"Give Isith a big club." You say.
"No, scratch that. The biggest-damn-stick you can find, Bascus!" You continue, chuckling to yourself. "I want to see this man breaking bones with an equivalent of an uprooted tree!"
Bascus nods, saying, "Of course, Ma'am. What would Aquila use?"
"Give him the sword and scissor combination, and train him with the throwing spear as well. The heavy ones."
Bascus gives a deep bow, saying, "Your wish be done. Now, might I ask what you intend to do with the rest?" He is holding his apparent curiosity behind a thin veil of professionalism, one that annoys you through the years that you have known each other.
"I have my methods. Now suit up the two warriors, and train them. I want to see blood over the pits when those three weeks come by." You reply, and with that, you leave with two bodyguards in tow.
You have an idea about getting to the bottom with Lynx and Nero, and though it is hardly a method befitting a woman of your class, you have always been known for your amazingly orthodox, yet effective methods. You tell the bodyguards to leave you and observe the pits while you call for your personal maid.
Your servant, Caelia, has been part of your retinue for as long as Bascus has. She hardly flinches when you tell her your plan, but helps you prepare. In less than an hour, you look the same as her, your beautiful features smudged by the careful appliance of makeup and artificial grime. You feel dirty and somewhat insignificant in these peasant-y clothes, but you will never know the true nature of those two if you came to them as Ursula.
No, for now, you are a peasant. You and Caelia leave for the cells, where the gladiators have recently retired to. You feel somewhat afraid, despite the watchful eyes of the guards and trainers watching the beasts that dare be called men. You utilize that fear in order to more effectively fit into your disguise.
Caelia grabs a bucket, and you grab a sponge, and the two of you head to where three of the gladiators; Lynx, Nero, and Aquila, are having a discussion. Within earshot, you two set about cleaning the floor, though Caelia is a much bigger help in this than you.
Lynx seems to be berating Nero. "How could you enjoy being here? This is a deathtrap for us, and we will do nothing but satisfy the thirst of the blue-blooded Roman fat-cats that watch us die upon those sands!"
Nero actually seems withdrawn with his answer, "I accept the fact I am here. They caught me, as it would be about time. Now, I have a new future, and my blade works just as well in daylight as it does at night." He seems to relish the idea of spilling a man's blood, not in a guttural, brutish way, but in a more homicidal/child-consumer sort of way. "The feel of dragging your steel through someone's flesh is amazing. It gets the adrenaline pumping once that crimson drop has hit the floor."
Aquila and Lynx seem to be taken aback at this.
"Killing is not for sport, it is for honor!" Aquila states, a look of disgust upon his face. "To kill just for the sake of it is disgusting."
"Being here is disgusting. I will not hold a blade while there is one poking into my back, telling me to run mine through someone else." Lynx states.
Nero shrugs. "See it as you will, you have two choices. Fight, or die. We all have different motives, and in the end, it all comes down to a heaping pile of intestines strewn across the sand, no matter how much pride you take in spilling them, nor how honorable it is." He gives a toothy grin that makes him seem almost demented.
Lynx holds his hands up, pointing at Nero. "You, you're crazy, a vile abomination. I'm the only sane man here, and I swear..." And by now, his voice dropped to a whisper after a quick look towards the guards, who are busy comparing the size of their swords. "I will escape this place." And with that, he leaves. Aquila, also having enough with the conversation is saved by the bell as Bascus calls him and Isith into the yard.
You think you've had enough eavesdropping, so you tell Caelia you want to head back, and you two quickly leave back to your room, where you quickly make yourself more presentable. You hate those itchy, rough clothes. It felt as if you were wearing a sack.
No, this gown you have is much more ornate, and you pity Caelia for her own dress while she removes the artistic grime from your body. You'll remedy that, years of close companionship and service has earned her more than sack-cloth clothing.
Dressed as Ursula the noble once more, you call over a pair of bodyguards, telling them to bring Brutus to you discreetly. They eye you awkwardly for a moment, and you feel a twinge of irritation. It soon passes as they leave to go fetch him however.
Brutus stumbles into your room, giving a toothy grin. You notice he is actually missing a few teeth. How horrid.
"Ya' wanted somethin', Ma'm?" He says, his voice is very reedy, and quite annoying to listen to. He is clearly impressed by the wealth you display, and seems almost awed.
"You want another chance for glory, dear Brutus?" You say. He eagerly agrees with an over-enthusiastic shake of his head, sending his loose hair flying everywhere.
"Then, I have a couple terms for you..."
You tell Brutus that in order to attain glory once more in the arena, he has to help teach the other gladiators how to fight. He hesitantly agrees, because no gladiator is happy to give up his secrets, especially to those he might one day fight upon the sands. But he agrees, and you notice he is desperate to hold a weapon in his hand once more.
You inherited a bunch of crazies. And it will be a long, long three weeks to get these foolish men into fighting machines.
Though what Lynx stated when you eavesdropped worries you. You could kill him, and be rid of the trouble, or you might find another way to make him fight for you.
You grin, feeling self-satisfied that you now hold a major bargaining chip. The man does not want to die, the fact that he is here makes that certain. And he desperately wants to breathe fresh air again.
How will you deal with him?
-----------------------------------
Resources
Gladiators:
Lynx: Healthy, unhappy
Isith: Healthy
Aquila: Healthy, missing hand
Brutus: Healthy
Nero: Healthy
Denarii: 10,000. (Monies)
Facilities:
1 training yard
10 cells
1 mess hall
1 commons area
1 small pit
Author
Topic: You own a Gladiatorial School! (Read 4737 times)