Ludi Apollinares of 193 B.C.

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The crowds, with eager faces and ready disposition had gathered to watch this years fantastic gladiatorial fights. Before them for the first fight stood two untested champions: Valarion and Nicander. Both, ready to face death in the arena to appease the crowds of the arena and the gods of Rome.

The two fighters bowed to the crowd and then began their deadly deed. Fighting with the brutality of lions, the gladiators went at each other. Valarion, with a sword and a shield and Nicander with a spear and a shield. The two were equally matched, testing each others various skills, but finally a winner had to emerge as they whittled each other down. With a furious slash, Valarion struck Nicander across the chest as he over-extended himself with his spear, casting angry red blood upon the arena sands. Nicander began to bleed profusely, and the strength was sapped for him as the fight meandered on for another few minutes. Finally however, he collapsed on the sands, and was rushed off to be seen by trained medics. Valarion stood the victor in the first honorable and entertaining bout.

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The crowds were pleased by the first fight, and seemed ready to embrace the next bout in the arena, because before them came a champion well known for those who gossiped and spoke of the glorious arena. It was Venucius the Head Crusher versus Felix of Tacitus.

Venucius received cheers and greetings from the crowd as he entered the arena, largely overshadowing Felix who strode in to little applause. Venucius, equipped with his customary giant stone mace seemed like a creature of legend more than a simple gladiator. Against him, Felix had a simple sword and shield. The two were greatly mismatched, and this quickly became apparent as the fight began. Venucius, experienced and daring, kept Felix on the backfoot, constantly swinging the mace in wide arcs that threatened to destroy anything it impacted with. Felix was pressed further and further back until he had no more ground to yield and finally got hit by the giant mace, sending him flying back into the arena wall behind him. There, he went unconscious, and stirred no more. Venucius roared with frustration at having won so easily and skulked off the field as the crowd roared his name again and again.

Felix would live, but his pride would be forever wounded.

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With another fantastic fight over with, the crowd now looked forward to the next daring battle. Before them came Mephistopholes of Bellicus and Budar of Hispanicus, a known gladiator.

Unlike so many other gladiatorial fights, this one seemed rather equal. Although Budar was a known entity in the arena, he did not fare as well as hoped or expected. Indeed, Mephistopholes fought fiercely with his short sword and hand-sized shield, keeping Budar at bay constantly. Budar, who fought with a club, seemed a match for Mephistopholes more advanced weaponry, and the two danced endlessly around the arena in a battle of attrition as both men began to wear themselves out. As fatigue seeped into the veins of both gladiators, it was Mephistopholes that began to show himself more capable of outstaying his opponent, and Budar soon began making costly mistakes. Finally, a mistake cost him the match, as a errant swing opened him to a powerful slash from Mephistopholes.

Budar fell upon the sands, bleeding profusely. The crowd bayed for blood, as they had gone three matches without a single death. From the box, the master of ceremonies tilted his thumb down, and Mephistopholes duly responded, stabbing Budar through his heart.

The crowd roared with enthusiasm, cheering "Killer, Killer, Killer". Perhaps a new nickname for Mephistopholes.

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Next came Atticus of Tacitus who would fight against Dion of Pavo. The crowd, satisfied by the death they had witnessed, were ready and eager to see another fantastic match between the two. Atticus was well known by the crowd, while Dion remained an unknown. Therefore it was not unusual that it was Atticus who was cheered as he walked onto the sands, and not Dion.

Atticus, equipped like a traditional hoplite with his hoplon, shield and helmet stood against Dion, who had chosen shield, spear and helmet. The two stood before each other and both must have thought that in another time they would've fought alongside each other on the battlefield rather than against. But now was not the time for daydreaming, instead they charged forward as the crowd brayed for blood. The clash was violent and immediate, with the sounds of metal clanking off metal, and the exclamations of two men in their prime fighting to survive upon the sandy arena. It was however Atticus who stood as the better of the two, and with his skilled use of the sword, he managed to work his way inside of Dion's stalwart defense, sending slash after slash across the man's body. Finally haggard by the wounds he was receiving, Dion became slower and slower and finally made a terminal error, receiving a stab through the leg as he mistimed the raising of his shield. This sent him down upon the sands.

The crowds were more forgiving this time, and yelled for Dion to be spared, which he duly was. Atticus walked out of the arena to the crowd cheering his name again and again.

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With the first round complete, now the quarter-finals would begin, and some of the more known men from the previous tournaments would have their day upon the sands.

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Next up was the clash between Trajan and Valarion. Both appeared fit and ready for a battle to honor the Gods and citizens of Rome. Trajan, equipped with two short swords and Valarion equipped with a hoplon and a spear. The crowd was buzzing with excitement to see another classic sword versus hoplite battle, perhaps one of their favorite constellations.

The battle was close. Using his shield effectively, Valarion was able to keep Trajans deadly dual-blades at bay as he led the man around tine arena, taking opportune strikes at openings afforded by Trajans reliance on dual-weaponry. While at first it seemed this would be an endless dance, it quickly became apparent that Valarion had a plan, and that the plan was indeed working. Trajan began slowing down ever so slightly as every hit reduced him slightly. Finally, Valarion found the opening he had been looking for, and fiercely struck Trajan in the head, jabbing his spear through the mans head cleanly. Upon the sands fell Trajan, dead.

