Until very recently, Northern Delaware was an incredibly peaceful area for its Kindred. Its easy access to cities such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, and New York provided an ideal setting for many. However, recent upheaval in most of those places, especially Baltimore and Philadelphia, have caused the area to become a hotbed of activity, providing more than just a convenient rest stop to the supernaturals of the East Coast.

Shortly after World War II, in 1947, a French Toreador named Julia Castle claimed the small town of Newark, home of the University of Delaware, as her own. She established her rule as Prince and brought in enough other Kindred to create a council of Primogen to aid her in building her Domain. With their help, Newark soon became a Camarilla stronghold.

Over the years, the supernatural population of Newark and the surrounding areas fluctuated and grew. Rarely were there any problems and Julia's reign was never challenged, perhaps because no one really believed she was the one truly in control of her city. Julia was a good Prince in the sense that she was well liked, but she was far from being a good leader. As the nearby cities of New York, Baltimore, and Philadelphia fell to the Sabbat, Julia's control over her Domain slipped through her fingers. Newark became the single remaining Camarilla fortress amidst the ruins of the Sabbat. This nearness was taking its toll on the Prince and when the Sabbat finally attacked during the summer of 1996, she couldn't defend her Domain herself. She asked the Camarilla to send her reinforcements.

Reinforcements came in the form of a Ventrue named Oliver Blackstone. Blackstone was a master strategist and through his skill and cunning, the Sabbat were defeated. Julia stepped down as Prince to become Primogen of Clan Toreador, and asked the Ventrue to take her place. Blackstone agreed readily, and brought many new Kindred with him to help rebuild the Domain. In the process, Prince Blackstone claimed all of Northern Delaware as his own. Under his rule, Kindred life is beginning to return to normal, but evidence of the Sabbat still surfaces on occasion. Prince Blackstone knows better than to believe the threat is gone.

History prepared by Susan Jensen, Clan Nosferatu

In early 1997, Blackstone decided to re-center his Domain on the larger city of Wilmington. He left the city of Newark in the capable hands of the Gangrel Badger John. However, the Primogen disliked his military rule and many were skeptical when they heard news of Sabbat vampires being allowed to roam the city's streets. The Primogen appointed Archibald Leach as the new Prince of Newark and Badger John was assigned to clean up the aftermath. He became a respected member of the enforcement team responsible for keeping the Sabbat outside the limits of Newark.

The Sabbat finally realized that their subtle tactics would no longer work to take over Newark. During the summer, a war party successfully attacked and destroyed Archibald Leach and Sheriff LJ Brab in a daring fight that left many humans afraid of what really dwells in the night. Meanwhile, the few remaining power players were left to determine which of their numbers would be the new Prince of Newark.

In the absence of a strong Camarilla presence in Newark, Heavon Gaudemuss, a Giovanni, declared himself "Prince" of the city, fully backed by the Brujah Primogen, Kyle Robbins. Without a Ventrue voice to endorse the Camarilla, only the Tremere really stood in the Giovanni's way. The Tremere could garner no support, and the Primogen Council soon backed Heavon fully. Heavon's support waned, however, when he executed Robbins for a breach of the Masquerade and declared that Newark should break away from the Camarilla entirely. Without Robbins to back him up, the Primogen Council revolted and threw him out of office.

History updated by Mel Torme, Clan Malkavian

The city was now truly without a stable power structure. Michael Lucius, a low ranking 3rd Circle Tremere Apprentice who was acting Primogen stepped forward and claimed the position of Prince until one could be selected on a permanent basis. There were four candidates for the election, Ramius Achbar - Primogen of Clan Gangrel, Anakeia - Primogen of Clan Brujah, a Primogen Council - proposed by Kenneth of Clan Nosferatu, and Mike Lucius - the Acting Tremere Prince. Since the Primogen Council idea was widely disliked and Ramius declined his nomination, the vote was between the Acting Prince Michael Lucius and the very popular Brujah Primogen, Anakeia. The vote was taken and Michael was officially elected on a vote of 5 to 2. Anakeia became his Seneschal, Ramius his Sheriff. Ramius was later executed for plotting to destroy the Prince. Jonas Malatan, Primogen of Clan Ventrue and Childer of Prince Oliver Blackstone of Wilmington, was named Sheriff in his place and Arthur Bradley of the Samedi Bloodline was named Keeper of Elysium.

