Presently I’m an Elite Gladiator in my final match, my name is Virtus and this is my story how I became a Gladiator and now fighting towards becoming a Rudiarius.
5 years a retired military soldier, I have served the Roman Army as one of the Infantry for 10 years and was commanded by the greatest General who ever lived “Maximus Decimus Meridius” he died at the hands of “Commodus Aurelius” in the Colosseum during the Gladiator games. Rome became a Republic once more after the death of Commodus in the Gladiator games by Maximus’s sword, the Senator Gracchus and Lucilla Aurelius closed down the Colosseum and took control of the Empire until Lucius Verus could take control as Emperor.
During the Rain of Marcus Aurelius Rome had taken control over all the cities there were no more cities to declare war upon the Senate released most of the Soldiers to go home to our families, I retired from the military. I have a small farm situated in Spain; I bred mostly cattle and vegetables with my lovely wife Diana and son Janus, I haven’t seen them for the past 5 years. Diana made the most delicious bread and could prepare anything that me and Janus caught in the day for supper, Janus was becoming a big boy as he turned 10 years of age he was 5 when I retired from the military, the past 5 years was the best time of my life, I joined the Roman Army at the age of 18, I followed in my father’s footsteps now 33 years of age and with a lot of military training and a weapons specialist, noting could please me more by staying with my family, seeing my son grow up and waking up next to my wife every morning, smelling the fresh flowers blowing in through the windows by the morning breeze.
My son loved to ride on his horse and we would ride our horses every sunset and sunrise enjoying the view and freedom. There were no trouble and all the workers were well treated and respect was felt all over.
The news of Rome quickly reached the farm, Julius Caesar was now the Emperor of Rome the Senate had decided an Emperor was to rule Rome once more. Young Lucius Verus son of Lucilla Aurelius of Rome have passed away due to illness. Emperor Julius Caesar would reopen the Colosseum to celebrate all the Emperors that have ruled Rome before him with 100 Days of Gladiator games. It was not long when I received a letter from Rome “Rome Hereby summons you to compete in the Gladiator games held by Julius Caesar”. I knew this was no option and decided to ignore the letter, another week passed and another letter was sent with a cavalry “we are her to collect you Virtus for the Gladiator games”. “No I will not accept the summons”, two men jumped of their horses and wanted to take me in, I fought back I killed two of them, they wanted to lay a hand on my wife I would not let them take me away from my family, the other men on their horses galloped away when they saw they were no match for my fury. I knew it would not be safe for my family here on the farm, they had to move, I instructed them to ride south and follow the sun, I will catch up with them once I am finished, I knew I had to stay and wait for them to return, they would track us down if we all ran away.
It was not long and I could see an army approaching over the hills, it was the same army I served with, now led by General Quintus. They were heavily armed, I was no match for them they outnumbered me but I would fight them to the death, the first soldier that entered my farm gate I speared through the chest and drew my sword ready for battle, “Quintus you better call them off or there will be lots of blood spilled today!”, “No Virtus no blood will be spilled today unless you never want to see your family again” they had my family “if you hurt them”, “no one will be hurt as long as you comply” I had no choice they had my family, they took me and placed me on top of a horse and tied my hands together. As we arrived at Rome I was sentenced life imprisonment for killing two Roman Soldiers, I was at their mercy.
I was taken to Rome and placed in a cell with the other Gladiators, we were many but I could tell only a few would make it to the end, or would go far. I could see that some of them had fear in them and no one knew what to expect from this Gladiator Games. I could see the strong separating from the weak as the gladiators started to form groups and alliances, I knew I had to survive if I wanted to see my family again and the only way to do that was to adapt, overcome, improvise and most important of all Survive.
The Gladiator games were one week away from opening.
Gladiator Games
The rules of the games were simple:
Every Gladiator would earn points for every victory, the points was determined by the crowd. Max points that could be obtained by a victory was 100, no victorious Gladiator to leave the Arena without killing his opponent first, unless the crowd decided otherwise or if he had 800 points to give to spare his life. Gladiators who compete in the Beast Battles would earn 200 points for a victory. Every 10 points were worth 10 drachmas, if a Gladiator wishes to exchange his points for money he could do so anytime or alternately he can chose to safe his money until he reaches 800 points where he then can buy one of three freedom matches; the one option is to face the current undefeated Elite Gladiator Raecius Felix to the death only having a wooden spear, the second option is the battle of the Beasts by Facing a Lion, Leopard and a Bear and the last option to face 5 Gladiators to the death for his freedom “Rudem Sword” and become a Rudiarius “A free man”. Gladiators must use the points for weapons upgrade and medical help. Every Gladiator who survived a fight will fight again within 10 days.