Hawke and his band

"'Why run? You know I'll just track you.'"

Origin
Hawke, last name unknown, was born in 1838 at an unknown date (sometime in the late winter) in South Carolina. His mother died in childbirth when having Hawke. His father, struck with grief, became an inefficient worker and eventually, after a few months, sold to another plantation, leaving Hawke alone with his friend Brad. He worked as a slave for 17 years alongside his friend Brad, the two gaining a reputation for their mild stubbornness. Unfortunately, insubordination in America's south, minor or not, was unacceptable. The two brawny individuals had to be separated, for the sake of their master's security. Hawke was sold to a traveling southerner named Thomas who hailed from Texas. He took Hawke with him to Texas shortly after and the young man's life would never be the same after.

The plantation Hawke was whisked off to was fairly large but it maintained only around a dozen slaves, despite its size. Hawke was genuinely confused on how Thomas brought in enough money to maintain the luxurious life he lead. Hawke soon came to learn his new master was far more progressive than other slavers. He taught Hawke how to read and write, he helped him study various subjects of math, how to properly shoot, how to hunt and forage, how to survive in the wild, and how to defend himself. These teachings came as a surprise to the young Hawke; why would a slaver instruct his slave on how to not only navigate the natural world but the world of economics as well? Then, when Hawke was brought out one late night from the plantation into the forest with Thomas. Thomas then proceeded to inform Hawke of the situation; he needed someone to assist him in his bounty hunting affairs. A man of Hawke's build and natural athleticism would be of immense use to Thomas in his current profession. In exchange for his service, Hawke would be paid a portion of the earnings, enough until he could buy his freedom and become a proper partner of Thomas. Seeing no other viable option at the time, Hawke agreed, starting his life as a bounty hunter with Thomas being his mentor.

Arrival of Freedom
For the next five years, Hawke worked alongside Thomas and forged a bond of sorts with his owner. There was still resentment buried deep down; this man was still enabling the system that had established Hawke was property, a second-class citizen if a citizen at all. But despite this, Thomas never showed any prejudice based off the color of skin. He treated Hawke almost as if he were a son; still, the bond between them, although strong, was always threatened simply by their different positions in society. Their relationship started its decline when Thomas received a job offer to hunt down a runaway slave, one that had traveled northeast. Hawke initially refused to help and Thomas, for the first time ever, set his foot down and demanded Hawke help him, that it was his duty to his master. Hostility brewed between the two as they crossed state lines on a wild chase, surprised by the competence of the slave before them. They battled nature's finest together, slaying wolves and other predators attempting to encroach upon their campfires at night. These battles did little to extinguish the rage within Hawke, the rage directed at his master's blatant disregard of circumstance.

When Hawke and Thomas finally caught up to the slave, the runaway had found a revolver and had trained it upon Thomas. Hawke was then forced to make a split decision, between freeing a stranger or saving Thomas. Hawke drew his revolver, almost off pure instinct, and shot the gun out of the slave's hand. Thomas proceeded to tie the slave down and stare at Hawke, sighing before telling Hawke that he was free. Hawke couldn't believe his ears for a moment. Thomas repeated himself, encouraging Hawke to come back to Texas with him to get the legal documents necessary to emancipate him. Then, Hawke could be his partner. When they arrived back to Texas and Thomas granted Hawke his freedom, Hawke declined his offer to take up bounty hunting alongside him. Thomas, although upset, understood and respected his decision, even apologizing for the bounty they collected off the slave. He let Hawke keep the money he had earned, no longer requesting he pay for his freedom. Hawke booked passage to New York, hoping to find work of some sort. He had little idea just how much the next decade would affect him.

The War Between States
In the following year, Hawke found himself in the employment of an abolitionist named Baker Sully, a man born in London but having migrated to the U.S at a young age. Hawke served as a butler of sorts, alongside as a personal bodyguard. He navigated the social circles of New York City with far less difficulty than any other man of color could, given Baker's status as an industrialist of renown. How Hawke had came into the man's employ was a mystery to most. Some assumed Hawke had been a slave Baker had liberated via the underground railroad but the truth was admittedly embarrassing for Baker. Following the death of his former wife, Baker found himself constantly drinking. During one of his walks home, stumbled into the ghettos of New York, only to find himself accosted by men in the area. He was saved from being robbed by Hawke, who had migrated to the city recently. Baker, thankful, proceeded to offer Hawke a job after witnessing his fighting skills as a guard. Later on, Hawke's job expanded into multiple roles, given his education given to him by his former master. Hawke served as an agent of sorts for Baker in the underground railroad, occasionally heading down south to help runaway slaves escape their plantations.

