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.