easily.

Senses

The Hunter draws much of his strength from his senses. Being a lycan, he can easily sense in ways most can not. First of all, William possesses extraordinary hearing abilities. His hearing is so finely tuned that he can hear his enemy's footsteps, the noise of their equipment, and even the beating of their heart all from over a mile away. Secondly, William has a highly acute sense of smell. He can pick up an individual scent from miles away. This is most useful in tracking. The same can be said of his sense of taste. It is very similar to his sense of smell.

William's eyes are highly enhanced. Due to his lycan genealogy, he can see objects miles away. He can also see in the dark as well. His sight plays a major role whenever he is using a weapon of some sort. Being able to see and focus on his target has made William an excellent marksman. When it comes to touch, the Hunter can easily feel vibrations in the ground. Also, he can feel the heat that a living being gives off whenever they are near. This helps him in locating his target. Whether it be in a clear, wide open field or in a fog-filled forest, the Hunter, William Greystoke can find his prey and know his surroundings quite easily. One thing that his senses have also aided him with is the ability to react. William possesses superior reflexes.

Longevity and Regeneration

Over 90 Years Old...

Born a lycan, William Greystoke is immortal. Although he is nearly one hundred years old, William maintains the look of a man in his prime. He does not age like those around him. With this profound longevity has come the ability to heal. Whether in his human or lycan form, William's body can heal itself automatically. Lacerations heal in a matter of seconds. Internal injuries heal in a matter of minutes. A broken bone can heal within a matter of days. If shot, William's body can "sweat" the bullets out and heal instantly, even silver ones. However, if a silver bullet enters either his heart or his brain, then he will instantly die. Overall, William is highly durable and can take a lot of damage.

Communication with Animals

Being somewhat of an animal himself, the Hunter knows how to communicate with animals wherever he goes. This is shown greatly his relationship with Samson, his Golden Eagle. By being able to communicate clearly with Samson, William can easily execute tasks efficiently and precisely. In some situations, animals are the only force on which William can rely. Whether it be to carry a message, scout ahead, or give him aid, William's unique understanding of animals and his ability to communicate with them has proven itself time and time again. A man of the wild, he has also learned to respect the creatures of that world. While he kills for food at times, he only kills what he hungers for. Luckily, he can go for prolonged periods without eating.

Abilities:

Personal Combat

When he was a young boy, William was taught by his father, Peter Greystoke. In the forests of New Zealand, Peter molded young William into a fine warrior. Peter Greystoke had traveled all over the world learning different forms of combat. Furthermore, he adapted those forms of combat to suit his Lycan physiology. Tuning the movements and techniques, he formed two sets of combat techniques. The first was a sequence of techniques best-suited for the Greystoke human form. It involved smooth movements with circular motions. Utilizing balance was key in creating the ideal form of combat for a lycan. The second set of techniques was made specifically for the lycan form. It utilized the lycan's powerful arms, sharp claws, and strong teeth. However, each set of combative skills stressed one thing above all - the use of one's environment.

Swordsmanship

Foremost, Peter Greystoke taught William how to use a sword. If used properly, a sword could subdue nearly any foe regardless of the odds. Because Peter was a master swordsman, William learned from the best. In addition, William also learned how to wield a knife efficiently as well. By the time he was fifteen, William was as deadly a swordsman as his father - making his father extremely proud.

Archery

Peter Greystoke always thought that a warrior needed to rely more on his wits and less on his strength. In this way of thinking, he emphasized that not all battles could take place in a common melee setting. Ranged weapons would need to be used. Therefore, he taught William the skill of archery. With William's keen eyesight, strength, and balance, he quickly became a deadly archer. Although he quickly mastered all sorts of pistols, rifles, and other firearms, the bow remained his favorite ranged weapon of all.

Stealth and Tracking

Peter Greystoke taught William how to hunt. Peter said that, when approaching an enemy, one must turn them into prey and become the hunter. Once again drawing on the environment, Peter taught young William how to move quickly and silently, utilizing his Lycan abilities to the fullest. Eventually, William was able to pass through an area with absolute silence.

Because of his keen senses, tracking came almost naturally to William. Peter Greystoke taught him what exactly to look for. Together with his abilities of combat, weaponry, marksmanship, and stealth, William was turning into a deadly hunter. Those skills passed down to him and made him who he is today. He utilized them all throughout World War II, his quest to avenge his mother and father's deaths, his first hunt against a vampire sect, and all of his journeys afterward.

