TOPIC: Ludus Chat

Welcome to Descado de Mort

In an effort to improve Ludus communication and moral, I have decided to commence a Ludus chat.
All Gladiators will have access to this notice board
Any items of interest may be posted:

• training tips
• weapons specialisms
• training requirements
• grudge matches
• descriptions of particularly impressive bouts

you are encouraged to take part.

As a starting point your Ludus management team would make you aware of current projects

1. Training regimes should be maintained in accordance with the conditioning plans organised by Head Gladiator Donk
2. All Gladiators will be treated equitably. the more wins you achieve, the more you will pay off your contracts.
3. The Ludus takes 90% of any gains as standard. The remainder pays off gladiator contracts
4. All arms and equipment requested by gladiators will be added to the contract value.
5. Those choosing to stay following settlement of their contract and who choose to purchase their freedom will be discharged with a small stipend.
6. Those choosing to stay will benefit from the Ludus resources but will pay only 50% of winnings t the Ludus.
7. Arbitration of any disputes will be handled by majority vote of the managing council, alternately, Any gladiator may seek to resolve a dispute with mortal combat with the Ludus nominated champion.
8. All dispute resolution is final.

The Ludus retains the right to sell any slave Gladiator to other Ludae where neceszsary and desirable.
Requests to be sold to another Ludus will be considered by full managing council.

If you are unable to read this, you will be offered rudimentary education. if you are too stupid to learn, you will no doubt die quickly and this will be of little interest.

Faith and Steel.

Journal of Sofiah Darkhand

They are fools, these Ludae managers.
But also a means to an end.
It was clear from the first moment that this city, and its debauched lifestyle, would provide me with sufficient resources to conduct my research. A little manipulation here, a little larceny there, some delicately placed documentation and “voila” a business is born.

The Ludus I joined was one small enough to be vulnerable and yet large enough to need the services of a scribe. It was easy to embezzle funds and prepare documents so that I was the owner of a few key gladiators. These in turn provided additional resources, and so my business grew. It was a shame that my hand was forced and I had to leave the Ludus and set up on my own, it required some swift decisions and made an enemy unnecessarily, but I had prepared for that, and mitigated the risk.

Like any good business I needed employees. In the first instance this was a chance to evaluate their skills and see if they would be of any use.
The Dwarf medic seemed harmless enough. His treatment of the gladiators was efficient, but he couldn’t hide his use of clerical magic from me. Interesting that he seemed to have an anathema to undead, his reactions to raisings of zombies by our former employer was uncharacteristically brazen. That may prove troublesome in time, but there are ways to deal with such things. It is disappointing that the Dwarf seems to distrust me, or is it fear? Certainly for one steeped in holy drivel, he seems quite capable of theft, and wanton destruction of others property. Hardly an iconic picture of a holy man.
The Guard was competent enough, lacking in the mindless drivel normally associated with their kind, this human female seemed at least a little brighter than the average, and open to an offer of better employment! The Guard was initially distrustful but when my plan was revealed and the shares of the new company distributed, she appeared to be a staunch ally. Keeping her onside is essential, periodic gifts of items of value and magic will no doubt be welcomed. My support in the future identifying items she finds will no doubt further cement relations
The gladiator seemed the best chance for an easy requisition. Simply purchasing the contract made him mine. His skill in the arena was sufficient to ensure survival and he has the requisite skills to train others. Making him head of the new Ludus is a simple means of securing support. Allowing him to purchase his contract, and acquire shares in new gladiators has inspired in him a fierce devotion and new pride.

My proposal to include these in a new business venture that I would underwrite seemed to win immediate support. Giving away some of my equity seemed the best plan in the short term, and having the controlling interest in the new business will safeguard my investment and ensure we all grow rich, providing they do as instructed.

A beneficial dictatorship it is said, is always the best form of governance.

Allies are also important. Eyes and ears in the community learn of opportunities quickly. The quicker we act, the more profitable the outcome. It may have been a surprise to see we had set up shop opposite a thieves’ guild, but the benefits are potentially very lucrative. Helping dispose of the old leadership has endeared us to the new owner, and ensured we have a valuable additional defensive capability for our own base of operations. The fogging device is something I have studied for a while now.… ingenuous!

