"What's this?" one voice asked. This voice is a harsh, commanding baritone. "New shipment of gladiators, sir," another voice answered. This one is quieter, higher-pitched, nervous. It probably belongs to someone young. The crate was pried open at the top ever so slightly, and I winced as the bright afternoon light glared into my eyes after the inky darkness of the crate. I heard the other prisoners groan with discontent as well. I caught a glimpse of a sharply angled but handsome face looking down upon us before the lid of the crate slammed shut once more and we were once again enveloped in blackness. "Let them in," the authoritative voice ordered coldly. "Get them to the trainers immediately." "Yes, sir," replied the young voice. I could hear the sound of bronze boots clacking against cobblestones, and it slowly receded. Then, I heard an order called out, and with the clattering of hooves against stones, we lurched forward once again.
"Welcome to the arena," a voice said. This one, too, was authoritative, but it was kinder than the voice from before. I opened my eyes slowly and leaned upward in the crate, awaking from my nap in the crate. I beheld a tall, muscular man with jet black hair cut unevenly short. He was clad in the garb of the Roman military; lorica segmentata, a war skirt, caligas, a scarlet focale, a crimson tunic, a black woolen sagum, a horsehair galea, and a balteus containing a stylized gladius. His face was marred by a deep, straight scar running from the cheek to just above the eye. He extended his right hand to me and I grasped it in mine. He gripped my hand firmly and hauled me to my feet. I stumbled at first, months of malnutrition and starvation as well as being jammed in a crate with several other people for days having severely atrophied my muscles, but the soldier caught me. I was able to sit down in a stooping position. "My name's Cadmus," the soldier informed me. "And that's Octavia." He pointed across the vast, sand-floored room and I saw a tall, equally muscular woman in a white toga and caligas. She seemed to be pretty...but in a commanding way. "We're your trainers." "Trainers? For what?" I asked in confusion. Cadmus shook his head. "You don't know where you are, do you?" Octavia replied, walking up. I shook my head unsteadily. "You're in the Arena," Cadmus informed me. "In Rome." I rubbed my gritty eyes. I did recall hearing one of the guards mention something about sending me to some arena. "So...the Arena? In Rome? And why am I here?" I asked again. "I think you know," Cadmus replied. "This Arena is used as a form of punishment for crimes against Rome. I don't care to know what crime you committed in particular, but I do know that in order to be here, in this arena, you have to have done something." "A punishment?" I repeated. "So...it's like the gladiators' arena then, is it?" "Not quite," Octavia answered. "This Arena is a little bit different." "How so?" I asked. "In the Gladiator's arena, the fights are fair," Cadmus answered, "and they're watched by a crowd of spectators for sport. This Arena is no sport. The only viewer is our Emperor, and he is our judge. We must put on a good show for him. He and the others control everything in the Arena. If the Emperor is disappointed, we die. That's not exactly it, but it's a simplified version." "So...I'm in the Arena to fight, am I?" I asked, already knowing the answer. Octavia rolled her eyes. "Of course," she answered. Cadmus folded his arms impassively. "And you're my trainers?" I clarified. Cadmus nodded. "Our job is to make sure you survive...long enough so that the Emperor is pleased with our work, that is," Cadmus told me. "Your work reflects on our own. If the Emperor is really displeased about your performance, we can be punished as well. We must not only make sure you survive, but that you put on a good show." "Makes sense...I guess," I said, shrugging. "So, what now?" "Perhaps you should tell us who you are," Octavia suggested.
Name: First name mandatory, last name optional. Must at least sound authentic...here's a list of male and female names. Age: No kids, and no one elderly. Gender: Crime Committed: Physical Description: Biography: --------------------------------------------------------------------- You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength: Charisma: Intelligence: Agility: Endurance: Skill: I do this, from your biography. Ability: You make this up, but be reasonable. Preferred Weapon: You do better with this weapon than you do with any other. For a list of weapons, look below. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: None. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
List of Weapons Almost all possible weapons that you can use are on this list, but if I'm missing one, you can use that. Swords Pugio Gladius Spatha Spears/Javelins Hasta Javelin Pilum Ranged Arcus/Sagitta Plumbatae
Good luck! But be warned...this is not just about winning fights. There's a lot more to it than that.
