[The following is a long post and is mostly comprised of head canon. I toe the line of lore bending with this story line, erring on the ‘plausible’ side of things, rather than the ‘probable.’ I am looking to involve more people in upcoming events for this story line, especially those who may have been (or wish to say that they have been) impacted by this gang’s presence. It is a slow burn story line that I wanted to put out there for anyone interested. If you are interested, feel free to send me a message and we can plot.]
In the Beginning, There Were Two ––– –
Originally known as ‘the Black Knuckle Brothers,’ Colton and Crawford Daniels were the first. They arrived in Darkshire, after falling through the cracks of Stormwind’s child services, homeless and hungry, but not looking for pity or charity. Although they were young, the two Gilnean natives were the sons of the city’s street gangs and put their mob education to nefarious use. They recruited other unfortunates and built up the town’s struggling economy. It wasn’t long before some of the most influential members of the community wore a streak of coal across their knuckles, but no one questioned it, as things were good.
For a time.
The Brothers weren’t the sort to grow complacent. They always remained hungry. Their shadow empire stretched out from Darkshire and touched the heart of Stormwind’s trade routes. They reached out to Goldshire, Lakeshire, and Moonbrook. While the overreach was ambitious and had its growing pains, it was successful for nearly a year. The Brothers had their fingers, right up to their black knuckles, in a lot of the trade through Stormwind Kingdom, and that wealth spread out over the organization. Although they weren’t saints, often using violence and fear tactics to encourage loyalty, the community sang their praises as the gold flowed in.
Unfortunately, there were others growing at the same time. Edwin VanCleef and the Stonemasons were plotting their revenge against Varian and the City of Stormwind. The Defias Brotherhood, as they came to be known, didn’t take kindly to the Black Knuckle presence and poisoned the branch. They turned members against the Brothers and took the hands of those who wouldn’t turn. Morale and membership sank rapidly as the artisans turned assassins picked off the outliers and drove the Black Knuckles back into Duskwood.
Colton and Crawford were not overly bothered by the losses, however, as there was a new goal in their sights. Something wicked and wild was filling the forest with fear, and the Brothers intended to harvest it.
Transformation From Gang to Pack ––– –
The Nightbane were a terrifying threat to most, but the Brothers, Colton especially, were captivated by the feral Worgen. As their empire seemed to shrink back down to little more than a petty gang, the Black Knuckles were closing rank on a new project. The Brothers all but disappeared for months, reduced to reported sightings in the rural portions of Duskwood. When they surfaced again, they were all changed, figuratively and literally. They were savage and pitiless, no longer interested in building up the community, but rather dead set on making the Kingdom pay.
And that is all that is publicly known.
Of course, people gossip, as they are wont to do, and rumors of a dark pact are prevalent. It is commonly accepted that through dark magic, Colton was able to manipulate and control the Worgen curse. He and Crawford are believed to have recruited a druid, a dark hearted Kaldorei, to assist in afflicting every Black Knuckle Brother with the controlled curse. It is also alleged that early trials of this tactic went horribly wrong and those failures were kept alive in bunkers around Duskwood to protect the Brothers’ secrets.
No matter what truly happened, in the end, the Black Knuckle Brothers were transformed from a city gang into a wild pack of intelligent beasts.
The Brothers’ Continued Presence ––– –
Although they don’t recruit like they once did, the Black Knuckle Brother’s are on a new upswing in Stormwind Kingdom. They are closer knit and more dangerous for it. The leaders and their immediate underlings have hefty bounties on their heads but prove to be nearly impossible to get close to. Citizens of Darkshire know them by their human faces, while the Black Knuckles know them by their ‘truer’ selves. Most of their time is spent in the background, pulling the strings and commanding their loyal troops to move as needed, so appearances in public, or before the Black Knuckles, are rare.
Even if Colton and Crawford remain in the shadows, the pack’s movements are precisely executed. The Black Knuckle Worgen descend upon travelers and merchants with guerilla tactics, take what they need and vanish. They leave unarmed citizens alive so that tales of their prowess and terrorism spread, a tactic earning them a fearsome reputation and further crippling the commerce of Duskwood.