Then, with tensions rising in America with the election of Abraham Lincoln, the southern states began their secession and the civil war was underway shortly after. Hawke requested permission to travel south in order to enact his own campaign of war, one that Baker advised against. The abolitionist talked the young man out of his decision, citing his primary reason for restricting Hawke being; "it'd be a suicidal endeavor, a waste of a life that has been nothing but productive thus far.". Hawke, holding great respect for his employer and friend, listened to him and remained in his service.

As the war progressed and the Union realized it needed more soldiers, Hawke requested permission to join the Union Army should it ever require his assistance. Reluctantly, Baker agreed, knowing just how important this war was to Hawke. When the Union allowed the recruitment of black soldiers, Hawke immediately enlisted, much to Baker's dismay. Hawke sought to prove himself to be more than just a regular rifleman; he did his best to elaborate on his skills taught to him by Thomas, drawing the eyes of higher ranking officers in the U.S military. After several skirmishes and serving with distinction, an officer named Sullivan Selleck approached Hawke with a job offer. Hawke was to be apart of an experimental unit that was integrated, one that would cut supply lines of southern armies and perform other acts of espionage to help bolster the Union's war effort. Given the racial tensions at the time, the unit was kept a secret. Hawke joined immediately and found himself deployed to various regions in the south, performing hit and runs and other acts of sabotage to weaken the war effort of the south.

He never expected he'd see Thomas again. The South had apparently caught wind of Hawke's activities in the unit. He was dubbed the 'Black Ranger' and a bounty was issued on his head, alongside others. On paper, Hawke was a radical, independent from America, a deserter leading other deserters that were fighting their own war against the south. The attention he had gathered, his infamy, it all drew Thomas who had suspected it was his former apprentice and slave. During a raid on a Confederate armory in northwestern Texas, Thomas appeared late to the party with no intention of saving the confederates. He simply wanted his money. With him were other bounty hunters he had collected for the job.

Thomas was impressed with Hawke's accomplishments; he had been a constant thorn in the Confederacy's side ever since his enlistment. There were no harsh feelings directed at him; Thomas simply believed he had a job to do. The experimental unit, named 'Sumpter's Consequences' engaged Thomas and his pack of bounty hunters. The battle was vicious, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. By the end of it, only Thomas and Hawke remained. The two, empty on ammunition, went hand-to-hand. Hawke, young and vigorous, barely outfought the old yet experienced Thomas. When Thomas was laid across the ground, bruised and battered, Hawke took time to reload his revolver. He stared at his old master for a few moments before walking off, believing it unnecessary to kill him. When he reported to his unit's overseer, Hawke was folded back into another black regiment, the unit considered ultimately to be a failure long-term and only successful short-term. Hawke, for his service, was rewarded with a promotion to staff-sergeant. When the war ended, Hawke returned to his employer Baker and announced his decision to head back out to Texas. When asked why, Hawke simply stated he had unfinished business. He bid his old friend and boss farewell before migrating down south.

The Student Surpasses The Master
Hawke's return to Texas was not a welcome one; there wasn't just lingering resentment of the civil war. There was outright rage at the outcome of the confederacy's failed attempt to remove itself from the north. He was, despite all efforts, declined at every turn to hunt his bounties. Then, after months of frustrating and exhausting all options, Hawke was approached by Thomas. The former slaver hadn't ever recovered completely from the battle Hawke and him had engaged in. He now walked with a cane, his old age catching up to him. With his physicality now into question, he offered his former slave a job, one as equals; Thomas would be the front man while Hawke would serve as the actual hunter. Such a partnership would be acceptable to the residents of Texas. For the next fifteen years, Hawke spent his life hunting down bounties and continuing his 'training' in the ways of bounty hunting. He built up his reputation with the elite classes of Texas; with Thomas's endorsement, racial tensions were alleviated slightly, and with the endorsement of several congressional senators, Hawke became a celebrity of sorts to the public, cementing his status as one of the most competent individuals in the Wild West.

