Centuries of methodically elevating individual common vampires to nobility had established important precedent, but Lucius recognized the need for a more systematic approach to merit-based advancement. During a rare full gathering of all five Archdukes, he presented the initial concept for what would become the Crimson Games.

  "A formal tournament celebrating vampire capabilities across multiple disciplines," he proposed, carefully framing the event as commemoration rather than revolution. "Combat trials to demonstrate prowess, leadership challenges to assess management potential, diplomatic negotiations to evaluate social acumen."

  Archduke Orlov's immediate opposition came as no surprise. "Nobility is birthright, not prize," he decred, his medieval sensibilities visibly offended. "We do not award titles through contests like carnival trinkets."

  "This celebrates our species' exceptional capabilities," Lucius countered smoothly. "The recognition of participants merely acknowledges demonstrated excellence in service to vampire society."

  This strategic framing—emphasizing celebration rather than challenging tradition—proved difficult for even Orlov to openly oppose without appearing to diminish vampire accomplishment. When Archduke Dante expressed interest in the schorly assessment aspects of the proposed trials and Archduchess Seraphina noted the potential for identifying exceptional adaptation traits, the momentum shifted subtly toward approval.

  Valerian's carefully timed support, presented as military interest in identifying exceptional talent, provided the final push needed to secure reluctant consensus from all Archdukes.

  The resulting framework revealed Lucius's comprehensive vision of vampire nobility as service rather than entitlement. Each trial component—combat prowess, leadership capability, diplomatic skill, blood-quality discrimination, territory management, and ethical judgment—addressed a specific aspect of governance responsibility rather than inherited privilege.

  Most significant was the scoring system Lucius designed, ensuring that combat prowess alone could never secure victory. Only candidates demonstrating banced capabilities across all trials could achieve top pcement, embedding his values directly into the competition structure.

  When the first Crimson Games was finally announced to vampire society, traditional faction representatives failed to recognize how thoroughly they had been outmaneuvered—how this seemingly ceremonial event would gradually transform vampire hierarchy through institutionalized merit recognition that even Orlov had reluctantly endorsed.