Nones September, Capua local games

Having completed the first phase of my arena some weeks ago I thought it about time to get some blood on the sands, as it were. As Proximo is strapped for cash at the moment and most of his boys are untried, I skipped the Augustus regionals and put both Androcles and Symeon into the next local event.
Androcles was first up and I was keen to see how the long spear would fare in the arena. However, on drawing his opponent he was to face a Retiarius; another long weapon - damn! Hailing from the rival Ludus Anthrax, his opponent was to be Unctuous; a most unsavoury type.
I decided to record this one blow by blow so this first match will be picture heavy. (I guess I should also come clean and admit I messed this one up big time and forgot to roll armour saves until the start of the second match. Although, as my guy had the heavier armour, for match one, I actually disadvantaged myself!). Both matches were fought using the NPC charts for my opponents.

Round 1 and the protagonists face off.

Unctuous on the left, Androcles on the right

The more agile Unctuous wins the initiative and makes a double move to within striking distance. As both gladiators are better in the counterattack neither opponent wants to make the first move. Instead Androcles plays to the crowd, gaining a favour die.

Androcles shows off - the crowd are loving it!

Pleased with his reception Androcles tries again; this time rolling a one and giving a favour die to Unctuous!

Stop milking it mate!

With the crowd on his side, Unctuous also plays to the crowd, rolling a 10 - the crowd really are loving this.

The crowd are mad for a man with a net!

Seeing his support wane, Androcles needs to find an edge and attempts to intimidate  his opponent. Rolling a 10, he steals one of Unctuous' favour dice.

Unctuous is a scaredy pants after all.

With Unctuos soiling his gladiatorial nappy, Androcles seizes the initiative and strikes with his long spear, both sides piling in the favour dice. Unctous rolls two 10s but luckily for Androcles he can force a reroll due to the successful intimidation. That leaves both protagonists with a single 10 - a draw but both are fatigued.

A huge effort by both sides results in nothing but fatigue.

Round three and both gladiators pass the fatigue test, removing their fatigue markers. Androcles has the initiative though, as Unctuous is still intimidated. Androcles takes a gamble attacking with the long spear - a sustained attack of one versus a counterattack of four is a big risk but at least he can force a reroll (I might have this bit wrong, the wording isn't clear, at least to me, regarding long versus long. Also they shouldn't be in contact - I might have the wrong picture here). Even with the reroll, Androcles takes 2 hits - ouch!

Not the best move!

Desperate to find a way to negate the net / trident combo, Androcles resorts to brute strength, going for a push. Although stronger than Unctuous, this only succeeds  in pushing him back and not into the ground as hoped for. In response Unctuous moves for a better angle and makes a distant (long) attack with the trident. This time the advantage is with Androcles and Unctuous receives a hit.

A successful counterattack by Androcles

Round four and both fail their fatigue tests but Androcles wins the initiative moving in and pushing twice in succession. Unctuous is pushed back but remains on his feet. Unctuous moves into contact and receives two hits - followed by a third in the next phase.

Androcles tired but still counterattacking strongly

Round five and both pass their fatigue tests. Unctuous disengages only to move into contact again - receiving two hits for his pains. Unctuous is now in desperate straights with a vitality of only two.

A massive error by Unctuous

Sensing that Unctuous is flagging, Androcles rushes in - receiving 2 hits.

Androcles gets too cocky

With that shock to the system Androcles resorts to pushing again, successfully pushing back Unctuous. He's not subtle this boy!
Round six and both fail the fatigue test. Unctuous rests to remove one fatigue before moving into combat. Unfortunately he receives two hits bringing his vitality down to zero. A win for Androcles.

Androcles 'the pusher' wins the match

So that's a 2 experience points for Androcles, 5 coin for Proximo and a favour die to carry into the next match.

Match two - Symeon versus Arminius

The next match was to be Symeon the Retiarius (Ludus Proximo versus Arminius (Herman the German) the Provocator (Ludus Teutonicus).

Symeon faces a heavily armoured German

Symeon seizes the initiative straight off, moving into long striking distance and inflicting two hits. In reply Arminius charges into contact but is disarmed, losing his shield (note to self need a dropped shield marker here). Fighting on with sword only Arminius is tripped and falls to the ground (a signature move for the wily retiarius).

A dirty move surely

Symeon keeps hits distance making two long attacks on the prone Arminius but receives 2 hits in the process.

In response Arminius stands up unopposed (a lesson learnt here - Symeon should have kept in contact and not poked from a distance).

The fight resumes but Arminius is tripped again - either Symeon is really good or this boy has two left feet.

Now this is really dirty

Arminius stands up and moves away to catch his breath but is starting to tire.

The German runs out of steam

Symeon moves in for another long attack and inflicts two more hits on the unshielded German, who is now down to vitality one.

Both tire but the German is low on vitality

The German is now on three fatigue and must take the fatigue test for round six. A fail and Arminius bleeds out (a new optional rule from the first official update) losing another point of vitality. Unfortunately, it is his last and he collapses to the ground.

Arminius bleeds out

So another win for Proximo's boys and two experience points for Symeon. Unfortunately, only 3 coin as the crowd weren't impressed with a dirty fighter. 'Are you not entertained?' - apparently not!

Oh and I could really do with a prone figure!