The following is an excerpt from the research notes of a Watcher named Nigel Rey. He was doing research for a thesis on the history of the Watchers and the Slayer. However, he disappeared prior to filing his report. His whereabouts remain unknown.

Finding information on the genesis of the Slayers is difficult at best. Although no one knows exactly when it occurred, it is known that it was before the development of writing. Therefore, no direct historical records exist, forcing a researcher to rely on legend and oral tradition. There is also the mystery of where it occurred. Since those who have met with the spirit of the first Slayer describe her as a black girl, it is likely that she is from Africa, but this cannot be verified.

Since most of my research is based on legend, specific details are few. Also, several different versions exist, many contradictory. The first written description were compiled by ancient Watchers in Sumeria about 4500 years ago. Other Watchers in Egypt, Crete, and Ancient India also wrote their own versions. It was these that I primarily used, since later versions were based on these. And although these early versions do contradict each other al lot, they have enough similarities to piece together an account of the events.

All the accounts agree that the first Slayer came from a tribe with a matriarchal social structure. Women apparently had great power, acting as the leaders and shamans of the tribes various clans, and it is this female dominant belief system that could be the reason why only girls are called to be the Slayer. The tribe's fortunes took a turn for the worse when it somehow became the target of a master vampire's anger. At this point, legends vary widely as to what brought this vampire down on the tribe. One account in particular has caught my attention, though. When I first read it, I didn't give it much thought, but I now find it fascinating in light of recent inquiries made by ex-Watcher Rupert Giles from America. It describes the tribe's shamans being in possession of an object of great power that the master wanted. Although not specific as to exactly what this object was or what it did, the legend does give it a name, calling it "a key" or "the key".

But however much the legends vary as to the reason for the vampire's attack, all agree that he was very powerful, and that he became determined to destroy the tribe entirely. He set his minions against them, destroying village after village. Although the people tried to fight, all they could do was delay the inevitable.

Finally, when only a few (some accounts say as few as one) villages remained, one of the tribes shamans devised a plan. Again, legends vary as to what her intentions were. Some indicate that she honestly thought it could destroy the master, others that she was only trying to buy time for survivors to escape. And some versions claim that the tribe had resigned itself to its end, and did this as a means of seeking revenge. Whatever the reason, the shaman began casting a spell to empower one of the tribe's female warriors. Specifically, she was to be imbued with the strength and skill of one of the tribe's warrior goddesses, becoming a type of avatar. This was the first Slayer. The spell the shaman cast was also designed to remain in effect after the Slayer's death. In other words, her powers would not be lost, but passed down to another girl descended from this tribe, and so on through the generations to come. The spell was completed shortly before sundown, at which point, the Slayer went off to face the master vampire. None of our legends record the battle, but it is known that the Slayer did not survive it. In fact, one version reports that the second Slayer was called "before the Moon had reached midsky."

Interestingly, amongst vampires there does exists a legend about the first Slayer and her battle. In it, the tribe and its battle with the vampire is described similarly to the watcher's version, although the reason for the attacks is still unknown. However, in this version, the actual battle between the Slayer and the vampire is described. They say that as the master and his minions were about to attack the last survivors, a girl with incredible strength and speed fell upon them, destroying many. After watching several of his minions turn to dust, the master decided to deal with her himself. The legends then describe him as defeating the Slayer easily. However, this probably is not true. This particular master has become a hero of mythological proportions amongst vampires, and the described ease of his victory is most likely attributed to his legend. But the fact that he did win is an indication that this was a particularly powerful vampire. But after the fight, he held his minions back from their attack. This would seem to indicate that his victory was not so easy.

When the vampires did not attack, it gave the tribe's survivors a chance to escape. By dawn, they had gathered their belongings and fled their homeland. They did not remain together as a tribe, but instead individuals sought shelter with other peoples. Over the centuries, they had spread to every corner of the Old World. Only Native American and Australian Aboriginal tribes have no descendants amongst them. But they retained no memory of their history. Only the Shaman taught her secrets to others. She passed on her knowledge, and responsibility for finding and training future Slayers, who would always be a female descendant of the tribe, to her apprentices. They, too, passed on their secrets. It was from these intellectual descendants of the Shaman that the Watchers arose.

The most interesting thing about these legends is that none records the exact identity of the master vampire responsible for the original Slayer's calling. Even the vampires don't remember. Many watchers have tried to uncover it, and learn what became of him. But after so many millennia, it is unlikely his identity will ever be discovered. It is equally unlikely he is still alive. But every researcher who has claimed to be close to learning who this vampire was has met with a nasty end. This could corroborate findings of my own that seem to indicate that this master may indeed b

At this point, Nigel's notes end abruptly. In his office, there were signs of a struggle. His fate remains a mystery.

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