The Conclave Reception was held on May the 19th, in the Year of Our Lord 1996 at the
The Savage Garden, a nightclub at 550 Queen Street West in Toronto.Everyone who entered the The Savage Garden had their name checked off on a guest list. They had to pass through a metal detector, and a motion detector with a "bomb sniffer". They were also subjected to Aura Perception and a Bone of Lies. All bags and briefcases were passed through an X-ray machine.
At the beginning of the Reception, the Chancellors who would be presiding at the Conclave were introduced to those assembled. All had seventeen status points.
The Chancellors
The Prince was not present at the opening of the Reception because of some last minute business that he had to attend to, namely the security of the visiting dignitaries, so visitors introduced themselves to the Seneschal instead, in order to be recognized within the domain of Toronto.
About halfway through the evening, the Prince had still not arrived at the Reception, and could not be contacted, so Kate Leclair, the Prince's consort asked the security forces accompany her to the Sagewood Chateau, the Prince's residence to see if there was a problem. Ibrahim, a member of the Tremere and Kate entered the building first, while the rest of the security force waited outside. Ibrahim and Kate discovered blood on the walls, and at the sight of this Kate frenzied, forcing Ibrahim to stake her. Ibrahim then collected the blood and found that it was from a Lasombra. This heightened the concerns of the security force, and the Chateau was thoroughly searched, but no trace of the Prince was found. Meanwhile, Jeremiah Spader, head of the security force and Whip of the Nosferatu, took Kate to the sewers and unstaked her there.
Near the end of the Reception, the Prince arrived, with no public explanation for his tardiness. However, must of made a private explanation to the Harpy, for she promptly made an announcement that she was stripping the Prince of all but one status, much to the surprise of those in attendance. She then declared the Reception over.
Inside the security was similar to the night before. Once again, the participant's names were checked off on a guest list, and they had to pass through metal detectors equipped with bomb sniffers, as well as have their possessions passed through an X-ray machine. They were also subjected to Aura Perception, and a Bone of Lies. Archons patrolled the hallways outside the chamber where the conclave was to take place. In addition, there were Archons stationed within the chamber itself.
The Justicar opened the Conclave by calling for the gathering of the Cainites, and introduced himself as Elias Pale De'ath of the Toreador, stating that he has served as Justicar for two years. He recognized the Primogen Council, and reluctantly acknowledged the Prince as well. He then appointed his trusted Archon Ironside to be minister of the Conclave.
Finally, the Council of Clan Elect assumed their seats at a table in front of the assembled kindred, and each stated their name, clan, title, and generation:
At one point, a member of those assembled identifying himself as the Seneschal from Oshawa rose to speak, but Justicar De'ath cut him off, stating that the last time he was in Oshawa, none of the kindred there could recite the Traditions, and that he was appalled by this lack of knowledge. He then asked the Seneschal if he himself knew the Traditions, and if so, to recite the them.
The Seneschal then tried to change the subject, but the Justicar then pounded his fist on the table (knocking over a candle) and roared, demanded that the Seneschal recite the traditions! The Seneschal then said in a rather patronizing tone that knocking over a candle would not help the situation. At that moment many in attendance thought that the Seneschal's existence would end that night. But for some reason the Justicar backed down, and demanded a vote on the proposition.
The Malkavian Chancellor Winkle then asked Ophelia Vale, Seneschal of Toronto, if Prince Shamus had ever gone to Oshawa and purchased a stuffed plush animal. The Seneschal confessed that she could not remember such an event. This seemed to resolve the matter in the Chancellor's mind, and he said that Oshawa should be recognized as a separate domain.
The Justicar again called for a vote, and the entire Council of Clan Elect decided in favor of the recognition of Oshawa as a separate domain.
Several Malkavians who were seated between the Gangrel and the Sheriff quickly evacuated their seats, but violence was averted when Ironside reminded everyone that order would be maintained no matter what the cost.
The general consensus among the Chancellors that the adoption of such a treaty was a matter that Toronto should decide upon for itself. Asking the Chancellors for their blessing would be unprecedented, since such approval would lead some to think that the treaty was sanctioned by the Inner Circle.
