Conflict of Orders

An additional five gladiators shall be entered by M. Decius Bellicus

THE VERY FIRST MATCH OF THE LUDI APOLLINARES OF 194 B.C.

An UNKNOWN gladiator of Marius

VERSUS

An UNKNOWN gladiator of Nero

The crowd is generally confused at the lack of names, but aren't here to meet new people, they are here to watch blood sports. As the gladiators stroll into the central stage, they are greeted with cheers by the enthusiastic crowd, well oiled with bread and wine.

The two unknown gladiators immediately go at it. A cruel fight between the two unknown men results in a relatively quick fight, that ends with the unknown of Marius landing a solid blow with the pommel of his short sword on the temple of the unknown of Nero. The unknown of Nero collapses upon the ground, unconscious but alive. As it is the first match of the day, the crowd is eager to see the blood sport start. They call for death for the unknown. The presiding gladiatorial master however is not eager to allow for such quick death, and he motions that the man is to survive. The first match of the day has ended.

THE SECOND MATCH OF THE LUDI APPOLINARES OF 194 B.C.

VALARION of Bellicus

VERSUS

VENTRILIQUS of Corbulo

The crowd stirred more favorably now that known men were entering the arena. Some of them had seen Ventriliqus fight before, and so he was hailed the most loudly by the crowd of the mighty arena.

Valarion, equipped with sword and shield, fought well against Ventriliqus, who fought with a short spear and a square shield. The two battled ferociously under the slightly dim sun, battling and testing each other constantly attempting to find a gap in the others defenses. Both were trained, but only Ventriliqus had sufficient training with other gladiators at a Ludus, and it certainly showed. Having been tested in mock-combat against many others in his time, he slowly figured out Valarions tactics and dealt him a cutting stab in the leg, sending Valarion to the ground, alive but unable to fight.

The crowd roared appreciatively. Blood had been spilled. The master of ceremony appreciably gave a motion for the survivor to live on

THE THIRD MATCH OF THE LUDI APPOLINARES OF 194 B.C.

BUDAR of Corbulo

VERSUS

TRAJAN of Bellicus

After a very brief intermission, the next fight began to be organised. The crowd, happy and content, waited patiently, talking with each other and calling out to friends across the Arena. When the two new combatants came in, they were greeted with warm cheers, as the crowd was eager to see this fight between one known winner, and one known newcomer.

Budar, an impressive specimen of Hispano-Gaulic background, used only a heavy iron-clad club, while his more nimble adversary Trajan had decided to go with two short swords. The fight was sloggish, with both sides often not hitting each other. Both seemed to have a bad day on the sand, and the crowd was quite bored with the display of these two fighters exchanging empty slashes. Finally however, Budar managed to land a solid swing straight to Trajans head. With a crack heard around the Arena, Trajan fell to the floor. He was however not dead.. Yet.

The crowd was quite bored with the show, and therefore brayed for blood. The master of the ceremonies looked down upon the sands and called out: Mercy, for Trajan. The crowd was not happy with this at all, but the games continued nonetheless.

THE FOURTH MATCH OF THE LUDI APPOLINARES OF 194 B.C.

RUFUS of TACITUS

VERSUS

UNKNOWN of NERO

With the last fight being a bit of a bummer, the crowd was now eager to see a new and much better fight. Onto the sands came one known and one unknown, but neither having seen action in the arena.

The two fighters, one armed with a pitchfork, the other armed with simply a shield and a knife, were an odd couple. The fight however was surprisingly one sided. The unknown, armed with a pitchfork (or a trident, depending on who you ask), had a clear advantage in reach and used it to its fullest extent. A few minutes into the bout, the Unknown of Nero landed a fearsome thrust into Rufus, who stumbled back, injured. He fell to the ground and writhed in agony. With the Unknown standing over him, ready to spare or kill, the crowd stirred.

The crowd, eager to see death, shouted loudly for it. The master of ceremonies agreed, and a downward finger was thrust forward. In response, the Unknown of Nero thrust his trident into the man's face, killing him instantly in a gory display that sent the crowd into wild ecstasy. They cheered the Trident-wielding man, calling out his now new name "PISCATOR", or Fisher, in English.

THE FIFTH MATCH OF THE LUDI APPOLINARES OF 194 B.C.

UNKNOWN of Marius

VERSUS

MEPHISTOPHOLES of Bellicus

With the crowds demands for blood having been at least temporarily sated, the next match could now begin. The crowd were eager for more combat, and the two gladiators entering the arena certainly promised to deliver to them this wish.