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 13/15 Crime Committed: pick poketing, stealing, and framed for murder Physical Description: strong legs, meddium build chest, tan Brown short hair, big hands Biography: He had a family and he stole to keep food on the table till he was stealing and saw a murder no one believes a thief so they took him a tossed him in the gladior games with out a trial ------------------------------------------------------------ You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:16 Charisma:5 Intelligence: 6 Agility:10 Endurance:15 Skill: Slippery Fingers[thanks to the time you spent stealing, you're better at sneaking around, pickpocketing, and picking locks]. Trained: Basic Dodging. Ability: intimadate (scares weaker foes to giving up) Preferred Weapon:Spears/Javelins ----------------------------------------------------------- Money: 2 Asarii. Right Hand: . Left Hand: Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas
"Good," the toga-clad young man sighs, relieved. "Now we can answer your question. We are Lucernam. We defy the order of Emperor Nero, combat the injustice of the Arena and the Gladiator's Arena, and help the citizens less fortunate. We cannot tell you our individual names right now...but all you need to know is that our organization is quickly growing in numbers and power. Perhaps after you do some work for us we can tell you who we are in person."
Name: Orpheus Age: 21 Class: Sagitarrius Gender: Male Health: 8/13 Crime Committed: Conspiracy, High Treason Physical Description: 6'1", Fair features, slight build. but with wiry muscles. Biography: From the Greek Mainland. Conspired with other Intelligentsia against the Stationed Romans. After a failed revolution, he fled to the Middle East, and Jerusalem. Used his Intelligence to talk his way out of guards. Ambushed by the Romans, he killed several but was soon overpowered. And the rest, is history. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strength: 7 Charisma: 7 Intelligence: 13 Agility: 10 Endurance: 13 Skill: Aesthetic (I feel nothing: Handle Pain, Food, Water, and Sleep Deprivation better, and can't get psyched out) Ability: Smooth Talker(you can talk people into your way of thinking, as well as being able to bluff, intimidate, lie, and charm better). Preferred Weapon: Arcus/Sagittarus. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Left Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None. Other:
You wait for his horse to approach you then jump in front of it. At the command of the eques, the horse rears up its hooves, ready to stomp you into a pulp....
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 13/15 Crime Committed: pick poketing, stealing, and framed for murder Physical Description: strong legs, meddium build chest, tan Brown short hair, big hands Biography: He had a family and he stole to keep food on the table till he was stealing and saw a murder no one believes a thief so they took him a tossed him in the gladior games with out a trial ------------------------------------------------------------ You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:16 Charisma:5 Intelligence: 6 Agility:10 Endurance:15 Skill: Slippery Fingers[thanks to the time you spent stealing, you're better at sneaking around, pickpocketing, and picking locks]. Trained: Basic Dodging. Ability: intimadate (scares weaker foes to giving up) Preferred Weapon:Spears/Javelins ----------------------------------------------------------- Money: 2 Asarii. Right Hand: . Left Hand: Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas
Name: Orpheus Age: 21 Class: Sagitarrius Gender: Male Health: 8/13 Crime Committed: Conspiracy, High Treason Physical Description: 6'1", Fair features, slight build. but with wiry muscles. Biography: From the Greek Mainland. Conspired with other Intelligentsia against the Stationed Romans. After a failed revolution, he fled to the Middle East, and Jerusalem. Used his Intelligence to talk his way out of guards. Ambushed by the Romans, he killed several but was soon overpowered. And the rest, is history. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strength: 7 Charisma: 7 Intelligence: 13 Agility: 10 Endurance: 13 Skill: Aesthetic (I feel nothing: Handle Pain, Food, Water, and Sleep Deprivation better, and can't get psyched out) Ability: Smooth Talker(you can talk people into your way of thinking, as well as being able to bluff, intimidate, lie, and charm better). Preferred Weapon: Arcus/Sagittarus. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Left Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None. Other:
Shiiiiii-. Pull an arrow out of my quiver, and jab it into the horses groin (softest, least boniest spot of anatomy...), then I quickly roll out of the way.
