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#Post#: 683--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Story Two: Freedom and Favor
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: December 4, 2023, 5:39 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Warning: strong, sensitive subject matter ahead. Consider this
Thread M/A Rated R
[center]
Wydara Blood and the Arena
Story II: Freedom and Favor
Chapter One: In the Clink[/center]
Ansalon
Northern Ergoth
Gwynned
Wydara has tried to keep this all in perspective, but there has
been time enough; she has begun to feel concerned that she is at
the whims of the mercurial Mercadior Redic the VI. He may very
well put her in the games or take her head and put it on a
spike, or hells, even draw and quarter me. Of course, the
waiting may be the worst of it at the moment. Waiting for your
end.
The Seneschal, the Emperor’s right hand and closest confidant,
handles the questioning. She heard her Klar Dwarf ally become a
little unbalanced earlier, and she worries about him. As far as
cells go, these are almost pleasant compared to the ones that
are far below ground in the deep dungeons. She feels like she is
on pins and needles.
The Questions related to whether there was a plot or conspiracy
to release the proscribed Northern Barbarian. Further, they
wanted to know if any of her staff were involved or any of her
Gladiators. They have all been questioned, but she does not know
if everyone held to the truth and did not break to save their
skin. She feels sick to her stomach, but the feeling passes.
The Questioning sessions go on and on over three days. During
the second session, a messenger comes in and whispers to the
Seneschal. The Questioner looks at Wydara and whispers back to
the messenger, and he leaves the detention area of the Palace.
On the third day,
The Seneschal says, “that upon questioning everyone at your
school has all backed your claim you wanted to see the contract
fulfilled. The emperor is moving north to hunt this barbarian
now, before he left, he told me hen to release you on parole in
advance and tell you that your school has been reinstated.”
Wydara absorbs this turn of events, and she asks about her
assistants.
The Seneschal assures Wydara that her Staff are being released
even as they speak.
Wydara finds that she is searching his face, wondering if this
is all just code before he walks them out to be executed. She is
told she could gather her things and follow the Men at Arms from
the premises. Wydara waits for her staff, and they finally
reunite wearily. They all manage a smile of relief and hug one
another before following the Man at Arms out of the detention
area and out of the side door of the Palace. He leads them to
the gate and sees their departure. They are urged to head back
to her school. Wydara asks if she can find somewhere to get
food.
Wydara sees Las pull up in a carriage, and they load the food on
board with the staff and head to the school. When Wydara
arrives, her Gladiators give out a cheer. They welcome her back
and ask if she is okay. Wydara tells her boys she is just glad
to be home. She tells them to “Take four days off and return and
be ready to get back to work. She also tells them she will send
down a couple of barrels for the night. They cheer as She, Las,
and her Staff come upstairs with their boxes of food. They do
not unpack what they just went through tonight; it will stay
with them for now. Wydara wants to know what has happened in the
city, and she wonders aloud the obvious if they still have a
place here in Gwynned.
The last couple of days have been a bit more than what she was
prepared for. The Money is good, the competition has been
top-notch, and life in the city has been mostly tolerable, but
this episode has been intolerable. The Conclusion around the
table is that they all feel they are second-guessing coming
here. They are willing to see if this will work, but this had
better never happen in any way again, or the next time they are
out.
After they are fed, Las asks Wydara to come home with her, and
she will bring Wydara back. Wydara agrees, and they disappear
through the ether and reappear at Lashia’s house.
[center]Next, 429 AC Las in Ergoth Chapter Fifteen: Reunion
HTML https://thedamnforum.createaforum.com/empire-of-ergoth/las-in-ergoth/msg688/#msg688<br
/>[/center]
#Post#: 815--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Story Two Chapter Two: Back to
Work
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: March 25, 2024, 11:20 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Read 429 AC Las in Ergoth Chapter Fifteen: Reunion
HTML https://thedamnforum.createaforum.com/empire-of-ergoth/las-in-ergoth/msg688/#msg688<br
/>and come back here where we start anew.
[center]Wydara Blood and the Arena
Story II: Freedom and Favor
Chapter Two: Back to Work [/center]
Western Ansalon
Northern Ergoth
Imperial Capital City of Gwynned
Wydara returns to her school and comes across Kol and Roric
having a drink. It appears the Imperial were a bit overbearing
when they took Roric in, his angry bruising to the face tells
Wydara the kind of time her trainers had. She comes in gets a
chalice and sits with them, to which a smile breaks out.
Wydara asks who is left below, to which Kol answers that
everyone who is left is down there. It should be about ten.
“Not going to be enough.” Wydra answers.
“We don’t know when we will fight again, or even if there will
be another fight this season.” Roric tells his Boss.
“Will just be more mouths to feed in the off season.” Kol, her
Klar friend tells her.
“We are down from fifteen. We lost some of our best fighters. If
we going to stay here, we have to be competitive.”
“Are we going to stay here? Roric asks.
“I have not decided yet, but I want to be ready if we do stay.
