"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: Talow Age: 18. Gender:M Crime Committed:Framed for stealing his own sword, and some food, and murdeer Physical Description: 6' even with a medium build. white skin, brown hair, blue eyes, Biography: Was living with a friend who took him in before getting arrested for stealing and a murder he didn't commit. when he was 6 he picked up a stick and imagined it was a sword and praticed with it. when he was 7, he got his hands on a wooden sword and was playing around with his friends who also had wooden swords. was on the streets from 5 till 12. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strength:10 Charisma:5 Intelligence:15 Agility:5 Endurance:15 Skill: Swordsman[better with swords]. Ability: Focused. (harder to hit with attacks when wielding a sword) Preferred Weapon: Gladius --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Gladius. Left Hand: Gladius. Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: None. Legs: Breechcloth. Feet: None.
You start to approach him quickly but he lunges at you with his spear and you are forced to fall back.
Name:Caligula Maximus Age: 24 Gender:M Crime Committed:Treason Physical Description:tall,black hair,brown eyes,slight tan,not very toned (muscles) Biography:Lived a young life in a family of Socii, from the gauls who came from germany as refugees and joined the roman army, but i saw what they did to the Gaulish they saw me and knew i wasn't one of them, after plotting i stole army food and various things and delivered to them. But one night i was caught and end up here --------------------------------------------------------------------- You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:12 Charisma:10 Intelligence:10 Agility:10 Endurance:8 Skill: Scavenger[because of the time you spent stealing food from the army, you are better not only at finding things, but you are more resilient and able to handle food and water deprivation better]. Ability: Finesse i can do some fancy rolls and whatnot to confuse the brutes who are dumb Preferred Weapon: Sica --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Spatha. Left Hand: Parma. Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: Manica. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
Name: Talow Age: 18. Gender:M Crime Committed:Framed for stealing his own sword, and some food, and murdeer Physical Description: 6' even with a medium build. white skin, brown hair, blue eyes, Biography: Was living with a friend who took him in before getting arrested for stealing and a murder he didn't commit. when he was 6 he picked up a stick and imagined it was a sword and praticed with it. when he was 7, he got his hands on a wooden sword and was playing around with his friends who also had wooden swords. was on the streets from 5 till 12. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strength:10 Charisma:5 Intelligence:15 Agility:5 Endurance:15 Skill: Swordsman[better with swords]. Ability: Focused. (harder to hit with attacks when wielding a sword) Preferred Weapon: Gladius --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Gladius. Left Hand: Gladius. Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: None. Legs: Breechcloth. Feet: None.
go up to him again, and when he lunges at me with his spear, try to dodge it and slice off the spear head.
Name:Caligula Maximus Age: 24 Gender:M Crime Committed:Treason Physical Description:tall,black hair,brown eyes,slight tan,not very toned (muscles) Biography:Lived a young life in a family of Socii, from the gauls who came from germany as refugees and joined the roman army, but i saw what they did to the Gaulish they saw me and knew i wasn't one of them, after plotting i stole army food and various things and delivered to them. But one night i was caught and end up here --------------------------------------------------------------------- You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:12 Charisma:10 Intelligence:10 Agility:10 Endurance:8 Skill: Scavenger[because of the time you spent stealing food from the army, you are better not only at finding things, but you are more resilient and able to handle food and water deprivation better]. Ability: Finesse i can do some fancy rolls and whatnot to confuse the brutes who are dumb Preferred Weapon: Sica --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Spatha. Left Hand: Parma. Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: Manica. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
You are sent to the arena and paired against a Thracian. He's equipped with a big helmet, small shield, greaves, and a sica. What will you do?
Name: Talow Age: 18. Gender:M Crime Committed:Framed for stealing his own sword, and some food, and murdeer Physical Description: 6' even with a medium build. white skin, brown hair, blue eyes, Biography: Was living with a friend who took him in before getting arrested for stealing and a murder he didn't commit. when he was 6 he picked up a stick and imagined it was a sword and praticed with it. when he was 7, he got his hands on a wooden sword and was playing around with his friends who also had wooden swords. was on the streets from 5 till 12. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strength:10 Charisma:5 Intelligence:15 Agility:5 Endurance:15 Skill: Swordsman[better with swords]. Ability: Focused. (harder to hit with attacks when wielding a sword) Preferred Weapon: Gladius --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Gladius. Left Hand: . Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: None. Legs: Breechcloth. Feet: None.