(I was hopeing I would hit the horses legs, causing it to fall)
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 13/15 Crime Committed: pick poketing, stealing, and framed for murder Physical Description: strong legs, meddium build chest, tan Brown short hair, big hands Biography: He had a family and he stole to keep food on the table till he was stealing and saw a murder no one believes a thief so they took him a tossed him in the gladior games with out a trial ------------------------------------------------------------ You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:16 Charisma:5 Intelligence: 6 Agility:10 Endurance:15 Skill: Slippery Fingers[thanks to the time you spent stealing, you're better at sneaking around, pickpocketing, and picking locks]. Trained: Basic Dodging. Ability: intimadate (scares weaker foes to giving up) Preferred Weapon:Spears/Javelins ----------------------------------------------------------- Money: 2 Asarii. Right Hand: . Left Hand: Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas
"The safety of your daughters is as good as in your own hands," the toga-clad young man promises. "As long as we have nothing to fear from you, you and your daughters have nothing to fear from us. You have my word."
Name: Orpheus Age: 21 Class: Sagitarrius Gender: Male Health: 8/13 Crime Committed: Conspiracy, High Treason Physical Description: 6'1", Fair features, slight build. but with wiry muscles. Biography: From the Greek Mainland. Conspired with other Intelligentsia against the Stationed Romans. After a failed revolution, he fled to the Middle East, and Jerusalem. Used his Intelligence to talk his way out of guards. Ambushed by the Romans, he killed several but was soon overpowered. And the rest, is history. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strength: 7 Charisma: 7 Intelligence: 13 Agility: 10 Endurance: 13 Skill: Aesthetic (I feel nothing: Handle Pain, Food, Water, and Sleep Deprivation better, and can't get psyched out) Ability: Smooth Talker(you can talk people into your way of thinking, as well as being able to bluff, intimidate, lie, and charm better). Preferred Weapon: Arcus/Sagittarus. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Left Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None. Other:
You stab the horse in its weakest point and it topples quickly to the ground, badly injured. Unfortunately, you are unable to get out of the way before it falls, and now you're stuck on the ground with about 1000 pounds of dead horse on top of you. Luckily, the eques was unable to jump off the horse as well, so he's temporarily stunned, but he was on top of the horse. You're underneath it.
Name: Orpheus Age: 21 Class: Sagitarrius Gender: Male Health: 8/13 Crime Committed: Conspiracy, High Treason Physical Description: 6'1", Fair features, slight build. but with wiry muscles. Biography: From the Greek Mainland. Conspired with other Intelligentsia against the Stationed Romans. After a failed revolution, he fled to the Middle East, and Jerusalem. Used his Intelligence to talk his way out of guards. Ambushed by the Romans, he killed several but was soon overpowered. And the rest, is history. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strength: 7 Charisma: 7 Intelligence: 13 Agility: 10 Endurance: 13 Skill: Aesthetic (I feel nothing: Handle Pain, Food, Water, and Sleep Deprivation better, and can't get psyched out) Ability: Smooth Talker(you can talk people into your way of thinking, as well as being able to bluff, intimidate, lie, and charm better). Preferred Weapon: Arcus/Sagittarus. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Left Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None. Other:
Exactly as I planned. Teehee...
Feign being dead, and when the workers come to remove the horse body, and my own, I use the broken arrow in the horse to stealth-kill the Eques.
Name: Orpheus Age: 21 Class: Sagitarrius Gender: Male Health: 8/13 Crime Committed: Conspiracy, High Treason Physical Description: 6'1", Fair features, slight build. but with wiry muscles. Biography: From the Greek Mainland. Conspired with other Intelligentsia against the Stationed Romans. After a failed revolution, he fled to the Middle East, and Jerusalem. Used his Intelligence to talk his way out of guards. Ambushed by the Romans, he killed several but was soon overpowered. And the rest, is history. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strength: 7 Charisma: 7 Intelligence: 13 Agility: 10 Endurance: 13 Skill: Aesthetic (I feel nothing: Handle Pain, Food, Water, and Sleep Deprivation better, and can't get psyched out) Ability: Smooth Talker(you can talk people into your way of thinking, as well as being able to bluff, intimidate, lie, and charm better). Preferred Weapon: Arcus/Sagittarus. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Left Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None. Other:
What workers? No workers will come to remove the body until maybe a few hours after the fight is finished. And the fight is finished when the eques kills you.