There are specific items the Brothers are most interested in, however. They have stretched out into the mining communities of Redridge and Westfall, seeking shipments of steel, copper, and gold bars and ore. They have left silk on merchant caravans but made off with the oil and spools of crafting wire. Loads of stone and bricks have been taken whole, the wagons found abandoned in ravines. The items they favor appear to have a distinctly industrial quality to them, and that concerns authorities more than a gang seeking wealth.
The Bounties ––– –
Colton Daniels
Leader of the Black Knuckle Brothers
Suspected Shadow Priest or Warlock
Use extreme caution! – It is rumored he is able to use psychic magics.
Eldest of the Daniel’s brothers, Colton appears to be the linchpin of the organization. He is the more collected of the two, but also the more unpredictable.
Reward [Alive]: 5500 gold
Reward [Dead]: 2500 gold
Crawford Daniels
Leader of the Black Knuckle Brothers
Suspected Infiltrator or Assassin
Use extreme caution! – It is rumored he is able to move unseen through the shadows and teleport short ranges.
Younger and less disciplined, Crawford has a short temper and is prone using violence unexpectedly.
Reward [Alive]: 5500 gold
Reward [Dead]: 3500 gold
When the Brothers travel, they do so with guards and ‘fodder,’ usually women and children, however, it seems like an unnecessary precaution, as both Colton and Crawford have impressive command of Shadow Magic. Among their guards are two ‘lieutenants.’
Valentine ‘Baby’ Brooks
Lieutenant of the Black Knuckle Brothers
Firearms and Demolitions Specialist
Do not underestimate! – Although she looks like an adolescent, this woman is in her mid-twenties and served a short time in the Duskwood Militia.
Reward [Alive]: 2500 gold
Reward [Dead]: 500 gold
Anders Johnsom
Lieutenant of the Black Knuckle Brothers
Skilled Martial Artist
This man is lethal even when considered unarmed.
Reward [Alive]: 2500 gold
Reward [Dead]: 500 gold
There are a few other members of interest, but their bounties will only be awarded if they are brought in alive and able to speak.
Harris Pent
Alpha Member of the Black Knuckle Brothers
Thief and Grave Robber
This man is a complete coward at the heart of things. He will make an escape if he feels cornered or outnumbered.
Reward [Alive Only]: 2500 gold
[No Picture Available]
‘Rey’
Alpha Member of the Black Knuckle Brothers
Description: Human form unknown. Worgen form has dense, grey fur. Wears only pants and gloves usually. Carries daggers on his hips.
Infiltrator and Scout, though less violent than most of his brothers. Although he is less violent, he will fight if cornered.
Below are some of the pack members of the Dragonheart pack. With the exception of Thorsiffe, all are NPCs for now. Though it’s by no means a necessity for me, if you’d like to play one of these characters or make a new one to join the pack, feel free! I’d absolutely love that. Feel free to hit me up with a DM if you’re keen.
Considering the pack consists of roughly fifteen members, there’s still quite a few characters that are, as of yet, “undefined”. I will add a couple more premades/NPCs to this list, but I intend to keep about half of the pack undetermined, in case people would like to make new characters that are part of the pack.
Thorsiffe “Dragonheart” (they/them, alpha): the pack leader, a whirlwind of passion and warrior spirit. Thorsiffe leads the Dragonheart pack with as much excitement as honor, compensating for their lack of experience with an inherent ability to inspire and a reckless courage. They work at the Natural History Museum part time, as well as being an aspiring musician. All of their pack has some odd sayings and mannerisms, leftovers from their old home. Thorsiffe especially has a knack for this though, and is known to talk in riddles, or as if they were taken straight from one of the sagas. Sometimes even their own pack has trouble following their thoughts.