I’m not fully convinced this is the best place for us, but it
has been lucrative. Kol, we are going to market tomorrow, Roric
will get the men into the yard for a training session. Lets keep
things light for a couple of weeks until we know more. I am
going to clean the mess the imperials caused in the villa. Thank
you two for coming back. I’m sorry it happened to you two.”
They come over, hug her in turn, and tell her they would rather
be nowhere without her.
#Post#: 831--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Story Two Chapter Three: The
Freelancer
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: April 20, 2024, 7:59 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Wydara Blood and the Arena II
Story II: Freedom and Favor
Chapter Three: The Freelancer[/center]
Western Ansalon
Northern Ergoth
Imperial Capital City of Gwynned
Wydara still has the core of her Gladiators. She has lost some
old friends in Hale from the Ice Wall, Bril of the Blood Sea.
Those hurt to lose, but her other gladiators are capable and
more than willing to get some payback. With just under ten left
in the company, Wydara has Roric put the men through the paces
for the morning and Wydara and Kol walk through the market. Not
finding any recruits worthy to take on, Wydara decides to see if
any freelancers may consider coming on.
Current Gladiators list
Barret of Ergoth
Aidan of Ergoth
Sarus the Merciful
Jason of Tarsis
Cullen of Kharolis
Aric of Solamnia
Zachariahas of Tarsis
Mataus from distant Flotsam
Kevon of Kharolis
A new Minotaur is in town looking for sponsorship, She has made
it down here earlier than the other owners, but she spots an
agent of the owners talking to the minotaur. Wydara decides to
go for it. The minotaur is rare, an albino, from the Blood Sea
Isles. She approaches and cuts the Agent off by asking where he
has fought before. Her gamble pays off. He is only too happy to
talk about his many victories across the eastern games. Wydara
gives him her record in the Eastern games, and he has heard of
her. Wydara wins and soon the minotaur joins them on their walk
back to the School. Wydara explains he is the only minotaur in
the school, not goring with his horns on her Gladiators in
practice, something he can agree with. He tells her his name is
Marok and they talk about coins. Wydara is a smaller school than
the others, she is not rich by any standard, but she has amassed
enough to bring him for the rest of the season at least.
They return to the school and put Marok into Roric's hands.
Marok steps out upon the sands of Wydara's school and is
introduced to the other gladiators who are all deeply impressed
with the Minotaur but fear fighting him and getting gored. He
has already been warned against using his horns in practice
against his teammates. It gives all of them valuable experience
fighting against him in practice, for many, it is their first
time fighting a minotaur and so, you have almost certainly lost
before you ever fought one because you have no concept of what
is come. The gladiators feel his strength and power. They begin
to learn what it takes to fight him.
#Post#: 861--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Story Two Chapter Four: Blood
and Sand
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: July 6, 2024, 5:17 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Wydara Blood and the Arena
Story II: Freedom and Favor
Chapter Four: Blood and Sand
[/center]
Wydara awakens to the sounds of wooden swords clashing on
shields in the Training grounds outside. The curtains blow
gently with the cool fall air. The Fighting Season is nearly at
its end. We have two more fights left. Well, if we are lucky and
get in the Emperor’s games at the end of the season, then we
will have two.
Wydara rolls out of bed and dresses, and goes for a run to her
other school, which is closed. The road is steep, and it is a
brutal climb, but this is how she decides to work out today.
When she reaches her school at the top, she comes back down the
hill, goes to her villa, and has her breakfast on the veranda
overlooking parts of the Capital and her training grounds. She
immediately notices the Albino minotaur has corked his horns,
whether that was Roric’s idea or his, she is glad to see a
hurdle to training has been eliminated, provided it works, and
nobody gets killed.
Barret of Ergoth and Aiden of Ergoth are training together.
Adian was the Top Sword until their last match, and Barret saved
Aiden’s life and killed their opponent, giving him the Top
Sword. They will be in the games to fight for their spot in the
Emperor’s games
Marok the Albino minotaur is fighting against the big Barbarian
Sarus the Merciful; they will be fighting in the next match to
vie for a spot in the Emperor’s Games. Their fight is going
well, This is giving Sarus invaluable experience and confidence
if he ever must face the Black Minotaur.
She wants all her gladiators to train with Marok, but there is
not enough time. She is going to have him switch after midday to
train with Adian and Barret.
Jason of Tarsis is fighting Aric of Solamnia, they will be
fighting to fight for a spot.
Kevon of Kharolis is fighting Zachariahas of Tarsis, and they
will be fighting in the games to fight for a spot in the games.
Mataus from distant Flotsam is on the Training Dummy and will be
transitioned in the course of the day.
Roric is overseeing the morning's training session, and Kol is
watching for anyone slacking and not giving their all.
Most of these guys came with her to Northern Ergoth. Aidan and
Barret for from Northern Ergoth, and she got them here, but the
others came with her from the arena and the School they built in
Tarsis. They have had some heavy losses this season.
