Seven days later, Valeria arrives at Castra Urbana. Her injured hand has healed into a tight scar beneath a fresh binding, while morning light falls across the marked practice yard.
Decimus Severus waits beside official bout forms, a blunted sword, and two city soldiers assigned as witnesses. One is a broad young man with cropped black hair; the other, an older lean soldier with a scarred brow.
Decimus Severus
Your hand is serviceable, but a scar is not proof of readiness. Today we test measure, recovery, and control, not spectacle.
He gestures toward three chalk lines cut across the yard, then places the forms on a low table where the soldiers can inspect them.
Decimus Severus
A witnessed practice record could strengthen your claim to future Colosseum matches. It would show recovery without binding you to a patron or surrendering any purse.
the older city soldier
We will record each exchange plainly: distance kept, weapon retained, and whether the scar limits your grip.
Decimus Severus
If you accept, the test begins with the blunted sword. The forms remain unsigned until you have seen the terms.
“"Let's start then."”
SUCCESS (Superb Melee Combat, rolled -1)
Valeria Asiaticus
Let us start then.
Valeria takes the blunted sword and steps onto the first chalk line. She tests the grip once, then raises the weapon without hesitation.
Decimus Severus
Begin with a measured advance. No flourish, no force beyond control. Show us that the hand answers when commanded.
The older city soldier circles her with a blunted blade, while the younger witness watches the scarred hand. Valeria meets the first exchange cleanly, retaining her weapon and distance.
the older city soldier
Grip remains firm. Recovery is immediate. She yields no ground beyond the marked measure.
A second exchange follows, quicker and closer. Valeria turns the contact aside, resets her stance, and crosses to the third chalk line with the sword still secure.
Decimus Severus
Record the result. Her scar limits neither control nor recovery. The witnessed practice test begins in her favor.
✓ Quest Accepted
Complete the witnessed readiness assessment
“She continues.”
SUCCESS (Superb Melee Combat, rolled +0)
The older city soldier presses forward with two controlled cuts. Valeria turns both aside, keeps her scarred hand firm, and retreats exactly one chalk mark before recovering the center.
the older city soldier
Weapon retained. Distance recovered without hesitation. The hand obeys under pressure.
The younger witness steps in for the final exchange, testing a close bind rather than striking hard. Valeria releases, pivots, and answers with a clean touch to his padded shoulder.
the younger city soldier
A proper touch, controlled and deliberate. Her grip did not falter, even at close measure.
Valeria lowers the blunted sword only after the witnesses step back. The scarred hand remains steady, and the practice yard falls quiet around the completed test.
Decimus Severus
Record it as passed. Recovery, measure, retention, and control are all demonstrated. Your future Colosseum entry now has evidence behind it.
The older soldier inscribes the result on the official form, while the younger adds his mark. Decimus seals the witnessed record without attaching any patronage, debt, or altered condition.
Quest Complete
Complete the witnessed readiness assessment