Equipment:

Modified Compound Bow

Modified Compound Bow

• Given a 200lb draw-weight.

• Possesses scope and laser targeting system.
• Fully functional with all standard arrow-types.
• Has custom arrow designs (exploding arrows, arrows filled with Holy Water, etc.)
• Blades can attach to top and bottom limb for melee combat.

The Sword of William Greystoke

Lycan Knight

• Blade composed of a mixture of adamantium and silver.
• Full-tang blade is four feet long, three inches wide.
• Handle is twelve inches long; ten-inch leather grip, two-inch pommel.

Knife of William Greystoke

Knife

• Blade composed of a mixture of adamantium and silver.
• Full-tang blade is eighteen inches long, one and a half to two inches wide.
• Handle is seven inches long; six-inch wooden grip, one-inch pommel.

Knife

• Blade composed entirely out of vibranium.
• Full-tang blade is eighteen inches long, nearly two inches wide.
• Handle is six inches long, leather-wrapped grip.

Wolf Pack Uniform

• Worn on missions involving Wolf Pack.
• Equipped with tracking device for emergencies.
• Embedded nanotechnology which acclimates the suit to Greystoke's needs.
• Has body armor which can be mounted separately.
• Has an inner layer of vibranium-laced fabric.

Knife Assortment

Adamantium Claws

• Made of solid adamantium.
• Three kept in each forearm.
• Occasionally effects healing factor.

Chun Gum

• Blade of Korean origin.
• Blade composed of 16 layers of 1090 carbon steel.
• Handle covered in ray skin, then wrapped with a leather grip.

General Information:

• Name: William Greystoke
• Origin: Lycan
• Age: 225
• Height: 6' 6"
• Weight: 265lbs
• Eye Color: Varies
• Hair Color: Brown

Lineage:

The Greystokes

Creatures of the night have existed for thousands of years. They are the substance of legend, nightmares come to life. Among these creatures are the lycans - immortal, shape-shifting beings who draw their power from the moon itself. Their characteristics most closely resemble those of a wolf. Of these many characteristics comes a certain "pack mentality."

Of the many various bloodlines and breeds, the Greystoke line was graced with exceptional physical and mental capabilities. Among these mental capabilities was the ability to maintain control over the beast within. Whether in the form of man or beast, their will was their own. No carnal desires overtook them; and in that regard, they slowly began to transition from man's nightmare to his protector.

However, aside from benefiting man, the abilities of the Greystoke bloodline also benefited their own kind as well. The Greystokes were able to use their minds to command their lycan kin - just as an alpha wolf asserts its dominance to control a pack. In return, lycans everywhere yielded to the mighty Greystokes and were united under one banner.

The Greystoke Patriarch, Malcolm Greystoke, took the throne as the first true King of the Lycan Underworld in A.D. 1246. In doing so, he devoted his cause to protecting mankind and ensuring the prosperity of his people. Building a stronghold in the highlands of Scotland, he called it Greystoke Manor.

An Era of War

In 1488, Malcolm and his mate conceived and an heir was born unto the Greystoke name - a son whom Malcolm named Peter. During that same year, the Lycan Underworld faced its first great threat - Vampires. For centuries, there had been an uneasy peace between the two races of immortals. Tensions had arisen concerning the existence of humans.

The lycans had been living alongside the humans in peace. Certainly, there would be the occasional rogue every now and then that had terrorized the humans - hunting them down and either turning them or devouring them. However, any attacks on humans brought down the wrath of the Greystokes. In cases such as those, King Malcolm himself would hunt down the rogues and kill them. What he did was not for the humans, but for his kin.

The humans vastly outnumbered lycans all over the globe. Collectively, their power could potentially have crushed the relatively young Lycan Underworld. Therefore, in instances where lycans went on killing sprees of human innocents, there was a potential to spread justifiable hatred towards all lycans. It benefited the lycans was a race far more to have the humans as allies, and it would keep them from the brink of extinction.

This is where the lycans and vampires had different tactics. While the lycans wanted to keep the peace and bring prolonged prosperity to all races, the vampires sought only to do so for their own; and their was no better way to do that than to subjugate the humans. Thus, they began to attack villages and storm human strongholds in Eastern Europe where they would either turn, enslave, or devour the inhabitants thereof.

At first, King Malcolm hesitated to get his people involved in a war between the vampires and humans. However, when the vampires began to attack human settlements under lycan protection, Malcolm's mind was made up and the lycans went to war.