You approach again, but this time instead of lunging with the spear he steps forward and slams you with his shield. You stumble backwards and drop one of your swords.
Name:Caligula Maximus Age: 24 Gender:M Crime Committed:Treason Physical Description:tall,black hair,brown eyes,slight tan,not very toned (muscles) Biography:Lived a young life in a family of Socii, from the gauls who came from germany as refugees and joined the roman army, but i saw what they did to the Gaulish they saw me and knew i wasn't one of them, after plotting i stole army food and various things and delivered to them. But one night i was caught and end up here --------------------------------------------------------------------- You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:12 Charisma:10 Intelligence:10 Agility:10 Endurance:8 Skill: Scavenger[because of the time you spent stealing food from the army, you are better not only at finding things, but you are more resilient and able to handle food and water deprivation better]. Ability: Finesse i can do some fancy rolls and whatnot to confuse the brutes who are dumb Preferred Weapon: Sica --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Spatha. Left Hand: Parma. Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: Manica. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
how small a shield, like a wrist shield, or like a round buckler
you start to move forward shield slightly lowered (so if he goes to get around it with his sica i can rip it up, and either disarm, or create an opening) but i stop moving about 20 feet from him
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M 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:15 Charisma:5 Intelligence:5 Agility:10 Endurance:15 Skill: Slippery Fingers[thanks to the time you spent stealing, you're better at sneaking around, pickpocketing, and picking locks]. Ability: intimadate (scares weaker foes to giving up) Preferred Weapon:Spears/Javelins ----------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: None. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
"What do you mean what kind of fighter i should be i aint gonna fight for something i did not commit"
Name:Caligula Maximus Age: 24 Gender:M Crime Committed:Treason Physical Description:tall,black hair,brown eyes,slight tan,not very toned (muscles) Biography:Lived a young life in a family of Socii, from the gauls who came from germany as refugees and joined the roman army, but i saw what they did to the Gaulish they saw me and knew i wasn't one of them, after plotting i stole army food and various things and delivered to them. But one night i was caught and end up here --------------------------------------------------------------------- You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:12 Charisma:10 Intelligence:10 Agility:10 Endurance:8 Skill: Scavenger[because of the time you spent stealing food from the army, you are better not only at finding things, but you are more resilient and able to handle food and water deprivation better]. Ability: Finesse i can do some fancy rolls and whatnot to confuse the brutes who are dumb Preferred Weapon: Sica --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Spatha. Left Hand: Parma. Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: Manica. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
You advance and stop a few yards away from him but he doesn't budge. He lifts his shield at a peculiar angle, angles his sica, and sets one foot firmly forward. He's in a good defensive position, and now he's waiting for you to advance.
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M 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:15 Charisma:5 Intelligence:5 Agility:10 Endurance:15 Skill: Slippery Fingers[thanks to the time you spent stealing, you're better at sneaking around, pickpocketing, and picking locks]. Ability: intimadate (scares weaker foes to giving up) Preferred Weapon:Spears/Javelins ----------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: None. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
Octavia laughs. "Good luck with that," she tells you. "Regardless of whether or not you actually committed any crimes, and you did, the Empire thinks that you did. You are at the Arena, and now you will fight or you will die. It's that simple. You're going into a match regardless of whether or not you want to, and it's your choice whether you want to be trained when you go in there with an opponent determined to see you sliced and diced, or whether you go in there unequipped and untrained."
