Continuing my gladiator campaign, started HERE.
Round 3 of the campaign saw Primus start with 6 Prestige, Secundus on 4 Prestige and Tertius on 5 Prestige.Primus was asked to field a medium gladiator, and chose the hoplomachus Prudes. Tertius had to provide a light gladiator, and selected Culex the veles. And finally Secundus had to put forward their least experienced gladiator and chose the crupellarius Victor.
After each school chose opponents for these picks, the following matchups, in the order they would appear in the arena, were: Culex vs Grumio, Victor vs Velox and Herminia vs Prudes.
Round 3 - Bout 1 - Culex (Veles) vs Grumio (Murmillo)
Neither of these gladiators has fought so far, so the crowd were looking forward to this one.
Grumio started with a good hand for attacking, but not so good for moving in to the attack. And, naturally, as a light gladiator with a range capability, Culex was happy not to close in on his heavier opponent.
Culex backed off and threw javelins, to little effect.
Sometimes Grumio managed to close up, but Culex was always able to evade him.
Culex danced all over the arena.
It couldn't last, though; Grumio managed to get in close with a shield-bash, and knocked Culex flying. Culex was up on his feet before Grumio could really exploit his advantage ...
... but Grumio smashed him down as he tried to dodge past the murmillo, and this time he didn't get up.
Culex didn't live up to the crowd's expectations, and they showed him no mercy. This left Tertius looking for another gladiator. Meanwhile Grumio earned Secundus 2 Prestige.
Round 3 - Bout 2 - Victor (Crupellarius) vs Velox (Sagittarius)
This would be an interesting fight - the slowest and most heavily armoured gladiator against one of the fastest and lightest.
Victor charged straight in, and managed to knock Velox down, but the thing with light gladiators is that they can get up again quite quickly. And he did.
Velox ducked past Victor, leaving the armoured hulk plodding after him, careful to avoid being picked off by a well-aimed arrow.
Victor charged again and, once more, Velox was knocked down, only to get up again.
There followed a lot of dodging around the arena; this game lasted for ages with Victor unable to catch the fast archer, but Velox unable to get an arrow past Victor's formidable defences.
But Velox did finally get the upper-hand; Victor fell evading one arrow, and was then wounded by a second as he struggled to his feet.
There followed more pursuit, before Victor charged Velox as he shot, avoided the arrow and managed to get in a clumsy strike that somehow defeated Velox.
Velox was down and appealed to the crowd.
The crowd had enjoyed this fight, and granted missio to Velox, who earned 1 Prestige for Primus. Victor's win gave 2 Prestige to Secundus.
Round 3 - Bout 3 - Prudes (Hoplomachus) vs Herminia (Dimachaerus)
Prudes advanced, there was a brief exchange of blows and the crowd were stunned to see Prudes down on the sand, also stunned. Herminia had won.
The crowd were so amazed that they let Prudes live - after all, he was a novice facing the most successful gladiator of this season. He picked up 1 Prestige for Primus. Herminia earned another 2 Prestige for Tertius.
At the end of the third Round, Primus and Secundus were both on 8 Prestige (Secundus had won both of his bouts) whilst Tertius was still trailing on 7 Prestige; Herminia was winning most of her fights, but no-one else was.
Velox and Prudes all picked up an attribute increase for surviving two bouts. Tertius replaced the dead Culex with another veles, Bato (the replacements are random, although Culex's replacement had to be another light gladiator. Veles seem to be popular in this campaign.)
Round 4 saw Primus asked to put forward a heavy, which saw Bellerefons enter the arena again. Secundus and Tertius were asked for some crowd-pleasing experienced gladiators, and so Verus and Herminia were back in play.
The matches ended up as follows - Bellerefons would face Tetraites (again), Verus would be facing Velox (also again) and Herminia would have to take on the armoured might of Victor.
Round 4 - Bout 1 - Bellerefons (Murmillo) vs Tetraites (Thraex)
The last time these two gladiators met, the thraex slowly cut his heavier opponent to pieces for a win. What would happen in the rematch?
Bellerefons wasted no time in attacking, and caught Tetriates off-guard, seriously wounding him. Before he could recover he was wounded once more. Despite this, the thraex came out fighting, and inflicted some hits back, forcing Bellerefons onto the defensive.
But Tetraites was slowed by his wounds, and all Bellerefons had to do was bide his time, block attacks and look for an opening. When one presented itself he easily finished off Tetraites.
Plenty of blood left the crowd more than satisfied with their first bout of the day, and they were merciful towards Tetraites, who earned 1 Prestige for Tertius. Bellerefons picked up 2 Prestige for Primus.
Round 4 - Bout 2 - Verus (Hoplomachus) vs Velox (Sagittarius)
These two gladiators were both novices the first time that they met; now they both had some experience.
True to form, Velox deftly danced out of the way of his opponent's initial attack, and opened up some space between them. As Verus turned to pursue, Velox nocked an arrow to his bow, aimed ...
... and shot the hoplomachus down
Despite the short fight the crowd granted missio to Verus, who scored 1 Prestige for Secundus. Meanwhile Velox had had his first win and Primus earned another 2 Prestige.
Round 4 - Bout 3 - Herminia (Dimachaerus) vs Victor (Cruppellarius)
The final bout of the day saw Victor try his hand against the crowd's favourite, Herminia. As with her previous bout, her opponent would pick up great Prestige for defeating her.
Herminia attacked first, but Victor counter-charged and threw her off her stride. Victor's follow-up attack was blocked by a parry and counter-strike, and he was wounded. He tried another shield-charge, but Herminia dodged it. Her attack couldn't get past Victor's armour.
But eventually Herminia knocked Victor down. A crupellarius is is trouble in this position, and this was no exception. However an attack from the ground narrowly missed ending the bout for Herminia, but that was Victor's last gasp. She rallied and forced him to appeal.
The crowd seemed to like Victor; they let him live. Victor earned 1 Prestige for Secundus, whilst Herminia picked up another 2 Prestige for Tertius.
No gladiators died in this round, so no replacements were needed. However if Herminia fights in the next round, then she will have to replaced; either she will die, or she will have survived her fifth bout and will be granted the wooden sword of freedom.
Bellerefons, Victor and Tetraites all picked up skills for surviving their second bout. Seven of the twelve gladiators in play are experienced.
So at the end of four rounds the schools are in the following positions:Primus - 12 Prestige (Four wins and four losses with missio)
Baccibus (Veles) - 1 Bout
Velox (Sagittarius) - 3 Bouts, +1 Attack
Prudes (Hoplomachus) - 2 Bouts, +1 Attack
Bellerefons (Murmillo) - 2 Bouts, +1 Defence
Secundus - 10 Prestige (Four wins, two losses with missio)
Xerxes (Veles) - 0 Bouts
Verus (Hoplomachus) - 3 Bouts, +1 Defence
Grumio (Murmillo) - 1 Bout
Victor (Crupellarius) - 2 Bouts, +1 Attack
Tertius - 10 Prestige (Four wins and two losses with missio)
Tetraites (Thraex) - 2 Bouts, +1 Speed
Herminia (Dimachaerus) - 4 Bouts, +1 Attack
Mongo (Murmillo) - 0 Bouts
Bato (Veles) - 0 Bouts
So it's possible for all three lanista to win the campaign in the next round.
"The crowd seemed to like Victor" About time....
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