MacBeth

Gender: Male

First Appearance: "Enter MacBeth"

Other Appearances: "A Lighthouse In The Sea Of Time", "City Of Stone" Parts I, II, III, & IV, "High Noon", "The Price" (android), "Avalon" Parts II & III, "Sanctuary", "Pendragon," "The Journey"

The story of MacBeth is much like the actual play by Shakespeare, an epic story filled with wonder and tragedy.

MacBeth was born in the year 1005 A.D. His father, Findlaech, was High Steward of Moray, one of the more beloved clans of Scotland.

In 1020 A.D, MacBeth was a young teenager who first discovered love at the hands of Gruoch, a young redhead who was the daughter of Bodhe, advisor and friend to Findlaech. There was much discussion among Findlaech and Bodhe at the time about how the young Prince Duncan, son of the High King, was not fit to rule, as MacBeth, cousin to the Prince, was fit to rule. On one such night after a game of chess, Bodhe and MacBeth led Gruoch to her bedchambers after a long night of discussion of clan matters. During their absence, Findlaech was attacked by the Hunter. He fought bravely, and the battle was carried outside the dining hall to the battlements. MacBeth returned to the hall, saw his father battling for his life, and ran to his aid, fighting valiantly, if foolheartedly, for his father's life. The Hunter easily disarmed him as Gruoch came running out to the battlements in fear of MacBeth's impending death. Findlaech grappled with the Hunter, and MacBeth pried the man's fingers from his sword. Findlaech grabbed it, intending to strike a mortal blow, but he was picked up and thrown from the battlements to his death. The Hunter managed to take the Sigil of Moray before he plummeted to the earth. MacBeth cried out in agony at watching his father's death, and the Hunter was prepared to finish him, but Demona stopped him, coming to MacBeth's aid for the first time. The Hunter abandoned his fight with MacBeth for his revenge against Demona, but MacBeth grabbed a sword and ran at him, crying out, "Murderer!" He was swept aside by Demona's tail, and almost over the battlement wall. Gruoch grabbed him, but was not strong enough to pull him back over the wall. Demona was given the choice of saving them, or finishing the Hunter. She chose to save them both, and the Hunter escaped, to her fury. She left, leaving a bewildered Gruoch and a grief-stricken MacBeth.

Later that night, in Edinburgh, the Hunter revealed that he was in fact Gillecomgain, the young boy that Demona had slashed across the face all those years ago. He was a political assassin for Prince Duncan, told to assassinate Findlaech so that he could not provide MacBeth with support to win the throne from him. Duncan rewarded Gillecomgain with the Stewardship of Moray, Findlaech's former title.

12 years passed, and in 1032 A.D. MacBeth was a young man, still deeply in love with Gruoch, and she, with him. He was understandably dismayed to learn from Bodhe, that he would be wedding Gruoch to Gillecomgain, and threatened to abandon the castle and kingdom, Gruoch in tow. Bodhe was alarmed, and reminded him that this wedding was arranged by Prince Duncan, and to defy him would be capital treason. If they ran, there would be no safe place to hide, and he pleaded with MacBeth to think about the safety of Gruoch.

MacBeth later met with Gruoch. He sensed the undeniable truth in Bodhe's words, and despite his own feelings, told Gruoch to wed Gillecomgain. Gruoch at first thought it a jest, then reminded him that they swore to face any future together. MacBeth replied that she wasn't worth the trouble, although it cut him deeply to say so. Dismayed, she agreed and left him to his misery.

At the wedding, the infant son of Prince Duncan, Canmore, was introduced. All were happy, save Gruoch and MacBeth, who were forced by politics to not be together. The Weird Sisters noted this. So does Duncan, and later, fearing MacBeth's wavering loyalty, told Gillecomgain to arrange an 'accident' for him. The Hunter said nay, telling Duncan that to assassinate such a beloved noble would arouse suspicion, and uncomfortable questions about Findlaech's demise, and who demanded it. Duncan became angered, and warned Gillecomgain not to defy him. The Hunter countered, saying he would do well not to risk 'his' defiance.

Now fearing his own assassin, Prince Duncan revealed to MacBeth that Gillecomgain was in fact, the Hunter, the one who had killed his father. He pretended concern that openly warring with Gillecomgain would start a war between Moray and the rest of Scotland. MacBeth was fooled completely, and left Duncan, intending to kill Gillecomgain, and take his revenge.

