THE COUNCIL WAS CREATED BY THE FOUNDING FAMILIES A SHORT TIME AFTER THE EVENTS OF 1864. IT'S PURPOSE WAS TO PROTECT THE TOWN AGAINST ANY RETURNING VAMPIRES, BUT NOT THE OTHER SUPERNATURAL THREATS UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM. FOUNDING FATHERS LIKE GIUSEPPE SALVATORE, JOHNATHAN GILBERT, AND OTHERS LEFT THEIR DESCENDANTS JOURNALS CONTAINING INFORMATION ON HOW TO FIGHT VAMPIRES, SUCH AS THE SECRET OF THE VERVAIN. JOHNATHAN GILBERT ALSO LEFT HIS COMPASS TO TRACK VAMPIRES, BUT IT WAS SEPARATED INTO TWO PARTS: ONE HELD BY THE GILBERT'S AND ONE BY THE LOCKWOOD'S.

HAYLEY WAS ADOPTED BY ANOTHER FAMILY SO SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHO SHE GOT THE WEREWOLF GENE FROM. SHE TRIGGERED THE CURSE WHEN SHE WAS DRUNK ON A BOAT TRIP AND ACCIDENTALLY KILLED SOMEONE. SHE TRANSFORMED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER ADOPTIVE PARENTS' LIVING ROOM; AFTER WREAKING HAVOC ON THEIR HOUSE THEY KICKED HER OUT. HAYLEY HAS BEEN ON HER OWN SINCE THEN, OCCASIONALLY JOINING UP WITH WOLF PACKS BUT NEVER STAYING ANYWHERE LONG.