The Justicar then asked the Council of Clan Elect to vote on the proposition. The Gangrel and Malkavian representatives voted in favor, but the other members voted against it, and the proposition was not passed.
At this point, Phyche, the Representative of the Razor Children, attempted to speak in defense of the Contract, but he was not allowed because he held no status. Phyche found this an intolerable situation, and said that he was tired of "this Camarilla bullshit", but several of the assembled loaned him status, and he was encouraged to speak.
Phyche said that he and the Razor Children only wanted a place where they could carry on their affairs in peace. In New York City, where the Razor Children originated, there was constant strife. He then revealed that the Razor Children were an offshoot of the Lasombra, a clan dedicated to the overthrow of the Camarilla, and that Razor Children in New York City were the Sabbat's hired assassins. This caused quite an uproar, to say the least.
However, several of the Assembled spoke in defense of the Razor Children. In particular, Jezebel, the Harpy for Toronto, said that immediately after the duel that resulted in the death of the previous Prince of Toronto, Robert the Kent, she and her fellow Daughters of Cacophony had attempted to calm the crowd who had watched the duel by singing, and while they had done this, Phyche had defended and protected them. What surprised many of the Assembled when Jezebel related this incident was the fact that she stated that she was a Daughter of Cacophony, and not a Brujah, as many had thought.
This issue was perhaps the most contentious brought to the Conclave, and much time was spent debating it. Ultimately, the Justicar Pale De'ath stated that since it was a matter concerning the kindred of Toronto alone, it was for them to decide. In addition, he said that the issue was taking time away from others that could be addressed by the Conclave. And so, the issue was shelved.
Shamus explained that approximately a month ago, he became aware that an outside force was beginning to control his actions. He soon discovered that a 'box' had been implanted in his head, and that this was how he was being controlled. Shamus knew that once this outside influence gained permanent control of him, it would control the city. He also felt that he could not step down as ruler of Toronto, since he believed there was no one more qualified for the job than him. And after much thought and soul-searching, he decided upon a course of action.
Shamus told his Consort, Kate Leclair, that he wanted a brood of childer, but that he was reluctant to embrace them himself. He granted Kate the Right to Progeny, and the first kine she embraced was Mailin Crag. As soon as Mailin had grown accustomed to his new existence, Shamus explained to him his own situation regarding the 'box' in his head, and asked Mailin if he would be willing to give his life for the good of the city. According to Shamus, Mailin agreed. The Prince then asked members of the Giovanni clan to transfer his soul into the recently embraced childe, and cast the soul of Mailin out, sending it on to its rewards.
Shamus then demonstrated to the Assembled that he was in fact in a new body. He temporarily stopped using Mask of a Thousand Faces, and the Assembled saw his true form, that of the body his soul now inhabited. Many of them found this extremely disconcerting.
At this point many of the Assembled questioned if this was in fact Shamus. A Bone of Lies was brought forth, and 'Shamus' was put to the test, which he passed. Then, several Kindred with telepathy probed the alleged Prince, and then pronounced that he was who he claimed to be.
That settled, the Justicar then said that he was appalled by Shamus' acts, and said that Shamus' statement that there was none more qualified than he to rule to be the height of arrogance. He then questioned whether Shamus was in fact qualified for the position, based on his actions to date.
However, as the deliberations progressed, it turn out that Shamus had violated none of the laws of the Camarilla. In addition, two kindred with the ability to contact the souls of the departed summoned the soul of Mailin Crag, who apparently said that he had willingly given up his body, as well as his mortal existence, for the good of Toronto. But even though Shamus' ethics were not as bad as had been originally thought, the Justicar still questioned them.
And then it was time to vote on the issues raised during these deliberations. The first question the Justicar put to the Council of Clan Elect was whether or not they believed this person to be Shamus. The vote was five in favor, with two abstentions.
The next question put to the council was whether Shamus was within his rights to take the actions that he did. The vote was four in favor, with three abstentions.