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 13/15 Crime Committed: pick poketing, stealing, and framed for murder Physical Description: strong legs, meddium build chest, tan Brown short hair, big hands Biography: He had a family and he stole to keep food on the table till he was stealing and saw a murder no one believes a thief so they took him a tossed him in the gladior games with out a trial ------------------------------------------------------------ You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:16 Charisma:5 Intelligence: 6 Agility:10 Endurance:15 Skill: Slippery Fingers[thanks to the time you spent stealing, you're better at sneaking around, pickpocketing, and picking locks]. Trained: Basic Dodging. Ability: intimadate (scares weaker foes to giving up) Preferred Weapon:Spears/Javelins ----------------------------------------------------------- Money: 2 Asarii. Right Hand: . Left Hand: Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas
"so help me if there is one scar one red mark one hair gone on there head i'll kill each and everyone of you painfully and slow i mean that"
Name: Orpheus Age: 21 Class: Sagitarrius Gender: Male Health: 8/13 Crime Committed: Conspiracy, High Treason Physical Description: 6'1", Fair features, slight build. but with wiry muscles. Biography: From the Greek Mainland. Conspired with other Intelligentsia against the Stationed Romans. After a failed revolution, he fled to the Middle East, and Jerusalem. Used his Intelligence to talk his way out of guards. Ambushed by the Romans, he killed several but was soon overpowered. And the rest, is history. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strength: 7 Charisma: 7 Intelligence: 13 Agility: 10 Endurance: 13 Skill: Aesthetic (I feel nothing: Handle Pain, Food, Water, and Sleep Deprivation better, and can't get psyched out) Ability: Smooth Talker(you can talk people into your way of thinking, as well as being able to bluff, intimidate, lie, and charm better). Preferred Weapon: Arcus/Sagittarus. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Left Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None. Other:
I was planning on pretending to be dead, but if what you say is true, then...
I'll shimmy out from under the horse, and shoot the bugger. If that doesnt work, I'll try to stab him with an arrow, preferably in the neck, collar bone area (straight down to the heart...)
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 13/15 Crime Committed: pick poketing, stealing, and framed for murder Physical Description: strong legs, meddium build chest, tan Brown short hair, big hands Biography: He had a family and he stole to keep food on the table till he was stealing and saw a murder no one believes a thief so they took him a tossed him in the gladior games with out a trial ------------------------------------------------------------ You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:16 Charisma:5 Intelligence: 6 Agility:10 Endurance:15 Skill: Slippery Fingers[thanks to the time you spent stealing, you're better at sneaking around, pickpocketing, and picking locks]. Trained: Basic Dodging. Ability: intimadate (scares weaker foes to giving up) Preferred Weapon:Spears/Javelins ----------------------------------------------------------- Money: 2 Asarii. Right Hand: . Left Hand: Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas
"So help me," the toga guy replies, "if there is one whisper, one murmur, one hint of a rumor, about this organization on the streets, I will personally see to it that you are flayed alive. I mean that. But as I said, your daughters have nothing to worry about if we do not." "Now that the posturing and threats are done with," Octavia cuts in, "you should put on this blindfold so we can take you back to the Arena."
Name: Orpheus Age: 21 Class: Sagitarrius Gender: Male Health: 13/13 Level: 1 Crime Committed: Conspiracy, High Treason Physical Description: 6'1", Fair features, slight build. but with wiry muscles. Biography: From the Greek Mainland. Conspired with other Intelligentsia against the Stationed Romans. After a failed revolution, he fled to the Middle East, and Jerusalem. Used his Intelligence to talk his way out of guards. Ambushed by the Romans, he killed several but was soon overpowered. And the rest, is history. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strength: 7 Charisma: 7 Intelligence: 13 Agility: 10 Endurance: 13 Skill: Aesthetic (I feel nothing: Handle Pain, Food, Water, and Sleep Deprivation better, and can't get psyched out) Ability: Smooth Talker(you can talk people into your way of thinking, as well as being able to bluff, intimidate, lie, and charm better). Preferred Weapon: Arcus/Sagittarus. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Left Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None. Other:
You just manage to slide out from under the horse and shoot the eques before he can recover. You are allowed to leave the Arena, and are then patched up by a medicus. What now?