She hears Roric stop the training and use a Gladiator as an
example of a teachable moment before the men.
Wydara goes back to her breakfast and takes a sip of orange
juice. Wydara takes a piece of parchment and writes a quick
invitation and seals it in a scroll case to be sent over to
Las’s villa. She will invite the kids again if they aren’t too
traumatized from the last one. Hopefully, we have that
excitement behind us. I will invite La and her +1 as well,
though I doubt they will take me up themselves. Wydara decides
she is finished with her breakfast and slides it away. She calls
for Kol to join her. Wydara tells him what she wants to happen
after midday, for Barret and Adian to train with the Albino. We
give Sarus some time to rest up afterward, in fact, knock off an
hour early later. “Give them a good meal. I will be back; I am
headed down to see what the matches will be.”
Kol asks if she wants him to come with her but Wydara declines,
telling him she wants him here to tell her what he notices and
observes at training.
Wydara trains for a while, washes up, and dresses in what she
thinks is appropriate to venture down to the forum and find out
what the matches will be. She has a messenger deliver her
invitation and then she is off to the forum.
List of Gladiators that came from Tarsis and Wydara’s School
Sarus the Merciful
Jason of Tarsis
Cullen of Kharolis
Aric of Solamnia
Zachariah of Tarsis
Mataus from distant Flotsam
Kevon of Kharolis
The Current list of Gladiators from Wydara’s School
Barret of Ergoth Top Sword
Aidan of Ergoth, Former Top Sword
Marok the Albino Minotaur Freelancer
Sarus the Merciful
Jason of Tarsis
Cullen of Kharolis
Aric of Solamnia
Zachariah of Tarsis
Mataus from distant Flotsam
Kevon of Kharolis
#Post#: 876--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Story Two Political Games
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: July 9, 2024, 1:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Wydara Blood and the Arena
Story II: Freedom and Favor
Chapter Five: Political Games
[/center]
Western Ansalon
Northern Ergoth
The Capital of Gwynned
Wydara had left to find out the card the editor had put together
and was denied for the first time since arriving in Gwynned,
beyond frustrated. She storms home to try to come up with a game
plan. She wants to find out if the Card has been shared with
anyone else before the Games begin. She puts Kol to the task and
departs for the city to try to find out what Wydara wants to
know. This will not let her preplan matches, and this is one of
the most important ones. It determines who fights in the
Emperor’s final match of the season. She walks out on the
veranda and starts cussing in elven. Her servants know a drink
will instantly calm her down, and pours her favorite drink, and
a brave servant brings it out to her.
Wydara takes it from their nervous hand and thanks them, and
then tells them to get scarce. She takes a drink and sits at one
of her tables overlooking the training grounds. Adian is
practicing on the dummy still, long after everyone has gone to
drink and merriment. Normally, Wydara would never allow this,
but this was just Adian’s way. He was always like this. A couple
of times a week. He is worried about his upcoming fight. He
thinks it will be the Black Minotaur, and he could be right, I
just don’t freaking know…
A couple of drinks later, she is still at the table on the
veranda when an unfamiliar noise stirs the guard dogs. Wydara is
jerked awake, and she goes for her sword in the front room. She
sees Kol coming in with a young dark-skinned human woman, Wydara
knows, though not very well. This woman traffics in secrets and
has been helpful many times over since Wydara arrived in
Gwynned.
Wydara lowers her sword and calls out to her servant to bring
refreshments for the guests and a cup of tea. Wydara bids her
guest to come with her to the sitting room, and each finds their
chair. Kol begins and says, “I was coming up empty everywhere,
seems everyone is as blind as we are. Sina here has seen the
card, though she has not told me how. I don’t know how secret
the card is, maybe people are lying, looking out for their best
interests.”
Wydara asks Sina what she knows about the card for the matches.
Sina answers timidly, “I know the odds are stacked against you,
I fear the owners have banded together against you and The
Emperor’s hunt for the proscribed Ackalite has not gone well in
the north. The Assassins that has gone after him has come up
dead and the Emperor has entered a foul mood.”
“...And I am catching the brunt of it. This has all come back to
bite me in the proverbial bottom. Wydara exclaims. “To make
things right with the Emperor, am I going to have to get
involved to kill this Ackalite? She considers the stakes vs. the
reality of what she has proposed. “The Emperor should have just
killed him when he had a chance; that is on him, not me.”
Sina and Kol agree and begin to think about a way to help.
Between the three of them, they hatch a plan. Sina knows somehow
where the Assassins were killed at Tantyvil. Wydara has a
well-defined map of Northern Ergoth and brings it to the table.
Sian tells Wydara, “Tantyvil is Thieving Guild territory. It
effectively cuts off the land route to Gulfport, stopping any
riders with orders to ready the Imperial Army in the north,
though I am sure the Emperor has surely sent the message by ship
by now."
