I Am Gladiator! (Closed, Started)

[SPARTANXIII]

Belkin ran along with the rest of the group, rushing for the alleyway which his shield held above him. As he got there, he turned around to see who else made it. Vokrash got their first, followed by Belkin, then the Mercenary commander and two of his troops, then Rowan and Antonius, alongside the soldier who had brought them there. The rest of the forces had either stumbled when running and was still out in the open by the time everyone else had made it or had panicked and had gone of in other directions. A wall of fire suddenly exploded in front of the entrance, keeping the street separate from the alley, meaning anyone on the other side now.......Judge guide them...

Belkin kept his shield high as the alleyway was only protected from above by a long cloth sheet that ran the whole way. "Listen, if we keep off of the main streets for the most parts, we should be able to avoid that murdering force they call "The Legion". So bash anyone that gets in the way, keep aiming for any side roads we can nip through and DO NOT hesitate to move!" Belkin told the whole group, taking charge of the whole disaster. He pointed to the Soldier who had lead them there in the first place, "You took us here, surely you must know the fastest way back then, right?"

 

[Dogmatic99]

He pointed to the Soldier who had lead them there in the first place, "You took us here, surely you must know the fastest way back then, right?"

The man seemed stunned by the whole affair but Belkin's shouts shook him back into the present. "Um... um, yes, yes. If, if we go further down we can turn right and there's a residential area not far off. We can get back to the ludus from there. Just follow the main road." He seemed torn between starring at the fire and moving on but he managed to bring himself back into the fold and lead them down the alley. It was cramped and grey, sliding through the gaps between building but they managed to find the turn he mentioned, where a new site confronted them.

A small hot of armed men wearing what looked like crude animal masks were spread out on the street. They had clashed with legion soldiers and the two hosts had broken any semblance of battle formation and had dissolved into clusters of smaller fights. One of the masked attackers, who seemed to appear from nowhere, threw something at a legion solider which shattered on his shield and burst into flames. The legionnaire, instead of being shocked or frightened, charged on and slammed the burning wall of metal into his attackers head, sprawling him out like a rag doll. The whole street had descended into something between a battlefield and a tavern brawl.

"We have to cross that street into the next alley." Grimaced the captain.

 

[MortifiedPenguin]

It had been years since he was last called a boy, once he had come of age he was considered a man in his tribe, free to choose between following his teachings and taking over as the Elder, joining the War Walkers or do whatever he deemed would serve the tribe best. But Lyria was right, the city was a strange place. Men not only bartered with coin and words, but hot brands and cruelty, buying and selling lives like any other commodity. Here he was a boy, alone and uncertain, needing guidance from strangers to find his way. It was a hard truth to swallow, but otherwise he would make more enemies, destroying his prospects of escape and the lives of those trying to help him.

He had hurt Lyria and Artus with his actions, with his petulant pride. These were his people, he had put them in danger, and from what she had said there would be consequences. Balus had tried to become his patron, he would undoubtedly try to punish either of them, prove they were wrong to defy him and make his time in the arena tougher. He was a fool, he didn't deserve the title of War Walker after his actions.

He allowed himself to be led away by the guards, they cuffed his wrists as they had before and taken back to The Ludus. The trip was uneventful until they reached the heart of the city, it was in turmoil, the guards that had blocked their way told them there was trouble in town. Again he had been wrong about the people of this city, he had let himself be convinced that they would never fight back, but it was clear as day that they were. Plumes of smoke danced and weaved through the arches and stone pillars of the city, gathering in the sky where fires had been lit. However there were also screams that accompanied the dancing smoke. There would be new slaves sent to the Ludus soon.

When he arrived back at the Ludas he was unchained and the executor told him to train. The other Gladiators stared at him, eyeing the new clothes he had been given. Feel slightly embarrassed and not wanting to ruin Artus' gift, he took the coat off and placed it in his cell. He then went back into the training yard, picked up two wooden swords from the weapon rack and started to train, concentrating his efforts on a practice dummy.