By 1531, the war had already spread throughout the entire continent of Europe and to some parts of Asia. It was during that same year that King Malcolm Greystoke led and invasion into the East alongside his son, Prince Peter. Though he was forty-three years old, the prince was still considered young by most lycan standards.

The lycan force had marched its way east through Italy and had begun to enter lands of Austria and Hungary - known for being lands which contained many strongholds to the vampires. Under a full moon, the ferocious army of lycans were preparing to attack a fortress which housed a prestigious coven of vampires. Successfully destroying it would bring the war one step closer to coming to an end.

As they reached the castle and bombarded it with siege equipment, enemy reinforcements arrived on the scene. From behind, vampiric cavalry swept in and began to attack the rear. At that same moment, an army of defenders emptied from the bombarded keep. It was a trap, for the castle and vampire nobles presents were mere bait for the lycans. Trapped on either side, the lycans were pinned down with their king and prince caught in the middle.

Finally, a large vampiric noble by the name of Nostrovich found King Malcolm on the battlefield. As the two titans of their races collided, it was not long before the mighty lycan king dominated his vampire foe. Yet, just as King Malcolm was about to deliver the killer blow to his enemy, several vampires armed with crossbows took aim. Malcolm was stopped as several silver-tipped bolts pierced his body, and he fell to his knees.

From across the moonlit battlefield, young Prince Peter watched as the cold Nostrovich elder rose up and moved towards the helpless lycan king. Caught in his own fight, Peter desperately tried to break away and tear through the masses in order to come to his father's aid; but he was too late. In agony, he watched the Nostrovich elder brandish a sword and behead the Greystoke patriarch... Alas, the mighty king was dead and the lycan army began to fall back.

It was in that moment, when all hope was lost, that Peter threw down his weapons and transformed into his true lycan state. Leaping across the battlefield with an unbridled fury, the Greystoke Legacy tore down every vampire in his way. When he reached to Nostrovich elder, the vampire tried to fight back, but to no avail. Peter's wrath was too strong. Striking away the vampire's sword, Peter sank his large canine fangs into the throat of his enemy and ripped it out. Then, taking hold of the head with his sharp talons, the lycan lord literally ripped the vampire's head away from his shoulders and avenged his father.

Covered in blood, Peter looked up at the moon and let out a long, deep howl. It was at that moment when the lycans halted their retreat and rallied behind their prince-turned-king. Though they were outnumbered, the lycans banded together and tore through the vampires' forces with raw ferocity. When dawn came, the castle had fallen to the lycans and not a single vampire remained alive on the premise. What few nobles had survived made their way through underground tunnels to safety. The tunnels were then caved in so that the relentless lycans could not follow. That day marked not only the fall of the Nostrovich Clan, but as the day that one king died and another one was born. Thus, Peter Greystoke took his place as the next King of the Lycan Underworld.

William Greystoke

Eventually, the Lycan Underworld had begun to expand into an actual empire. For over two hundred years, King Peter Greystoke increased the lycans' holdings by more than ten fold. His reign had been defined by the eternal feud between the vampires and lycans. Not only had he defended Greystoke Manor and many human settlements from the attack of vampires, but he took a more proactive approach to the war.

Rather than waiting for the vampires to make their move, he actively sought out their covens and began to hunt them down. Hence, many of his enemies began to call King Peter Greystoke "The Hunter." Over time, that title defined him and became like a mantle... an idea that resembled the spirit of the lycan race under King Peter's rule. Even his own personal guards which accompanied him on various missions and conquests were referred to as "hunters."

Yet, despite the amounts of wealth and plunder gained from the war with the vampires, Peter continued to honor his father's law by continuing his protection of the humans. The role of the lycans throughout history had been to protect mankind, not to rule or subjugate it. As part of its territorial growth, the Lycan Underworld expanded throughout the entire continent of Europe and even parts of Asia and Africa - though forever keeping its capital as the original Greystoke Manor.

In 1787, Peter decided that the time was right to produce another heir to the throne. Therefore, he and his mate conceived and brought forth a son whom Peter named William. Indeed, the Greystokes had become a true aristocracy as William was the first to be born into a world of plenty. Despite being an aristocrat, William was brought up with rigorous training as he was groomed to be a future king.