Name:Caligula Maximus Age: 24 Gender:M Crime Committed:Treason Physical Description:tall,black hair,brown eyes,slight tan,not very toned (muscles) Biography:Lived a young life in a family of Socii, from the gauls who came from germany as refugees and joined the roman army, but i saw what they did to the Gaulish they saw me and knew i wasn't one of them, after plotting i stole army food and various things and delivered to them. But one night i was caught and end up here --------------------------------------------------------------------- You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:12 Charisma:10 Intelligence:10 Agility:10 Endurance:8 Skill: Scavenger[because of the time you spent stealing food from the army, you are better not only at finding things, but you are more resilient and able to handle food and water deprivation better]. Ability: Finesse i can do some fancy rolls and whatnot to confuse the brutes who are dumb Preferred Weapon: Sica --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Spatha. Left Hand: Parma. Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: Manica. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
Name:Caligula Maximus Age: 24 Gender:M Crime Committed:Treason Physical Description:tall,black hair,brown eyes,slight tan,not very toned (muscles) Biography:Lived a young life in a family of Socii, from the gauls who came from germany as refugees and joined the roman army, but i saw what they did to the Gaulish they saw me and knew i wasn't one of them, after plotting i stole army food and various things and delivered to them. But one night i was caught and end up here --------------------------------------------------------------------- You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:12 Charisma:10 Intelligence:10 Agility:10 Endurance:8 Skill: Scavenger[because of the time you spent stealing food from the army, you are better not only at finding things, but you are more resilient and able to handle food and water deprivation better]. Ability: Finesse i can do some fancy rolls and whatnot to confuse the brutes who are dumb Preferred Weapon: Sica --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Spatha. Left Hand: Parma. Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: Manica. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
You choose to hold steady, but your sole audience member, the Emperor, gets bored after a moment of this. You feel the earth shaking beneath you, and both you and your opponent turn in awe in time to see an enormous, rusty gate creaking open to admit some sort of giant boar with enormous, sharp tusks into the arena. You have no time to react to it, but luckily it charges at your opponent first instead of you. He, already being in a defensive position, braces himself and when the boar collides with him violently, your opponent is minimally injured. He is thrown a few feet back from the impact itself but manages to roll to his feet again. He dropped his sica when the boar attacked and you are about to take advantage of this fact when the boar turns, paws the ground once, and sets its eyes straight on you.
Name:Caligula Maximus Age: 24 Gender:M Crime Committed:Treason Physical Description:tall,black hair,brown eyes,slight tan,not very toned (muscles) Biography:Lived a young life in a family of Socii, from the gauls who came from germany as refugees and joined the roman army, but i saw what they did to the Gaulish they saw me and knew i wasn't one of them, after plotting i stole army food and various things and delivered to them. But one night i was caught and end up here --------------------------------------------------------------------- You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:12 Charisma:10 Intelligence:10 Agility:10 Endurance:8 Skill: Scavenger[because of the time you spent stealing food from the army, you are better not only at finding things, but you are more resilient and able to handle food and water deprivation better]. Ability: Finesse i can do some fancy rolls and whatnot to confuse the brutes who are dumb Preferred Weapon: Sica --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Spatha. Left Hand: Parma. Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: Manica. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
Name:Caligula Maximus Age: 24 Gender:M Health: 6/8 Crime Committed:Treason Physical Description:tall,black hair,brown eyes,slight tan,not very toned (muscles) Biography:Lived a young life in a family of Socii, from the gauls who came from germany as refugees and joined the roman army, but i saw what they did to the Gaulish they saw me and knew i wasn't one of them, after plotting i stole army food and various things and delivered to them. But one night i was caught and end up here --------------------------------------------------------------------- You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:12 Charisma:10 Intelligence:10 Agility:10 Endurance:8 Skill: Scavenger[because of the time you spent stealing food from the army, you are better not only at finding things, but you are more resilient and able to handle food and water deprivation better]. Ability: Finesse i can do some fancy rolls and whatnot to confuse the brutes who are dumb Preferred Weapon: Sica --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Spatha. Left Hand: . Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: Right Manica. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
You have just enough time to set your spatha ready for an underthrust when the boar charges. This time, it charges at an angle, not straight forward, so when you try to thrust forward with your spatha you are only able to cut its side, and not very deeply. It, however, stabs straight into your left arm. Your manica takes some of the damage but is cut through quickly enough, and the tusk pierces through to your arm. You drop your parma and take some damage, but luckily the boar did not charge you with the same velocity it had when it attacked your opponent, and you're still standing. However, your left arm is now a liability. Your opponent has now recovered his sica from the ground and begins to cautiously advance on the boar from behind. It's still focused on you, but you think it unlikely that it will charge again.