 

[KelevraBD]

Rowan kept his wits about him, and listened intently to Belkin's instructions, content with letting the Pingla take charge of the group. He kept an eye on Antonius as they marched onwards, weaving through the alleyways in search of a way back to the ludas. The tightly spaced alleyway forced Rowan to stretch and lean in ways that made his fresh wound ache, but he pressed on regardless, trying hard to think of other things. As they made their way out of the alley, Rowan scowled at the sight of a skirmish directly in their path to freedom. Rebels adorned in animal masks pelted Legion troops with more fire balls, though these men had more guts than the common household guards back at the source of the riots. They didn't back down, and held firm against the rebel threat, Rowan could not help but feel a sense of awe at how brave the troops seemed.

Still, the skirmish was an obstacle they needed to get past quickly. Rowan glanced back at Antonius, then to Belkin, then to the guards that were accompanying them. Between the lot of them, they might stand a chance against the rebels, especially if they allowed the Legion's finest to soften their foes before they jumped in.

Taking the time to think, Rowan tried to collect his thoughts. The attack seemed too well timed to him. The rioters that had surrounded Antonius so adoringly provided the perfect distraction and cover for the true attackers, these mask wearing pyromaniacs. Rowan could not think who might have the access and the resources to coordinate such an attack, but whoever was responsible clearly had a grudge to settle with the Legion.

"Alright Belkin, you make the call."

 

[SPARTANXIII]

"We have to cross that street into the next alley." said the Mercenary Captain, a mixture of fear and concern in his voice. "Well then, looks like I'll have to save you lot twice in a row then!" replied Belkin, roughly sharpening his sword on the wall. If there was one thing the Pingla were known for, it was getting right into the thick of a battle and always coming out the winner. Before captivity, Belkin had fought in the middle of Empire battlegrounds, all the while taking fire from archers, being stampeded by "Horses" and encountering "The Legion", sometimes all at once. Maybe it was luck, maybe it was The Judge looking over them during the war, but it was certainly their ability to get surrounded by soldiers and almost always win that earned his tribe their "Half-Demon" status.

Belkin walked out of the alley into the battle, immediately gaining the attention of an mask wearing opponent. He ran towards Belkin, throwing the fire bomb in front of himself to catch the Pingla. Belkin responded by merely blocking the firebomb, all the while standing still. The masked opponent used his momentum to to try and crash into the warrior, pinning him down for an easy kill. Belkin waited until he was close enough in his leap, and then bashed his shield into the side of the opponent, sending him flying to the side. Belkin moved fluidly, dashing to the body so that the moment it landed, Belkin pinned his opponent down with his knee. Before the Masked opponent could react, Belkin brought his sword down point first into his opponent's neck, causing a swift death. He took off his opponents mask, a poorly made mask of an animal with orange skin with black and white stripes and fangs. He decided to keep it, a trophy from which to remember this encounter.

He called out to those in the Alley, "GO, NOW, WHILE I'M MASSACRING THEM!" he shouted, before stuffing the mask into his shield and moving on to the next mask wearer, bludgeoning his sword into their spine.

 

[ProtoChimp]

Gaius finished his water and stared at the sands, at all the gladiators training when he saw guards approaching at the gate. He saw Lahar leaving a carriage, but the Vaan looked different than he did the previous day. The obvious change was the new clothes he was wearing. A black jacket, pants and boots. He looked sleek, more like a rich mysterious land owner than a slave. In fact he looked nothing like a slave, especially since his brand wasn't visible. Gaius was never one for jealousy but he did envy his attire; if only because it covered his brand, but he was lying to himself, he too wanted such sleek clothing. He set off towards his cage and The Asiren set his attention towards the Champion, Vorgis.