His training consisted of a strict regime of mental, physical, and psychological training. A typical day of study would begin with physical training, followed by academics (mathematics, language, philosophy, etc.), then more physical training before the day's end. Academics would include principles of economics, philosophy, and military strategy - highly beneficial for a future king. His physical training was broken down into conditioning and combat. The conditioning focused on balance, agility, and learning to control his powers. The combat training was broken down into unarmed combat, armed combat, and then a mixture of both. For decades, William was periodically sent across the globe in order to master new forms of combat - just as his father did before him.

Because the young prince displayed such great progression in his training, King Peter allowed William to accompany him to battle when he was fully grown. Remarkably, William kept calm in battle and handled the experience well. For twenty more years, Peter and William went to battle alongside one another. Once he was experienced enough, William was given command of his father's armies and began to travel the globe in a conquest against the vampires alone.

As time went on, the weapons became more sophisticated and the lycans adapted. Swords and shields had begun to be replaced with firearms and cartridges. Muzzle-loaded cannons had been replaced with more modern automatic artillery. In addition, the use of stealth became more and more widely used. Large battles that had once involved thousands of warriors had become small incursions involving no more than thirty on either side.

By 1930, the Lycan Underworld had become one of the most powerful empires on the planet. Yet, it had grown to the point where it interacted vastly with the economy and even the stock market. Even when markets all over the world crashed, the lycans were affected. Nevertheless, they had prevailed. In deed, their power had greatly resembled the might and glory that was once Rome.

Yet, even Rome fell eventually...

Dethroned:

By 1940, the entire world was going to war. As the famous Blitz was executed, Germany tried to subdue the might of Great Britain. Of all the factions of the Underworld, the Lycans were still the most prevalent class of immortals. Once regarded as dogs which haunted caves and sewers, their aristocracy had become notoriously famous to those of "certain circles."

One night, William had returned home to a hero's welcome at Greystoke Manor. The occasion was his latest victory in Romania where he had eliminated a notorious clan of vampires who had enslaved the human inhabitants of the land for centuries. Yet, as he entered the great throne room of Greystoke Manor, he walked in on a meeting between King Peter, the lycan court, and a group of humans.

Faithfully taking his place at his father's side, the prince listened to what the humans had to say. Though he did not know which group they represented, they spoke of the current situation of the world. Sure enough, mankind's greatest war was on the horizon. The representative spoke of the aftermath of the war, saying that the world itself would be in a state of shambles. Furthermore, he said that the world would be ripe for the taking. He then extended his hand towards the lycan king and offered an alliance. If the Lycan Underworld were to join this "Order" of his, then they would share in the ownership of a new world.

King Peter wisely declined, stating that it was not the lycans' purpose to dominate men; but to make sure that no one else would. The human thought for a moment, then stated that those who did not stand by the "Order" would stand against it. Immediately, William moved forward to strike down this mere human who dared to threaten his father; but King Peter placed his hand on his son's shoulder and kept him at bay.

As the humans left, William turned to his father and said, "Why did you allow them to leave?! They threatened you! They threatened us!"

"True." King Peter replied. "But time will tell if these humans reveal themselves to be an actual threat, my son."

"Who were those men anyway?" William asked.

"Templars..." Peter replied to his son.

"Weren't the Templars down away with? How does a dead society expect to wield any real power... especially against our empire?"

"Trust me, my son... That society never died in the first place..."

With that, William was told to ignore the matter and attend unto his reception. Late into the night, while his father and the other members of the council dealt with more pressing matters, William Greystoke celebrated with his friends and comrades. After drunken bouts of sparring with his lycan kin and carousing with several females, William and his peers fell asleep in the great hall.

The next morning, William awoke naked on a table with two females wrapped in a tablecloth next to him. He paused as he heard a distant rumbling and humming sound in the distance. Just as it became louder, a large explosion rocked the hall. Large bombs filled with shards of silver nitrate were being dropped down upon Greystoke Manor by airplanes.

Immediately, alarms were raised and the Lycans took their positions to defend Greystoke Manor. From the sky, dozens of bombers rained down explosives packed with shards of silver. Upon detonation, any lycans that were hit by the shrapnel could not heal properly. Therefore, normal explosions dealt far greater damage. To make matters worse, it took place during a time with there was a new moon in the sky - meaning that the lycans were already in their weakest state.

Across the sea, large battleships fired their massive guns at Greystoke Manor from miles away - cutting off an escape by sea. Cutting off the land routes was a massive army consisting of nearly fifty tanks and nearly a dozen heavy artillery units. During the onslaught, Peter found his son and told him to take a group of survivors and escape through hidden passages into the mountains.

