Preparations for a Ludi

[Jokern]

Lucius Villius Tappulus, in his office as Aedile, had taken it upon himself to make the main event of the year to be the Ludi Romani. It was a grand celebration in honor of Jupiter, with chariot races and festivities in the Circus Maximus. It was perhaps the most popular festival of the year for the people of Rome, though sometimes violent as the different factions supporting the chariot teams could escalate their rivalry into outright riots. However, Lucius was sure that this year their hate for each other could be contained. Somehow.

There were many events and games that were usually included during the several days of the Ludi. The main event was the chariot games, but Lucius knew no decent Roman would be content with just that. There would have to be dancers and musicians in honor of the gods, along with boxers and wrestlers. Different horse races and drills were often on the tight schedule. The games were usually ended with dramatic plays over a few days. So much to plan, so much expenditure expected to come out of his own pocket, which made Lucius shiver at the thought. The position of Aedile could bring any wealthy man to bankruptcy.

However, it had to be done and Lucius was determined to make it a memorable festival for the people of Rome. To not do so would leave a stain upon his family and on his future political career.

He had a clear idea of how he wanted to schedule the games, but he would have to visit the different institutions to get a clear idea of what the price would be. Lucius decides to visit the charioteers first, though he would have to visit the athletes, dancers, actors and playwrights before he would have a complete assessment of the situation.

[Pontifex Maximus]

In the forum there was a wide variety of agents representing charioteers, owners of gladiatorial schools looking to show off their most prominent fighters, stage actors, vendors of wild animals from Africa, Asia, and the northern wastes, as well as state officials looking to offload condemned criminals for execution. The Aedile could speak to any of them.

[Jokern]

Lucius made his way over to the charioteers, as they would be the main event of the festival.

"Ave, I am Aedile Lucius Villius Tappulus. As it is my duty to prepare and organize the public festivals in Rome, I come to you to discuss what is needed for this year's Ludi Romani. I have planned to start the games with a great chariot race, all four teams racing for the glory of Jupiter. Four horse-chariots, with one driver and one warrior, and at the end of the race the warrior must jump out of the chariot and run the last lap. The winners will receive a laurel wreath and some money. I am looking at the cost of such a spectacle, and what suitable prize money would be."

[Rhapture]

Villlius is greeted by a short, dark skinned man.
"Ave, Lucius Villus." He bowed slightly, you had to show some respect. " Just one Race, Aedile? The people don't take time to fill up the Circus just for one race, even if it has a strange human run lap."

[Rhapture]

The man continues
"400 a race, 1000 to the winner. Another 1000 for staff throughout the day. But if you only do 1 race, it would be less, not sure the normal hands would even show up to work then... "

[Jokern]

"I would say 5 races, with the team with at least two wins being declared the overall victor. 1,000 to the overall winner, and 300 for the victor of each race. The overall winner will get the laurel wreath. That should come to about 5,500 denarii, which I believe is within the budget. I will prepare the funds, and you will prepare your chariots. May the gods be with you. Though I will have you know that the race on foot is a tradition at the Ludi Romani, you should know that."

"Also, I don't know if this is your area of expertise, but I would like to also have a horse race. Each rider should have four horses, which he will attempt to leap between, doing tricks as he does it. I would like 20 or so, with 1,000 denarii to the victor. How much would that cost to arrange?"

Lucius nodded and then made his way over to the dancers and the actors and playwrights.

"Greetings, I am preparing the Ludi Romani and for it I would like to add you to the schedule. We will need a dramatic play at the end in honor of the gods, but in between the chariot race and the horse race I have planned we will need dancers in the circus. Something religious and in honor of Jupiter."

[Jokern]

Lucius nodded and then made his way over to the dancers and the actors and playwrights.

"Greetings, I am preparing the Ludi Romani and for it I would like to add you to the schedule. We will need a dramatic play at the end in honor of the gods, but in between the chariot race and the horse race I have planned we will need dancers in the circus. Something religious and in honor of Jupiter."

