That particular fiasco seemed like a setup from the beginning -- Benedict told everyone through a “mock election”, that Veronique (star of such innovative films as “Interview with a Vibrator”) would be the new Prince. The other event of note that night was the crowning of the new Malkavian Justicar, Randolph Carter. He had been in line for the promotion for years and it was just a matter of formalizing the deal. Naturally, there was a catch -- a Ravnos elder named Chandra had gotten a little uppity with the local wildlife and killed the Brujah elder, Saul. Carter had to catch her -- he failed and Veronique ordered Chandra out of the city.

For those of you who forget, there are two Chantries of Tremere. And they fight like siblings. The leader of the “Manhattan Chantry”, Derek Fleming, has the biggest case of little dick syndrome you’ve ever seen. He’s constantly trying to rile the “Connecticut” Chantry, led by John Diamond and Denver Hammersmith, into some kind of pissing contest. However, in 1995 he had a little victory. He managed to sign a pact with some kind of otherwordly force and keep the Connecticut Tremere out of New York City -- they just couldn’t bring themselves to cross the border. Two points for Fleming.

A year later, in 1996, it was discovered why the Tremere had gotten the boot. Everyone got together and decided that the demon was a bad thing. To make a long story short, the Connecticut Chantry got back into the city and things were restored as they should be.

Last year, the shit hit the fan. A random project by New York Power & light (unforeseen by its controller, Elijah Hightower) caused bulldozers to knock over the havens of several Kindred. A tense night, henceforth known as the Blackout, followed as what appeared to be an electromagnetic pulse knocked out all the power and all the electronic equipment (including the phones) on the island of Manhattan -- a Sabbat attack seemed imminent. John Diamond and the Toreador Archon Armitage put enough parts of the puzzle together in time to ward off an attack and all seemed to “return to normal”. Kindred were dug out of the rubble, but there were several notable absences -- chief among them former Prince Benedict. His brood have been combing the streets of New York ever since -- retired Justicars don’t just go down without a fight. The source of the attack by NYP&L has been cause of some serious speculation -- most Kindred have some idea while some claim to know exactly who it was and why and that the problem “is taking care of itself”.

The NYP&L project led to more speculation about the Prince’s abilities. Veronique was one of those dug intact out of the rubble. How could she guide and protect the city if she can’t even protect herself? There are any number of naysayers, although none too public. Things have become rather tense lately. People expect a move soon, perhaps even an intense and prolonged Power Struggle.

Of more interest to some of you, however, is the death of Wilhelm Gearhart, elder Clan Ventrue and Chairman of the Primogen. He was apparently asleep in his private estate when the walls came tumbling down. His burned ashes were found below ground in a patch of sunlight by myself and a couple of other loyal ghouls. He had a will, however, held by a young Ventrue solicitor named Michael Kingston. It was written in the will that new Malkavian Justicar Randolph Carter was to be the executor of the estate. This is the pretense we are all here tonight -- to see exactly what Gearhart owned, who he is leaving it to and to perhaps shed some light on this whole Blackout.

Be forewarned, my blood-sucking, self-pretentious superiors -- there is much in the city of New York which is not what it seems. The city is famous for Methuselahs posing as Neonates, Neonates posing as Justicars, Sabbat posing as posers and Nosferatu posing at whomever they feel like. Don’t forget to wash your hands, wipe your feet and keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times -- it’s going to be a wild ride.

Oh, before I go, I must remind you that the Justicar and Prince both have extended Elysium to cover the entire network of buildings through which we may traverse this evening. This protection extends, of course, to cover everything in this building including walls, statuary, windows and, alas, all of you.

Regards,

Christof Trevalian
Chief Financial Officer, Angelflight Industries
Ghoul, Wilhelm Gearhart

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