Back in Moray, the marriage between Gillecomgain and Gruoch was a cold, bloodless one. On the battlements, MacBeth confronted Gillecomgain, swearing to kill him for the death of his father. A fight broke out, and MacBeth disarmed Gillecomgain. Gruoch came out to see what was happening, and was taken hostage by Gillecomgain, who demanded MacBeth's sword. He submitted it, and Gillecomgain chose in that second to put on his Hunter's mask. A hiding Demona saw this, and, in a rage, flew down and attacked. The Hunter shoved Gruoch away when he saw the real threat, right into Demona, who in turn, shoved the poor girl absently towards the battlement edges, only to be caught by MacBeth as she nearly fell.

In the ensuing battle, both the Hunter and Demona fell over the battlement edges, with Demona holding on to the edge, and the Hunter hanging on to her legs. MacBeth held her hand, keeping her from falling, then Demona swatted at the Hunter with her tail, sending Gillecomgain to his doom far below. Demona thanked MacBeth, who had now twice had contact with this gargoyle that aided him. He said he owed it to her for all those years ago. She now considered them even, and flew away once again.

MacBeth and Gruoch were now free to be together, and he became the High Steward of Moray, and she, his Lady Wife. Prince Duncan's hatred for MacBeth grew, and as he fingered the Hunter's mask, he noted to his infant son that there will always be the Hunter...and the Hunted.

8 years later, in 1040 A.D. the now King Duncan and MacBeth were strolling the countryside with their young sons, Canmore and Luach. Duncan slipped off of a cliff edge and nearly killed himself, but he was saved by MacBeth, which discouraged any doubts Duncan had about his loyalty to King Duncan's crown. They then came upon a clan of gargoyles in a cave. Duncan, secretly the Hunter, immediately raised a stone in the air, intending to smash them all, but MacBeth, upon recognizing Demona in her stone form, stopped him, saying that there once was a time when gargoyles aided humans, and that he and Demona had had a similar history. Duncan was not amused by this revelation, and doubts rapidly built up once again about MacBeth's loyalty. He grudgingly agreed to spare their lives.

On the walk home, a preternatural fog appeared, and the four encountered the Weird Sisters, in the form of three old hags. They hailed Duncan, the King, and father of the King hereafter, which was Canmore. They then hailed MacBeth, King, and father of the King hereafter. This understandably confused them all, and MacBeth was quick to point out that he was not King, and that Canmore was rightfully the King after Duncan. An incredulous Sister warned him not to lecture THEM on Fate. They all then disappeared into the mists. MacBeth then stammered out to Duncan that they should not take them seriously. Duncan outwardly agreed, but in truth, this incident had sent his doubts and paranoia about MacBeth soaring to new heights.

Later that day, Duncan returned with a few soldiers to smash the gargoyles but were too late to get them all, and Demona and her remaining clan escaped into the night, vowing revenge and wishing she had the strength of her youth. She believed the Weird Sisters could help her.

MacBeth meanwhile was very alarmed and mystified when Bodhe told him that King Duncan's army was moving against him. He vowed to fight, but Bodhe again told him to think of his wife and son, telling him that if he surrendered now, they might be spared. MacBeth reluctantly agreed. He kissed Gruoch and Luach goodbye, and with a heavy heart, rode to meet his cousin, the King. He again, rode into mysterious fog and Demona appeared.

MacBeth pleaded with her to aid his clan, now, as she did before. She refused, saying she had her own clan to take care of. He vowed that if she helped him now, he would keep her and her clan forever safe. She scoffed, having heard that promise before, to her everlasting regret.

At this moment, the fog grew thicker, and in a swirl of wind, the Weird Sisters appeared. They asked Demona what she wanted, and she stated she desired her youth restored. They asked MacBeth what he would be willing to trade, and he said he would trade anything to save his family.

He would live to regret the bargain. A long, long time. The Weird Sisters linked, and in a glorious spell of chanting and light, MacBeth's youth was brought out of him, and given to Demona. He was now aged greatly, his hair white, his face lined. He did not lose any of his fighting prowess, however. Weak and infirm, he was not. The Sisters then told them to make haste, giving MacBeth a magical globe to use against Duncan. They also told him to his shock that it was Duncan who had ordered his father's murder.

