To the Gladiator, the sand of the arena was sacred ground, annointed by the blood of their brothers-in-arms. Gladiators were mostly condemned slaves sentenced to train, and eventually die, in the arena for the entertainment of the Romans, a blood sport that reached its peak of popularity between 75 BC and 63 BC. However, Roman citizens and even Roman emperors opted to fight as gladiators, be it for gold or glory. But, it was only those slaves whose fates were to live life as gladiators who quested for the rudis. The rudis was nothing more than a symbolic wooden sword - the blade carved with the names of all the foes the gladiator defeated in blood and sand - yet it represented the ultimate prize to a slave-gladiator; it meant fame and possibly fortune, but most of all it meant…freedom! Thrill to the clash of sword on shield as your heavily armored secutor leaps high to avoid the sweeping net of your opponent's retiarius. Grimace as the curved blade of your opponent's sica slashes the chest of your mighty murmillo after their defense fails. All the excitement and spectacle of the ancient Roman arena is faithfully recreated in the tactical-level, combat card game Gladiator: Quest for the Rudis! From Stewart Wieck, White Wolf Publishing co-founder and co-creator of Vampire: The Masquerade and the World of Darkness, and featuring complete, playable decks of 16 unique gladiators donning historically accurate armor rated for protection and placement, Gladiator: Quest for the Rudis places you on the sandy floor of the arena as a slave gladiator with deadly attacks and deft defenses at your disposal!
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