Name:Caligula Maximus Age: 24 Gender:M Health: 6/8 Crime Committed:Treason Physical Description:tall,black hair,brown eyes,slight tan,not very toned (muscles) Biography:Lived a young life in a family of Socii, from the gauls who came from germany as refugees and joined the roman army, but i saw what they did to the Gaulish they saw me and knew i wasn't one of them, after plotting i stole army food and various things and delivered to them. But one night i was caught and end up here --------------------------------------------------------------------- You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:12 Charisma:10 Intelligence:10 Agility:10 Endurance:8 Skill: Scavenger[because of the time you spent stealing food from the army, you are better not only at finding things, but you are more resilient and able to handle food and water deprivation better]. Ability: Finesse i can do some fancy rolls and whatnot to confuse the brutes who are dumb Preferred Weapon: Sica --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Spatha. Left Hand: . Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: Right Manica. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
grab my parma and go up to it and bash it with it, drop it, unsheathe my spatha and stab it's head
Name:Caligula Maximus Age: 24 Gender:M Level: 1 Health: 4/8 Crime Committed:Treason Physical Description:tall,black hair,brown eyes,slight tan,not very toned (muscles) Biography:Lived a young life in a family of Socii, from the gauls who came from germany as refugees and joined the roman army, but i saw what they did to the Gaulish they saw me and knew i wasn't one of them, after plotting i stole army food and various things and delivered to them. But one night i was caught and end up here --------------------------------------------------------------------- You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:12 Charisma:10 Intelligence:10 Agility:10 Endurance:8 Skill: Scavenger[because of the time you spent stealing food from the army, you are better not only at finding things, but you are more resilient and able to handle food and water deprivation better]. Ability: Finesse i can do some fancy rolls and whatnot to confuse the brutes who are dumb Preferred Weapon: Sica --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Spatha. Left Hand: . Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: Right Manica. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
You sheathe your spatha and pick up your parma with your right hand. You bash the boar with the shield and it is disoriented, then you are able to draw your spatha once more after dropping your parma. Unfortunately, this switch gives the boar time to recover, and it slashes at you with its tusks. You are unable to block and take some damage. However, in your counterattack you manage to stab it once more, and in a stroke of luck you stab it straight through the eye. Blinded and badly bleeding, the boar stumbles away and your opponent finishes it with one well-placed lunge through the heart. Now the boar is dead. Unfortunately...you still have to fight your opponent, and this time with only one arm in commission.
Name:Caligula Maximus Age: 24 Gender:M Level: 1 Health: 4/8 Crime Committed:Treason Physical Description:tall,black hair,brown eyes,slight tan,not very toned (muscles) Biography:Lived a young life in a family of Socii, from the gauls who came from germany as refugees and joined the roman army, but i saw what they did to the Gaulish they saw me and knew i wasn't one of them, after plotting i stole army food and various things and delivered to them. But one night i was caught and end up here --------------------------------------------------------------------- You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:12 Charisma:10 Intelligence:10 Agility:10 Endurance:8 Skill: Scavenger[because of the time you spent stealing food from the army, you are better not only at finding things, but you are more resilient and able to handle food and water deprivation better]. Ability: Finesse i can do some fancy rolls and whatnot to confuse the brutes who are dumb Preferred Weapon: Sica --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Spatha. Left Hand: . Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: Right Manica. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
Name:Caligula Maximus Age: 24 Gender:M Level: 1 Health: 4/8 Crime Committed:Treason Physical Description:tall,black hair,brown eyes,slight tan,not very toned (muscles) Biography:Lived a young life in a family of Socii, from the gauls who came from germany as refugees and joined the roman army, but i saw what they did to the Gaulish they saw me and knew i wasn't one of them, after plotting i stole army food and various things and delivered to them. But one night i was caught and end up here --------------------------------------------------------------------- You have 50 points to distribute among the following attributes. Strength:12 Charisma:10 Intelligence:10 Agility:10 Endurance:8 Skill: Scavenger[because of the time you spent stealing food from the army, you are better not only at finding things, but you are more resilient and able to handle food and water deprivation better]. Ability: Finesse i can do some fancy rolls and whatnot to confuse the brutes who are dumb Preferred Weapon: Sica --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: Parma. Left Hand: . Torso: None. Head: Galea. Arms: Right Manica. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
You sheathe your spatha and are about to pick up your parma again when your opponent takes advantage of this opportunity. He advances quickly, slashing at you before you are able to draw your parma. You dodge and roll out of his way, but he kicks your parma out onto the periphery of the arena, far out of your reach.
