Salvete sodales,
I know, I seem to be making it this year's tradition to be overdue with the ludi reports each time, but the circus was burned down by Scribonian revolutionaries trying to topple the Dionysian Empire, so we were busy rebuilding. Nonetheless, I proudly present this year's sixth ludi circenses.
------------
QUARTERS
-------------
Group I: Damnator, Indutiomarus, P Victorinus, Callidus, Bibax
The circus has been rebuilt, the charioteers have been training and the crowds are present to cheer their heroes, or boo them if necessary. As the chariots start, Damnator dominantly takes the lead, as expected, with the others on his tail like a pack of hungry wolves. The first spot seems lost to the hated Whites, but the battle for the second spot is tense! Bibax assaults the current second, Victorinus, but experiences a brutal backlash when the Green charioteer sends the "Vigor Serpentis" crashing against the spina. Exit Bibax for the umpteenth time. Rumour has it that Albata is only keeping him for comic relief, or to taunt the other factiones: even with a player that bad, they can still win the title.
Callidus is now trying to pass Victorinus by pressuring him and using sheer speed rather than force, but the ever-unlucky Red player suffers the same fate of Bibax, much to the dismay of the Red fans. Victorinus is riding a good race, his best since ages. Indutiomarus, another perpetually unlucky charioteer, is hesitantly sneaking up on Victorinus, who himself is now fruitlessly chasing Damnator. The clash between Gold and Green is a quick and decisive one: Indutiomarus' "Gallia Victrix" joins the wreckages of the "Celetior" and the "Vigor Serpentis". Aurata and Russata need to be held back to prevent them from attacking Praesina fans. They are calmed down only when, much to their amusement, calamity strikes once more, this time in the form of the walls and Damnator. Victorinus seems to have overstretched himself in this race, and the "Fulmen Draconis" crudely puts an end to his dreams.
1. Damnator
2. Victorinus was pushed against the walls by Damnator
3. Indutiomarus was pushed against the spina by Victorinus
4. Callidus was pushed against the spina by Victorinus
5. Bibax was pushed against the spina by Victorinus
Group II: Pericolosus, Trophimus, Romulus, Myrtilos
The masses are in uproar after last races. It seems that even after the first quarter, factio Albata is slowly becoming invincible. The people are both disappointed in the sloth of the organisation in setting the ludi on the rails, and the spectacular but predictable result of the first quarter. Bookmakers are also dissatisfied. As such, nearly everyone hopes that this quarter will at least offer some degree of unpredictability. In taking off, Romulus, sixfold champion for factio Purpurea, fluently takes the lead, with Trophimus and Pericolosus an inch behind. Myrtilos seems to opt for his own safety and falls back.
It seems that Myrtilos's choice was a wise one, as Pericolosus and Trophimus pass Romulus and form a very unstable leading duo. Tensions between White and Green are mounting. Then, Pericolosus, current leader of the rankings, barges into the "Praedator" as both are taking a bend with only minimal room left. Trophimus is unable to control his chariot as his span comes out of the bend, but his chariot is flung against the meta. However, Pericolosus now also flails to remain in control: the dust and debris swept up by the crash of the "Praedator" have also rendered the "Flora Mortis" uncontrollable, and in the next straight line it tips over and crashes against the spina.
Myrtilos musters a great effort and shows that he at least intends to beat Romulus, but you can't argue with experience. Both charioteers cross the finishing line in that order. The crowds have cooled down somewhat, but the fans of factio Praesina remain very angry. Their hopes are now set on their leader, the Punic brute, Hannibal.
1. Romulus
2. Myrtilos
3. Pericolosus causes his own undoing
4. Trophimus was pushed against the spina by Pericolosus
---
coming soon, groups III and IV