After a decade and a half of constant fighting, Hawke had amassed a fragile alliance with the local elites of urban centers in Texas. The frontier settlements had grown unruly; they needed capable men to maintain order. Hawke had the backing of reputable, if not legendary, bounty hunter Thomas. Not to mention he had proven himself time and time again and never asked for anything more than what was due; the aristocracy of the state respected him as much as their prejudice could allow. As a result of their 'respect', Hawke's conflicts with his bounties, even if they were white men, never drew the ire of his employers. Hawke, however, knew that he was one mistake away from being branded an incompetent bounty hunter, if he ever turned in a white bounty with what his employers could perceive as an unnecessary wound.

In 1880, Hawke found himself heading towards Saint Denis, a bustling town on Texas's frontier. A bounty of his had stationed himself there. The region, Lemoyne, was notorious for its rampant crime and its bordering regions were significantly worse; this was the final frontier Hawke had to conquer as a bounty hunter to distinguish himself as a legend, to escape Thomas's shadow. His bounty was a man named Philip Carlier, a man who had been on the run for 2 years in the swamps surrounding Saint Denis. No bounty hunter had managed to catch him yet for his embezzlement; Hawke was determined to be the one. As he arrived to the city and started looking for leads, he noticed a young woman with a strong Russian accent asking for the same individual. Hawke's interviewees were nothing but helpful; despite the color of his skin, they had all heard of his accomplishments and he was, despite being black, a man. Hawke felt as if he could relate to the young woman's story as she tried to navigate the relatively hostile city for clues so she could prove herself to be more than an amateur. He approached her, informing her of the information he had gathered. Then he offered to team up with her after introducing himself. She agreed, introducing herself as Nadya Antonova.

The two headed out into the swamps, Hawke's tracking skills leading the duo deeper into the wilderness until they stumbled upon a small shack with a campfire accompanying it. There stood a man who had the appearance of someone beaten relentlessly by nature. They recognized him from the photo; it was Philip Carlier. He approached them, greeting them warmly and showing no signs of hostility. Then, before the two could realize what was happening, he gassed them with chemicals he had brewed up to cause severe hallucinations. The two wandered through the swamp as Philip attempted to escape. After stranding themselves for some time, the two got their bearings and chased after Philip. They battled through a gang of insane cannibals that had made the swamp their home as they pursued Philip, forging a bond throughout it all.

When they finally arrived back at Saint Denis, Hawke dropped Philip off with his new companion. The police eyed him warily due to the contrasting skin colors and sexes of the two but were reassured by the idea that Hawke was backed up by Thomas's word. They paid the both of them, albeit reluctantly, a significant sum, given the nature of the bounty. The two departed from the police station shortly thereafter and as the two found themselves on the outskirts of the city, they decided to bid their farewells. That was Hawke's plan, at least, until he had a change in mind. He offered to partner with Nadya, citing her skills with a firearm and her tracking skills as the reason their 'legendary bounty' mission was successful. Nadya agreed enthusiastically and the two headed back to the northwest of Texas to Thomas's plantation. When they stopped for a night, the two found themselves in deep conversation about the American Civil War and Hawke admitted that the horrors of both the war and his time as a slave still haunted him. Motivated him, even. Nadya confided in Hawke that she were haunted by the effects of the Russo-Turkish war which ended only 2 years ago. Hawke was prompted to ask had she served in disguise and Nadya answered his question with a confirming smile. The two, charmed by one another, slept together for the night and thus began the start of a new relationship, one that went beyond just work.

The Dark Heir
When Hawke arrived back to Thomas's plantation, he was greeted with terrible news; Thomas had died in his sleep, peacefully. His inheritance was all left to Hawke, the former bounty hunter having thought of his former slave as a son, almost. Hawke found himself grieving more than he expected himself to; Nadya remained at his side as he navigated a world without Thomas backing him up. Hawke's competence was never questioned; it was his character, despite all of his efforts to get the public to perceive him in an honorable light. Hawke established the plantation as his and Nadya's base of operations, the two working as a pair of bounty hunters. Hawke maintained his reputation as an efficient tracker and fighter; Nadya built hers. The two became an unstoppable duo that brought many criminals to justice and because of that, amassed a sizeable amount of wealth in a relatively short amount of time.

