"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: 15/15 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: 3 Asarii. Right Hand: Hasta. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas.
Donating money to the church doesn't get you more Charisma. So that action would be kind of useless. Do you want to go to Church still, or just go to sleep?
Name: Cato Age: 23 Gender: Male Crime Committed: Rebellion. Physical Description: not that strong but very agile and slick fighter Biography: was always very poor and felt that the emperor had too much power and that the people, not the ruler, should rule rome. was a kind of assassin/ rogue in his childhood and was a highly charismatic man, though he was always good with a pugio.... --------------------------------------------------------------------- attributes. Strength: 6 Charisma: 13 Intelligence: 10 Agility: 13 Endurance: 8 Skill: Voice of the Rebellion(you are more charismatic and better at convincing people to join your cause) Ability: good stabber, knows how to throw knives good Preferred Weapon: Pugio. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: None. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
Dimachaeri I guess, only if swords were daggers.....
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 15/15 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: 3 Asarii. Right Hand: Hasta. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas.
eh naw i'll just go to sleep but find a place to store my money
Name: Cato Age: 23 Gender: Male Crime Committed: Rebellion. Physical Description: not that strong but very agile and slick fighter Biography: was always very poor and felt that the emperor had too much power and that the people, not the ruler, should rule rome. was a kind of assassin/ rogue in his childhood and was a highly charismatic man, though he was always good with a pugio.... --------------------------------------------------------------------- attributes. Strength: 6 Charisma: 13 Intelligence: 10 Agility: 13 Endurance: 8 Skill: Voice of the Rebellion(you are more charismatic and better at convincing people to join your cause) Ability: good stabber, knows how to throw knives good Preferred Weapon: Pugio. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Right Hand: None. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: None.
The Dimachaerus is already taken, can't have that one.
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 15/15 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: 3 Asarii. Right Hand: Hasta. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas.
You look for a place to store your money, and end up cutting a slit into your pillow and hiding the coins there. The next morning, you awake. This time, Octavia greets you. "Good morning," she says, almost cheerfully. Not that it's actually cheerful, but for Octavia it was unusual not to be frowning. "Any new matches today?" "Not today, today is our day off. You can do whatever you want. If you still want to work, you could probably find something interesting at the tavern, or maybe you could speak with the legionaries."
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 15/15 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: Hasta. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas.
"how boring is that, can you do me a favor and find my family for me i miss them" i frown
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 15/15 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: Hasta. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas.
"Your family?" Octavia asks. "Well...if you're here...the Emperor most likely had them killed."
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 15/15 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: Hasta. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas.
"What!!!" punch the wall "Are you serious... Tell me your kidding me Tell me its a Lie" crys
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 15/15 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: Hasta. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas.
Octavia mutters something and walks away, to be replaced by Cadmus a few minutes later. He takes a look at you, crying, and sits down awkwardly, eating his toast and waiting for you to stop crying. "It's not a lie...just so you know," he says.
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 15/15 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: Hasta. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas.
"but but they had nothing to do with this why" sniffles
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 15/15 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: Hasta. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas.
"The Emperor likes his entertainment," Cadmus answers bitterly. Then he gets up and walks away. So what will you do now?
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 15/15 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: Hasta. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas.
well with the anger of a thousands i curse nero i will go to the tavern for a way to earn money
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 15/15 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: Hasta. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas.
You go to the tavern. Who will you sit by?
-The two people with hoods pulled up over their heads sitting at the bar. -The large group of people talking loudly and drinking a lot sitting at a table. -An empty table, alone. -A table with a small group of people, talking a lot but not drinking much.
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 15/15 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: Hasta. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 15/15 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: Hasta. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas
You sit down at the table next to the small group of people talking amongst themselves. "What do you want?" one asks, turning to you.
Name:Benignus Oridan Age: 26 Gender:M Class: Velitus Level: 1 Health: 15/15 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: Hasta. Left Hand: None. Torso: None. Head: None. Arms: None. Legs: Cloth Leggings. Feet: Caligas