Later, Demona agreed to have her clan help MacBeth's clan, as per the bargain. Together, they routed Duncan's forces and MacBeth noted that she fought like a demon. He got into a face-off with Duncan, and in the ensuing battle, he tossed the magical globe at Duncan, who was then burned alive by magical fire as he broke open the Sisters' globew with his sword. As he burnt, he fell from the cliff they were battling on to his death. Demona picked up the smoking mask of the Hunter from Duncan's fallen helmet, and MacBeth and Demona both were rather amazed that the battle with their mutual foe was truly over.

MacBeth's troops celebrated their new King, but the young Canmore refused to bow, attacking Demona in rage. She spared his life because of MacBeth's decree, and he was instead banished to England, but not before secreting the Hunter's mask in his pocket, stolen from Demona. The Hunt would continue.

At MacBeth's coronation, he swore by the Stone of Destiny to serve Scotland and her people as High King. It was his crowning moment. His first decision was to make Demona his primary advisor. She was surprised, then pleased at her newfound status. She remarked that she would rather they feared than respected her. MacBeth chuckled and said "They'll do that too ... Demona." Demona liked the sound of her new name. The Weird Sisters watched, looking rather pleased.

By the year 1057 A.D. Demona and MacBeth's clans had fought many battles against Canmore and his English allies. The defeat of Canmore seemed imminent, the crowning achievement of the alliance between Demona and MacBeth's clan.

A very old Bodhe had a different opinion. He told MacBeth without Demona's confidence that the quickest way for peace was to get rid of Demona and her kind. Without the threat of gargoyles, the Hunter would lose his English allies, which were there to destroy them. A young man now, Luach would have none of it, telling his father that the gargoyles had fought with great courage and honor and to betray them would be the deepest travesty. MacBeth placated them both, saying that a wise king considered all his options before making a choice. He did not consider betraying the gargoyles in actuality. Unfortunately, a spying Demona outside the window took this to mean that MacBeth would betray her, like all the other humans she had met.

Later that night, the English attacked Castle Moray. However, the gargoyles were nowhere to be found, and the castle was sacked. MacBeth and Gruoch escaped through the sewers with their lives and fled the castle. They suddenly met up with the Hunter, who revealed himself to be Canmore, son of Duncan. He meant to slay MacBeth in revenge for his father. MacBeth, saying that Duncan deserved his fate, offered one last chance for mercy. Abruptly, Demona appeared, hatred evident in her eyes. MacBeth realizes that she has deserted and betrayed him to Canmore, and cannot believe it. Demona merely states that she did to him, what he would have done to her. MacBeth swore he would never have done so, as they had been allies for 37 years.

Canmore ended the bitter argument by stabbing MacBeth through the back, and he and Demona fell to the ground in agony. As Gruoch wept over the body of her husband, Canmore acknowledged that the rumors were true... MacBeth and the gargoyle were linked by sorcery, when one dies, both die. He also said that he had destroyed Demona's clan, saying that they were an abomination. Demona had served her purpose. He did not slay Gruoch, having no quarrel with her, and left to fight Luach and his gathering reinforcements.

As Gruoch wept, Luach and Bodhe hurried to the scene. Luach wept for his father, vowing vengeance, and Bodhe placed MacBeth's crown on his head, crowning Luach High King of Scotland. They then left Gruoch to mourn over her husband, her love, her King.

In a rush of cold mist, the Weird Sisters appeared in hag form, telling Demona to rise, and to awaken to the fate she had made for herself. Gruoch turned on her in a fury, telling her that Canmore betrayed her, not MacBeth, and that Canmore had destroyed her clan. A disbelieving Demona snarled in rage and fear and ran away, searching for her kin.

When Gruoch turned back, she gasped, as her once dead husband was getting shakily to his feet. As she stared in horror, MacBeth was told in chilling tones by the Weird Sisters that Canmore was wrong.... "When one dies, both die. But when one lives... both live." Then he learned the horrible truth about the spell that was cast upon him and Demona. "And thus you both shall live... eternally linked... feeling each other's pain and anguish... with no release until one destroys the other. Only then shall both finally perish... together." As the horrified and bewildered couple looked on, the Weird Sisters disappeared into the mists.

