In the seediest drinking establishment of Delecta, there sits a squat, potbellied man. He's clothed in noble finery and seems to pinch his coin a bit too hard, not buying a drink or tipping a beggar, regardless, there's a sort of energy about him many find likeable, and at the moment, he stands on a table, mirthfully regaling a crowd of working men and the dredges of society with the wonders of the Arena.
"Thousands of men and women, given over to glorious combat! They engage in vicious, beautiful slaughter with one another, with both man and beast! Only the mightiest and the boldest reign victorious, yet those few indulge in riches beyond your imagination!
"Imagine, if you will, the sound of the trumpets, the howls of foreign and deadly beasts! The screams of agony and the triumphant cries of victory! The spurts of crimson blood and the flash of glinting steel! Imagine, if you will, all of these, coming together in miraculous display!"
"This I tell you, it is yours to witness! And all for nary five Sesterces at Domenico Cassini's Bloody Pit Of Battle! This I tell you! Where else in the fine streets of Delecta can one find such rich, quality entertainment? Nowhere, that's where, and I'm offering it all to you for but a pittance!"
"What's more, the children, the elderly, and those who have served in the glorious legions of Rome may spectate without cost! You'd have to be a fool to pass this up, and I know a smart crowd when I see it! If you're interested and seeking entertainment, come to Domenico Cassini's Bloody Pit Of Bold Battle at the end of the week, and I shall have a brilliant spectacle prepared, the likes of which you've never seen!"
With that, the little man bows with a flourish and climbs off the table, leaving the establishment behind him.
Domenico Cassini spreads the word of his Bloody Pit Of Bold Battle to the poor, promising a 5 Sesterces entry fee, with free admission to children, the elderly, and those who have served in the Roman Legion.
Domenico paces back and forth in the market, looking for wares worthy of purchase. For something to add a bit of... spice, to the Pit fights. He marvels at the Troglodyte and finely crafted steel armaments, but frowns at his shallow pockets.
"Feh, mayhap next time, even Julius had to start from somewhere. For now I suppose I'll need something a bit less costly. No matter, I suspect anything I could come up with would marvel Delecta's citizenry, so bland have things been of late."
Domenico Cassini purchases 1 Useless Slave for 1 Sesterce, to serve as a personal servant. He purchases 8 Subpar Slaves for 24 Sesterces, and 2 Wild Dogs for 40 Sesterces, leaving him with 35 Sesterces.
Domenico Cassini purchases 6 Wooden weapons and 2 Copper weapons for 16 Sesterces. He also purchases 2 Bucklers for 10 Sesterces. He also purchases 8 Cloth armors for 8 Sesterces, leaving him with only 1 Sesterces, which he throws down a well as a sacrifice to Mars, in the hopes of gaining his blessing in the days ahead.
Next, Domenico Cassini equips his slaves as follows: The two largest and strongest Subpar Slaves receive 2 Copper weapons, 2 Bucklers, and 2 Cloth armors. The remaining 6 Subpar Slaves receive 6 Wooden weapons and 6 Cloth armors.
Domenico Cassini then plans the fights for the week. Each fight takes place in the middle of the night, six hours separate of one another, and spectators are charged admittance for each fight they spectate. Betting and gambling among the crowd is encouraged.
Fight 1: Two less-equipped Subpar Slaves fight to the death. In anticipation of the battle, they are starved the week before.
Fight 2: One well-equipped Subpar Slave fights two Wild Dogs to the death. In anticipation, the Subpar Slave and Wild Dogs are starved the week before, and the Subpar Slave is slathered in meat grease beforehand.
Fight 3: One well-equipped Subpar Slave and three less-equipped Subpar Slaves fight to the death in a Team Battle. One side is made up of the well-equipped Subpar Slave and the weakest less-equipped Subpar Slave, the other side is made up of the two stronger less-equipped Subpar Slaves. In anticipation of the battle, all four of the Subpar Slaves are starved the week before.
Author
Topic: Dominus - Or how i learned to stop worrying and embrace the Bloodsport (8/8) (Read 7621 times)