"You've shared much with me Sir, gratitude for showing me such respect" Gaius stood and finished his water, "I'll show you the same courtesy and not share with others what you have told me. Thank you for the sword training also, if you don't mind I want to practise against the Vaan, maybe I'll try with one on each hand like he does." Gaius picked up his training sword, grabbing another as well before heading onto the sand and waiting for Lahar. He soon returned without his fancy new clothes and started sparring with a training dummy.

Gaius walked over to Lahar and asked "I heard you have a patron now, Vorgis warned me they can be gifts... or curses. Do you mind if I ask which one it is?"

 

[MortifiedPenguin]

Lahar was concentrating on the dummy, half-heartedly fighting against it. His mind was still racked by what had happened at Artus' mansion, no man he had ever known from the desert had struck fear in into others as Balus did. His master had told him that he would grow stronger as he overcame his fears, scorpions, wandering the desert lost without water, never finding his way home. They had all terrified him once, but what do you do when other chose to live in it because it's easier? His master had never taught him the answer to that.


Gaius walked over to Lahar and asked "I heard you have a patron now, Vorgis warned me they can be gifts... or curses. Do you mind if I ask which one it is?"

"Both it seems" He sighed, "I will never understand this place, so many live in fear because they choose to let those who rule with fear command them, instead of standing up against then, they slink into the shadows and hope someone better comes next time. It's wrong, but here so many people accept it as what is right." He realised he was babbling, Gaius didn't need to hear this, he noticed that he was carrying two swords and decided to change the subject, "I thought you favoured the axe, why are you carrying two swords?"

 

[Godhead]

When the rest of them caught up Vokrash knew that they needed to come up with a plan. "Listen, if we keep off of the main streets for the most parts, we should be able to avoid that murdering force they call 'The Legion'. So bash anyone that gets in the way, keep aiming for any side roads we can nip through and DO NOT hesitate to move!" Vokrash couldn't think of a better plan and decided it would be best not to argue.

"We have to cross that street into the next alley." Vokrash could feel the dread in the captain's voice as he told Belkin the quickest way to get back to the ludus. "Well then, looks like I'll have to save you lot twice in a row then! Right after crudely sharpening his sword on the side of one of the walls he strode into the middle of the conflict. As he dispatched the first masked man with relative ease he bellowed back at Vokrash and the others. "GO, NOW, WHILE I'M MASSACRING THEM!" Vokrash was intent on taking him up on the offer.

"Come on you lot, move!" As they rushed past Belkin and the other masked man Vokrash bellowed back to Belkin. "You better have something up your sleeve boy! Even Vorgis couldn't take all these on, and I ain't in a hurry for my old arse to be on the chopping block for failing to bringing you back!"

 

[ProtoChimp]

Lahar expressed his thoughts of the imperial city onto Gaius and he couldn't help but agree. "I thought you favoured the axe, why are you carrying two swords?" Gaius looked over his new weapons.

"Yes but I need to learn the ways of different weapons if I am to survive. Vorgis tells me I learn fast, I've already learned some basic spear and dagger work. And I've spent the past few hours practising some sword drills with Vorgis, I was wondering if you had time to spar?"

 

[SPARTANXIII]

Belkin had pulled his sword out of the second mans back after killing him when he heard Vokrash yell at him. "You better have something up your sleeve boy! Even Vorgis couldn't take all these on, and I ain't in a hurry for my old arse to be on the chopping block for failing to bringing you back!" he seemed to say. Belkin merely laughed, turning his attention to another masked individual who ran at him, this time one who still had his Fire Bomb on him. Belkin rushed him, stunning him with his shield as he got close and then slitting his throat with his sword. He picked up the intact Fire Bomb and threw it at two more mask wearers who were close together, giving a little bit of irony to the fight.

He turned his attention back towards Vokrash. "Vokrash, you may be scared of a fight like this, but the Pingla LOVE it when its this crowded. How else do we become Half-Demons, when a force of 10 can't kill one man?!" he said, before turning his attention back to the fight.

