by Gnaeus Dionysius Draco on Mon Apr 21, 2003 1:34 pm
QUARTER FINALS
Salvete omnes!
I would like to welcome everyone to the Ludi Conditionis, which celebrate the mythological foundation date of Rome. 12 charioteers of the six factiones have chosen to show up at the circus, cheered on enthusiastically by their loyal supporters. Many familiar faces at the line-up, including two new riders. We see that both newbies belong to factio Veneta, which seems to have rocketed past the other factiones in size and is now as large as Aurata, the largest! However, we have seen that it isn’t always size that matters, given the fact that the Golden faction never made a serious chance in the finals and their chariots have been ruthlessly splintered against the walls or their charioteers assaulted and defeated. Or they were just too slow.
Hannibal and his sponsor, Quintus Claudius Locatus, boast that if Romulus of Purpurea can do a stunt by winning two times in a row despite being the only one of his factio, they – the Greens – can do just the same with their new tactics. Mencius, who sponsors the Golden driver Morgareth, also changed tactics in order to make a better chance. It appears that the influential clan of the Dionysii is scattered among no less than four factions. We hope that doesn’t give trouble at home. We don’t have gladiatorial bouts today so they’ll have to wait fighting each other for now! Anyway, let’s get down to business!
GROUP I (Damnator, Hannibal, Caesar)
The first quarter immediately takes the public’s breath away. Supporters for the Whites, the Greens and the Blues have gathered in the circus. They all well aware that all three drivers in this quarter use violent tactics to achieve their goals. The vicious Damnator, longtime veteran and mercenary in his "Fulmen Draconis", eliminated three chariots in the last races and won his semis only because he was the only survivor twice. This is not a good omen for Hannibal in his "Elephant" and Caesar, the Blue newbie in his "Tempestas".
Immediately the three drivers take a quick, fast-paced start. Hannibal assumes the lead in an authoritarian manner and takes a few risky twists and turns, avoiding collision with both walls and spina. The Greens go out of their mind. Their only driver, their champion, is taking quite a lot of risks. However, he remains out of range of Damnator and Caesar for now, who go for each other’s throat. Just as Caesar manages to win a few metres and let Damnator behind him, Damnator lashes out with his whip, which is slung around Caesar’s throat. Caesar is forced to let go of his chariot to avoid further accidents and is brutally flung into the sand. His "Tempestas" becomes a loose cannon and is only halted half a round later when the horses suddenly realise their master is gone. Damnator makes haste now to catch up with his rival. It must be noted that all chariots in this quarter have raced at a frantic pace. It’s truly breath-taking. However, in spite of all power display Hannibal manages to keep Damnator at bay for the rest of the race and they finish in that order.
1. Hannibal (Pr)
2. Damnator (Ab)
3. Caesar (Ve) (was seperated from his chariot by Damnator’s whip)
GROUP II (Bibax, Maximus, Juba Bane)
The Whites and the Blues remain in their seats for the second quarter. The Blues desperately crave a victory but they hide behind the confidence that out of three chariots, one should logically make it into the semis and the finals, no? The Greens, celebrating Hannibal’s victory in the streets and in the many bars and tabernae around the circus, have been replaced by the Reds, who have secretly prepared new tactics to grasp the title of champion. We’ll see.
The start signal is given. The three chariots make a decent start, but nowhere near as furious as in the first quarter. Bibax quickly gets ahead of the other drivers and manages to surprise friend and foe by his determined display of power and speed. Juba Bane, another new charioteer of factio Veneta, desperately tries to fill up the ever growing gap between him and Maximus of the Reds, who is slowly but ever more certainly catching up with Bibax. Cheered on by his loyal supporters, Maximus passes Bibax almost effortless, followed at a short distance by Juba Bane in his "Aenglish Wildfire". The driver allegedly is of Briton heritage and was a local champion in Britannia. Bibax, panicked by suddenly becoming last and losing the lead, begins to lose control over his span and, failing to regain control, crashes into the walls of the circus. Factio Albata rolls its eyes collectively. This is the third time in a row Bibax fails to accomplish something! Maximus and Juba Bane battle it out for the first spot, meanwhile, but by the third round it’s clear that Juba, despite his speed boost, can’t catch up with Maximus anymore. Maximus in his "Centaurus" wins the second quarter!
1. Maximus (Ru)
2. Juba Bane (Ve)
3. Bibax (Ab) (crashed into the walls of the circus)
GROUP III (Indutiomarus, Morgareth, Myrtilos)
The third quarter features three veterans of the races. The disciplined and well-respected Myrtilos of factio Veneta, who has steadily been building his career in the circus, and two charioteers of factio Aurata, the unearthly strong Indutiomarus and Morgareth, the best charioteer of factio Aurata. With their combined strength they hope for victory this time. The Blues are now openly desperate for a victory, having witnessed the elimination of Caesar and the loss of Juba Bane. The Golden crowd is fairly confident this time. They are absolutely certain that this time, things will be different for them.
The three chariots start. Oh no! In the first corner Morgareth in his "Infernerator", trying to avoid collision with the spina, scrapes against the walls with his wheels. One of his horses trips and his chariot keeps hanging against some kind of iron bar in the walls – a construction mistake, the architects will later admit – and there he goes, stuck and broken. The Golden supporters go on to support Indutiomarus, who, with a stoic facial expression, continues his race, his muscles bulging from under this clothes, his fist tightly holding the reins of his chariot. Myrtilos, however, in his "Aquila", moves like the wind and is much, much faster than Indutiomarus, who is forced to give up his battle with the sole Blue left, and comes second long after Myrtilos crossed the finishing line, enthusiastically hailed by his friends and loyal supporters.
GROUP IV (PD Robur, Romulus, Callidus)
We have seen a strange phenomenon today. The first quarter was the most violent and furious one, but gradually the quarters have become more and more peaceful today. This one is the epitome of non-violence. However, that doesn’t make for a boring race! Group IV features the unhappy Publius Decius Robur, in his "Quadriga Ignis", the last hope of factio Aurata. The two others are well-known. Finalists in the previous two races. Romulus bested Callidus each time, and they are now the most bitter rivals. Factio Russata and Purpurea shout and yell to each other, singing dirty songs and using religious curses. Luckily the Aediles have placed them on opposite sides of the circus, with the remaining Aurata supporters between them.
The start signal is given. Robur, in spite of making a quick pace, much quicker than we are used to see in the generally cautious and slow factio Aurata, falls behind Romulus and Callidus who get engaged into a tight battle over the leadership of this race. Everyone knows that Romulus always passes the spina very narrowly. But this time, too, no accident befalls him. There must be something going on here. Divine protection, perhaps? Callidus and his "Celetior" however do not give up the chase. While the Red and the Purple battle it out, the first Golden supporters begin to leave the circus, seeing that Robur will never catch up with the leading duo. Sad, sad, sad. Romulus and Callidus are driving side by side, looking at each other grimly, not speaking a word. The public is nearly going out of its mind. The remaining supporters of factio Aurata have either joined the supporters of Russata or Purpurea now. They take the corners and straight lines at a frantic pace. Callidus, falling behind a little, now uses his special speed boost in the last laps, giving everything he’s got. He comes closer and closer in the last straight line. Romulus is getting visibly nervous as a seething red arrow is threatening his leading position, but in the final few seconds Romulus maintains his first position and crosses the finishing line first.
1. Romulus (Pu)
2. Callidus (Ru)
3. PD Robur (Au)
Gn. Dionysius Draco Invictus