Ludus Office

[The Horror]

"It was good meeting you, my lord." Lisaerys face soured, sarcasm dripped from his mouth. "I look forward to further making business with you in the future."

"Balerion bless your heart and business." He snorted and turned his back to leave the office.

[Lord Aeradar Caltarys]

Aeradar watched the Lord Treasurer depart with the same affable countenance he had adopted the entire meeting, only letting it drop when the man was well gone.

"Well, that went as well as could be expected," he said, turning to Doctore with an amused expression as if that had been mildly entertaining. "It sounds as if we have some games to plan, my friend."

[The Terror]

Doctore leaned against the wall and grunted. "I half expect him to hand out bags of grain at the game and tell the audience to bake their own fucking bread..." He pulled out a piece of paper and began scribbling with charcoal.

"Here's what I suggest, my lord. The first day, the usual line up is fine. Exhibition matches, no need to draw blood just yet. The second day, we can start the execution matches. I'll need to study these convicts. If they're too dangerous, we'll have to curb the odds in our favor. We can't have the Black Dread losing to some seven foot sheepfucker from Lorath. Third day, we can have a little reenactment. Dress our gladiators as Ivory Band or City Watch, paint some convicts as savages. Fourth day, if we have some big beasts, we can toss those at the survivors. And then on the final day, we need a proper closer. A battle royale perhaps, or a proper match for our Black Dread. I fear she has grown content with her crown. Not every one steps on the sand bearing Valyrian steel and a reputation like hers. And what's more urgent, I fear the crowd will grow bored with her."

[Lord Aeradar Caltarys]

"I agree with you on all except the first day. We must open with enough spectacle to whet the appetites of the populace for days to come," Aeradar said, standing and beginning to pace as he thought, doing his best thinking when in motion.

"Start with the reenactment the first day. Remind the people what they're celebrating with the gladiators of House Caltarys representing the brave founders. Bedeck each in a manner that represents each of the founding families, with Baleria as Mother Volantis herself. Pit them against the savage tribal hoards played so aptly by our convicts. Civilization triumphing over chaos."

"The second day let us have beast games for the most part. Convicts savaged by the horrors of the continent, to remind the people of the dangers we suffered and have overcome. End the day by pitting some of our gladiators against the beasts, once more civilization triumphing over chaos."

"Make the third day one of more eccentric exhibitions. Chariot races, mounted combat, feats of strength, fire dancer's, magical exhibitions, a mummer's farce to lighten the proceedings, possibly a mock naval battle. Give the proper fighters a day to rest and recover."

"The fourth day a tournament bracket. Baleria and Vaero should not be the only gladiators known by name. We forge a new hero of House Caltarys, fighting their way up, culminating in a match against Baleria herself for the title of Champion."

"Then the last day, we will need a spectacle fitting of our triumph over Sothoryos, a high note the masses will tell their grandchildren of. I have a notion on the matter, one that has become feasible now with the arrival of my sister. We will find a proper representation of the horrors of this continent and pit it against Baleria, Vaero, and the victor of the tournament."

[The Terror]

"My lord... I am not sure what you expect them to find out there. I have no doubt they will encounter true terrors out there, but unless Lady Aelyx intends to lasso a wyvern or kidnap an actual Brindled Man, we will have to prepare to improvise for the last day."

Doctore frowned, as he considered the alternative. "I hear House Maltalos is willing to pay for anyone who can capture the Golden Khal."

The Golden Khal was a notorious great cat that had been terrorizing the salt mines for years. All its victims could relay was that it was yellow, ferocious, quick, and quite large for any lion or tiger.

[Lord Aeradar Caltarys]

"Not, not into the jungle," Aeradar muttered, a moment of panic in his features as he looked in the direction the jungle lay, as if it could hear him through the walls. "No wyrvens. No Brindled Men."

He unfurled a map, a rough sketch of the areas of Sothoryos known before the Doom, and pointed to an island to the west. "Gogossos," he said, in a conspiratorial hushed tone despite the smile on his face. "The Tenth Free City, wiped out by plague. It was originally used as a penal colony by the dragonlords, the captives experimented on using blood magic, slave women forced to mate with beasts to produce monster. That is what we need for the final day of the games, my friend. We need a monster, a representation of the chaos outside our city walls that we stand against."

"But, you are right, we will need a backup plan in case our efforts are fruitless. I will hire that Lord Maegyr to capture this Golden Khal. Send a tiger to hunt a tiger. The man is hungry to prove himself after that disaster with the Targaryens and in need of the coin."

[The Terror]

"That's..." Doctore's brow furrowed at the map. "I have heard stories of it from the recruits. The Kindly Mother had an operation there before the plague took it. Some of the older slaves still remember living in the city as children."

[Lord Aeradar Caltarys]

"I will be sure to inquire on the matter when I visit her to look for new stock. You will accompany me, of course," he replied, wondering what the Kindly Mother would ask for in return. "I am not sure how long the journey will take, so see to the preparations with the games in my absence. I want Baleria in fine form for the games."

[The Terror]

"Of course, my lord. I will pay particular care to her and Vaero. I can get some dogs on the cheap to practice against. The rest will stay on the usual routine until I see something special from them. We have a lot of competent gladiators, but they fight like mortals, not gods of the arena. I am likewise to see if the Kindly Mother has found something more exotic."

[Lord Aeradar Caltarys]

"Well, if you spot any gods in the making among her stock, don't let it show on your face," Aeradar said lightly,knowing full well Doctore was a seasoned professional at this sort of thing. "I don't intend to pay a godly sum for a bit of flesh."

[The Terror]

He nods. "Malix the Maelstrom was discovered and hired for the price of a bottle of cheap liquor before his old master learned his true value. Let's see if we can repeat the same trick."

[Lord Aeradar Caltarys]

“Tricks are something whores do for money. What we do here is an art, out medium blood and sand” Aeradar remarked, ordering the slaves to prepare the palanquin and an escort. “No time like the present then. Let us pay the Kindly Mother a visit.”