The yard remains open beneath the faded laurel. The young shield-bearer and the older practice fighter wait beside their marked equipment, while Marcus watches from the gate.
Gaius Marcellus arrives with a narrow-faced middle-aged man’s brisk authority, dressed in a clean brown tunic and dark cloak. He carries no weapon, but two porters follow him.
Gaius Marcellus
Decimus Severus’s copy summons me to explain lawful business, yet I find strangers questioning my workers. What exactly is being examined?
The Young Shield-Bearer
The agreement takes my purse before expenses, controls where I train and travel, and gives me no fixed term. I may leave only when your unnamed master permits it.
The Older Practice Fighter
Mine says the same. No witnesses signed before us, no master is named, and refusal risks losing equipment, wages, and the chance to work elsewhere.
Gaius Marcellus
Voluntary agreements often require discipline. They accepted instruction, equipment, and promised wages. No chain binds them, and no one forced a signature.
Marcus’s hand settles near his sword hilt without drawing. The porters stop beside the gate, and the fighters hold their ground, waiting to see whether Marcellus will produce the complete tablets.
“"No need to reach for your weapon, Marcellus. I simply need to inspect the contracts and make sure all is in order."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Oratory, rolled -1)
Valeria Asiaticus
No need to reach for your weapon, Marcellus. I simply need to inspect the contracts and make sure all is in order.
Marcus lowers his hand from the sword hilt. Marcellus studies Valeria, then gestures sharply to the porters, who bring a leather packet from beneath the awning.
Gaius Marcellus
Very well. If the agreements are lawful, inspection will only confirm it. You may read the tablets here, before these witnesses.
The packet opens to three wax tablets and a written wage schedule. Each fighter receives her tablet, while Marcellus places the remaining copy on a low equipment chest.
Valeria Asiaticus
No master is named, and the right to leave depends on permission.
Valeria examines the clauses in order. The terms claim earnings, movement, equipment, and continued service, but name neither a fixed term nor witnesses to the signatures.
The Young Shield-Bearer
That is what we signed. Now it is plain to everyone: these tablets promise wages, but give us no lawful way to depart.
✓ Quest Accepted
Secure the fighters' lawful freedom
✓ Quest Accepted
Have Marcellus acknowledge the contract defects
“"Oh, Marcellus, Marcellus. You have been cheated! Whoever prepared your contracts did not give a stated term. A contract of unlimited duration is unenforceable. I would suggest that you find a new legal advisor and prepare binding contracts, which I'm sure your workers will be happy to sign. I can recommend some reliable people in the Forum who can help you."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Oratory, rolled +0)
Valeria Asiaticus
Oh, Marcellus, Marcellus. You have been cheated. Whoever prepared these contracts omitted any stated term. A contract of unlimited duration is unenforceable.
The young shield-bearer looks down at her tablet, then raises her eyes. The older fighter’s guarded posture loosens as the defect becomes plain before every witness.
Valeria Asiaticus
Find a new legal adviser and prepare binding contracts. I am sure your workers will be happy to sign them. I can recommend reliable people in the Forum.
Gaius Marcellus
You presume much from a missing line. Still, if the term is defective, I will have the tablets reviewed by counsel.
The Young Shield-Bearer
Then until proper contracts are written, we owe no continuing service. We can choose whether to sign again.
Marcellus’s mouth tightens, but the tablets remain open on the chest. His porters exchange uneasy glances, and neither fighter surrenders her copy.
The Older Practice Fighter
Let the Forum hear the new terms, with witnesses and a stated ending. We will consider them freely, if they are truly lawful.
Quest Complete
Secure the fighters' lawful freedom
“"I didn't come here to harass you, Marcellus, nor to ruin your business. But the Colosseum has a supervisory duty with regard to professional practices, and it can summon you to account for yourself if necessary, but I'm sure it won't come to that. I would be happy to review the new contracts when they are ready, and even to witness them, and then I can report that everything here is above-board and running smoothly."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Oratory, rolled -3)
Valeria Asiaticus
I did not come to harass you or ruin your business. The Colosseum supervises professional practices and may summon you to account, though I expect that will not be necessary.
Valeria Asiaticus
When the new contracts are ready, I will gladly review and witness them. Then I can report that this yard is lawful and properly conducted.
Valeria’s measured offer lowers the immediate temperature. The fighters keep their tablets, while Marcus watches Marcellus for any movement toward concealment or pressure.
Gaius Marcellus
You offer protection while reminding me that the arena can inspect me. Very well. I will have proper terms drafted and bring them before witnesses.
The Young Shield-Bearer
Then we may remain only by choice, until those terms are shown. That is already better than being told permission is required.
Marcellus agrees, but the concession costs Valeria goodwill: his eyes narrow, marking her as an official-minded rival rather than a neutral visitor. He orders the tablets copied for legal review.
Gaius Marcellus
You shall see the drafts when ready, Asiaticus. Until then, my workers remain free to leave, and I will expect your report to reflect what you actually find.
“"I will report that I found faults in your contracts that made them unenforceable, but that you cooperatively agreed to prepare new ones, which I volunteered to review and, if necessary, witness."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Oratory, rolled +0)
Valeria Asiaticus
I will report that I found faults making these contracts unenforceable, and that you cooperatively agreed to prepare new ones. I volunteered to review them and, if necessary, witness them.
The statement settles into the open yard, precise enough for the fighters, Marcus Flavius, the porters, and Gaius Marcellus to repeat without alteration. The wax tablets remain visible on the chest.
Gaius Marcellus
That is an accurate account. I will not claim you condemned the business when you have offered a lawful path forward.
The Young Shield-Bearer
Then the report will say the old terms failed, and that we remain free until proper contracts are offered.
The Older Practice Fighter
With a fixed term, named master, witnesses, payment, and a real right to leave. Those are the terms we will examine.
Marcus Flavius gives a restrained nod. Gaius Marcellus orders his clerk to copy the tablets for legal review, while the fighters retain their originals and the yard’s immediate dispute ends without concealment or coercion.
“"I am glad this was settled without rancor, and you can call on me to review the contracts whenever you like." She adds a wry understatement: "I do have some little experience with these things," and goes back to report to Decimus Severus.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Oratory, rolled -1)
Valeria Asiaticus
I am glad this was settled without rancor. You can call on me to review the contracts whenever you like.
Valeria Asiaticus
I do have some little experience with these things.
Gaius Marcellus
So I have observed. I will send the drafts through proper channels, Asiaticus, and expect your judgment to remain as exact as your report.
The fighters keep their tablets, and the clerk begins his copies under the porters’ watch. Marcus accompanies Valeria from the laurel-marked yard toward the Colosseum.
At the records gate, Decimus Severus receives her account, the wax copy, and the name of Gaius Marcellus. His expression stays severe as he checks each point.
Decimus Severus
You found defective terms, preserved the originals, and left the workers free without turning a contract dispute into a spectacle. That is a useful report.
Decimus Severus
When Marcellus submits new tablets, bring them here as well as to the Forum. If they are lawful, I will record that. If not, he will answer for the difference.
Quest Complete
Have Marcellus acknowledge the contract defects
Skill Upgrade: Lore Superb→Legendary