Action I
Tertius Avitius Cato kicks up dust walking through the barebones ludus. There are walls, and a floor, and even a couple fresh gladiators. They would, however, also need
equipment, and so he set out to go to a nearby armorer working out of a small town.
After nearly half a day's travel by horseback, Tertius Avitius begins to note the unusual quality of some of the tools being used by the working folk. He'd received a letter from Gaius Magnus Caelius a few days prior with instructions on how to get to this specific metalworker, which he'd heard about through a few fellow soldiers who'd impressed him with the quality of their arms and armor (though he did note they were dead now).
There is a young man hammering a blade outside of a thatched roof hut next to an outdoor blacksmith's workshop. Tertius approaches and watches his technique. Each hammerblow falls precisely. Every swing is measured, pinpoint, and rapid. Tertius watches, mesmerized, as the not-quite-boy churns out a blade quicker than any he'd seen before. And while he can't test it, Tertius is fairly certain it is a good blade. As he thinks to himself an older man hobbles out of the hut using a gnarled stick to help him walk. One of his eyes is milky white and points in wholly the wrong direction. A dark scar running down his face is good indication as to how that happened.
"Problem with m'boy?" he grumbles out.
"Not at all," Tertius responds, "Simply admiring his work."
The old man straightens up, as if realizing there was a potential customer in front of him.
"Oh, well then by all means, do look," the man gestures across the workspace with one hand while the other leans on the stick held ahead of him, "But don't touch. Especially his tools. Bit a man's fingers off once for it..."
The statement forces one of Tertius' eyebrows upwards, and the man states to clarify, "The boy, not me. Great with the forge, but people are another story."
After looking around Tertius decides to reach an agreement for a reliable supply of Chainmail Vests(
lorica hamata) and Open Helmets (
galea) to the ludus for a relatively small fee. On the ride home Tertius comes across a quartet of bloodied bodies in the road surrounded by debris and dead horses. He was going to mind his business when one calls to him by name.
"Is...Avitius? Tertius, help," coughs one of the corpses as he uses what little energy he has to try to prop himself up.
Tertius recognizes the man from his arena dealings. He was in the "employ" of a small-time lanista, a slave captured in Numidia with skill at arms. Currently a nasty gash opened him up from nipple to navel, though his insides remained in place.
After brief, laborious discussion, Tertius learns of the road ambush which resulted in the killing or kidnapping of the whole of the family the Numidian had worked for. While they were to be granted freedom upon the death of the family, so long as they weren't connected with it, a number of slaves wish to find employ with another prestigious House. The Numidian is one of them, replacing your current trainder (provides six d6 dice - as opposed to 4, rerolls on
Mounted training, no
Mounted training cap). With him comes connections to a local weaponsmith. He was already paid up to provide Spears (
hasta) and Axes (
...war axe...) to the now-gone family, and the Numidian persuades him to transfer the deal over to yourselves, with only minor complaint.
[-Fortune Token, -Fate Tokenx2]Lorica Hamata[5]: Body Armor. A vest of interlocked rings meant to provide some protection against attacks to ones vital bits. The wearer maintains flexibility and mobility for the most part. The rings are strong and capable of deflecting or minimizing some quite hefty blows. Weighs 10kg.
Galea[1]: Head Armor. While the boy seemed skilled and meticulous, it becomes apparent that his father would hide his...lesser creations. The helmets are hammered thin enough to bend easily by hand. Little more than protection from the rain.
Hasta[2]: A 1.5m disappointing construction of a spear. The iron tip is fine enough, but the quality of wood used for the shaft leaves
much to be desired, splintering and shattering after only a few strong blows.
War Axe[6]: A 55cm long axe with a 12cm long crescent blade designed to hack through flesh and bone instead of wood. The head is firmly affixed to the handle, and hold a frighteningly sharp edge. The axe is weighted to provide a maximum amount of leverage with each swing while maintaining comfort and familiarity. The handle has a metal cap at the bottom.
