Kindred of St. Louis,
It is with a heavy heart that so early in my reign of the St. Louis Domain I must make such an announcement, and I hope all of you know it has not been without heavy consideration that this decision has been made. My hand has been forced for the safety of my court officers, myself and this Praxis as a whole.
From this night forward a Lextalionis (the Blood Hunt) is called against Jonathan Strohbeck of Clan Ventrue under the premise of crimes against the Second of our great Camarilla Traditions.
It was before even the final vote of the Primogen Council that Jonathan Strohbeck threatened myself and my claim to praxis personally. In a discussion over the phone between him and myself, we were in a conversation regarding the future leader of the Praxis. He had come to me in a letter the night after Prince Raquel Morrison's demise requesting that I take the position of his Seneschal when he claimed Praxis. I in turn informed him during our call that I had also been approached and sought to seek a resolution via a vote of the Primogen Council. A vote he had initially intended to supercede.
In further discussion, my initial intent was to in turn offer him the position of Seneschal as he had me if I were to win the Council vote and take the Throne. Jonathan Strohbeck up until this point had always served as a diligent and vigil member of the Camarilla. He was a respected member of our community.
As our conversation continued, he informed me that Prince Morrison had granted the entirety of the Downtown area to Clan Ventrue as personal domain and that if I were to gain leadership of the Praxis he would expect no less for he and his clan. I of course disagreed and attempted negotiating a reasonable request, which was not even remotely met.
When it was made evident I would not promise the heart of the city as personal domain to one clan (nor a large portion of it), he stated the following demands if I should gain Praxis leadership: Downtown would be personal domain of Clan Ventrue, I would not name a Brujah as Sheriff and that Keeper Clarke would maintain his position.
Upon telling him that I would not make that promise, but I would consider leaving Keeper Clarke in his position as Keeper... he went on to inform me that should I gain the seat of Praxis he would not respect my reign and I would need to "seek a different way to govern" him. From there I rescinded my offer of the Seneschal position should I gain Praxis and it is in this conversation that I saw very clearly that if Jonathan Strohbeck were to claim the Throne his reign would be no less severe than that of my predecessor, Prince Raquel Morrison.
Shortly after my phone call with Jonathan Strohbeck, I sought the counsel of Primogen Imashmon Yaroah. She has been a friend to me in my time in this city and I have always respected her counsel. I was more than surprised... no, I was flabbergasted... that upon informing her of his demands, she stated that they were reasonable and that I should understand that he was entitled to protecting what he had built. I do not know why my friend would condone giving the entirety of the Downtown area to a single clan that is not even her own. Not to mention that while Clan Ventrue does hold deep stakes I'm sure in the commerce of the Downtown area, it does not mean that they are solely responsible for it flourishing.
This is why it came as no surprise to me that I was approached by respected members of this community regarding his already growing deceit only 24 hours after the Council vote was announced. I have been told Jonathan Strohbeck seeks to unify members of Clan Toreador and Clan Ventrue against the praxis. I am inclined to believe those that seek to warn me of his manipulations and attempts to harm myself and our city. I have seen with my own eyes the declarations he has made to his clanmates, that if they were to aid me or see to the continued success of this city that they would be seen as defectors and enemies of their clan.
Now I stand with officers of my Court living in fear should they simply do the jobs they've been appointed to.
And so, the decision has been made.
I repeat, from this night forward a Lextalionis (the Blood Hunt) is called against Jonathan Strohbeck of Clan Ventrue under the premise of crimes against the Second of our great Camarilla Traditions.
Any who seek to aid Johnathan Strohbeck, are found uniting toward his cause or ignoring this edict will face the same judgment.
Thank you for your continued perseverance and diligence in these trying times.
In Loyal Service,
Prince Alex Lyon of the St. Louis Domain
9.28.2013Added (29-Sep-2013, 5:07 PM)
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I hope that it is said and remembered that this praxis is not without mercy.
Primogen Eva Monroe has approached me, laying herself at the mercy of the praxis in hopes of dissuading the original edict against Jonathan Strohbeck. In our discussion it has been decided that in exchange for the life of her clanmate, Eva Monroe will offer her own so that his sentence may be reduced. She will in turn owe me a Life Boon for this alteration.
Moving forward, Jonathan Strohbeck will be banished from the domain. Jonathan Strohbeck has one week from this day to get his accounts in accord. On 10.6.2013 and henceforth after, if he is found remaining in the city or returns to it, his life is immediately forfeit to the previously declared Lextalionis.
Thank you all for your diligence and I apologize for this alteration. I strive to be fair to all clans and in this I do not hold Clan Ventrue responsible as a whole for Jonathan Strohbeck's actions, but only the individual.
In Loyal Service,
Prince Alex Lyon of the St. Louis Domain
9.29.2013