And then, the council was asked if they felt Shamus was fit to rule. The vote was two in favor and three against, with two abstentions. Since there was no majority, the Chancellors voted on the issue. Shamus' arguments apparently had impressed the majority, since they pronounced him fit.
But then the Justicar stated that even though Shamus had been found fit to rule, his actions could not go unpunished. He then forever stripped Shamus of the right to Progeny. And he took that right from Kate Leclair as well, even though she claimed that she knew nothing of Shamus' true intentions when she embraced Mailin Crag. And in addition, the Gangrel Chancellor stripped Kate of five status points.
The Malkavian Primogen 'Sven the Infinite' had only been Primogen for a week or so, but in that limited time he had provoked more than his share of controversy. After being embraced, Sven's soul had somehow become trapped in a magic eight-ball. He could only communicate if his attendant shook him, and even then he had a limited vocabulary. However, the Nosferatu Chancellor Charlotte said that he was an abomination, and terminated his tragic existence. Sven's attendant, who also filled the position of the clan Whip, then assumed the mantle of Primogen.
And then the Conclave continued....
However, the Chancellor for the Ventrue stood, and demonstrating his own ability with Wolf Claws, asked John Smith how he intended to enforce this proposition. As well, he stated that the Conclave had previously decided that the Tremere had no right to enforce their rules for Thaumaturgy outside of their clan. Why then, should the Gangrel have this right for Wolf Claws?
And then Benjamin Walks-in-Shadow, the Chancellor for the Gangrel, spoke. "Basicly, what you're saying is that you want us to tell your clan members to stop teaching this discipline to those outside the clan." At this, a low chuckle swept through the assembled. The Chancellor then urged John Smith to withdraw this proposition, and prevent any further embarrassment to the clan. And reluctantly, the Prince of Peterborough did so.
The Justicar then called for a vote of the Council of Clan Elect, saying that Trish must abstain. Five of the Council voted in favor, with two abstentions, and a Camarilla-wide blood-hunt was called.
Prince Shamus said that the sewers were indeed Nosferatu domain, but that the whole of Toronto was ultimately the domain of the Prince, and that any trespasses into the sewers by kindred were authorized by him. In addition, he said that he saw no reason that the Nosferatu should have special privileges for domain, since other kindred could pass through the domains of the kindred who dwelt on the surface.
Everyone in the room was appalled by this allegation, and Ironside vigorously denied it. But his accuser produced a letter that he said was in Ironside's handwriting that would confirm his accusations. The Justicar immediately asked to see this letter.
Everyone waited expectantly while Pale De'ath read the letter. The Justicar then pronounced that the letter was written in Ironside's hand, one that the Justicar was very familiar with. Ironside, seemingly on the verge of panic, continued to deny that he was guilty of the crime, saying that he had never written such a letter. And then the stranger took of his sunglasses, uncovering eyes that were completely black, and revealing to all that he was a Kiasyd. "Look at his eyes!" he screamed.
Ironside slowly took off his sunglasses, revealing eyes black as night, and Ophilia Vale, the Seneschal of Toronto and Ironside's childe, also removed her sunglasses, uncovering eyes just like her sire's. Ironside then said that he embraced Ophilia after committing this terrible act, and that she was not guilty of any crime. In an almost tearful voice, Ironside said that he was not aware than he was diablerizing a kiasyd at the time, and thought that his victim was a member of the Sabbat, diablerie of which was not considered a crime. It was only after the act was complete that he realized what he had done.
The Justicar then asked the Council of Clan Elect to decide whether or not Ironside was fit to continue as an Archon. Six of the Council members voted against Ironside retaining his position, with one abstention.
And then one of the Chancellors asked if Ironside was worthy of his current level of status. And one by one, each Chancellor stripped Ironside of a status point, until it sounded like a countdown, Finally, Charlotte removed his final three points, and Ironside's fall from grace was complete. And then, Justicar Pale De'ath told Ironside to meet with him, and the Chancellors, in the back.
And no one has seen Ironside since.