Wydara says Do we think he is still there, The people of
Tantyvil will get rewarded if the Ackalite is turned over to the
Emperor. If they don’t, the Emperor will bring reprisals against
the town.”
Sian agrees that Tantyvil is walking the fine line of treachery.
I think he is still there, on the hillside overlooking the city.
His strategy has been working out for him so far, but he will
try to reach the lands of his father before long to rally the
people behind him. The only way to do that is to breach Gulfport
and get to friendly lines, it is a deadly no-man's land between
the Ackalite and Imperial Fortresses. I doubt very much you can
target him there. Wydara sends a letter out to her niece, Las,
and has a messenger deliver it immediately. She then pulls
herself up to her feet and goes to make herself presentable, and
gets her equipment ready in a pack. She retrieves her Elven Bow
and quivers of arrows from Qualinesti, a gift from her niece
Marilee, and prepares everything so that when she returns, she
can head out immediately. She has her staff prepare food for her
journey, then she heads into town and straight to the Imperial
Mansion, and is met by the Imperial guards, who turn her away.
She tells them to bear this message to the Emperor, “I, Wydara,
am going North to kill the Ackalite."
[center]Continues in 429 AC Las in Ergoth Story One Chapter
Sixteen: Doing Something Crazy
HTML https://thedamnforum.createaforum.com/empire-of-ergoth/las-in-ergoth/msg880/#msg880[/center]
#Post#: 1067--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Story Two Chapter Six: The
Fight of Your Life
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: March 29, 2025, 6:25 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Las in Ergoth Story One Chapter Sixteen: Doing Something Crazy
leads in this story…
HTML https://thedamnforum.createaforum.com/empire-of-ergoth/las-in-ergoth/msg880/#msg880
TV-MA Rated R for suggestive themes and actions
[center]Wydara Blood and the Arena
Story II: Freedom and Favor
Chapter Six: The Fight of your Life[/center]
Western Ansalon
Island of Northern Ergoth
North of the Capital City, Gwynned
Tantyvil
The Witching Hour
Wydara, Las, and the Ergothian Wizards enter the Inn with a
Thieves’ guild connection. Through negotiation, intimidation,
and threats, the Imperial Wizards finally find a thief, about to
become a lord on this day, as he sells out the Rebel Barbarian’s
last known location.
Hours pass,
As Las and Wydara ride Las’s Griffon, they hunt down the
barbarian in the dead of night. A whole lot of nothing. Feeling
they have been duped, they start to prepare to return to the
Inn, when
Wydara sees something and has Las land and drop her off. Las and
her griffon take to the sky again.
She sees the wild Ackalite. He heard the griffon. He’s spooked.
Wydara brings up her bow, nocks an arrow, and draws back, he is
in her sights; she could end this, she could wound him, it would
make things easier… What is he doing now, trying to line up his
bow and searching the sky. Wydara releases her breath as she
fires.
The arrow strikes his left lung, and his shot goes wide. Las
rains a fire spell from above, down on him, and he avoids the
flames. He reaches for the arrow, still embedded in his chest,
when he catches movement out of the corner of his eye.
Wydara is upon him with sword strike after sword strike. He only
just gets his blade up to defend. Wydara keeps it up because she
knows if he gets his hands on her, it could be over. The
Ackalite becomes too much for Wydara to handle; his power and
ferocity are rising. Wydara steps to the side and twists the
arrow, shooting, tearing pain through him. He screams in agony
and tries to suck air. He elbows Wydara hard in the face,
breaking her nose and slicing his face. He backs off and circles
her; the fire from the earlier spell is behind him, flickering.
Wydara catches him trying to suck in air and launches into a new
attack, with faints, and skill that nearly finishes him, he
fights for his life.
A sudden shift in tactics stops Wydara’s momentum and suddenly
defends low on an attack, and then she is punched in the face,
over and over. She grabs the arrow and twists, doing significant
damage to him internally.
He nearly drops to the ground in pain, and he turns around and
punches her hard, He punches her again and again, and he rears
back to beat her face in when Wydra side-steps and cuts off his
sword hand, Wydara then drops down and takes out the back of his
leg tendons, she then backs off as he drops to the ground.
Wydara stands up and moves to his blade, kicking the hand still
gripping the sword away from his reach. Blood pours from her
face as she looks down on him, dealing with a collapsed lung on
the ground.
Wydara manages to mumble out “Justice for Ragor and Hale”
(Wydara’s fallen Gladiators killed by this Barbarian. Wydara
thinks back to the savage way this Ackalite killed them in the
Arena. Wydara spits blood on the ground and looks down at the
Ackalite Northman as he is trying to express his last words… the
Ackalite word for freedom is uttered… Wydara stabs his heart
with her elven dagger and thus ends his suffering.
The jerking stops, and all is quiet in these woods for several
moments until there is a flutter of wings, and Las and her
Griffon come into view. Wydara retrieved her blade and wipes off
the blood absentmindedly.