Now that we have some gear, it's time to move onto the
Training Phase! First you need to equip the gladiators, then it's time to get down to business. You currently have
six d6 to assign to your gladiator's skills. Remember that assigning extra dice to a training check is not additive, and only modifies the
minimum roll by +1. Your efforts to define your family have also been noted, and as such you feel the strings of Fate tug in your favor.
[+Fate Token]Note you may also use Tokens to perform, ah,
extracurricular activities during the Training Phase. Note however that if you require use of a gladiator for said activities (and no damn it before I have to hear it I'm not implying sexual here, or anywhere except maybe that once) they will be unable to receive training. Any improvements you get will be applied the same Phase.
Finally, it is time to begin deciding
how to utilize our surplus food. Note we can change this at any time. Options are as follows:
Increased Rations: By giving larger portions of food with greater variety, and occasionally even good flavor, we increase morale of all Gladiators. Vitality Training has a 50% chance to receive a +1 increase (
can go above 6). These bonuses apply as long as Increased Rations is active.
Sell It Off: By selling our food through traders at local markets we can provide more income for our family. Provides One Fortune Token per Surplus Food per Turn. Small chance to boost trade-related Relationships each Interaction.
Aid Your Peers: By providing food to your fellow Patricians, for parties, times of need, or anything in between, they learn to rely on you. Provides One Favor Token per Surplus Food per Turn. Small chance to clear debts, smaller chance to put a known character in your debt.
Donate To The People: By spreading our good fortune among the Plebes word of our good deeds will carry our name far and wide. Provides One Fame Token per Surplus Food per Turn. 50% chance for a second Fame token as word spreads.
Donate To The Temples: By supplying temple keepers and worshipers with the sustenance they require we hope to curry favor with the Gods. Provides One Fate Token per Surplus Food per Turn. Two 25% Chances for an additional token of any type.
IT IS NOW THE TRAINING PHASE!Basic Familial Household: Has all the basic needs required to support a large family, even if some of that "family" are Gladiators. Provides 3 Food.
Basic Ludus: A courtyard and Gladiator housing that many might consider worse than prison. Has a Numidian Trainer (6 d6, Mounted Reroll+NoCap) and a single Wooden Training Post (provides No Bonus).
Athaulf, Germanic Tribesman - V4/A1/T5(+2 if spear)/S6; Germanic, Fisherman
-Body: Rags
Obelix, Gallic Berserker - V5/A1/T4(+1 if Axe)/S3; Gallic, Merciless, Drunk
-Body: Rags
Weapons
Hasta[2]:A 1.5m long spear of very poor construction. The shaft is a major weakpoint, often disintegrating after a few strikes.
War Axe[6]: A 55cm long axe with 12cm long crescent blade meant for felling man. Extremely sharp and immensely durable. The bottom of the handle has a metal cap.
Armor
Rags: Body "armor". Does Nothing.
Galea[1]: Head "armor". A thin metal layer of "protection" that can keep the light off of one's head, and that's about it.
Lorica Hamata[5]: Body Armor. A vest of interlocked rings that provides plenty of protection for the torso.
Magnatii Training: +1T/-1V, can exceed 6.
Germanic - +1 Technique (Spear) Training. Can exceed 6.
Fisherman - +1 to Technique (Spear) Training. Cannot exceed 6.
Gallic - + 1 to Technique (Axe) Training. Can exceed 6.
Merciless - 50% chance of killing opponent, more likely to quickly finish off opponent.
Drunk - 50% chance of -1 on any Training roll.
Auroros, Soldier turned Slave Trader (Status: Very Friendly)
Mulsus and his Father (Status: Neutral)
Food: 3 (2/3 Used)
Tokens:
Fate x1
Lucius Magnus Caelius (Alive, Well)
Gaius Magnus Caelius (Alive, Well)
Severina Caecilia Sabina (Alive, Well)
Titus Magnus Calvus (Alive, Well)
Tertius Avitus Cato (Alive, Well)
Tycho Flavius Vulpus (Alive, Well)
Note: You may continue to add onto your family and make minor adjustments with characters left unused at this point. Excessive additions will be turned to newborns >:l
Author
Topic: Blood of Champions - House Magnus (Action II) (Read 4803 times)