A summary of the June gathering of Newcastle's Kindred.

There was an air of important events looming on the horizon as the Elysium meeting again started with an absent Prince. The local Primogen were soon in session along with a few chosen advisors apparently discussing the possibility of imposing a new order on the domain. However Prince Black arrived and after a short discussion the matter seemed to be laid to rest. Although several kindred seemed unhappy they all began to go about their other business about court leaving the Prince to speak to the newcomers and visitors

The ever-present rats soon put in an appearance causing Dr. Stephens to embark on a hunt that finally lead him to catching one of them. However, upon leaving the Elysium to take the specimen to his lab more rats swarmed from the sewers to engulf him and a few other kindred who were loitering outside the entrance. Some kind of creature managed to drag Dr. Stephens off into the sewers and despite their best effort the kindred present were unable to track him.

Despite the kidnapping of one of their own the kindred soon turned to other matters in the form of the punishment of the Sheriff for his actions last month. For the unlawful siring of a childe, along with several questionable decisions during the last court, Mr. Gideon was sentenced to spend five years in torpor. However, before he was able to answer for his transgressions the old Sheriff who served under Prince Wodenson returned seeking revenge on the kindred for his master's death. There followed a short melee in which several kindred joined forces to slay Mr. McKay, finally putting to death the last of Prince Wodenson's legacy. It seemed some blows landed a little wildly as perhaps some old scores were settled and there were more than a few hurt glances as the battle finally finished.

Objecting to the harshness of his sentence on the grounds that it would leave the domain greatly weakened against attack, Mr Gideon managed to open his sentence to discussion. Trial by combat was decided upon to see if his martial prowess could indeed outweigh his crimes. After a little discussion Pete Yorke decided to stand as the Prince's champion entering into a fight to torpor with the Sheriff. Both men used swords and the fight lasted some time until Mr. Yorke was able to best the Kabit's European long sword with his Chinese straight sword. With Mr. Gideon already in torpor he was entrusted to one of his bloodline visiting from Edinburgh to oversee his full punishment. It is expected that five years shall pass before Mr. Gideon once again stalks the night.

With the Sheriff gone, Mr. Yorke was promoted to the post having proved his prowess. Along side this Mr. Lumley was announced as the new Invictus Primogen leaving only the Circle of the Crone without representation.

And so the evening ended with the feeling that things could have gone so much worse and yet knowing things had certainly not gone well. Prince Black's hold on the domain still seems weak and the recent shake up in the power structure is bound to have ramifications.