Then the news hit.

Nadya was pregnant.

The news hit Hawke like a wave crashing onto a pier. The world was unaware of their romantic relationship; such a connection would result in the hunting down of Hawke and his lover. The two grew distant over the next few months and Nadya had to remain hidden from public view to avoid suspicion while Hawke continued to gain fame and wealth. Nadya found herself growing increasingly frustrated with the idea that her life, from there on out, would be one where she had to dedicate herself to hiding a child and even hiding herself.

She refused to live like that; she was so close to breaking the social barrier that had kept her down so long. When she gave birth, after a few weeks of indecisiveness, she left the plantation with only a note, explaining her reasoning why she couldn't force herself to stay and raise a child of mixed descent; she was too young, too full of potential, and too stubborn to let life ground her like this. Hawke was filled with rage as he read the letter but in the following months decided to forgive his former lover. He understood the reasoning, even if he disagreed with it. Hawke then set himself out to be the best father he could be, in the best way possible. He put out a notice to potential employers about having to handle business in New York before leaving with his child, named Maddie, to the north, where he reestablished himself as Baker's butler/bodyguard and explained his situation. The two then agreed that in the public eye, Maddie would be Baker's daughter but Baker would not replace Hawke as the true father figure of his daughter. Maddie grew up to be extremely light; to the point that there almost wasn't a hint of her African ancestry. As she grew, Hawke taught her all of the skills Thomas taught him and did his best to provide her with a luxurious life while teaching her how to persevere through struggle. It wasn't until she was 16 that Hawke received a telegram, one that prompted him to head back to Texas.

Return of the King
Hawke was called upon by his former employers to put down a train robber and his gang of former slaves called. The train robber, the notorious 'Red Ben' had evaded capture from the authorities and had been damaging the businesses of the local ruling elite. Hawke arrived to Texas and immediately set to tracking the robber down. His investigations brought him to a small desert, one with only a few settlements here and there but train tracks nonetheless. Hawke proceeded to then track down the stolen train which had two dozen of Red Ben's accomplices on board protecting him. Hawke boarded the train by leaping onto it from his horse and stormed it with his shotgun, obliterating the crew which had murdered and pillaged its way across the south. When he brought Red Ben back with a gaping hole in his chest, his contacts questioned the brutal result of his hunt. Hawke responded with; "They murdered innocents with no regrets. They deserved this. Not the torture the local authorities would have forced upon them.". Regardless of the missed opportunity to 'make an example' of Red Ben, the Texan aristocracy was grateful to have Hawke back.

Hawke wrote to his daughter back in New York, expressing his desire to continue bounty hunting in Texas...while also passing his throne on to her. Maddie jumped at the opportunity to set her own mark on the world and headed to Texas, rendezvousing with her father and continuing her training.

Misfits
Hawke was relaxing in Blackwater while resting in between bounty missions when he was approached by police officers who, without warning, grabbed him and restrained him without Hawke resisting. The man knew it was foolish to strike out at police in circumstances like this; he was tied up and thrown in the back of a wagon and taken to the local jail. From there on out, he was accused of murdering Mr. Leclerk, a local white wealthy businessman. Hawke was shortly thereafter, sentenced to death and taken to Siska Penitentiary to perform manual labor until his execution day. He labored for six months, hoping his innocence would be proven.

Then, he was broken out of prison by Mrs. Leclerk who knew Hawke was innocent. She in turn, requested his help in dealing with the true murderers. Hawke agreed immediately, simply asking in what direction must he go. Mrs. Leclerk gave a list of a candidates and tasks for Hawke to complete in order to bring her husband's murderers to heel and Hawke obeyed, embarking on a bloody campaign across Texas that pushed his skills to the limits as he fought constantly outgunned in every battle. He needed something to alleviate the stress.