Some say there is still dissention in the current power structure and that Prince Michael has lost his faith in his Seneschal. Perhaps he is correct and she secretly plots against him, or perhaps the Prince is becoming paranoid after the betrayal of Ramius, whom he considered to be a close personal friend. Will the next threat to the city come from within, with the growing strife between Michael and Anakeia erupting into a civil war of sorts, or will other factors, such as the recent interest of Wraiths in the Newark Kindred prove more threatening? Perhaps that gentleman with the stake who was seen lurking at the Digital Raven whom no one can find is more than he seems. Who knows indeed?

History updated by Savanah Winstead, Tremere Ghoul

The end of Michael's reign was riddled by renewed attacks by the Sabbat and Masquerade breaches by his own citizens. The final straw was when Jonas, his new Seneschal, appointed Stan Winston, a Lupine, as the Keeper of Elysium, and then proceeded to engage in a discipline-laden sword fight on Main Street. In the middle of February 1998, no longer wishing to be responsible for the sad state of affairs in Newark, Michael vacated the throne to establish a Tremere stronghold to the South in nearby Middletown, DE.

Michael's sudden decision to leave created a void in Newark. No one was quick to seize the throne, but a few weeks later, a Nosferatu who called himself Flesh claimed Praxis over Newark. Flesh ruled with an iron fist and a titanium bat. He claimed the biggest problem in Newark was Masquerade breaches, but he was responsible for causing the largest one in a long time: Carl Avery. Carl was a mortal journalism student at the University of Delaware who had the misfortune of wandering in to the Digital Raven on the wrong night. Flesh's mistakes couldn't be corrected, though, because Carl was under the protection of the Lupines, and no one in Newark felt like being on the wrong end of a Lupine fist.

Between Flesh's blatant disregard for the Masquerade and Elysium, his disrespect for other Kindred's Status, and his dictatorial rule, the Primogen Council decided to select a replacement. They knew they needed to present a unified front against Flesh, and they knew they had to attack him socially, not physically. The choice for Flesh's successor was not clear, however. The Primogen Council was split between Derek Kyrandis, the Primogen of Clan Tremere, and Anakeia Grudmosdottir, the Primogen of Clan Brujah. A Nosferatu vote could have swayed the balance, but Flesh was the only one in the city, and the Council certainly wasn't going to ask him. In the end, Anakeia was chosen to be the new Prince.

The evening of the announcement, the Digital Raven was attacked by nearly 2 dozen Sabbat vampires. Flesh fled the club, presumably from lack of concern for his city. When the pack was finally defeated, Flesh was nowhere to be found. He was summoned by Alison Renault, Primogen of Clan Ventrue. Instead, Flesh's Sire Maurice appeared, claiming he had beaten Flesh into torpor when he wouldn't tell him why he'd been summoned. Anakeia was installed as Prince, and Cynric, the Gangrel Primogen, was appointed Seneschal. Derek kept his position as Keeper of Elysium and Acid Wright, a very capable Gangrel, was appointed Sheriff. The Primogen Council had selected Lance Valentine, the Toreador Primogen, as Lead Harpy to try to balance Flesh's rule, and they confirmed his position upon Anakeia's ascension to the throne.

Anakeia's hold on the Princehood is tenuous at best. Cynric has left the city, suffering from wanderlust, and Anakeia has yet to appoint a replacement. The leading candidates are Derek Kyrandis and Alison Renault. With outside pressure from the Camarilla and the recent influx of new Kindred, including far too many Setites, a Gargoyle, and a Daughter of Cacophony, Anakeia would be wise to make a decision soon. Should she continue to rule in a fashion that is less than acceptable to the Camarilla, the decision may not be hers to make for much longer.