Marcus accompanies Valeria and Murmilla beneath the Pantheon’s immense portico, where marble columns cast long shadows across the busy Campus Martius.
An elderly man waits beside a stone bench. Thin and straight-backed, with a bald crown, white sideburns, and a faded purple-bordered tunic, he carries a wax tablet and an official’s careful gaze.
The Elderly Former Arena Official
I am Lucius Fabius. I once arranged ordinary employment for arena households, before retiring from men who confused supervision with ownership.
The Elderly Former Arena Official
I have heard that Murmilla teaches balance, restraint, and practical discipline. Those skills can earn respectable wages at a school, a training yard, or a private household.
Marcus Flavius
Any recommendation must name the employer, payment, witnesses, term, and right of departure. Nothing remains informal once money and reputation enter it.
Murmilla
And I will not accept another arrangement that controls my movements, claims my name, or keeps my earnings until an unnamed master is satisfied.
The Elderly Former Arena Official
Good. Before I recommend you, tell me plainly: what work, conditions, or demands will you refuse, even if the wages are generous?
✓ Quest Accepted
Find Murmilla reputable employment under written safeguards
“"That is up to her. I have never worked as an instructor, and cannot speak for her. I would, however, advise her to reject any stipulation which requires her to enter the arena as a combatant, or to work at any time between sunset and sunrise, or to perform duties inconsistent with her profession."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Oratory, rolled +0)
Valeria Asiaticus
That is Murmilla’s decision. I have never worked as an instructor, so I cannot speak for her. I advise her to refuse any term requiring arena combat, work between sunset and sunrise, or duties inconsistent with her profession.
The elderly former arena official lowers his wax tablet, weighing the advice without offense. Murmilla remains still beneath the portico’s long shadow, listening to each condition.
Murmilla
Those are my conditions as well. I will teach and demonstrate discipline, but I will not be hired for combat, night work, or duties outside my profession.
The Elderly Former Arena Official
Then I can recommend you honestly. Any employer who requires those things will be excluded before negotiations begin, regardless of the offered wage.
Marcus Flavius
Put the refusals in the first tablet, not in a promise made after the purse changes hands. Clear terms prevent later claims of surprise.
Lucius writes the restrictions beneath Murmilla’s name, adding that employment must preserve her earnings, movement, and right of departure. He signs the note before Marcus and Valeria.
The Elderly Former Arena Official
It is recorded. I will seek instruction work under daylight terms, with a named employer, fixed payment, witnesses, and no combat obligation.
“"I would add, though it need not be stated in the contract, that when her should wound is healed -- it should be soon -- she is fully capable of providing advanced instruction, insofar as it pertains to her class."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Oratory, rolled +0)
Valeria Asiaticus
Add that, once Murmilla’s shoulder wound has healed, she is fully capable of providing advanced instruction within her own class, though that need not appear in the contract.
The Elderly Former Arena Official
A fair distinction. Her present injury limits current duties, not her established skill. I will record the capability separately from the employment restrictions.
The elderly former arena official turns the tablet and adds a witnessed note beneath the employment terms: after medical recovery, Murmilla may offer advanced instruction appropriate to her class, by separate agreement.
Murmilla
That preserves both truths. I accept work within my present limits, and I retain the right to teach fully when my shoulder permits it.
Marcus Flavius
Then no employer can call recovery incapacity, or treat advanced instruction as an obligation hidden inside ordinary lessons.
The elderly former arena official signs the supplemental note and presents it to Murmilla, who marks her agreement before Marcus and Valeria. The recommendation now distinguishes present duties from future capability.
The Elderly Former Arena Official
I will carry both tablets to prospective employers. They will see a disciplined instructor recovering from injury, not a worker whose skill may be quietly claimed.
✓ Quest Accepted
Have Lucius identify a suitable prospective employer for Murmilla
“"Congratulations, Murmilla, you have found a way out of the bloody arena, while still being able to practice your profession, and earning a steady income, not just depending on prizes. Not many achieve this. Can I buy you some lunch?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Oratory, rolled +0)
Valeria Asiaticus
Congratulations, Murmilla. You have found a way out of the bloody arena while practicing your profession and earning steady income. Not many achieve that. May I buy you lunch?
Murmilla
You may, and I will accept it as companionship, not payment for anything. After these tablets, a meal without terms sounds almost luxurious.
Marcus gives a quiet approving nod. The elderly former arena official folds the signed recommendation tablets, while the group leaves the Pantheon’s portico for Dama’s grill outside the Colosseum.
Dama, a sturdy middle-aged woman with dark braided hair and a soot-marked apron, turns skewers over glowing coals. Smoke, garlic, and sizzling fat drift into the street.
Dama
Murmilla, Valeria. Sit where the shade reaches. I have lamb, onions, lentils, and fresh bread, and no one needs to wager for a portion.
Murmilla
Lamb and lentils, then. Today I have work promised, terms preserved, and a friend buying lunch. That is a respectable victory.
Dama sets the meal before them on a shared wooden table. Murmilla eats with measured gratitude, while the signed tablets remain safely tucked beneath The elderly former arena official’s arm.
“"I'll have what she's having."”
Valeria Asiaticus
I'll have what she's having.