As William gathered survivors, King Peter led an attack to divert the enemies' attention. Meanwhile, William assisted members of the council and other survivors to get to safety. Nearly an hour later, there was barely anything left of Greystoke Manor. The cannons had ceased fire; and amid the smoke and fire, King Peter finally emerged. However, he was chained down like a dog. His body was covered in gunshot wounds and a tight moon shackle was secured around his neck - preventing him from transforming into a more powerful state.

Behind him, the same man who had been in the lycan court the night before kicked King Peter down to his knees and yelled, "DO YOU SEE YOUR KING?! This is what happens to those who oppose the ORDER... I thought this mongrel had a SON... Come out now... Your father NEEDS you..." With that, the man pulled out a Webley revolver and put it up to the back of Peter's head - no doubt loaded with silver nitrate rounds.

From a far off distance, William watched as his father's suffering. Every fiber of his being wanted to race back and tear off that man's throat; but an older member of the council stopped him, stating that it was a trap. If William rushed in, both he and his father would be killed - destroying the Greystoke Legacy and thus leaving the lycans scattered and leaderless. Therefore, he was forced to watch as the man emptied the revolver's cylinder into the back of Peter Greystoke's head - killing the lycan king. With that, the man gave a signal and the bombardment concluded. In a matter of seconds, the once glorious Greystoke Manor was reduced to ash.

Divided and leaderless, the lycans scattered. William Greystoke had become a king, but the cost was more than he could bear. His family and friends had been completely obliterated. Together, the lycans presented an easy target. The best thing for the lycans as a whole was for them to break off into smaller packs and clans, rebuild their numbers, and then for William to take his place as their rightful king when the time was right.

Banished, poor, and homeless, all that William Greystoke had left of the once powerful lycan empire were a few of the elders from the council and a handful of his father's old relics (saved by one of the elders). On that day, William's entire world came crashing down. All that he had once held dear and all that he knew had been torn away from him. He vowed revenge on the ones who had done this to him... the ones who had destroyed his family... his home... his people...

More coming later... Trust me, it's going to be good.

General Information:

• Name: William Greystoke
• Origin: Lycan
• Age: 225
• Height: 6' 6"
• Weight: 265lbs
• Eye Color: Varies
• Hair Color: Brown

Lineage:

The Greystokes

Creatures of the night have existed for thousands of years. They are the substance of legend, nightmares come to life. Among these creatures are the lycans - immortal, shape-shifting beings who draw their power from the moon itself. Their characteristics most closely resemble those of a wolf. Of these many characteristics comes a certain "pack mentality."

Of the many various bloodlines and breeds, the Greystoke line was graced with exceptional physical and mental capabilities. Among these mental capabilities was the ability to maintain control over the beast within. Whether in the form of man or beast, their will was their own. No carnal desires overtook them; and in that regard, they slowly began to transition from man's nightmare to his protector.

However, aside from benefiting man, the abilities of the Greystoke bloodline also benefited their own kind as well. The Greystokes were able to use their minds to command their lycan kin - just as an alpha wolf asserts its dominance to control a pack. In return, lycans everywhere yielded to the mighty Greystokes and were united under one banner.

The Greystoke Patriarch, Malcolm Greystoke, took the throne as the first true King of the Lycan Underworld in A.D. 1246. In doing so, he devoted his cause to protecting mankind and ensuring the prosperity of his people. Building a stronghold in the highlands of Scotland, he called it Greystoke Manor.

An Era of War

In 1488, Malcolm and his mate conceived and an heir was born unto the Greystoke name - a son whom Malcolm named Peter. During that same year, the Lycan Underworld faced its first great threat - Vampires. For centuries, there had been an uneasy peace between the two races of immortals. Tensions had arisen concerning the existence of humans.

The lycans had been living alongside the humans in peace. Certainly, there would be the occasional rogue every now and then that had terrorized the humans - hunting them down and either turning them or devouring them. However, any attacks on humans brought down the wrath of the Greystokes. In cases such as those, King Malcolm himself would hunt down the rogues and kill them. What he did was not for the humans, but for his kin.

The humans vastly outnumbered lycans all over the globe. Collectively, their power could potentially have crushed the relatively young Lycan Underworld. Therefore, in instances where lycans went on killing sprees of human innocents, there was a potential to spread justifiable hatred towards all lycans. It benefited the lycans was a race far more to have the humans as allies, and it would keep them from the brink of extinction.

