------------- Crimson Ludus – Coliseum

Some fought because they knew no other way. Some fought because they had no choice. Some fought for glory, or to prove something, to themselves or the Gods. When Agony set eyes on Theodontis, she knew instantly his worth. Of all the monsters that fought in the arena, he would be the meanest,… tougher even than her own sword arm, the Sauragorn Slathrahl. A team match day was coming up, so she set her eyes on forming a gladiatorial team. Some of those matches allowed magic and were fought to the total defeat of opposing teams. The prize money for the day’s victor would be substantial.

Theodontis was a studying gladiator, a free man bent on glory. He was easy to convince. It didn’t even take any sex or magic. Droxime Milantius, she had heard of around the city. She had a skill in battle unmatched by other young acolytes, and she had a head for strategy and tactics. Agony knew all too well that teams that fought as one had a chance of living, and a slim chance of winning. Those who fought as individuals died. And the last two were captured thieves, conmen with no honor or true fighting skills, set to the arena to die. If they won the day, they’d win their freedom and all charges would be dropped. They were a couple and were devoted to each other, as devoted as thieves can be. They would serve as decent backstabbers, and interestingly enough, they were both spellcasters. The woman, Veranas, was also rumored to be a shapeshifter with the ability to perfectly copy anyone. That might be handy in a fight. And the male, an inferior, strutting Bard by all account, could play on the crowd’s affections, if nothing else.

It was set then. Agony had maneuvered each into agreeing to her terms. If the team won the day, she would receive 25% of the take. They would split the rest. She even managed to convince Theodontis that he was the leader and she was nothing more than a purveyor, an arranger. Knowing what she did of Atheaen warlords, she could tell that he could be controlled as quickly by massaging his ego as his anatomy. When they stepped out onto the sands of the coliseum that bright summer morning, little did any of them know that their lukewarm reception would turn into a howling mob of fans by the end of the day. And much to Agony’s surprise, not only did the Bard live, he acquitted himself admirably with sword as well as spell. But his songs during their breaks would soon be on the lips of every other Bard in Virdus.

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