Name: Orpheus Age: 21 Class: Sagitarrius Gender: Male Health: 13/13 Level: 1 Crime Committed: Conspiracy, High Treason Physical Description: 6'1", Fair features, slight build. but with wiry muscles. Biography: From the Greek Mainland. Conspired with other Intelligentsia against the Stationed Romans. After a failed revolution, he fled to the Middle East, and Jerusalem. Used his Intelligence to talk his way out of guards. Ambushed by the Romans, he killed several but was soon overpowered. And the rest, is history. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strength: 7 Charisma: 7 Intelligence: 13 Agility: 10 Endurance: 13 Skill: Aesthetic (I feel nothing: Handle Pain, Food, Water, and Sleep Deprivation better, and can't get psyched out) Ability: Smooth Talker(you can talk people into your way of thinking, as well as being able to bluff, intimidate, lie, and charm better). Preferred Weapon: Arcus/Sagittarus. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Left Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None. Other:
Ask Cadmus for additional training (and look good in the process).
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 13/15 Crime Committed: pick poketing, stealing, and framed for murder Physical Description: strong legs, meddium build chest, tan Brown short hair, big hands Biography: He had a family and he stole to keep food on the table till he was stealing and saw a murder no one believes a thief so they took him a tossed him in the gladior games with out a trial ------------------------------------------------------------ You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:16 Charisma:5 Intelligence: 6 Agility:10 Endurance:15 Skill: Slippery Fingers[thanks to the time you spent stealing, you're better at sneaking around, pickpocketing, and picking locks]. Trained: Basic Dodging. Ability: intimadate (scares weaker foes to giving up) Preferred Weapon:Spears/Javelins ----------------------------------------------------------- Money: 2 Asarii. Right Hand: . Left Hand: Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas
wat about money i was promaced 5 as i grab the blind fold
Name: Orpheus Age: 21 Class: Sagitarrius Gender: Male Health: 13/13 Level: 1 Crime Committed: Conspiracy, High Treason Physical Description: 6'1", Fair features, slight build. but with wiry muscles. Biography: From the Greek Mainland. Conspired with other Intelligentsia against the Stationed Romans. After a failed revolution, he fled to the Middle East, and Jerusalem. Used his Intelligence to talk his way out of guards. Ambushed by the Romans, he killed several but was soon overpowered. And the rest, is history. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strength: 7 Charisma: 7 Intelligence: 13 Agility: 10 Endurance: 13 Skill: Aesthetic (I feel nothing: Handle Pain, Food, Water, and Sleep Deprivation better, and can't get psyched out) Ability: Smooth Talker(you can talk people into your way of thinking, as well as being able to bluff, intimidate, lie, and charm better). Preferred Weapon: Arcus/Sagittarus. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Left Hand: Arcus/Sagittarius. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None. Other:
"You survived," Cadmus says critically. "I guess that's good enough. Octavia and I can train you on one thing at the moment; what would you like to learn?"
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 13/15 Crime Committed: pick poketing, stealing, and framed for murder Physical Description: strong legs, meddium build chest, tan Brown short hair, big hands Biography: He had a family and he stole to keep food on the table till he was stealing and saw a murder no one believes a thief so they took him a tossed him in the gladior games with out a trial ------------------------------------------------------------ You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:16 Charisma:5 Intelligence: 6 Agility:10 Endurance:15 Skill: Slippery Fingers[thanks to the time you spent stealing, you're better at sneaking around, pickpocketing, and picking locks]. Trained: Basic Dodging. Ability: intimadate (scares weaker foes to giving up) Preferred Weapon:Spears/Javelins ----------------------------------------------------------- Money: 2 Asarii. Right Hand: . Left Hand: Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas
Everyone starts laughing. "Two things, friend," says someone you can't identify because you're wearing the blindfold. "That money was promised to you by the centurion, and he's not part of this group. We aren't going to pay you for the Emperor and his government. And the second thing? You didn't even earn the money. The 'captives' escaped, remember?" Anyway, you're taken back to the Arena. What will you do now?