This is where the lycans and vampires had different tactics. While the lycans wanted to keep the peace and bring prolonged prosperity to all races, the vampires sought only to do so for their own; and their was no better way to do that than to subjugate the humans. Thus, they began to attack villages and storm human strongholds in Eastern Europe where they would either turn, enslave, or devour the inhabitants thereof.

At first, King Malcolm hesitated to get his people involved in a war between the vampires and humans. However, when the vampires began to attack human settlements under lycan protection, Malcolm's mind was made up and the lycans went to war.

By 1531, the war had already spread throughout the entire continent of Europe and to some parts of Asia. It was during that same year that King Malcolm Greystoke led and invasion into the East alongside his son, Prince Peter. Though he was forty-three years old, the prince was still considered young by most lycan standards.

The lycan force had marched its way east through Italy and had begun to enter lands of Austria and Hungary - known for being lands which contained many strongholds to the vampires. Under a full moon, the ferocious army of lycans were preparing to attack a fortress which housed a prestigious coven of vampires. Successfully destroying it would bring the war one step closer to coming to an end.

As they reached the castle and bombarded it with siege equipment, enemy reinforcements arrived on the scene. From behind, vampiric cavalry swept in and began to attack the rear. At that same moment, an army of defenders emptied from the bombarded keep. It was a trap, for the castle and vampire nobles presents were mere bait for the lycans. Trapped on either side, the lycans were pinned down with their king and prince caught in the middle.

Finally, a large vampiric noble by the name of Nostrovich found King Malcolm on the battlefield. As the two titans of their races collided, it was not long before the mighty lycan king dominated his vampire foe. Yet, just as King Malcolm was about to deliver the killer blow to his enemy, several vampires armed with crossbows took aim. Malcolm was stopped as several silver-tipped bolts pierced his body, and he fell to his knees.

From across the moonlit battlefield, young Prince Peter watched as the cold Nostrovich elder rose up and moved towards the helpless lycan king. Caught in his own fight, Peter desperately tried to break away and tear through the masses in order to come to his father's aid; but he was too late. In agony, he watched the Nostrovich elder brandish a sword and behead the Greystoke patriarch... Alas, the mighty king was dead and the lycan army began to fall back.

It was in that moment, when all hope was lost, that Peter threw down his weapons and transformed into his true lycan state. Leaping across the battlefield with an unbridled fury, the Greystoke Legacy tore down every vampire in his way. When he reached to Nostrovich elder, the vampire tried to fight back, but to no avail. Peter's wrath was too strong. Striking away the vampire's sword, Peter sank his large canine fangs into the throat of his enemy and ripped it out. Then, taking hold of the head with his sharp talons, the lycan lord literally ripped the vampire's head away from his shoulders and avenged his father.

Covered in blood, Peter looked up at the moon and let out a long, deep howl. It was at that moment when the lycans halted their retreat and rallied behind their prince-turned-king. Though they were outnumbered, the lycans banded together and tore through the vampires' forces with raw ferocity. When dawn came, the castle had fallen to the lycans and not a single vampire remained alive on the premise. What few nobles had survived made their way through underground tunnels to safety. The tunnels were then caved in so that the relentless lycans could not follow. That day marked not only the fall of the Nostrovich Clan, but as the day that one king died and another one was born. Thus, Peter Greystoke took his place as the next King of the Lycan Underworld.

William Greystoke

Eventually, the Lycan Underworld had begun to expand into an actual empire. For over two hundred years, King Peter Greystoke increased the lycans' holdings by more than ten fold. His reign had been defined by the eternal feud between the vampires and lycans. Not only had he defended Greystoke Manor and many human settlements from the attack of vampires, but he took a more proactive approach to the war.

Rather than waiting for the vampires to make their move, he actively sought out their covens and began to hunt them down. Hence, many of his enemies began to call King Peter Greystoke "The Hunter." Over time, that title defined him and became like a mantle... an idea that resembled the spirit of the lycan race under King Peter's rule. Even his own personal guards which accompanied him on various missions and conquests were referred to as "hunters."

Yet, despite the amounts of wealth and plunder gained from the war with the vampires, Peter continued to honor his father's law by continuing his protection of the humans. The role of the lycans throughout history had been to protect mankind, not to rule or subjugate it. As part of its territorial growth, the Lycan Underworld expanded throughout the entire continent of Europe and even parts of Asia and Africa - though forever keeping its capital as the original Greystoke Manor.

