December 27th, 2003 - Ascent, Descent

Descenders

• Nathan Akinson, deposed as Prince by snakes on the council

  I am more afraid of an army of 100 sheep lead by a lion, than an army of 100 lions lead by a sheep. ~Tallyrand

• Nicole St James, council snake, fell shortly thereafter in the wake of Algernons ascendence
• Damien Bates, council snake, dived quickly into shallow waters, his own agenda counterproductive to the new regime (a regime he was instrumental in installing)
• Zoe Grey, labeled anarch for speaking against the council of snakes
• Seth Cruz, followed Zoe
• Kaji Ryoji, followed Seth
• Dani Castillo, in defense of a murderous childe
• Izao Satake, murderous childe, now scourge (unclear whether this is descent or ascent)
• Oliver Macabre, disappeared after a short foray as Toreador Primogen, foul play is suspected

Ascenders

• Sam Murphy, now Primogen of the Ventrue and Sheriff
• Murdoch, now Seneschal
• Havyn, deputy to the Sheriff
• Tony Thompson, deputy and potential Caitiff primogen (?)
• Morgana Templeton, Toreador Primogen elect
• Julius Vaclav, Keeper of Elysium
• Nathan Atkinson, Primogen of the Tremere, back in action.
• Algernon Lamport, Prince of the New Regime

The Question is....what really happened to spawn all this civil unrest. Likely if asked, the ascenders would claim it goes back to the anarchs. The descenders would claim that the leadership and the system is flawed. Those in the middle, like myself, would say that it is simply a matter of our own fickle natures. Where we have changed once, we will change again, and the list would need to be revised. Those who sought shelter and succor among the anarchs may be in for a rude awakening to realize that fickleness of kindred hearts knows no boundary of sect, clan, or creed. Gabe Hart may just be easier to replace than a Camarilla Prince, but it did not seem so hard to rid the table of Nathan Atkinson, something that I'm sure heartens those who thrive on change and unrest. It would be logical to conclude that Algernon Lamport would go as easily.

Many think I am one of those, constantly chipping away at the structure, a trouble-maker, a loudmouth, you name it. It is not actually the case, the truth is trouble, and it always has been. If we could cover our misdeeds in perfect lies, and cast a veil over those around us to believe in the illusion, then it would be easy. Some choose the veil, I do not. I speak at my own peril, but to not speak at all is to risk my very soul, one should never deny svadharma.

Sometimes, I wonder if I am not an anarch. Did Zoe leave due to the strength of her own convictions, or did she leave because in the end, she had no choice? I would prefer to think the former, but am afraid that it is more the latter, or a combination of both. The funny thing about having no choice, is for your own mental well-being, a person will justify and validate that choice as what they intended all along. Some truths are never meant to be known.

As far as the new regime goes, laws are broken in the name of security. A death in the elysium: justified. A primogen sowing seeds of unrest: justified at least until it became too great to ignore. Lord Lamport keeping a low profile which may or may not serve him in the long run. As for me, I'll just continue to speak when the emperor wears no clothes.