The Adventures of Morfix

Chapter 3 – The gladiators of war

Morfix having learned of his power has to keep it hidden until he can learn to control it. While he was training vigorously to win to the swordsmen competition, he also would love to be the first to lead and win a battle for Laos against the warriors of Mobgad. He would go on to train day and night and at dawn, he would go into the forest alone to harness his superpowers and how to control it. He knew how vital it is if he is to continue living in Laos.

“no one must know of this or you die” William would always tell him.

''you must learn to use this powers. there is more you have not figured out"

“This power you have is the greatest from the tribe of the Mobgad. They would kill to have you in their court. Keep this hidden. You have the power of vision. Even the strongest from their clan do not.”

Morfix powers kept growing so strong and he realized that he needed to keep it in check.

“Our swordsman’s competition will be starting in a one-month time and every competitor must be ready”, the king announced. We must be ready for this year’s competition and the winner will lead our army of swordmen. This competition is not for the weak or fainthearted. You have to be prepared. Fathers have lost their sons; wives have lost their husbands and children have lost their fathers. The brave wins” the kind concluded. The rules of the competition have been stated and the rules are basically that there are no rules. Once you are in the rainbow, there are no rules, you either win or lose.

King Martin, himself once won the competition and had led the army of swordmen numerous times. Even though Laos have never won a war against arch rivals, the warrior of Mobgad, they have won several other wars and most notably against Camelot. King Martin is a brave king who doesn’t back down from war. He has witness and spearheaded over fifteen wars and he has a never say never spirit. He fought in River Glein, River Douglas, River Basses, Battle of Celidon Coit, Guinnion Fort, City of the Legion, River Tribruit/Tryfrwyd, Agned Hill. The Battle of Celidon was an armed battle between Laos and the Saxons occurring on the Plains of Camlann in the White Mountains which resulted in many casualties on both sides. King Martin is a very brave in the war front and often switched fighting styles from Thraex to Dimacherus. He often divided his army into different gladiator chambers; Thracian. Their Weapons are short sword, triangular shield, their Strengths: Agile warrior, Weaknesses: Ranged attacks. They would often be used to swing into an opponent’s unprotected back, which would often end the contest there. Murmillo: their Weapons are: sword, square shield, their Strengths: Well, equipped with a large sword and shield, their Weaknesses: Susceptible to agile attacks. It favoured strong warriors. Retiarius Weapons: Rete (weighted net), fuscina (trident), their Strengths: Agility, ranged attacks, their Weaknesses: Little to no armor. Most likely to win against: Secutor, Murmillo. Due to their lack of armor – some wore nothing but a loincloth – many viewed them as the lowliest of classes. Secutor Weapons: Gladius, dagger their Strengths: Heavily armored, their Weaknesses: Slower than many other classes they are Most likely to win against: Samnite Would struggle against: Retiarius Secutor, with its anti-trident and anti-net armor, was a class designed to fight the more agile Retiarius class. Velitus Weapons: Spear their Strengths are: Speed, mobility, ranged attacks, their Weaknesses: Lightly armored and Most likely to win against: Dimachaerus. They Would struggle against: Everybody. Gladiators fighting as the Velitus class were not seen as good prospects. They usually fought in groups against one or more chariots and didn’t normally last long. Samnite Weapons: Short sword, shield Strengths: All-rounder Weaknesses: Abdomen and legs (unarmored)Most likely to win against: Thracian, the Secutor Would struggle against: Retiarius. Dimachaerus Weapons: Dual swords. Their Strengths: Skilled in close-quarters combat Weaknesses: Lightly armored. They will Most likely to win against: Laquerius Would struggle against: Thracian. Laquerius Weapons are: Noose, trident, their Strengths include: Able to disarm opponents, their Weaknesses: Open to rush attacks. Most likely to win against: Velitus and Would struggle against: Samnite

Camlann was chosen as the narrowest path to force their enemies to retreat despite them outnumbering the forces and was seen as a death trap. The growth of King Martin force was aided by other factors. Throughout his rebellion, his army spent much of its time in rural areas and small towns, places that were poorly defended but had an abundance of slaves. Additionally, King William insisted on equally dividing the spoils, something that made recruitment all the even easier.

The swordsmen competition is divided in three phases where it starts as four-man thug of war with only one winner, then moves to a two-man thug of war and then ultimately one versus one until a winner emerges. The rainbow is the stage where all fights will take place. The rainbow has hosted several fights and many have died fighting on the stage. The Rainbow, also known as The Arena, is the host to all the gladiatorial games of the city. It also serves as an execution ground. the Rainbow was a majestic architecture with a capacity of 50,000 spectators. The impressive building in the center of the city had an elliptical plan with imposing dimensions and structural features that recall those of the most famous Roman amphitheater, the Colosseum, to the point that it’s believed that the rainbow was indeed used as a model for the Colosseum itself. The building had 4 floors adorned with several statues like the ones of Venus, Psyche, and Adonis. Like the famous Colosseum, the rainbow had four great entrances that were reserved to city magistrates, members of religious colleges and to other important personages who could not enter using the ordinary gates. They were also used during the processions or other ceremonies that preceded or concluded the gladiatorial combats.

morfix father would always tell his son the tales of Spartacus and how he conquered battles. Spartacus was a Thracian gladiator who led a slave revolt with an army numbering in the tens of thousands. He defeated Roman forces over half a dozen times, marching his people up and down the Italian peninsula until he was killed in battle in April 71 B.C.

"why did he die? such a great warrior. why do people die"?

he would always remember his mother every time the talk of death came up and this always triggered him to want to get his revenge against the Mobgad.

William taught him Morfix how to use all kinds of blades and swords.

the competition is about to start in 2days and every gladiator is getting ready. the rainbow had been prepared and the festivities have started. the gladiators are ready to go against each and the price to be won is worth more than gold. the winner is to lead the swordsmen and also will become a knight he knights of Laos t are exceptionally skilled - their presence prevented the entire fall of Laos to the warriors of Mobgad despite the latter boasting twice their numbers. King Martin's new law states that men who show great bravery and honor are worthy of a title like knighthood where they work together, built on trust and companionship. he made this new law to encourage young gladiators who may want to shy away from competing and this law has resuscitated the bravery in them. the turn out for the competition has been massive.

Once a challenge is taken up it must be seen through. In order to join the order, they must also undergo training overseen by King Martin.