Las comes up and takes in the scene of the dead Barbarian and
her bloodied aunt. Las wipes away what blood she can before
Wydara tells her to stop. It hurts too much. Las asks if she “is
hurt anywhere else?
Wydara manages a “no” before telling her niece to backup. Wydara
cuts off the Barbarians head with her elven sword and tells Las
to ready it for transport as she stumbles to sit back in a
fallen log and takes a few breaths before she wipes her sword
clean and puts it back into her scabbard.
Las does as her aunt tells her and prepares the head for
transport, wrapped in black cloth.
Soon
Las cleans up Wydara’s face, meets the Wizards, and they bring
the thief-lord return to the Capital City of Gwynneth. The
Priests of Mishakal healed Wydara, and she fell asleep in the
healing ward for a few hours before Imperial guards arrived and
escorted Wydara to the Imperial Palace. She barely has a chance
to look around at the stately manor before she is quickly
brought into a waiting room and explained the imperial rules of
meeting the sovereign, how to curtsy, what not to do like show
her back to him, it is all a swirl of does and don’t before
suddenly the doors opened up and her name is being announced and
suddenly Wydara is in the throne room, the Majordomo relieves
her of the head she is carrying and takes off to the side while
they verify.
Emperor Mercadior Redic VI sits on the lion throne and has been
watching Wydara since she entered the throne room. Her dark
tunic is bloody, so much blood.
Wydara steps forward and curtseys, something she has seen done,
but never attempted in actuality. She manages to give a stiff
try and does not fall in the attempt.
The Majordomo reports that the head bears the slave scars and
markings matching the Imperial Mine, that of the House of Markus
Avfinus, which owned the Ackalite.
Mercadior smiles to himself. The deed is done.
“You have settled the Ackalite problem where other experts in
their craft failed. Explain.”
She got a thief to turn over what he knew. “You know the rest,
he was paid a lofty sum for his troubles. We had been scanning
the ground from the sky on the back of my niece’s Griffon. We
were in the area our guide had directed us to. I asked her to
put me down because saw something, and used my niece for bait,
while I wounded him with an arrow through the lung, I think that
was the deciding factor, it threw him off his game and allowed
me to provoke him into making a mistake.”
The emperor exclaims, “Used your niece for bait…so you could
take a shot.” The emperor looks at Wydara in a new light.
“Indeed, you of course will regain your position for the final
games of the season. I was not sending a message to you, but to
the other Schools, but you just had to change the game by going
after him yourself. You…Yourself. I will also allow you to
explore opening your school for Woman Fighters. I don’t know if
this society is fully ready for this; the people may hate it and
in turn hate us for it. If I should get a whiff of discontent, I
will not hesitate to shut it down.”
“I understand. Thank you, I will endeavor to make them like it.
my Lord.”
The meeting is at its end, and Wydara is escorted out. Wydara
sees her niece and thanks her for her assistance. Wydara turns
down an invite from Las and tells her she will see them in a
week. Wydara proclaims she is going to sleep for a week or relax
the whole time in her robe and drink. I saw my end more than
once last night. That’s going to stay with me for a while. Las
tells her, “We will come by in a week to check on you.” Then she
is off to her home.
Wydara watched her go, thinking of what she had said to the
emperor. “It’s only half true.” She thinks that she used her as
a distraction for the length of time it took to get within melee
range.
Wydara enters her Villa, soon a bath is drawn for her, and a
drink is prepared and handed to her as Wydara settles into her
tub and soaks, her eyes closed, reliving each moment of the
fight of her life. She lies there for a long time until she
stumbles into bed.
#Post#: 1079--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Story Two Chapter Seven: True
to Her Word
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: April 6, 2025, 12:49 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Wydara Blood and the Arena
Story II: Freedom and Favor
Chapter Seven: True to Her Word [/center]
Western Ansalon
Northern Ergoth
Imperial Capital City of Gwynned
Wydara stays true to her word. She is either sleeping or in her
gown, drinking and in a daze at her villa in the capital.
Roric has been getting the men into shape. Wydara has not gotten
involved in the fight coordination. She just fought the
barbarian and lived through it. She had her doubts. But mostly
it was instinct. It was him or me. She has wrestled with the
moral implications of what she did. She made a judgment call on
the future with the Ackalites. They treat women worse in the
social structure than their horses. Ergoth may be backward, but
it has the potential to move forward someday. The Ackalites
will not.
She still feels her nose being broken and getting hit in the
face, and again and again. Over and over, sometimes in her
thoughts, even though she was healed soon after.
Kol comes in a couple of days before the fight this weekend and
asks if she wants to know who our guys are fighting. He shows
her the card.
Invitation to the final games of the season at the royal
coliseum to sit in a box next to the emperor.
The winner of this primus will have freedom and a hefty purse,
or if already free, then a hefty purse for him and his training
house.