In 1787, Peter decided that the time was right to produce another heir to the throne. Therefore, he and his mate conceived and brought forth a son whom Peter named William. Indeed, the Greystokes had become a true aristocracy as William was the first to be born into a world of plenty. Despite being an aristocrat, William was brought up with rigorous training as he was groomed to be a future king.

His training consisted of a strict regime of mental, physical, and psychological training. A typical day of study would begin with physical training, followed by academics (mathematics, language, philosophy, etc.), then more physical training before the day's end. Academics would include principles of economics, philosophy, and military strategy - highly beneficial for a future king. His physical training was broken down into conditioning and combat. The conditioning focused on balance, agility, and learning to control his powers. The combat training was broken down into unarmed combat, armed combat, and then a mixture of both. For decades, William was periodically sent across the globe in order to master new forms of combat - just as his father did before him.

Because the young prince displayed such great progression in his training, King Peter allowed William to accompany him to battle when he was fully grown. Remarkably, William kept calm in battle and handled the experience well. For twenty more years, Peter and William went to battle alongside one another. Once he was experienced enough, William was given command of his father's armies and began to travel the globe in a conquest against the vampires alone.

As time went on, the weapons became more sophisticated and the lycans adapted. Swords and shields had begun to be replaced with firearms and cartridges. Muzzle-loaded cannons had been replaced with more modern automatic artillery. In addition, the use of stealth became more and more widely used. Large battles that had once involved thousands of warriors had become small incursions involving no more than thirty on either side.

By 1930, the Lycan Underworld had become one of the most powerful empires on the planet. Yet, it had grown to the point where it interacted vastly with the economy and even the stock market. Even when markets all over the world crashed, the lycans were affected. Nevertheless, they had prevailed. In deed, their power had greatly resembled the might and glory that was once Rome.

Yet, even Rome fell eventually...

Dethroned:

By 1940, the entire world was going to war. As the famous Blitz was executed, Germany tried to subdue the might of Great Britain. Of all the factions of the Underworld, the Lycans were still the most prevalent class of immortals. Once regarded as dogs which haunted caves and sewers, their aristocracy had become notoriously famous to those of "certain circles."

One night, William had returned home to a hero's welcome at Greystoke Manor. The occasion was his latest victory in Romania where he had eliminated a notorious clan of vampires who had enslaved the human inhabitants of the land for centuries. Yet, as he entered the great throne room of Greystoke Manor, he walked in on a meeting between King Peter, the lycan court, and a group of humans.

Faithfully taking his place at his father's side, the prince listened to what the humans had to say. Though he did not know which group they represented, they spoke of the current situation of the world. Sure enough, mankind's greatest war was on the horizon. The representative spoke of the aftermath of the war, saying that the world itself would be in a state of shambles. Furthermore, he said that the world would be ripe for the taking. He then extended his hand towards the lycan king and offered an alliance. If the Lycan Underworld were to join this "Order" of his, then they would share in the ownership of a new world.

King Peter wisely declined, stating that it was not the lycans' purpose to dominate men; but to make sure that no one else would. The human thought for a moment, then stated that those who did not stand by the "Order" would stand against it. Immediately, William moved forward to strike down this mere human who dared to threaten his father; but King Peter placed his hand on his son's shoulder and kept him at bay.

As the humans left, William turned to his father and said, "Why did you allow them to leave?! They threatened you! They threatened us!"

"True." King Peter replied. "But time will tell if these humans reveal themselves to be an actual threat, my son."

"Who were those men anyway?" William asked.

"Templars..." Peter replied to his son.

"Weren't the Templars down away with? How does a dead society expect to wield any real power... especially against our empire?"

"Trust me, my son... That society never died in the first place..."

With that, William was told to ignore the matter and attend unto his reception. Late into the night, while his father and the other members of the council dealt with more pressing matters, William Greystoke celebrated with his friends and comrades. After drunken bouts of sparring with his lycan kin and carousing with several females, William and his peers fell asleep in the great hall.

The next morning, William awoke naked on a table with two females wrapped in a tablecloth next to him. He paused as he heard a distant rumbling and humming sound in the distance. Just as it became louder, a large explosion rocked the hall. Large bombs filled with shards of silver nitrate were being dropped down upon Greystoke Manor by airplanes.