Hawke first approached a notorious killer in Saint Denis; Bartholomew, a psychopath whose desire to kill was as strong as the average man's desire to eat. Hawke, after meeting Bartholomew and thwarting his attempts to murder innocents within the city, managed to convince him to direct his murderous instincts to the outlaws plaguing Texas and Mrs. Leclerk. Bartholomew pledged his loyalty to Hawke as long as he was there to give him challenging targets that he could enact his violent fantasies upon.

Then Hawke encountered Johnny "Joestar" and Gyro "Zeppeli" an eccentric pair of friends renowned across the state for their sometimes flamboyant attire and gun slinging skills. The two were rumored to be involved in a conspiracy to assassinate not only the Texan governor, but the President of America himself. Nonetheless, their skills could not be discredited. Hawke convinced the two to sign onto his 'crew', where they would hunt down the criminal masterminds that had begun to dominate Texas in Hawke's absence. Their comical antics and wicked pranks were curtailed a bit by Hawke as the group of now four embarked on their campaign with Hawke serving as a mentor of sorts for the group.

Then, during one of Mrs. Leclerk's missions that involved disposing of a branch of the criminal organization that had caused the death of her husband, Hawke, with his band of misfits, encountered Brad, his fellow slave from decades ago. The two embraced immediately and Brad explained his grievances with the moonshining shack that was about to be raided by Hawke and his posse. They had dealings with the local Klansmen and had provided them with black teenagers as a form of entertainment; Brad had arrived to teach them a lesson of sorts. He teamed up with Hawke's band and destroyed the shack entirely, alongside everyone within it, leaving no evidence of the attacker. Hawke offered his old friend a spot on the crew and Brad agreed enthusiastically.

As the motley group moved in to destroy the remaining enemies of Mrs. Leclerk, they were greeted by "Moose" aka Maddie. She had tracked her father down after hearing he had escaped from prison and insisted on accompanying them. Hawke, concerned that his daughter could be hurt, at first refused but eventually agreed, albeit reluctantly. Together, the motley crew engaged in a gun battle that ended with over a dozen and a half people dead; all of whom were Mrs. Leclerk's enemies.

With evidence that the enemies of Mrs. Leclerk were the true murderers gathered, Hawke's innocence was proven and his freedom attained. The amount of outlaws had increased due to Hawke's absence and bounties were lined up for him to receive. He offered his motley crew a chance to permanently work with him, opting to train them into a new generation of bounty hunters to help stabilize the region. His allies agreed and the six began to build up their reputation as a fearsome crew of bounty hunters as they traversed across all of Texas.

Powers & Abilities

 * Indomitable Will
 * Firearms
 * Expert Marksman: Hawke has trained with guns for 43 years. He's become an expert marksman capable of hitting even the most difficult shots under extreme pressure. He can hit shots few other humans could ever hope to hit with remarkable ease.
 * Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced): Hawke has been practicing unarmed combat longer than he's practiced with guns; he's been through hundreds of fist-fights whilst also receiving proper training in boxing and wrestling through Thomas. With his training and experience, Hawke is capable of clearing out bars full of men with nothing but his bare hands.
 * Peak Human Condition: Hawke is in the best shape possible for his age; he's 60 but still capable of outperforming Olympic-level athletes with his athleticism. He's entering into a slow decline but still is capable of physical feats few humans could accomplish if they were in their prime.
 * Peak Human Strength: Hawke is a very brawny man, capable of lifting grown men with ease and throwing them several feet forward or running with them on his shoulder while only being slowed down by a bit. He's capable of quickly killing men with strikes with nothing but his bare hands without any signs of injury to his own hand.
 * Peak Human Reflexes: Hawke's reflexes and perception of time during moments of combat are high enough that he can witness the world in somewhat slow motion, viewing his opponents as sluggish as he draws his guns and fires. He can react quick enough to kill several men around him before they have a chance to pull the trigger.
 * Peak Human Endurance: Hawke can tank shots over and over with no signs of slowing down, as well as being capable of sprinting for extended periods of time or performing at optimal capacity without several days' worth of sleep.
 * Survivalist
 * Interrogation
 * Leadership
 * Tactics: Hawke served in the American Civil War and learned battle strategies that he incorporated into his own skirmishes that he engages in as a bounty hunter.
 * Stealth
 * Tracking
 * Equestrianism
 * Charisma