The Hippodrome

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Theo walks in to the Hippodrome and looks around to find a seat for himself. It's been a long time since there was a race and people are coming from all over the Empire to be witness this event. And Theo is no different. Finally he manages to get through crowed and heads towards private seats. Seeing one open he takes a seat and opens his bottle of wine.

This will be interesting. No matter who wins. If not then I'll propose an Edict that says "All Senators must wear toga and have to race every year". Cheers!

Laughing over his Edict to come Theo takes a sip from his bottle.

[Warmaster Horus]

Nikiphoros, who had gone to the Hippodrome immediately after hearing the Basileus proclaim the race, had been immersed in scrolls and parchment, all of which were in relation to the performances and odds of the four teams. He'd gone down to see the horses, meet the trainers, meet the racers. He'd spoken to professionals, to people who brought home food thanks to their betting. Finally, a few sycophants dedicated to one team had shouted loudly in his ear to support the good one. He'd had a headache for some time, too.
Eventually, he realised there was no way for him to adequately judge the teams. He'd spoken to the pros, but everyone had a different opinion. The trainers and racers were obviously biased, and the bookmakers too. Tiring of this, Nikiphoros went to the Kathisma. The Guard moved to let him enter, and he made his announcement:

"People of Constantinople...

When I heard Senator Tagaris had chosen to sack Alexandria, to break the laws, to kill thousands of people, I was outraged. When I realized the rest of the Senate was not going to act, I was incensed. This is why I connived to bring Tagaris to justice. My conduct has brought us here, and my conduct was fuelled by one thing: the desire to avenge the poor people of Alexandria, those who'd once been part of our Empire, those who'd been mistreated by the Egyptians, those who'd adhered to the Muslim faith by obligation.

People of the Empire...

By standing up for the people of Alexandria, I stood up for those no one else would. I stood up for the underdog, so to speak. This is why I will choose to take the Reds and Whites. One is rumored to be lead by a pagan, the other team has not been successful of late...
But I will let them stand up for justice!

I could have taken the easy way out, I could have given Tagaris what he wanted. But I did not!
Here too, I could take the easy way out. I could have chosen the more popular charioteers. But I will not!
I place my faith and that of the people of Alexandria in the Reds and the Whites.

May the best teams win..."

Finally leaving the Kathisma, Nikiphoros goes to a Hippodrome official, and says:
"Sir, it is done. I will support the Reds and the Whites, and Tagaris will have the Blues and the Greens."

[Smowz]

Nevoulas ek Philadelphias is unaccustomed to such events - however he simply could not afford to miss out on such a spectacle. His opinion of both men was very much in the balance, on one side was the legendary scoundrel himself Methodios and on the other side was the sneaky proud Nikiphoras.

Both men had stood up for what they believed and the unorthodox way of sorting this out had caught the imagination of the empire. Indeed Nevoulas was now gathered with well respected peoples from both his province in the Balkans and indeed from newly inherited Markinople. Where better to start to discuss matters of state then at this grand affair.

Nevoulas looks down on the track and notices the two combatants talking to their respected choices for the race. There are many people dashing about, Nevoulas peers closer to look around at the scene he sees representatives from all over the empire, pale skins, dark skins and even the odd Turkish descendent.

Nevoulas looks over at one dressed in Seljuk design- he was sure he recoginized the all to familiar features. He rises and is about to rush down and confront his long lost relative when Trumpets blaze around and a roar echoes around the arena.

Nevoulas loses sight of the man and feels one of his guests tug at his robe.

'Nevoulas why the long face come enjoy some of the Belgradian wine'

Nevoulas grimaces ... horse pee would taste better he thinks, still he had to be polite and gulps some down, forgetting his moment.

[OverKnight]

Aleksios enters the Kathisma. He acknowledges the crowd and then raises his hands for quiet.

The teams have been decided and Scopia hangs in the balance.

The Basileus raises a piece of white silk.

May God grant victory to the worthy party in this dispute.

He drops the silk, it flutters away in the breeze, signalling the start of the race.

[TinCow]

OOC: The race will be run tomorrow afternoon, EST.

[pevergreen]

Michail enters the Hippodrome, eager to watch his newly promoted racer give him victory. A glint hardens in his eye as he moves down to talk to his racer.

[TinCow]

This is it, Citizens of Constantinople! The Main Event! The Greatest Race of your lifetime! Two teams of mixed loyalties, vying for the greatest prize ever awarded in the history of the Hippodrome. Never before have Blues and Greens run together as partners, and you can certainly bet that this alliance is in name only. Teammates will surely fight against each other, and tensions are high! It is my sincere pleasure to introduce to you the glorious racers!

