The Prima Nocte

The Prima Nocte is a long standing tradition presented to all Kindred as a way of blessing in the new year, whilst giving way to the old. In true Kindred fashion this tradition has become the mainstay of a year and the yardstick by which all evenings are to be judged.

His Grace The Lord Mayor of London, Lucius Aemilianu, once more presented his humble servant with the honour of hosting the event at the birth of this year of our Lord 2005 and once more I hope that I did not disappoint in my Heraldic duties.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your edification and education may I please prevail upon your time?

We were most fortunate indeed that this year’s celebration went without the disasters that have dogged previous events, and that all guests could feel safe in the Mayor’s protection. Such esteemed guests as William Calis and Rebecca Siev were greatly and gladly welcomed for the distance they had travelled. So much so, that they were announced twice in a rather embarrassing moment of oversight. My I extend my personal thanks to the gracious guests for their polite acceptance of this situation. Let us hope we do not have a repeat of this next year.

Also, in an astounding display of friendship, the visit of Finan of Melbourne was a personal highlight of my evening.

So thank you My Lords and Lady.

Home grown, but still distant travellers graced our domain in the presence of Professor Charles Unwin, Robert De Selby and Richard Percy, a truly appreciative crowd of the evening in all respects. One would hope that their manners could have been passed on to other visitors from their domain, but such was not to be. We shall however, leave the Gangrel in question out of this, as for most they are a pleasant clan and it is always a shame about a few bad apples.

Further travellers also made welcome and commending our humble event included His Grace Paul, Duke of Malvern, a gentleman whose lineage should be well documented and remembered by all after his numerously polite clarifications towards this humble servant. Indeed it appears that His good Grace was more than generous in providing most of the court of his home city a place at the Prima Nocte, and such an eclectic gathering they were as well. One especially recalls the politeness of Mr. Michael Sinclair and Mr. Stratford. One would not comment of course on the rudeness of the gentleman that refused to give his name for announcement, but no doubt His Grace the Mayor has marked the behaviour of this individual for future concerns.

Of a matter not so much of rudeness, but a possible result of misinformation leading to a concern, I was deeply disturbed by the sight a young lady spending most of the night hidden behind a blindfold. Upon investigation however, one must wonder as to the wisdom in bringing a mortal into the Elysium of a known, and indeed long-lived bastion of our community. One hopes that Miss Charlotte Reeves has not continued in her belief that allowing a mortal to see our faces and hear our conversations is a good thing and I hope that the mortal in question, one Julia Templar-Reeves, hopefully a relation, has since been properly educated in our ways. It would be a shame to allow the waste of one so well mannered.

On to more pleasant matters, and the arrival of one Mr. Darrell. Once more, I would like to take the time to assure all kindred, both present and not, that this individual, by his own words, is NO ONE SPECIAL. Please take note of this, as such a humble nature is well worthy of praise. No doubt Darrell would not wish me to continue speaking of his numerous qualities and so I shall desist. Pleasant company indeed, however.

Of course, the Prima Nocte would not be what it was without the citizenry of London, and to each a personal note of thanks for their exceptional welcome of all individuals to their home city. One of course cannot place blame on those that caused great insult to The Mayor by their late arrival, as I am sure other matters kept them busy. Let them remain appropriately nameless and hope they can make amends at the next gathering.

With the arrival of the noble Captain Hollier and our own esteemed Mayor, signified by the ritual sharing of the cup, a night of peace and contentment seemed on the cards, which fortunately was not shattered by the untimely and loud interruption of the Mayor’s entrance by Alixandrez Zaragosa. One hopes that the herald will remember to speak in turn next time. I am sure his close friendship that evening with the delicious Livia will give him all the training and education he needs.

And on such completely unrelated matters, perhaps I may indulge in a word to the wise ? For all our younger citizens? A small nugget I purloined from the evening for your thoughts.

It is unwise to inform a resident of the city that he may have to spend a few years in slavery now that he has returned after a 30 year hiatus. One does not like to be told that the first greeting after torpor or travel is to be spent in chains. Fortunately Mr. Ryan’s friendship with the Mayor does not seemed to have diminished over time.

And whilst on such ill matters, His Grace would like to apologise for any that were discommoded by the actions of an un named individual in the attempted breach of the masquerade later that evening, but fortunately this was well away from Elysium and he would like to extend his thanks for the clear heads that prevailed on the ground.

Of course, no place should be without some security, and the Prima Nocte is no exception. The ever-vocal Noah provided this admirably, even with his assertions as to the sexual leanings of certain young gentlemen who refused to be parted. Fortunately we live in a far more tolerant age.

It is our most fervent and esteemed hope that all guests of the Lord Mayor had a pleasant evening, basked in the truly marvellous nature of the world we live in, and look forward to the coming year with hope and felicity. May all of your beliefs travel you safely on your roads.

Until next year, I remain,

Your Humble Servant,

Simon Trescothic
Herald of the Prima Nocte

Jewry Lane

For only the second time in the City of London's history a breach of Elysium occured and Jewry Lane once again saw Kindred blood upon its cobbles. The unnamed kindred had apparently been released unschooled by its Sire and did not realise it was causing a breach. Lord Mayor Lucius accepted no mittegatign circumstance and had the Nosferatu put to its death in London's traditional execution block at Jewry Lane.