Ambrosio Luis Monçada

Ambrosio Luis Monçada was a powerful Lasombra, the sire of famous Lucita de Aragon. He held the titles of Archbishop and Cardinal for the Central Church of Madrid, Spain.

Monçada viewed his embrace as God's will, and through the instrument of the Curse of Caine, he had all of eternity to do what he claims to be the Lord's work.

He was a follower of the Path of Power and the Inner Voice and attests to a corrupted version of True Faith. Aside from confessions, he confined himself mostly to his haven, until his Final Death, in the sixth day of October, in 1999.

Biography
The facts about Monçada’s early life are clouded; the best guesses posit him entering Madrid with Alfonso VII’s repopulation efforts as a priest assigned to the city’s central church (formerly a mosque). Monçada apparently was a man of ambition, talent and faith, according to scattered documents from  the  period  that  detail  his  rapid  ascent  in  the Church hierarchy. He eventually gained the rank of archbishop, but was prevented by politics from ever attaining the Papacy; even with the proliferation of popes and anti-popes, there was no place for an outsider whose agenda lacked the support of powerful patrons. So, Monçada found himself and his ambition restricted to Iberia. The tide of the Reconquista had turned irrevocably in favor of Christianity at this point, and serving as a pillar of the Church during a religious war could be an advantageous position indeed.

To no one’s amazement, Monçada made the most of his position. To the surprise of many, however, he did so while holding himself to a strict monasticism. Not for Monçada were the hunts, lavish banquets and lascivious pursuits beloved by  so  many  clergymen  of  the  time. Rather, he  was absolute  in  his  faith, with complete conviction  and resolute  in  his  use  of  power  for  what  he  considered  to  be Heaven’s causes. During an age when the corrupt clergyman became a stock character, Monçada was a towering anomaly on the ecclesiastical landscape, and an intriguing conundrum to certain Lasombra  who  had  a  vested  interest  in  the Reconquista.

The Embrace  changed  Monçada  less  than  one  might suppose. Many of his compatriots in the Blood were regular visitors to  his  confessional;  others  were  patrons  of  priests Monçada knew or had ordained himself. Within a matter of weeks, the archbishop had become acclimated enough in his new status to renew his quest for power. This time, however, he sought dominion  not  over  the  puppets,  but  over  the puppetmasters. Nothing less  than  a  position  of  supremacy among the  Lasombra  would  satisfy  the  freshly  Embraced Monçada — but his reasons for seeking power had not changed. It was not for the glory of Monçada (that poor fleshly shell), but rather for the glory of God. Clearly, the Embrace had been God’s will, and through the instrument of the Curse of Caine, Monçada had all eternity to do the Lord’s work.

The best laid plans of mice, men and priests sometimes change, however. Monçada’s influence  rapidly  expanded throughout both mortal and immortal society. The network of royal confessors and simple parish priests raised under his tutelage allowed him communication and persuasion that few other Cainites could match. Churches and cathedrals rose, and  many  found  their  genesis  deep  in  the  heart  of Monçada’s fortress like monastery. As for the Reconquista, with the weight of the priesthood brought firmly to bear on Lasombra internal politicking, the clan’s support went fully over to the Christian side, and events rolled on (such as the creation of the Sabbat).

As centuries passed, however, something happened to the archbishop’s faith. It never wavered, but it has evolved into something  dark  and  terrible, a strong belief in Monçada’s own damnation and a determination to earn that fate. The archbishop still believes, with a unshakeable faith, in redemption and the Resurrection. He simply knows, with an abiding resignation, that there is no salvation for him or his kind, and as God has seen fit to damn him thus, it is his duty to earn that damnation as  best  he  might. Indeed, many Cainite scholars lay the development of the Path of Night squarely at Monçada’s feet, a tribute to both his faith and his influence over others of his clan. At this conclusion, Monçada merely sneers, however, for his own reasons.

Monçada’s position within the Sabbat and his standing in the clan have consolidated, rather than expanded, over the many nights since his Embrace. He is the spiritual anchor for many  of  his  clanmates,  and  confession  with  the  archbishop (for those Lasombra who claim to remain Catholic) is a coveted distinction. His influence on broad policy is waning, however — some Sabbat mutter that he spends too much time on spiritual affairs and not enough on temporal ones, or that he consorts with strange and unsettling beings in his quest to "serve God’s will".

In recent nights, Monçada has essentially confined himself to his  haven,  his chambers  protected  by  a  maze  of corridors and corrupted shrines to saints that overflow with True Faith and Abyssal magic. When the world wants Monçada’s advice, it comes to him; he has no interest in leaving his home, and so long as there is no pressing need for him to do so, he remained the spider in a blasphemous web.

However, Monçada finally met his demise in the catacombs of that same Iglesia de San Nicolás de las Servitas. He was attacked by own thrall - a shadow beast from the Abyss known as the Leviathan. The guardian was made confused and attacked it's own master, giving Fatima al-Faqadi the opportunity to end his unlife.

Character Sheet
Ambrosio Luis Monçada, Plenipotentiary and Keeper of the Faith

Sire: Silvester de Ruiz Nature: Director Demeanor: Judge Generation: 6th Embrace: 1153 Apparent Age: Mid-50s Physical: Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 5 Social: Charisma 6, Manipulation 6, Appearance 1 Mental: Perception 5, Intelligence 5, Wits 6 Talents: Alertness 4, Brawl 3, Dodge 3, Empathy 5, Expression 5, Grace 4, Intimidation 5, Leadership 4, Subterfuge 5 Skills: Crafts 1, Etiquette 5, Melee 3, Performance 2, Stealth 5, Survival 2 Knowledges: Academics  (theology)  4,  Finance  3,  Law  4, Linguistics (virtually all European languages and dialects) 7, Medicine 2, Occult 5, Politics 4 Disciplines: Auspex 4, Dominate 7, Fortitude 3, Obfuscate 1, Obtenebration 6, Potence 5, Presence 5 Backgrounds: Allies  4,  Contacts  5,  Herd  5,  Influence  3, Resources 5, Retainers 7, Sabbat Status 4 Virtues: Conviction 5, Instinct 4, Courage 5 Willpower: 9 Morality: Path of Power and the Inner Voice 9 Merits/Flaws: Enchanting Voice, True Faith 3, Dark Fate