1 Cletis Ergoth Gladiator vs Tymon Ergoth Gladiator from the
School of Vartus Sevinus
2 Kevon of Kharolis from School Wydra Arbagon vs. Grackus Ergoth
Gladiator from the School of Titus Calvus
3 Altimus Murmillo Gladiator vs. Kord Gladiator with Net and
Trident from the School of Servius Duro
4 Cato of Ergoth Gladiator from the School of Vartus Sevinusvs.
vs. Antonius Ergoth Gladiator from the School of Titus Calvus
5 Marok the Albino Minotaur Freelancer from School Wydra Arbagon
vs. Varius of Ergoth from the School of Titus Calvus
6 Turio Ergoth Gladiator from the School of Vartus Sevinus vs.
Mog the Half-Ogre from the School of Servius Duro
7 Cullen of Kharolis from School Wydra Arbagon vs. Zuriel
Gladiator from Neraka from the School of Servius Duro
8 Aric of Solamnia from School Wydra Arbagon vs. The Black
Minotaur -Independent
9 Sarus the Merciful from School Wydra Arbagon vs. Xerus of
Neraka from the School of Servius Duros
The Primus
10 Barret of Ergoth from School Wydra Arbagon vs Karth, of
Sanction from the School of Servius Duro
Kol explains that Roric has seen the card and has been getting
the men ready. “We know what you did, and you have all our
respect. When you are up to it, come outside, get some air, and
see what you think.”
Wydara looks at the card again, “We have a chance to do well.”
“I’m concerned about Karth; he is going to be wicked to fight in
the Primus,” Kol answers. ”
“Barret is the Champion of the Capital; He’s not a pushover. ”
Wydara flatly states.
“do you want to place any wagers.” The Klar asks
Wydara thinks about that, get back to me on the odds, I want
fifty on Barret either way.
“You saw who Aric is fighting. Can he beat the Black Minotaur?”
Wydara asks
Kol thinks for a moment before he answers. “Marok has been
working with him, giving him pointers, he might have a chance.”
“At least that is something. Nothing to bet money on though.”
Wydara puts her head on the table for a moment, then tells Kol
she will see him outside. She takes a bath and gets dressed to
train Aric so she can have a clear conscience.
#Post#: 1345--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Story Two: Freedom and Favor
Chapter Eight: Part One: The Opening Bouts
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: March 31, 2026, 4:00 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
TV-MA Rated R for suggestive themes and actions
[center]Wydara Blood and the Arena
vol. I
Story II: Freedom and Favor
Chapter Eight: The Last Games of the Season
Part One: The Opening Bouts[/center]
Northern Ergoth, Imperial Capital City of Gwynned
This is it, the last games of the season, held at the Emperor’s
Coliseum. It is the last, the largest, and greatest of the
gladiatorial arenas in the capital. Construction began in 127 AC
and finished twenty-seven years later in 154 AC. Its size is a
base area of 24,000 square meters (6 acres). The central arena
is an ellipse 87 m (287 ft) long and 55 m (180 ft) wide,
surrounded by a wall 5 m (15 ft) high, above which rose tiers of
seating for 60,000 people, accorded in a tiered arrangement that
reflects the rigidly stratified nature of Ergothian Society.
Wydara and her party, consisting of her longtime friend and
assistant Kol of the Klar Clan, and Roric of Nordmaar, the
Doctore (chief trainer) at her gladiator school. Wydara gave all
of two seconds of thought in considering inviting the young ones
and Las for moral support and decided against it. There is a
time and place for everything, her brother, the Druid, would say
if he were here, which he isn’t, but if he could see her now, as
her party is being shown to this plush seating, right next to
the Emperor’s box. The invitation was real and not a joke. She
just can’t believe Mercadior Redic VI actually came through for
her.
Speaking of coming through, plates of hors d'oeuvres of the
highest quality arrive with wait staff to set everything up,
including complementary alcohol, as Kol points out, enough to
drink, not enough to get drunk and make a fool out of ourselves
next to the Emperor.
The array of food being set down includes plates of different
flavors of hummus with pita and veggies, a plate of cheese,
brie, goat cheese, or feta with crackers, fruits, honey, caviar,
cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, and basil leaves
drizzled with balsamic glaze.
Roric tastes the wine, “Sweet arbor, this is delicious.” Kol
tastes his beer and approves. For Wydara, she decides to take a
sip and look out at the arena. This is the Emperor’s Arena, the
biggest in the capital, and we have the primus. She tips her
drink in a salute to the other Lanistas in acknowledgement of
their fraternity, to Titus Calvus, Servius Duro, and Vartus
Sevinus. They looked away, but Wydara saw that she had their
envy. Her box is next to the emperor; her position has been
elevated above theirs; it would seem. Wydara suddenly feels a
chill and hopes this status thing fades, and she again becomes
one of them. To Wydara, this has to be fleeting, a thank you for
ending the Ackalite problem. Wydara reassures herself that this
is a temporary situation.