Egil “Bearhide” Hakonsson (he/him, beta): a great beast of a man, and the pack’s protector. A giant of a man, Egil cuts an imposing figure being 7 ft tall and built like a brick wall. Where Thorsiffe is wild and energetic, Egil is stoic and barely speaks. He is Thorsiffe’s huskarl, both protector and bone-breaker. Loyal and honorable to the bone. Works as a bouncer. He seems to communicate in grunts, the meaning of which only his kin are privy to.
Ulrika (she/her, beta): more commonly called Ulla, is a small bundle of energy and anger. She works as a mechanic, and has had a hand in tuning up or wholly putting together most of her kin’s cars. They’ll go to her for repairs too, though she'll probably bruise your shoulder if you come in after wrecking one of her babies. It's a well known fact among the pack that if you get Ulla going on a rant, your only options are to stay and enjoy the show or back away slowly.
Sven (he/him, omega): resident disaster child, socialite, and would-be Casanova. Sven works as a bartender. He's a charmer alright, looking like the textbook definition of "handsome Scandinavian"; tall, sparkling blue eyes, and flowing blonde hair. His main problem is that he'll end up passed out in some corner near the end of the night, which tends to be a less charming sight. Despite that, he plays a vital role for the pack by keeping his eyes and ears open, and collecting rumors.
Lockbrá (they/them, omega): lawspeaker, and a trickster through and through. They take after (who they claim is) their namesake, Loki, and are a trickster at heart. They'd never break a promise, but if they swear they won't embarrass you in front of your crush and then invite both your crush and your mom over for drinks at the same time, you should've worded that more carefully. Their smarts saw them named Lawspeaker of the pack upon its formation, and Lockbra’s demeanor will shift into something much more calculating and businesslike when in function. Though they work as a lawyer (and a quite successful one at that), they spend most of their days planning (way too) elaborate pranks, whether that be harmless ones for their kin, or the kind where they lure a powerful vampire into a trap. Hypothetically, of course.
The Dragonheart pack, also known as simply the Dragonhearts, formed a little over two years ago. They originally belonged to the Jordfirar pack, situated in the northern reaches of Norway and headed by Thorsiffe’s eldest sister, Yrsa. Not wishing to overthrow her, Thorsiffe claimed the ancient right to go Viking, starting their own pack, or warband. Most of those who followed them were part of their friend group within the pack, those closest to Thorsiffe themself, all eager to see and explore the world at large.
They eventually settled on Vievecor City, hoping the size of it and the number of supernatural beings within it would allow them to have adventures and earn their glory. There wasn’t much of a plan as to how they were planning on settling, but things worked themselves out. In a similar unworried fashion, the pack’s name was decided upon over drinks at the airport bar on their way over, derived from Thorsiffe’s epithet.
During their (for werewolves) relatively short time in Vievecor City, the Dragonhearts have established themselves as a brave, honorable, and open-hearted pack. However, they’ve also earned themselves the reputation of being brash, violent, and most other traits often associated with young wolves. Perhaps that was to be expected from a pack of young wolves who introduced themselves as a warband of Vikings. Conflicts have yet to get out of hand though, and have usually been started and simultaneously resolved through a small brawl or challenge to a duel.
Being the alpha who established the pack, Thorsiffe is its leader. Most of the time they ‘rule’ as a first amongst equals, letting all have their say and trusting matters to those responsible for them. However, they assume full control of the pack’s actions in case of conflict. Thorsiffe leads by example, and their pack follows them with great love and unyielding loyalty.
The Dragonheart pack consists of some fifteen members. Though they’ve established strong friendships with wolves from other packs and lone ones, they haven’t had any new additions during their time in VC. For a list of packmates, check out Dragonheart pack members.
Hailing from Norway, the Dragonheart pack has brought their own culture with them to VC. While belief in the old gods dwindled since their country’s conversion to Christianity, the Jordfirar pack they originally belonged to had kept to their ways. They still follow the Norse gods, mainly Odin, and they are what remains of his warrior-cult of berserkers. Below details some of the main differences in culture and beliefs.