The crowd roared with enthusiasm, what a victory, what a fantastic fight! Who knows what the next fight may reveal?

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About mid-way through the days tournament, the crowd shuffled in and out of the arena stands to refill their jars of wine and retrieve more delicious snacks. For many, the Ludi Appolinares was the highlight of the year, and they had scrupulously saved what meager income they had to attend the game with drink and bread, as befitting the occasion.

Next up came Venucius the Head Crusher who would fight against the unknown Lelex, who hailed from Sparta. Venucius was of course the crowd favorite, and he was duly hailed by the entire arena as he entered arms aloft, carrying the giant stone mace that gave him the nickname "The Head Crusher". The fight was however closer than expected. Lelex, a combat veteran, managed to use his agility well to offset Venucius, forcing him into many uncomfortable clashes as Lelex used the entire arena to draw Venucius out. However, in this story it was not brave Lelex who prevailed, for in a moment of hesitance, he stood still for just one second longer than he should have, and promptly he was sent flying as the giant stone mace smashed into the side of his head. Venucius stood the victor, and Lelex was carted off to be treated.

The crowd roared in response. Venucius! Venucius! Venucius!

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Out came the crowds favorite champion: Alexandrius. Victor of the Ludi Appolinares 194 B.C., he was universally loved by the plebians of Rome, who saw him as a supernatural figure, a true classical hero. However, no victory is certain, and no fight is easy. '

Facing Alexandrius was the victor of the last bout, Mephistopholes. The man with the really annoying name to type.. Anyway: Meph entered the arena almost forgotten as Alexandrius shined brightly in the day sun, radiating both literally and figuratively. He wore his hoplite armor as befitted a man of Greek origin, augmented with a hoplon and spear, while Meph used a simple shield and sword. To the crowd it seemed like the fight was pre-destined, for who could defeat Alexandrius? The answer, shockingly, was Mephistopholes. Indeed, as the fight began it at first seemed like Alexandrius was going to defeat Meph easily, but it seemed that he was more sluggish than usual. His stabs missed, his slashes tore only the empty air. Meph however was sharp and ready, managing to put Alexandrius in a corner after just a few minutes of combat. Finally, with a shocked look upon his face, Alexandrius was struck with the pommel of Meph's sword, falling to the ground unconscious. Alexandrius had been defeated, and the crowd was silent.

Mephistopholes walked out of the arena to a deafening roar of shock and surprise. The hero of the Arena, the darling of Rome, had been defeated in a mere quarter-final. The shock and upset of a generation.

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The shock of the last battle had stayed with the spectators. They sat in silence only interrupted by occasional muttering between themselves as they pondered what could have led their darling Alexandrius to lose in the arena. They barely noticed as Atticus, a previous finalist in another tournament, and Celtiberius, an unknown, entered the arena and began their fight.

Celtiberius entered the arena wielding a Falcata, a form of curved sword, quite unlike any seen in Italia. Facing him was Atticus with a traditional hoplon and short sword arrangement. As the crowd slowly moved their focus from the shock of the last match to the next one taking place, many wondered why Celtiberius had decided to only wield a single sword. But he quickly proved that this was not a mistake, but instead an advantage. For he wielded it two-handed, an unusual but apparently effective strategy. With the strength of both arms, his hammering blows managed to dislodge the hoplon from Atticus' hands, leaving him suddenly defenseless and without recourse. Embracing his own sword in two hands, he attempted to win the fight regardless, but the Falcata was simply too powerful and a single decisive swipe sent the short sword hurdling away. Seeing he was without recourse, Atticus gave a sign of submission and Celtiberius granted him the opportunity to fight another.

The crowd was somewhat dismayed by the fact that no blood had been spilled, but were still too busy pondering the fate of Alexandrius to really care about the fight. As such, contrary to the usual reaction, they did not mind much when a shaken Atticus exited the arena with few scrapes and wounds.

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Out strode the crowds remaining favorite, Venucius the Crusher of Heads. His mace bloodied, he stood as a legendary giant in the arena ready to face his next prey. Facing him was Valarion, who had given a good account of himself in the previous bouts. The crowd was eager to see their new champion Venucius do what he did best: crush heads.

The fight was onesided. Once again, using his brute strength, Venucius struck around himself with wild abandon, at one point even denting the very well of the arena with his giant mace. Valarion dodged and rolled, but eventually began to tire out while Venucius raged on like a summer storm. The sound of stone thudding off Valarions shield resounded through the arena again and again until finally the shield of Valarion burst like ice dropped upon rock. In a moment of complete terror, Valarion looked up to see the mighty mace coming down to finish the job, and finish the job it did. Unconscious upon the sands, a ghastly wound upon his head, Valarion was defeated and Venucius was once again the victor.

The crowd roared in appreciation of their hero Venucius, the brute, the giant, the crusher of heads. He walked out with his arms aloft, calling upon the crowds of Rome.