After the palace briefing, Marcus leads Valeria back to the neutral practice yard. Murmilla waits there, shoulder wrapped, while Valeria’s family remains safely at home.
The yard is quiet beneath the afternoon sun. Murmilla carries no weapon, and Marcus lays out the blunted sword, light shield, and ceremonial staff used in the demonstration.
Marcus Flavius
We review the movements once, slowly. Your hand is sound, but palace obedience often hides in small gestures, not swordplay.
A young adult man with a narrow build, sun-browned skin, curly black hair, and a green wool sash enters through the gate carrying a sealed tablet and leather purse.
the school steward
Decimus Severus sends the next Colosseum schedule and purse proposal. The terms are witnessed and lawful, but the roster closes before sunset.
the school steward
One clause requires Myrina to name an acceptable opponent before the roster is sealed. Without that name, the purse and place remain provisional.
Murmilla
Then the choice matters as much as the payment. Pick someone whose style teaches you something, not merely someone the crowd expects.
“"I see. The audience would not be happy to see me do the same things over and over, and I would learn nothing by it. If I have the privilege of picking my own opponent, then I choose the Retiaria. That is new for me, and the retiarii are certainly popular."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled +1)
Valeria Asiaticus
The audience will not welcome repetition, and I would learn nothing from it. I choose the Retiaria. That style is new to me, and retiarii are popular.
The school steward lowers his stylus to the schedule and records Retiaria beside Myrina’s name. The choice is entered before sunset, securing Valeria’s place and purse.
the school steward
Retiaria it is. I will assign one from the roster and mark the bout as lawful, with no added demonstration or altered payment.
Murmilla
Then expect distance, deception, and a net seeking your ankles. Popularity will make the crowd eager, but it will not make the trident less dangerous.
Marcus Flavius
Good choice. You have faced shields and empty hands. Now learn to read space itself, and never let curiosity make you careless.
The steward seals the roster entry and hands Marcus the copied terms. Beyond the yard, an attendant calls for the selected Retiaria, while the afternoon training takes on a sharper purpose.
✓ Quest Accepted
Win the next lawful bout against the Retiaria
✓ Quest Accepted
Meet the assigned Retiaria opponent
“"Interesting though that may be, I have a more immediate concern. In this demonstration, I am supposed to disarm someone without the cutting stroke. That could be tricky. I'm not sure which technique to use."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Melee Combat, rolled +1)
Valeria Asiaticus
The demonstration requires a disarm without a cutting stroke. That could be difficult. I am not sure which technique to use.
Marcus studies the blunted sword and light shield, then places the ceremonial staff aside. Murmilla watches closely as the school steward keeps the sealed roster within reach.
Marcus Flavius
Use the shield to occupy the trident, not to strike it. Step inside its reach, catch the shaft against your guard, and turn your wrist over the weapon hand.
He demonstrates slowly, trapping the imagined trident between shield rim and sword guard. A twist toward the opponent’s thumb would force release without a cut or dangerous wrench.
Murmilla
Against a Retiaria, the net matters as much as the trident. Keep your feet clear, enter on the recovery, and make the disarm look deliberate for the crowd.
Marcus Flavius
Now perform it once. The point is control, not speed. Your shield closes the line, your body takes the space, and the weapon falls because the hand has nowhere safe to hold it.
With the blunted practice weapons, Valeria follows the sequence cleanly: shield binds the shaft, her step closes distance, and a controlled turn strips the weapon free without a cutting stroke.
“"Good to know, but about the demonstration today, how do you know I will face a Retiaria? I has not yet been specified."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -2)
Valeria Asiaticus
Good to know, but about the demonstration today, how do you know I will face a Retiaria? It has not yet been specified.
Marcus’s expression hardens. The steward checks the sealed roster, while Murmilla lowers her shield strap and watches the distinction take shape.
Marcus Flavius
I do not know. I carried the Retiaria’s method into the palace demonstration without warrant. The tablet names only a shield-bearing partner.
the school steward
He is correct. Retiaria belongs to your later Colosseum bout, entered on this roster. Today’s ceremonial partner remains unspecified, and no weapon beyond the listed blunted equipment is binding.
The steward opens the schedule beside the copied palace terms. The two records agree on payment and limits, but nowhere connect today’s partner with the Retiaria roster.
Murmilla
Then train for the movement, not the costume. A shield-bearing partner may test the same disarm, but guessing the opponent would teach you the wrong lesson.
the school steward
I will append the correction before sunset: Retiaria is your future arena opponent, not today’s ceremonial partner. The added notation costs one witness fee, but it prevents the records from being confused.
“"Suppose my opponent in the demonstration bears a sword? In that case, there is no trident shaft for me to catch. I would need a completely different technique."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled +1)
Valeria Asiaticus
Suppose my opponent in the demonstration bears a sword. There is no trident shaft to catch, so I need a different technique.
Marcus Flavius
Correct. Against a sword, do not seek the weapon. Use the shield to close its line, step outside the cut, and control the opponent’s sword arm.
Marcus replaces the practice trident with the blunted sword and takes the shield. He demonstrates a short step across the attack, catching the opponent’s forearm against the shield rim rather than chasing the blade.
Murmilla
The crowd must see a disarm, not a wrestling match. Turn the arm only after the shield has hidden the sword, then let the weapon fall cleanly.
Marcus Flavius
Your left foot takes the angle, your shield owns the space, and your sword guard pins the wrist. Then turn toward the thumb and release the weapon without cutting.