Immediately, alarms were raised and the Lycans took their positions to defend Greystoke Manor. From the sky, dozens of bombers rained down explosives packed with shards of silver. Upon detonation, any lycans that were hit by the shrapnel could not heal properly. Therefore, normal explosions dealt far greater damage. To make matters worse, it took place during a time with there was a new moon in the sky - meaning that the lycans were already in their weakest state.

Across the sea, large battleships fired their massive guns at Greystoke Manor from miles away - cutting off an escape by sea. Cutting off the land routes was a massive army consisting of nearly fifty tanks and nearly a dozen heavy artillery units. During the onslaught, Peter found his son and told him to take a group of survivors and escape through hidden passages into the mountains.

As William gathered survivors, King Peter led an attack to divert the enemies' attention. Meanwhile, William assisted members of the council and other survivors to get to safety. Nearly an hour later, there was barely anything left of Greystoke Manor. The cannons had ceased fire; and amid the smoke and fire, King Peter finally emerged. However, he was chained down like a dog. His body was covered in gunshot wounds and a tight moon shackle was secured around his neck - preventing him from transforming into a more powerful state.

Behind him, the same man who had been in the lycan court the night before kicked King Peter down to his knees and yelled, "DO YOU SEE YOUR KING?! This is what happens to those who oppose the ORDER... I thought this mongrel had a SON... Come out now... Your father NEEDS you..." With that, the man pulled out a Webley revolver and put it up to the back of Peter's head - no doubt loaded with silver nitrate rounds.

From a far off distance, William watched as his father's suffering. Every fiber of his being wanted to race back and tear off that man's throat; but an older member of the council stopped him, stating that it was a trap. If William rushed in, both he and his father would be killed - destroying the Greystoke Legacy and thus leaving the lycans scattered and leaderless. Therefore, he was forced to watch as the man emptied the revolver's cylinder into the back of Peter Greystoke's head - killing the lycan king. With that, the man gave a signal and the bombardment concluded. In a matter of seconds, the once glorious Greystoke Manor was reduced to ash.

Divided and leaderless, the lycans scattered. William Greystoke had become a king, but the cost was more than he could bear. His family and friends had been completely obliterated. Together, the lycans presented an easy target. The best thing for the lycans as a whole was for them to break off into smaller packs and clans, rebuild their numbers, and then for William to take his place as their rightful king when the time was right.

Banished, poor, and homeless, all that William Greystoke had left of the once powerful lycan empire were a few of the elders from the council and a handful of his father's old relics (saved by one of the elders). On that day, William's entire world came crashing down. All that he had once held dear and all that he knew had been torn away from him. He vowed revenge on the ones who had done this to him... the ones who had destroyed his family... his home... his people...

More coming later... Trust me, it's going to be good.

Characteristics:

• Name: William Greystoke
• Origin: Lycan
• DOB: Unknown
  
• Height: 6' 6"
• Weight: 265 lbs.
• Eye Color: Varies Depending on Mood
• Hair Color: Brown
• Alias:  The Cerebral Assassin
• Occupations: Fighter, Soldier of Fortune, Assassin, Bodyguard
  

Origin:

A Man Without a Past...

Birth of a Predator...

Becoming the Cerebral Assassin...

Current Status in the "Ultimate Universe"

 I just got an idea for how we can use "vine" in RPG's and actually have some MEANING behind it....
 
Many years ago, a small company pioneered in the field of communication.  They created a platform for all types of communication that was relatively simple.  However, for a platform so simple in design, the service was extremely fast, secure, and reliable.  Eventually, this small company dominated the entire communications market (mobile, land lines, internet, cable, etc.) and named its platform "V.I.N.E." (which stood for Viral Interactive Networking Engine).  Suddenly, the phrase, "I heard it through the vine." took on a whole new meaning as VINE Enterprises dominated the corporate world.
 
As they continued to dominate all types of media, we saw the emergence of such things as Vine News and the debut of the King of the Vine Championships (an event which had more viewers tuning in than the Super Bowl).  With all it's wealth and prosperity though, the CEO of Vine Industries has still remained anonymous.  One thing can be certain.  If something happens, you will hear about it through the vine.....
 
I think it's a good idea to have this.  If you all have any other ideas for the "vine," let's hear them.  If not, let's go ahead and use this and adapt it to the current continuity of RPG's.

starring Feral Nova and the Hunter (special guest appearance by Homicide)