Gruoch was at first afraid of MacBeth's seeming return from the dead, calling him a ghost. MacBeth proved her wrong by touching her. They both wondered how this could be. MacBeth collected himself, and told her that they must return to Luach, and that they could still win the battle. Gruoch showed wisdom, and stopped him, saying that he was already accused of sorcery, and this miracle would result in even his loyal Scotsmen now fearing him. The only hope for the country and his son was for him to remain dead. MacBeth protested, saying he was not. Gruoch said with sorrow that he then he must disappear, leave Scotland... and her. She could not come with him, as they could not both abandon their son. And so with a heavy and despairing heart, he kissed her deeply, saying he would always love her, and left, walking away from his life and love forever, as the sun rose behind Gruoch.

What MacBeth did between the 937 years between when he left Scotland and when he first met the gargoyles in the present is entirely unknown. He stated once that he had spent the centuries hunting Demona for his vengeance.

In the year 1994, almost 10 centuries later, MacBeth learned of Goliath and his clan's awakening by David Xanatos. He approached Xanatos while he was in prison, and demanded a fee to get rid of the 'pests' in Castle Wyvern. He only asked for money because Xanatos would've been suspicious otherwise. He then showed up at Castle Wyvern, and refused to battle them while they slept, indicating he had a sense of honor. He then captured Brooklyn, Lexington, and Bronx, bringing them to his castle. Goliath came to the rescue, and a vicious fight ensued. MacBeth told Goliath that he had abducted them because he wanted their 'Queen'. Goliath was mystified, until MacBeth asked about Demona. Goliath asked if he knew Demona. He laughed bitterly and said that he had named her, giving Goliath the first clue that there was some sort of connection between the two. MacBeth further revealed that he abducted the gargoyles because he figured she would come to free them, and it was her that he wanted. When Goliath informed him that Demona wouldn't lift a talon to save them, MacBeth was understandably enraged and in the resulting battle, the castle was burned to the ground. Both MacBeth and the gargoyles managed to escape alive.

In the year 1995, MacBeth sought to steal the Scrolls of Merlin for the spells they supposedly contained. He abducted Broadway in order to test the spells out on him, but when the gargoyles came to the rescue, MacBeth found out that the Scrolls contained nothing but a diary Merlin had written. Once his purpose became all for naught, he released Broadway, telling the gargoyles to leave with the Scrolls. Once again, he had demonstrated that he had a sense of honor.

Later that year, Demona turned the inhabitants of Manhattan to stone with a spell broadcasted all over the city. MacBeth had finally sighted his immortal prey. He tracked the origin of the broadcast to Pack Media Studios. Donning the Hunter's mask as a reminder of her treachery, he attacked Demona as she was about to kill Xanatos. It was revealed to her that this was MacBeth when an electricity blast he fired at her hurt him as well. The fight between the two was telling for them both, as each blow to one hurt the other as well, but Demona escaped, wailing a battle cry.

The next day when all the city was alive again and mystified at the events of the night, MacBeth cursed at his letting Demona slip through his fingers once again after so many centuries of pursuit.

That following night, MacBeth confronted Demona at Castle Wyvern, stating that he found her due to the fact that it wasn't hard to spot all the robots and gargoyles taking off from the Eyrie Building. She mocked him, saying that it was the same every time- she'd blame him, and he'd blame her. He replied menacingly that he was not there to talk, and at being reminded of the rules regarding their immortality, he waved them away, resigned to his fate. He was ready to die, after this long a miserable lifetime, and had no desire to live in the kind of world Demona was creating.

A vicious battle resulted, and Goliath and Xanatos joined in, trying to get them to stop fighting, but neither Demona nor MacBeth cared about the inhabitants of the city or the clan, locked in their centuries old feud. They ended up falling through several floors of the castle, coming to rest on a causeway over an artificial lake. MacBeth woke from unconsciousness first, and lifted Demona over his head, ready to impale her on debris. He was stopped by the sudden appearance of the Weird Sisters, who appeared, to his eyes, in hag form. They delved into his tortured soul, asking him if death and vengeance solved anything, citing in example his father's death, his own vengeance against Duncan, and the death of his only child, Luach.

MacBeth replied pitifully: "I'm just so... tired..." Weary of his eternal and miserable existence, he put Demona down. The Weird Sisters circled the tortured Scotsman, and put him mercifully to sleep. A few minutes later, they vanished, him and Demona in tow, both unconscious.

When MacBeth next made an appearance, he was not of his own mind. A spell was placed upon him by the Weird Sisters along with Demona, to compel them to work together to steal the Grimorum Arcanorum, the Eye of Odin, and the Phoenix Gate. They did so by reactivating Coldstone, to distract the clan from their true purpose, and succeeded. The spell wore off as soon as their mission was complete, and as they regained their true natures, they nearly attacked one another before they were put in stasis by the Weird Sisters once again. They gathered the magical artifacts, and teleported away, MacBeth and Demona in tow once more.