 

[Godhead]

Belkin laughed at what Vokrash said and then promptly killed one of the masked men, took his fire bomb and threw it at two others. After the screaming began to subdue Belkin turned back towards Vokrash. "Vokrash, you may be scared of a fight like this, but the Pingla LOVE it when its this crowded. How else do we become Half-Demons, when a force of 10 can't kill one man?!" Vokrash merely looked back at him even though Belkin turned his attention away once more. "When you fight more than just fanatics throwing fire bombs" Vokrash bellowed back.

Vokrash turned away and walked back towards Antonius, Rowan, and the mercs. "Come on, let's make sure that Antonius get's back to Marrick without any more interruptions; Belkin will hold them off." Vokrash started to walk towards the alley. "Idiot doesn't know when to avoid a fight. 'Half-Demon' my ass."

Spoiler: OOC

*insert tasteless muslim joke*

 

[MortifiedPenguin]

"Yes but I need to learn the ways of different weapons if I am to survive. Vorgis tells me I learn fast, I've already learned some basic spear and dagger work. And I've spent the past few hours practising some sword drills with Vorgis, I was wondering if you had time to spar?"

"I have time to spar, the executor seemed rather insistent that I train and swinging a sword at a motionless dummy is not my idea of training." He replied.

Lahar moved over to the training area. Even if Gaius had done some training using a spear and dagger at the same time, wielding two swords was a different matter. It relied on speed and co-ordination, not putting all your strength into a swing and hoping you get a hit. He remembered that Gaius wielded a axe in his right hand, he would indistinctly try and block using that hand leaving is left side open. He took up a defensive stance and waited for Gaius to attack.

 

[Floris2123]

"Listen, if we keep off of the main streets for the most parts, we should be able to avoid that murdering force they call "The Legion". So bash anyone that gets in the way, keep aiming for any side roads we can nip through and DO NOT hesitate to move!" Belkin started shouting orders. Antonius was still bleeding a bit from his small cuts, and he felt himself slowly weakening. Antonius was an experienced leader, but he wasn't about to try and lead now. He was to weak, and the other gladiators disliked him to say the least."Alright Belkin, you make the call." Rowan seemed to have accepted Belkin as leader. Antonius moved the sword around in his hand, he had already taken lives today he didn't mind taking more.

"Well then, looks like I'll have to save you lot twice in a row then!" Belkin ran out off the alley, he showed why the Pingla were feared. He killed 2 rebels in quick succession."GO, NOW, WHILE I'M MASSACRING THEM!" Antonius grinned, the rebels were tougher then they looked. Even a Pingla couldn't stand against that many rebels. Vokrash also killed a couple of rebels, he turned away and walked back towards Antonius, Rowan, and the mercs. "Come on, let's make sure that Antonius get's back to Marrick without any more interruptions; Belkin will hold them off." Antonius nodded. He started following Vokrash keeping an eye out for any rebels. The small trail of blood he left was not a good sign. Antonius was also a bit worried about what it meant to be a champion, he was sure that Vokrash would know. He would ask him about that later, when they weren't fighting for their lives.

 

[ProtoChimp]

Gaius and Lahar stood opposite each other. The Asiren had it in his mind that he'd best not repeat his previous spar session, lest he have another gladiator as an enemy. He stood with his left leg tilted 45 degrees and his right pushed forward. He quickly jolted forward and jabbed with his right sword, keeping his left hand ready to block any surprise attacks.

 

[MortifiedPenguin]

The Asiren shot forward to meet Lahar, thrusting forward with his sword in his right hand, He hadn't left himself entirely open leaving the sword his left hand behind the trust to block any attacks, Lahar had taught himself this style of sword fighting it was about ones own agility and matching it with the lethality of a blade, behind all that force, all that muscle Giaus was slow and putting all his energy into one attack was foolish. Lahar dodged the thrust and rolled around the Asiren's open right side and attacked, sending one sword up towards his opponents neck and one to the waist.

