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

Whether it was the festivities of the holidays or something more nefarious the turn out at this month's court was quite thin on the ground. Most people blamed the events of the last meeting for the small number of kindred present, but those that did turn up wasted no time in getting down to business.

There was a new face to the court in the form of a visiting Circle of the Crone representative who had been invited up to perform an initiation ceremony for Wynter during the meeting. The fact that he arrived with Wynter and both of them seemed to be in some sort of altered metal state worried a few people, but with the Prince Black's approval the initiation when ahead. Talisker, the visitor, ordered Wynter to stand there whilst he plucked out one of his eyes. This was followed by the removal of a finger and the letting of several pint of blood from Wynter's neck. Wynter was then ordered to brand his mentor, Sheriff Gideon, which he obediently did. This ended the initiation with the new pledge having shown devotion and loyalty to the Circle in front of the kindred of his own domain. With the ritual completed Wynter was allowed to heal and it was announced that Sheriff Gideon's punishment had merely been part of the ritual.

Just as things started to settle down a representative from the local police arrived with a warrant for Mr. Black's arrest. However, Mr. Lumley stepped in and sent the man away with the belief his quarry was not present. The backup he had called for still arrived and several of the kindred had to persuade them that Mr. Black had left the building, by which time he actually had. The last that was seen of the small police army it was heading into the city intent on bringing Mr. Black to justice for numerous crimes including kidnap, drug running and smuggling.

Things clamed down again after this, although several of the kindred were concerned by the appearance of a couple of rats in the building. Given the current infestation in the city, this was hardly a surprise. Despite their best efforts they were unable to catch a specimen for study so the evening ended with most people leaving feeling that this had been a slow month.