Dama answers with an approving grunt and adds lamb, lentils, onions, and fresh bread to the order. The coals crackle beneath the turning skewers.
Dama
A sound choice. Sit, Valeria. The lamb is tender, and the lentils will keep you standing longer than compliments do.
Dama sets a second portion before Valeria, then pours water into a plain cup. Murmilla shifts the bread toward her without ceremony.
Murmilla
Today, at least, we can share a meal without a contract deciding who receives the larger piece.
Marcus Flavius
Eat while it is hot. A victory over bad terms still requires strength to enjoy.
The four settle around the wooden table as smoke and garlic drift through the street. Beneath the shade, the signed tablets remain secure, and lunch proceeds without further business.
“"Excellent as always, Dama. I suppose, while I'm here, I should visit Decimus Severus and see if he has any matches for me. I still have to earn a living."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Oratory, rolled -1)
Valeria Asiaticus
Excellent as always, Dama. I suppose I should visit Decimus Severus while I am here and ask whether he has any matches. I still have to earn a living.
Valeria leaves the meal with Marcus and Murmilla, crossing the short distance to the Colosseum records gate. The signed employment tablets remain with Lucius Fabius, safely away from the arena’s business.
Decimus Severus
You have chosen a practical hour. I have one lawful opening, a women’s bout against a Veteran Hoplomacha, with the purse and conditions already entered.
Decimus draws out the scheduling tablet and turns it beneath the gate’s light. The bout is listed under Myrina, with no patron, private demonstration, or added obligation.
Decimus Severus
The match is in six days. One contest, witnessed payment, and the customary right of concession. If you accept, your place is secured now.
Marcus Flavius
Read every line before you answer. A purse is useful only when the terms leave your household and your judgment untouched.
Decimus Severus
The terms are clean. I will record your acceptance and issue the certified copy for your household before you leave.
“She studies the tablet.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -2)
Valeria studies the scheduling tablet beneath the records gate’s light, tracing each clause with her eyes while the wax bears the official seal and fresh witness marks.
Valeria Asiaticus
One bout, six days from now, against a Veteran Hoplomacha. The purse and right of concession are stated.
She confirms the entry names Myrina, witnessed payment, and no patron, demonstration, private pledge, or added service. The tablet matches her exhibition contract’s safeguards.
Decimus Severus
You found the terms as entered. I will note that you inspected every condition before accepting, so no clerk can later call your consent careless.
Her scrutiny delays the records line, and two waiting petitioners, one a lean young adult woman in a russet cloak and the other a narrow-built elderly man in a cream tunic turn to watch. Decimus adds the delay and her exacting review to the margin, making her caution part of the public record.
Marcus Flavius
That is a small price for a clean fight. Keep the certified copy with the household records, and let the opponent carry her own obligations.
Murmilla
A Veteran Hoplomacha will test your distance. At least this tablet does not ask you to surrender anything before the spear is raised.
“"It sounds like an interesting match, that is to say, a difficult one. I will have to spend some time practicing. Very well, accepted."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +3)
Valeria Asiaticus
It sounds like an interesting match, that is to say, a difficult one. I will have to spend some time practicing. Very well, accepted.
Decimus takes up the stylus and records Valeria’s acceptance beneath the Veteran Hoplomacha’s name. The fresh wax receives the arena seal and two witness marks.
Decimus Severus
Accepted and secured. Your purse, concession, and independence remain exactly as entered. I will issue the certified copy before you leave.
He adds a second notation: Valeria may use the eastern practice yard for supervised spear work during the six days, without charge or sponsor. The waiting petitioners hear the offer.
Marcus Flavius
Then we practice distance first. Against a veteran spear fighter, patience will matter more than courage displayed for the crowd.
Murmilla
Watch the spearhead, not the woman’s face. Make her turn before you enter, and leave her no easy line to recover.
Decimus hands Valeria the certified copy, now naming both her secured bout and her free access to the practice yard. Her place is fixed, and preparation can begin on her terms.
✓ Quest Accepted
Have Murmilla hear a suitable employer’s safeguarded terms
+ New Item Acquired
Certified bout copy
− Scene Quest Removed
Have Lucius identify a suitable prospective employer for Murmilla
“She will wait to hear back from the prospective employer.”
Valeria waits through the afternoon and the following morning without sending another message. The household continues its ordinary work, while Lucius Fabius carries Murmilla’s tablets to prospective employers.
Murmilla
I would rather wait for a lawful answer than accept quick wages that hide a chain. The terms are worth the delay.
On the second afternoon, Lucius returns beneath the Pantheon’s portico with his wax tablet sealed. His expression is reserved, but not discouraging.
The Elderly Former Arena Official
A training household near the Campus Martius will meet you after your shoulder is examined. They accept daylight instruction, fixed payment, witnesses, and a stated right of departure.
Murmilla
And the present work? No combat, no night duty, no claim upon my name or purse?
The Elderly Former Arena Official
Those conditions were accepted before your name was recommended. They want instruction, not ownership, and will send the draft through the Forum and Colosseum channels.
Murmilla receives the report without signing anything. The household now has a genuine prospect, while her independence, recovery, and right to refuse remain untouched.
Quest Complete
Have Murmilla hear a suitable employer’s safeguarded terms