The next match was quicker than many expected. With the two opponents squaring up with similar equipment, the Unknown of Marius began a battery of hits and stabs with his short sword, while Mephistopholes could only block with his shield and occasionally slicing back with his own sword. Brutally pressing Mephistopholes back further and further into the Arena, they eventually found themselves up against the very perimeter, where Mephistopholes was finally cornered and sliced and stabbed into submission. Mephistopholes had survived, but was badly battered and no in condition to fight on. The Unknown of Marius was clearly the victory, and the crowd hailed him as such.

Having seen the brutality and gore they expected in the last fight, the crowd this time was more ready to accept this match as over without further death. The master of ceremony agreed and signaled MERCY to the battered gladiator.

THE SIXTH MATCH OF THE LUDI APPOLINARES OF 194 B.C.

UNKNOWN of Nero

VERSUS

UNKNOWN of Marius

The crowd, suitably confused by the two no-name gladiators were not paying much attention as they shuffled onto the sands. Only a few scattered cheers and boos could be heard, as the crowd had busied itself with more wine and more bread. But even with the crowd somewhat distracted, the fight still had to go on, and so the two unknowns readied themselves for combat.

The unknown of Nero came to the sands with a suitably foreign sword of Egyptian origin, a so-called Khopesh, while the Unknown of Marius came equipped with a Spartan Kopis sword, slightly curved and deadly in the right hands. The two however had a sluggish match. Both sides seemed unable to find and exploit proper weakness, as their idle stabs only offended the clear air. As the match wore on, the crowd grew increasingly tired of the display, and jeers started slowly coming forth. This momentarily distracted the Unknown of Nero, who took a stab in the shoulder and fell back, alive, but wounded.

The crowd brayed for blood as a recompense for the boring fight. The master of ceremonies looked down upon the spectacle and reached out his hand. For a moment it hung still in the quiet tense atmosphere of the Arena, before finally rotating downward. DEATH. The Unknown of Marius responded, and with one swift cut opened the Unknown of Nero's throat, standing over him as the life drained from his body. The crowd cheered appreciably.

THE SEVENTH MATCH OF THE LUDI APPOLINARES OF 194 B.C.

VENUCIUS "The Head Crusher" of Curbulo

VERSUS

ATTICUS of Tacitus

The crowd gasped and roared with excitement as the giant Gallic gladiator Venucius strode upon the sands. Before him came the nimble Atticus of Thracian origin, equipped with a traditional hoplite set of shield, helmet and short sword, foregoing the spear for this close-range fight. Venucius was equipped with a huge stone mace that he rested on his shoulder as he walked into the Arena. An epic fight was in the making.

The fight started off with Atticus sweeping across the arena to strike at the giant. He had, understandably, gathered that he would have no advantage in slashing at the giant from range, the giant club would hold him at bay. Conversely, Venucius knew that the fleet-footed Thracian would not yield an easy blow, and as such he tempered himself, conserving energy for the right time. The two danced skillfully around each other, parrying, blocking, hitting and slashing, drawing appreciable ooh's and aah's from the crowd who knew they were in the presence of two legends in the making. Just as it looked like Atticus was gaining the upperhand, Venucius swung his mace with deadly speed, clattering into Atticus' hoplon, bending the metal and breaking Atticus' hand behind it. Such was the force that Atticus dropped the shield in pain and now stood only with sword against the giant. This decisively turned the tide of the battle, and soon Venucius was on the offensive, forcing Atticus further and further back in the Arena. Finally, he landed a heavy blow on Atticus' head. Atticus was flung across the sand and lay still. As Venucius drew forward, Atticus slightly stirred, proving to be alive, but incapable of continuing.

The crowd ROARED with excitement at this well-fought battle between two titans. In appreciation of Atticus' abilities and the show he had given them, they cried for his life to be spared so that he may fight for them another day. The master of ceremony agreed, raising his thumb in a show of mercy. Venucius helped Atticus off the sands as the crowd called his name again and again.

Corbulo and his retinue watched the fights with excitement and cheers. Each time one of his gladiators landed a blow he exploded with cheering and shouts. The last fight was the most spectacular, and he laughed excitedly when Atticus fell like a complete bitch. When the fight was over, he stood and turned to the crowd.

"Surely Rome has never seen such a fighter as Venucius the Head Crusher! If he wins the tournament I will donate all prize money to the games so that tonight the streets will flow with wine! Cheer for Venucius and tonight we will celebrate his victory!"