I think where we last left off, Lord X's crews in the US and EU had been pulled back to the Estate. Then there was the story of Lailah and Nicolai (who are still together). Lailah's brother Ira was undergoing his 'metamorphosis' into one of Lord X's "Wolves" - his hand-picked extraction and clean-up crews all the while. The Wolves would go in and rescue those the Corps and other crooks had kidnapped for very large ransoms, kill the perpetrators and return the hostage. These 'victims' were often the children, parents or spouses of some of X's allies - and he had many powerful and wealthy allies. They'd only failed to bring back the hostages twice out of the dozens of such extractions they'd done. Bleid (the High Elf battle-mage) is the head of the "Wolves". Yes, he's 'young' in Elven years, but he was old enough to fight in the war between the humans, Ursula's vampires, and Mog the evil vampire mage and all his ghouls. Bleid was trained as a battle-mage after this war by both Beren and Gwidion...two master battle-mages. Beren also taught Bleid 'shadow-walking' - blending in to the light and shadows. It was Gwidion who gave Bleid his magical tattoos. Bleid was also inducted into the Society of the Wolf (Fianna) by Angus and Beren, and made a Battle-Mage of the Fae Court. He also received a large tract of land. But it was a time of peace and Bleid spent his days constructing a house. He married and settled into something of a more peaceful life. He adored his wife and their house deep within the forests. But one day while out riding, he chanced to find Banshee poachers on his property (Mountain Fae). He wounded them both and caught one, the other escaped. The one he caught was remanded to the Fey Courts and punished. About a year later, the one who'd escaped returned one afternoon while Bleid was gone out. The Banshee kidnapped his wife and tried to have his way with her. She fought him fiercely, so he ended up killing her. In spite of the fact there was a treaty between the Mountain and Forest Fae, Bleid understandably tracked the Banshee into their territories and slew him for what he'd done. This nearly started a war between them - again, but because their two houses were related, they came to a stop-gap measure to avoid it. Bleid was to be expelled from the Fae Realms into the Lands of Men for his taking matters into his own hands and breaking the treaty. He accepted his fate and left. He was approximately three hundred years old then. He sought refuge at first at the Estate that bordered on the Fae Realm, and was to return there whenever he grew weary of humans or needed to lay low. He'd lived in the North Tower of the main house, which was really more of a castle in those days. When the house was refurbished, the North and South Towers were repaired and the other two done away with. Their stone was re-used to build the current estate house. In the time of Lord Xavier's great -grandfather, Bleid was made the High Ranger of the Estate lands. In that capacity, he served Lord X's grandfather and father, then left for a time...to return home. When Lady Ophelia who was the grand-daughter of Gwidion and Eulalie became Queen, she retracted Bleid's punishment...as long as he 'behaved' himself. He'd suffered long enough in her mind and she needed him there for help with certain problems with some rogue vampires who'd taken root in the forests. He ended up doing battle with them. He slew all but the most powerful of them, who was also a mage and half berserk with power. There was a terrible fight and the vampire mage would have ripped Bleid to shreds, were it not for his magical tattoos. As his enemy came to gloat over his victory, Bleid summoned the last of his strength and drawing earth-fire up from the ground blasted the vampire to ashes. He was on death's doorstep when they found him. Their healers tried to heal him, but it wasn't working out too well because of the vampire venom in his veins. Desperate and not knowing what else to do, Ophelia took Bleid to the Estate house, because she knew that young Lord Xavier had his own sort of hospital there. His scientists and surgeons were able to save Bleid, but not without using some of the latest cutting edge nano-tech, genetic splicing and chemical concoctions. Those nearly killed him too. He suffered greatly, but in the end he became stronger than ever and twice the warrior. What was done to him became the template for Ira's transformation, which was improved upon. Ira suffered through it, but nowhere near as much as Bleid did. Because of Bleid being Ira's mentor - trainer, nursemaid and the only one to truly understand what he went through, he and Bleid became best friends. Through the days and nights of the year it took to transform Ira, they told each other their stories...all of them. Bleid had the reputation of being a callous a**hole who cared nothing about anyone but himself and his missions, but the other 'Wolves' - those who fought at his side knew better and they would fiercely defend him...for he'd saved everyone of their lives at least once...one way or another. They were his family now. This is 'important' in regard to Demarra, later. ***** So, that's his story...and a rare image of him smiling. Bleid's outfit is "Renaissance Tunic" from Xurge3D SRG_Bleid @ YD