It was the talk of the town.
The Archbishop of Southern Ontario had been becoming increasingly erratic over the past several years and the Sabbat in the area wasn't as tight knit as it should have been. The upper echelons of the Sabbat were worried about the future and security of the sect and they kept their eyes on the situation. As the troubles got worse the High Muckety‑Mucks considered stepping in, but before they did, their problems were solved.
Meer, Bishop of Toronto and the surrounding areas, leader of the largest pack in the city, challenged the old Archbishop to Monomacy.
It was a well-attended event. Held in SkyDome, Toronto's largest indoor arena, Meer and the Archbishop squared off, cheered on by the hordes of vampires in the bleachers.
"Give it up, old man," Meer challenged the elder as she circled warily, watching him closely. The Archbishop was Brujah and a cunning opponent ‑ he would never have ascended in rank as high as he did if he wasn't. But Meer had some tricks up her sleeve that the Traditionalist wouldn't be expecting. She hoped.
"You, Childe, have no hope in Hades of beating me," the Archbishop replied insultingly. "Give up now and I will let you live as my slave."
"I'd rather meet Final Death than serve any longer under you, you senile old freak," Meer snapped at him. One hand shot forward and a shadow tendril flickered out towards the elder's head, set on snaring him.
The elder seemed to vanish and Meer felt only a gush of wind before a blow to her side. Her hearing acute and her own speed quicker than average, she managed to twist enough that the knife in the elder's hand only caught her in a shallow gash. Retaliating, she hurled herself at his feet, pulling her shadows in to wrap around them, causing the elder to stumble. Meer landed against his knees, knocking him onto his backside.
Pulling out her own knife ‑ the High Muckety‑Mucks had forbidden anything stronger than a knife ‑ Meer slashed at his stomach, opening it like a ripe tomato. The elder squealed, a high annoying sound, and powerfully bucked, sending Meer flying off him. She crashed to the ground, snapping two of her fingers, then bounced back to her feet. The elder was after her again, and Meer barely dodged out of the way of his attack.
Typical Brujah, she heard a cynical voice in her head. He has other Disciplines, but he's reverted to his Clan's own. Brute strength and ignorance.
Suggestions, Drake? Meer inquired as she dodged again out of the elder's way and slashed at his arm as he blew past her.
Drake had several suggestions and Meer noted all of them, while keeping out of the elder's way.
"Give up!" the Archbishop demanded as he caught Meer's arm and half sliced it off with his knife. "Or are you so eager for Final Death?"
"I hope you're ready for it," Meer replied, driving forward with lightning moves, sending the shadows swirling around her so that her true body was hidden and it was hard to tell exactly where she was. The elder was certainly confused, for his knife slashes were way off the mark. Meer used her steel knife to hamstring his ankles as she dove to the side of him and the elder went down with another high-pitched scream.
Finish him! Meer was more than happy to oblige. Landing on the elder's chest, she wove an illusion of a stake in front of the Archbishop's wide eyes and drove it into his chest. His mind, seeing the doom, froze, despite the fact that the stake itself wasn't real. His body stilled into paralysis and Meer drove her fangs into his neck.
The Archbishop‑no‑more died, and his centuries old body crumbled into fine grey dust as Meer drained his blood and soul from him, bringing herself another step closer to Caine. A hush from the crowd, then cheers and yells erupted, echoing through SkyDome like thunder. Meer stood up slowly, the blood from her wounds slowing their rush as she healed herself.
Babe, you did it! Drake's triumphant voice yelled in her mind. You are the woman! You are the best! You were... His voice was cut off and silence suddenly filled Meer's mind, to be replaced by a mental voice so old that she trembled at the millennia behind it.
You have won the challenge, Meer of Clan Lasombra, the voice told her in its flat tone. Do you feel yourself ready to accept the duties and responsibilities of Archbishop?
Yes! Meer replied defiantly. At this moment, she felt that she could do anything.
Then we accept you. You will no longer be leader of a single pack, you will be leader of all packs in the defined area. Choose your replacement or let your pack challenge amongst itself for packleader.
What of the new Bishop?
That will be determined in the usual manner...