Valeria repeats the sequence with the blunted sword. Her shield closes the line, her foot crosses outside the imagined cut, and the practice weapon slips free under controlled pressure.
the school steward
I will append both lawful alternatives: shield-bearing partner with sword or equivalent blunted weapon, and no required costume or fighting style. The demonstration remains fully specified.
“"I see. Thank you for your excellent advice. We will soon see how well I have learned the lesson."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Oratory, rolled +1)
Valeria Asiaticus
I see. Thank you for your excellent advice. We will soon see how well I have learned the lesson.
Marcus Flavius
Then remember it under pressure. The shield closes the line, the foot takes the angle, and the weapon falls without anger or haste.
Marcus returns the blunted sword to Valeria and raises the shield once more. The practice yard grows quiet as he prepares to test the sequence from an unexpected angle.
Murmilla
And make the crowd understand what happened. A clean disarm teaches them that control, not slaughter, decides the exchange.
the school steward
The alternatives are entered and witnessed. Sword-bearing or shield-bearing partner, blunted weapons only, and no imposed costume or style.
The steward presses his seal into the appended wax. The palace demonstration now has lawful boundaries, while the later Retiaria bout remains separately recorded.
Marcus Flavius
Good. Now show us whether the lesson has become part of you, or whether you merely remember my words.
“She does her best to act out what she has learned, she pins his sword arm against her shield, presses her sword guard against his wrist and turns it against the thumb, taking care not to use too much force or injure the old man.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Melee Combat, rolled +1)
Marcus angles the blunted sword toward Valeria from behind the raised shield, changing the attack’s line without warning. She keeps her gaze calm and lets the practiced movement answer.
Valeria steps outside the cut, pins Marcus’s sword arm against her shield, and closes the distance. Her sword guard settles firmly against his wrist.
She turns the wrist toward the thumb with measured pressure, careful not to wrench the old soldier’s joint. The blunted sword slips cleanly from his hand into the dust.
Marcus Flavius
That is the movement. You took the angle, hid the blade, and made the release inevitable without mistaking control for force.
Marcus flexes his freed hand and finds it unharmed. The school steward marks the successful disarm beside the palace alternatives, while Murmilla watches with sharp approval.
Murmilla
Clean enough for the crowd to understand, gentle enough for the man beneath the armor. That will serve you better than a dramatic wound.
the school steward
Recorded: controlled disarm completed against an unexpected sword line, with no injury and no breach of the demonstration’s safety terms.
“"Good, an new way to win matches without killing anyone. I did kill someone once in the arena, and it was not to my taste."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +0)
Valeria Asiaticus
Good. This gives me another way to win without killing anyone. I have killed once in the arena, and it was not to my taste.
The practice yard falls briefly quiet. Dust settles around Marcus’s blunted sword, and the school steward pauses with his stylus above the wax.
Marcus Flavius
Then remember what that killing taught you. Victory need not depend on blood, and restraint is not mercy if it leaves you unable to survive.
Murmilla
The crowd may hunger for a death, but it will cheer a clean defeat when you make the lesson visible. Let them see the choice belongs to you.
the school steward
I will add your preference to the training record: lawful victories by disarm, concession, or controlled defeat where the terms permit. It creates no obligation beyond the bout.
The school steward records the note beside the successful disarm. Marcus retrieves his sword without reproach, while Murmilla studies Valeria with the respect reserved for a fighter who knows exactly what she refuses to become.
“"Fortunately, my contract doesn't specify a fight to the death. The crowd just wants a good show, and I always give them one."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Oratory, rolled +0)
Valeria Asiaticus
Fortunately, my contract does not require a fight to the death. The crowd wants a good show, and I always give them one.
Her words settle over the yard with practical confidence. The sealed terms support her: one lawful bout, witnessed payment, and no obligation to pursue a killing blow.
Marcus Flavius
Then give them skill they can understand. A clean disarm, a controlled defeat, and an opponent leaving the sand alive will speak loudly enough.
Murmilla
Make the choice visible. Let the crowd see that restraint is not hesitation, but mastery held firmly in your own hands.
the school steward
Recorded: the contract requires no fight to the death. A victory by concession, disarm, or controlled defeat remains lawful, provided the bout’s terms are honored.
The steward presses his seal into the wax beside the earlier training note. The record now preserves both Valeria’s preference and the contract’s protection.
Marcus Flavius
Good. Tomorrow, make the spectacle serve the truth: you can command the exchange without becoming what the crowd expects.
“She has run out of conversation and awaits the demonstration.”
The following day, Valeria stands within the marked space at the Domus Tiberiana. The Praetorian Captain, palace officials, Marcus, and two witnesses observe as the imperial standard rises behind her.
Praetorian Captain
The demonstration proceeds exactly as recorded: entrance, salute, staff, three measured sequences, lowered weapon, and witnessed payment.
Valeria salutes Claudius, accepts the ceremonial staff, and crosses the painted boundary with the blunted sword and light shield. Every movement is deliberate, visible, and free of unnecessary flourish.
Her shield closes the first line. She advances, turns against the blunted partner’s guard, and steps clear of the boundary. The final sequence ends with a controlled disarm and no injury.
the elderly palace official
The prescribed demonstration is complete. No movement exceeded the recorded terms, and no additional declaration was requested.
Valeria lowers the weapon and gives the formal salute. The witnesses inspect the untouched tablet, while the Captain counts the agreed payment into an open purse.
Marcus Flavius
A performance without submission. You gave them exactly what was written, and nothing they left unwritten.