The Early Fights
A short, overweight man walks forward; he is the editor of the
proceedings. His gift for playfulness and his booming oration is
an institution at this point; he has had this job for thirteen
years. The editor declares the opening match and recites the
matchup for the First Fight Cletis Valerio of Ergoth Gladiator
from the School of Titus Calvus vs. Decimus Rhoan, Ergoth
Gladiator from the School of Vartus Sevinus
The First Fight
Salutes
“Begin!”
Cletis Valerio Ergoth Gladiator and Decimus Rhoan Gladiator from
the School of Vartus Sevinus put on a good show for the people.
They are fighting hard, not letting up. But it is Decimus Rhoan
that gets the upper hand and beats Cletis to submission. Cletis
put up enough of a fight to earn many cheers to live. The people
allow Cletis to live. Decimus Rhoan is declared the winner.
The plump little editor returns to announce those in the Second
Fight. They are Kevon of Kharolis from School Wydra Arbagon vs.
Grackus of Ergoth Gladiator from the School of Titus Calvus
Second Fight
The match goes back and forth. Each is proving their mettle in
the fight. Kevon is holding his own against the Nerakan.
Grackus proves crafty and fends off the Kharolien Gladiator,
then proves why he is considered one of the best in Neraka. In a
display worthy of praise, Grackus proceeds to dismantle Kevon’s
defenses and has Kevon beaten into submission on his back. Kevon
surrenders
The editor names the next Gladiators to fight. They are Altimus
of Ergoth, Murmillo Gladiator vs. Kord Gladiator with Net and
Trident from the School of Servius Duro
Third Fight
It is a brutal fight; both are very much in the zone, and at
their best. No one runs away with the match until the end. The
Murmillo is clearly winning when dust is thrown into his eyes,
and it affords Kord enough time to get his Trident and Net. He
throws the net over the Murmillo’s head, and the trident is
shoved into Altimu’s chest, piercing his heart and lungs.
The Murmillo is standing but has dropped his weapon. He is
wavering, and Kord twists the trident and then pulls it loose.
Blood spurts forth, leaving Kord to jerk the net, and the
Murmillo crashes to the ground. The crowd is with Kord, and he
is signaled to end the fight by ending his opponent’s life. Kord
kicks the helmet off of the Murmillo, and Kord plants his
Trident into the Altimu’s face and brain. A few knee jerks
later, and it is done.
As the midday break comes and people start departing their seats
to queue for the facilities, and at the food concessions, before
the lines get unbearable.
[center]End of Part One[/center]
#Post#: 1382--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Story Two: Freedom and Favor
Part Two: The First Bouts of the Afternoon
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: August 19, 2026, 5:21 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Warning: strong, sensitive subject matter ahead. Consider this
Thread M/A Rated R
[center]Wydara Blood and the Arena
vol. I
Story II: Freedom and Favor
Chapter Eight: The Last Games of the Season
Part Two: The First Bouts of the Afternoon [/center]
Break
Most people get food and drink or use the public facilities
during the hour break. Meanwhile, inside the arena, the Noonday
executions are carried out when criminals are armed and fight
nameless gladiators for the state. The gladiators make short
work of them, and the remains are dragged from the arena.
Meanwhile, high above them, two hundred and forty mast corbels
positioned around the top of the attic that support retractable
awnings begin to be let out and shade the midday sun to bring
relief to the emperor, the gladiators, and the masses.
After an hour has passed, everyone is back in their seats,
The Horns announce the arrival of the Emperor of Ergoth.
The fleshy editor begins his projecting oration, “Ladies and
Gentlemen of the people of Gwynned, to the final games of the
season, and now please welcome, Emperor Mercadior Redic VI. The
Emperor steps forward to give a wave to the masses and then sits
with his company in their royal box, mere feet from Wydara and
her guests.
Mercadior’s oldest sons were with him. The eldest son, Prince
Aurelius Redic, and the second son, Prince Dorian Redic, as is
the Emperor’s Majordomo Hadrin Tallwood. Guarding the box is
Lord Praetor of the Imperial Armies Uthred Ker-Kanvovas.
The Horns signal the coming match.
The round editor recites the next matchup: Cato of Ergoth,
Gladiator from the School of Vartus Sevinus vs. Antonius Ergoth,
Gladiator from the School of Titus Calvus.
Fourth Fight
Cato of Ergoth, from the School of Vartus Sevinus vs. Antonius
Ergoth, from the School of Titus Calvus
Cato and Antonius square off; it does not take Cato long to
realize he is better than Antonius, but faint’s a weaker
defense, bringing Antonius into a false sense of security.
Cato lets him think he is weak, then Cato proceeds to beat
Antonius into submission.
The editor is cued, and he steps forward to the crowd
Marok the Albino Minotaur Freelancer from School Wydra Arbagon
vs. Varius of Ergoth from the School of Titus Calvus for the
Fifth Fight
Fifth Fight
Marok the Albino Minotaur Freelancer from School Wydra Arbagon
vs. Varius of Ergoth from the School of Titus Calvus
and yells “Begin!”