I confess to some hubris at how well things have gone. My gladiators train and make money independent of me, shares in another business grow in spite of my lack of direct involvement, and I am allowed the luxury of developing my art. Producing minor items of magic for my business partners helps secure the bond between us, but my main aim now is to expand the lower levels of our base to prepare a proper workshop. I have the labour to do so, we ‘created’ work force as we took over this base. Raising the dead as tireless workers is so efficient a use of both magic and resources. Digging and excavating is simple enough for them. Such a pity that they can’t be taught to take pride in their work…. The walls are rough, and the floor uneven. I shall have to do something about that soon, but the place is secure behind a wizard locked door and I can work undisturbed… save for the sound of picks on stone as the excavations continue. New rooms, a library, some storage, maybe even a vault are likely additions. For the time being I will retain my room above.

But I grow bored. New spells need to be sought and my power increased if I am to truly succeed.

Boredom it seems is something I could do with more of. Whatever possessed me to enter into the ring and fight in one of these matches. Was I crazed or spellbound? Granted, I handled the matter with my usual aplomb, but exposed some of my abilities to public display. It will not happen again. Still the additional gold was handy and financed yet more Gladiators. The company also grows, and it appears we have a new employee of some talent. Kuno is a gladiator so he tells us, but is so obviously much more. Whilst he has nothing to add to the company in terms of assets immediately, he has taken contract and contributes readily. In time it may be appropriate to bring him fully into the fold.

I must get around to providing the accounts for the Ludus.

post deleted table didnt work.

sorry guys., I'd hoped to make this week but it aint happening.

Sofiah will be finalizing the basement it seems... what lurks behind the wizard locked door you will have to imagine!

Journal of Sofiah Darkhand
My laboratory is finished. I have ensured that I won’t be disturbed. The Owlbear has done its work well, and the human artisans finishing off, have been ‘convinced’ by my special friend of the need for silence… so much easier when they truly believe they were working in the Ludus! Oh the power of suggestion. Such a subtle and many faceted ability.
My new laboratory saw its first true success with the summoning, but frankly, this is a small part of the overall plan.
…….
I have been working for days. I need a break.
The other members of our distinguished Ludus appear to have stirred up a hornets nest. It appears Orcs have ceased a part of the town and are seeking to establish a nefarious empire. Moreover, the Ogre Mage we captured has escaped. (small wonder).

The others tell me that the new challenge to the city can only be dealt with if we enter the magically locked Arcanum under the city, and discover the source of their power. To do so we need the four seals of the champions of the arena. Each of the premier gladiatorial champions has a seal. We each need to acquire one.

True to form, and whilst professing a disdain for the arena, Donk decides on the direct approach, he challenges (and defeats) the champion selected for him. Small subtly! Beating bloody his opponents in single combat is very much his style despite the lofty speeches.

The dwarven cleric is no different. All pleased with his new toys, he too exhibits total lack of intellect and decides on a direct challenge. He whines and remonstrates against the potential death of a worthy champion from his faith, but goes ahead anyway. His performance is lacklustre. He’s forgotten that new arena rules on flying, and barely manages to win his challenge. Worse he bemoans his fate endlessly.

And so it is left for me to exercise some discretion. Meeting with my selected champion, I offer him a deal. I explain my need, and assure him of my best wishes with a large sum of gold. Suffix is a big help in smoothing the edges. The champion agrees, I produce a suitably signed ‘proof’ from the bishop of the faith, endorsing the decision, and then – with his consent – render him ill, and off to the all-expenses paid sanatorium. The job is completed by Suffix recovering the paperwork, and my tipping off the church who take a dim view of such treachery…

For all my dignified approach, I bow to that of our dark cleric. I accompanied him as a show of solidarity. He approached our faith directly as prescribed, and asked for their blessing. Strangely it was denied, and a heated argument developed over the interpretation of ‘greater good’, an unfortunate turn of phrase within the temple I grant!. Irritated our clerist demanded as was his right, trial by arms to decide the matter.
The bugbear champion stood forth muscles rippling. With contemptuous ease a holding spell cast immobilized the champion, and, with a look of barely disguised fury, the cleric incanted a spell of truly evil significance. Reaching out to the immobile, (and terrified) bugbear, the cleric removed his heart and ate it before his own eyes! Impressive!

The symbol was duly produced. We have the four tokens. The vaults await. Time to gather my paraphernalia… this should be interesting.