An android replica of MacBeth was used to fool the gargoyles and distract them while Xanatos used Hudson for an experiment in immortality with the Cauldron of Life. Three versions of this android were destroyed ultimately.

MacBeth was then used as a soldier against his will to battle the Avalon clan of gargoyles, with the intent of destroying them, by the Archmage. During the many battles, he fought King Arthur Pendragon, and was defeated. After the Archmage's defeat, MacBeth and Demona were placed on a skiff, and the Weird Sisters were forced to release their geas on the two, stating that they would have no memory of the time since the spell was cast, meaning they would have no memory of Avalon. They were in a state of unconsciousness when the skiff holding them was pushed into the mists of Avalon.

What happened immediately when they woke up in the skiff in Paris is uncertain. But during the next few weeks, MacBeth and a young lady called Dominique Destine fell in love, and he longed to put some joy into his sad life. Alas, it was not to be, as the woman was in reality Demona, and she and Thailog kidnapped him, and planned to keep him locked up while they used the false excuse of his death to grab all his wealth. Thailog took that plan one step further and freed MacBeth, hoping that he and Demona would destroy each other, leaving him with all their wealth. They very nearly did exactly that, but for Demona just as she was about to kill MacBeth, leaving them both temporarily dead. Thailog was fooled and flew off, and MacBeth, upon awakening, praised Elisa for her actions even as he condemned her, citing he was destined to be forever alone in a sad, endless existence. Goliath disagreed, saying that Demona actually did him a favor, proving that he was still capable of love.

Months later, MacBeth sensed that something of great importance and/or power was commencing, and he meant to have it. Casting a spell that coincided with King Arthur and Griff's quest in England, he brought them to Manhattan, and expressed astonishment when the 'power' he sought was a man and a gargoyle. He fled from a brief battle with Arthur, Griff, and the Manhattan clan, and later cast a will o' wisp spell, which he used to spy on the clan and King Arthur. He learned of the sword Excalibur, and that it existed nearby, waiting for a Timeless King to claim it. That title certainly fit him, and he desired the sword. He managed to get to the stone dragon that held the sword before Arthur and company did, and pulled it from the dragon. In the following battle over the sword, MacBeth pleaded to Arthur's honor, saying that an honest man would kneel before who he knew was the right and proper king. After all, he had drawn Excalibur. Just as Arthur consented, the dragon came to life. An airborne battle broke out, and it was revealed that the sword MacBeth drew was a fake. Arthur regained the real Excalibur, destroyed the dragon, and later offered MacBeth a place by his side in his quest for Merlin. MacBeth thanked him, but informed Arthur that he had been a King for too long, and could follow no other man. But he promised his aid should it ever be needed.

Soon after the events of the Hunter's Moon, MacBeth appeared as a social commentator in a televised debate over the 'Gargoyle problem.' He presented his views, saying that the gargoyles were not a threat to humans unless the humans became a threat to them. His opponent was Margot Yale, New York City's assistant District Attorney, and an avid gargoyle-hater. The debate degraded into an argument by the end of the program.

MacBeth continues his immortal existence to this day. Whether he still hunts for Demona is unknown, and what he will do next is entirely up to him.

In Greg Weisman's Master Plan, MacBeth would not be actively hunting Demona anymore. He'd be on his own side and assist or fight the Manhattan Clan based on the situation. He would also have been an ally of Arthur Pendragon. By 2198, MacBeth would have been retired from the world, but would come out in 2199 and take part in the war with the Space-Spawn.

MacBeth possess almost superhuman strength and fighting skills for his age, and has had 10 centuries of experience. He is perhaps the greatest human warrior alive today. He is a skilled leader, charismatic and noble, with a strong sense of honor. He wields all types of weapons, ranging from medieval, such as swords and maces, to high-tech, like his trademark electron discharge gun. He wears a suit of body armor, and a black trenchcoat. Due to the Weird Sisters' spell, he is immortal, and any injury inflicted upon him shall heal almost instantaneously. A primary weakness is that any injury or pain inflicted upon Demona will be inflicted on him at the same time. This link also works in reverse, for any pain or injury inflicted on MacBeth is inflicted simultaneously on Demona, as well.

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