Marok and Varius have a good fight. The minotaur has to fight
off Varius’s attempts to rush to fight, to finish things off
quickly. He keeps Marok alert and occupied until Marok ends him,
eliminating his weapons and beating him into submission.
Marok the Albino Minotaur Freelancer wins.
The editor approaches the pulpit and announces the next bout,
the Sixth Fight Match: Turio Ergoth Gladiator from the School of
Vartus Sevinus vs. Mog the Half-Ogre from the School of Servius
Duro
Turio comes forth into the arena. Mog is next and is much bigger
than Turio.
Salutes are made
The editor yells “Begin!”
The two combatants square off, and Turio is overpowered
immediately and tries to recover.
It is a brutal fight that does not last very long. Turio tried
to remain agile and tried to stay out of Mog’s grasp. He
honestly gave his all, but it was not enough, and the Half-Ogre
brutally ended him.
Turio is dragged through the gate of death.
The editor comes forward to announce the next fight: Cullen of
Kharolis from School Wydra Arbagon vs. Zuriel Gladiator from
Neraka from the School of Servius Duro for the Seventh Fight.
Seventh Fight
Salutes are given to the emperor and each other.
The editor calls out, “Begin!”
Cullen of Kharolis from the School of Wydra Arbagon advances
against his opponent. A knee injury from last season kept him
out of most of this season, and in the back of his mind, he
wonders if that will be to his detriment. Cullen is a bulky,
medium-sized man, a former woodcutter.
Zuriel of Neraka, from the School of Servius Duro, has been very
active fighting in pit fights in Neraka before he was found
weeks ago and put into Servius Duro’s school. He is hungry for
the win. Zuriel is quick and deadly.
Seeing them start to get into the fight, Wydara starts having a
sinking feeling. “This guy is out of Cullen’s league. This is
not going to end well.” Wydara watches Zuriel completely
dismantle Cullen’s defenses, leaving him defenseless. The next
moment, Cullen is standing there lifelessly, and then he falls
dead on the sands.
Wydara tries not to react, since she now knows she has an
audience, but she buries her head in Kol’s shoulder. Internally,
she is yelling at herself for putting Cullen back into the
Arena. He should never have been in that fight. It was like
Cullen was standing still. It’s just devastating; she has known
him going back a ways to Tarsis.
Zuriel is smiling and playing to the crowds that have instantly
fallen for his charm and skill.
Cullen’s body is taken from the arena.
Aric of Solamnia from School Wydra Arbagon vs. Durak, The Black
Minotaur -Independent
Eighth Fight
The Black Minotaur -Independent vs. Aric of Solamnia from School
Wydra Arbagon
Salutes
“Begin!”
A brutal match unfolds between Aric and Durak. Aric is by far
the most honorable combatant the Black Minotaur has ever fought
against on Ansalon, thereby making Durak fight more honorably.
They are both very good warriors, and the recent introduction of
the Albino Minotaur, Marok’s sparring sessions have given Aric
boosted confidence in his match against Durak. The Black
Minotaur notices this quality and respects him even more, and
they end up giving the people a match for the ages.
Aric gives the Black Minotaur more than one scare, and the crowd
just eats it up with cheers, but Durak dodges these and looks
for any mistake. Durak is patient and studies the Solamnic’s
breathing.
Aeric is surprised to still be alive, if he is being honest, but
he is tiring out. He does not want to lose the crowd, so he
pushes himself to take the initiative.
Durak sees this coming and blocks the sword away, and Durak
cleaves into Aeric’s right weapon hand’s collarbone, and down a
few inches into his breastplate. Aeric’s weapon drops away even
as Aeric’s feet give way and he falls to his knees.
Durak kicks the sword away and tells the Solamnic, “You fought
well.” Aeric nods and looks up to the sky, saying his last
prayer. The Black Minotaur looks at the Emperor’s box, even as
he hears the crowds chanting different things. Some of the crowd
can see how bad the wound is and that it would be a mercy to end
him, but many others are calling for life.
The Emperor stands after a few moments, and he nods to the Black
Minotaur.
Durak looks to the Solamnic, and Aeric nods.
The Black Minotaur, in the next seconds, takes the head of Aeric
of Solamnia.
Wydara knew the match was over when the Black Minotaur landed
his blow. There was no coming back from that.
Ninth Fight
Sarus the Merciful from School Wydra Arbagon vs. Xerus of Neraka
from the School of Servius Duros
This fight is vicious and bloody, and it is a brutal fight,
where Xerus looks like he is going to end the Barbarian,
Sarus, with a shift and moves, and suddenly the fight is back
on, with Xerus is on his heels. Sarus beats him with his shield
until Xerus surrenders
Sarus the Merciful raises his arm in victory
Break
The Editor eloquently announces that the winner of this primus
will have freedom and a hefty purse, or, if already free, then a
hefty purse for him and his training house. He then announces
the Gladiators of the Primus.
[center]End of Part Two[/center]
*****************************************************
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