[Rhapture]

"I am only in charge of chariots, Lucius Villius." The man says as he scratches his backside. "If you horse leaping, well, they are doing it for the prize money, so its not a cost to set up. You might have that in the middle of all your races, give the chariot teams a little chance to recover..." He explains.

[Pontifex Maximus]

A Greek man with a booming voice but with an effeminate look about him greeted the Aedile. "Ah something religious? Easily done, my troupe and I have done many before, quite a few in fact. Did you have a particular scene or story of Jupiter in mind?"

[Jokern]

"Something powerful and strong. The tale of how Jupiter casts down his father and becomes king of the gods should be fitting, holding him up as the rightful ruler of all."

"I was also hoping that you would perform the comedy Dyskolos by Menander."

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Ah, to be Pan!" The man said with relish, stroking his large beard (quite out of fashion for a good Roman) "It is a beautiful drama, if I may indulge myself - although I fear it will not be cheap. Costumes, props, the singers....I cannot see it costing less than 3,000 denarii."

[Jokern]

"That is fine for the play. But what of the dance to bring to life Jupiter taking his rightful place as king of the gods? What would that come to?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Do not doubt our talent!" The Greek exclaimed "We have our ways of appealing to the crowd; smoke, sounds, paints. Even pulleys which may allow a man to create the illusion of floating in the air."

[Jokern]

Lucius was getting tired of the bearded man's antics. He had not the patience to deal with dramatic men like him. He already had enough of that in the senate. So far though, the aedile was content with how his preparations were progressing. He had the chariots and the play. All he needed now were the horse races and the boxers and wrestlers. Lucius turned to the man once more, smiling the best fake smile he could muster.

"Excellent, I do not doubt for a second that you and your troupe will perform great work at the games. Yet you still have not answered my question. There is always the matter of payment and working within a budget, and so far I only have what the play will cost. I also need my dance, and I need to know what the cost for that will come to. This is an important aspect of the games, for the priests will watch and judge every move that your dancers will perform. I hope that your dancers are good enough to charm Jupiter himself."

[Pontifex Maximus]

"The price is for the play and the dance together." The man said with a yellow smile

[Jokern]

Finally satisfied with an answer, Lucius takes his leave and makes his way to the place where the horse racers usually met. He greets whom he assumes is the leader or organizer of the lot.

"Ave, I have come as Aedile to ask for your participation in the Ludi Romani. I am hoping that we could have a classic race, with each rider having four horses that he leaps between, doing acrobatics in the air. There will be prize money of course, and a laurel wreath to the victor."

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Master of Horsemen greeted the man with a laugh based upon his requests "Do you want a race, or a spectacle? We can't do both!"

[Jokern]

Lucius snorted a repsone. Was the master serious?

"Master, this is the tradition of the horse races displayed at the Ludi Romani, to honor Jupiter himself with displays of strength and grace and skill. Are you saying that your horsemen cannot perform the classic art of the desultor."

He took a moment of pause to gather his thoughts. He had no intenton to get on bad terms with those he needed to make his games the grand spectacle he planned for them to be.

"Though perhaps I was a bit... extravagant, in my requests. The art of the desultor is to leap from one horse to another during the horse race, not the acrobatics of a clown. This is what I wish to have: riders with two horses each, riding abreast, which they must leap between during the race as a show of their skill as horsemen. I just remembered, it is Roman tradition to use two horses for this, not four like the Greeks. Now, this I am sure that your skilled horsemen should be able to perform, especially if the reward is good enough. I was thinking that 1,000 denarii to the victor should be sufficient, as well as a laurel wreath."

[Pontifex Maximus]

One thousand denarii was the equivalent of 1,000 days of labor. It was a handsome sum, but this man seemed desperate. "1,200 denarii is my price, and nothing less."

[Jokern]

Lucius thought for a moment. It would not look good if the side event were awarded more money than the charioteers, but it was still within reason.

"Deal, but that means you provide for everything else."