 

[ProtoChimp]

Lahar dodged around the side and went behind Gaius, thrusting his swords up into his waist and neck. Gaius anticipated this and thought to follow by example, diving forwards and rolling out of harms away, turning back to face Lahar. Gaius stood strong and awaited the Vaan's attack.

 

[MortifiedPenguin]

Gaius dived forwards avoiding his attack, the Asiren was quicker then expected, but he would still be slowed by his hulking size. He turned around to face Lahar after his roll, waiting for him to attack. Instead Lahar again adopted a defensive stance, he would learn what Gaius could do first, then take the offensive.

 

[ProtoChimp]

Gaius turned, waiting for the Vaan to strike. He didn't. In fact he merely waited for Gaius to attack. Lahar fought differently to Benjen and Dran, where as they eventually attacked first Lahar just stood there, waiting. Gaius figured he should just strike first, although he was sure Lahar had some form of counter attack in mind. Realising the height difference between himself and Lahar he stood low, just enough so his head was lower then Lahar's and he spread his legs to stay grounded. He attempted, just for now, to bat the swords away from him to break his defences. This would most likely be a more than difficult task as Gaius was fighting in Lahar's home territory, in terms of weaponry.

 

[KelevraBD]

Rowan watched Belkin charge forward and take on the rebels like a mad man, urging the group to press on. Every bit of him wanted to help Belkin hold of the lunatics in animal masks, but Rowan knew that the mission was to get Antonius back to the ludus safely. Marrick would be none too pleased with injuries or delays. The sooner they got back in one piece, the better. If that meant leaving Belkin to fend for himself, Rowan resigned himself to doing just that. Besides, as far as he could tell, Belkin would be more than capable of holding his own. No doubt the Pingla preferred fighting in this fashion, perhaps he even enjoyed it.

Rowan kept his sword at the ready and ran out into the street, making his way to the alley. He moved and ducked to avoid the raining fire, and even had to engage a rebel head on to make it across the alley. The poor fellow charged Rowan with a spear, and Rowan responded by stepping to the side, allowing the spear wielding rebel to over charge him before slicing down his spine with his sword. Rowan spat on the body and continued forward, meeting up with the rest of the group.

 

[SPARTANXIII]

Belkin had killed another mask wearer, his 10th or so, when he looked back at the alleyways. He saw the last of the group enter the alleyway, just as the rest of the mask wearers had started to converge on the lone Pingla. As much as the prospect to battle those foes tempted the Young man, he knew to keep with the group and save his journey to the Judge for later.

He looked around for another one of the mask wearers who had yet to throw their Fire bomb. He saw one hanging from the belt of a mask wearer who was on the opposite area from the alleyway, and still behind two other guys. Belkin ran towards him, throwing his sword towards one of the people in his way. The sword struck the man's chest, and as Belkin neared the other man, he pulled it out before blocking the other mans attack and stabbing him in the neck. The man with the firebomb saw that there was nothing between them now, and tried to really the firebomb to throw at Belkin. Belkin rushed the man, stunning him with his Shield before slicing off his hand so he couldn't retort in time to stop the lethal blow to his brain.

Belkin removed the shield from his arm, mask still attached to the underside, and threw it over the crowd of opponents into the waiting alleyway, picking up the still intact fire bomb with his now free hand. Belkin rushed through the crowd, a possible suicide tactic for many others, but for Belkin and the Pingla, something they were trained for. He emerged from the other side, covered in scars and his sword now nothing short of drenched with crimson blood. He entered the alleyway, throwing the firebomb into the entrance behind him, closing off any of the Masked men who dared try to follow.

He picked up his shield from the ground and reattached it to his arm before turning back to his colleges. He fell into the wall next to him, weak from fatigue, but steadied himself and slowly got back up. "Well, less gawping as to my survival, and more getting back home so we can ask about these less-than-capable warriors" Belkin replied, eager to just get home and rest.