Origin of werewolves
The Jordfirar (and by extension the Dragonheart) pack believes that werewolves, either all or those of their ancestry depending on who you ask, are descended from Fenrir, specifically his son (or aspect, depending on who you ask) Hati, the wolf that chases the moon. The desire to hunt the moon itself is ingrained in their blood, and the more that is visible of it, the greater this call to violence becomes, strengthening the werewolves.
(Going) Viking
While the Jordfirar’s succession happens the same as other werewolves, there is also the ancient tradition of going Viking. An alpha who wishes not to challenge the ruling leader, either out of love or fear, may instead choose to go Viking. Doing so means they will start their own pack, sometimes referred to as warband or raiding party to this day. Other members of the pack are then free to leave their old one and join the Viking pack. They must then leave and settle elsewhere; staying too close by is considered an insult. It is not uncommon for an alpha who went Viking to return later, to try and overthrow the pack leader, using the experience and strength they garnered during their time away.
Lawspeakers
One omega in the pack, usually the eldest, will be anointed lawspeaker. A lawspeaker holds no authoritative power, but will mediate and, where necessary, pass judgment during conflicts. It is also their duty to remember all the laws of the pack and speak out when they are not upheld. They will often aid the alpha in negotiations of all sorts with external parties as well.
Holmgang
A holmgang is a form of judicial duel, a leftover from Viking-age laws. Within the pack, it is used both to refer to the duels for leadership or autonomy that are common amongst werewolf packs, but also for judicial duels meant to settle disputes. In case it’s impossible to determine where fault lies, or a matter cannot be resolved for other reasons, a Lawspeaker might call for the two conflicting parties to participate in a Holmgang. It is then up to the parties to determine whether it shall be a duel to the death or not. Either way, two warriors shall be rowed to an island. If the fight be to the death, only one shall return.
Berserkergang
The wolves of the Dragonheart pack view the berserker state of a werewolf near death as something sacred. They will emulate this fury, either through ritual and dance, a form of meditation, or the use of psychedelics. Though their physical capabilities don’t even come close to that of the “true” berserker state, they will lose themselves to their battle-trance and be more wolf than man for the duration. Typically, such practices and rituals are done during the night of the full moon, leading up to their transformation.
(I’m sure I’ve forgotten some details and will come up with more stuff for their culture and/or religion, so this list might get updated in the future.)
Another ask i have is how well do the gembitties get along with pets? or owners who live with family? i live with my parents and sister, and we have a dog and six cats, so my household is a big one when you count the pets. do gembitties count family or pets as pack? or does it depend on how close they are with the owner? 4 of the cats (momma cat, her kittens, and an older cat) like to hang out in my room and one kitten is very friendly with me and my older cat (which has mellowed her out a bit)
They consider anyone living in their owners territory to be a part of their pack, and gembitties will take care of their pack, no matter how strange, or different they are.
They will have to have some rules and boundaries explained to them though before you introduce them to any pets and people.
Gembitties will pick up on your emotions though, and act accordingly unless told otherwise. Some may act out anyways and will need a more hands on approach though.
They have a bit of a hierarchy based off how much the Alphas [Ling and Avara] like you
Pretty much anything goes, except murdering another Pack member and betraying the Pack in any way
Most of them are criminals or social rejects that like to cause trouble
Ling created it simply because he could and because his morals are kind of way off to left field right now
Most of the time, they don’t actually do anything that qualifies as ‘work’. Sometimes Ling or Avara will come up with an idea, however, and rouse the Pack to carry it out, including a heist they’ve still got planned
Members have free access to any number of Xingese explosives, as well as dangerous weaponry from other nations and various illegal contraband. All Ling asks is that you make whatever you use count in some way
You’re basically free to completely ignore what the Pack is doing unless Ling has decided it’s something all the members should get involved in, like say burning down half the city
They literally don’t give a fuck about laws aside from their own guidelines [which are few and a bit loose, designed so clever people can find a way around them]