For the Blue Team, Constans Kaspax!
For the Red Team, Longinius Nicerite!
For the Green Team, Magnentius Ferro!
For the White Team, Falkon Xerus!

What is this? Senator Michail Arianitis is approaching the starting gates. Yes, he’s walking forward to talk to his own racer, Magnificent Magnentius Ferro of the Green Team. Well, well, something is certainly going on between sponsor and charioteer! It looks like, OH! Magnentius Ferro has struck Michail Arianitis in the face! What in the world is going on down there?! The young Ferro is now extremely angry! Oh, my, but that was a rude gesture. Michail Arianitis is now yelling and pointing at his charioteer, and Ferro is absolutely fuming! The Senator is walking away now, but his driver is visibly upset! What in the world was that all about?

Ignoring these dramatics, the Starter is looking up at the Kathisma, waiting for the signal from the Basileus. And there it is, a piece of white silk floating on the breeze! The starter pulls the gate lever AND OFF THEY GO!

As they jostle out of the gates, the strength of the Factions’ primary teams is clearly shown. The superior quality horses and extra training have put both Blue and Green Teams into the lead! Yes, Constans Kaspax puts himself into an excellent position at the front of the pack, with his erstwhile rival Magnentius Ferro right behind him. Falkon Xerus manages to outmaneuver Short Longinius for third, but that is a mere formality for this race as it is truly the primary teams competing against the secondaries! Methodios Tagaris must be very pleased with this opening performance! What was Nikiphoros Manouelitis thinking when he selected the vastly inferior pairing of Reds and Whites?!

As they move into the first lap, already these temporary alliances are flaring! Look at Magnentius Ferro go! By all that is Holy! I have never seen a chariot move that fast in my entire life, and I’ve seen over a thousand races in this arena alone! Constans Kaspax looked like he was standing still, and Ferro is now has a dominating lead over his ‘teammate.’ That young man has truly earned his nickname as Magnificent Magnentius! That was the most incredible pass in the history of the Hippodrome!

Constans Kaspax is not beaten, though! As they round the bend into the second lap, the Blue chariot is charging hard! Kaspax is known as a strong starter and we’re seeing it right here! He’s coming up on Ferro’s right side, and it looks like he’s going through! Yes, he’s… wait! Ferro is whipping Kaspax! This is completely out of character for a driver who is known to value honesty and fair-play in his racing! He must have been ordered to do this by Senator Michail Arianitis! There’s no other possible explanation for this behavior! Kaspax is shaking it off, however. He’s a tough one, that man, he’s taken a few lashings, but he’s still pulling past… but they’re close! Too close! WATCH OUT! NO! Kaspax and Ferro have collided! There must have been blood in Kaspax’s eyes from the whipping, because he just careened into the Green chariot! Oh dear, but the Blue Team has suffered from that one! He’s slowing considerably. Yes, his left wheel is wobbling and the left-sided horse is favoring his foreleg! This is a disaster for noble Kaspax!

Into lap three now, and the secondary teams are taking advantage of this horrible collision! It’s amazing that Kaspax is still attempting to race, as his chariot is damaged and one of his horses is clearly injured! It will be a miracle if he just finishes the race now! And there go Xerus and Nicerite, streaming past the mortally wounded Blue Team. What a huge blow for Kaspax. He is surely out of the running now!

Ferro’s despicable whipping and that unfortunate collision now have him a clear lead over the pack in the fourth lap. He has driven his horses hard though, and they are beginning to tire a bit. His fellow Green Faction driver, Falkon Xerus is making up some of the ground, and the Greens now dominate the race. Yet we must remember that they are actually racing each other now! Xerus and Ferro, allies by habit, but not by law on this day!

Yes! Xerus is showing some of his old self once again! He’s taking advantage of the flagging Green chariot horses and he’s driving his own team well! He’s coming up on the left of Ferro and looks like he will easily move by on this fifth lap. Yes, he’s through and… what was that? It looks like Xerus has hit a rock in the track and the jolt has caused his chariot to swerve badly, almost overturning! He’s got control of it now and he’s stable once again, but that has completely ruined what was sure to be a move that would’ve put him in the lead. Xerus is truly cursed! Such a shame to see a famous racer like him undone by pure bad luck yet again.

They’re rounding the bend into the sixth lap, and Xerus still is not back up to speed after hitting that rock. Short Longinius is coming up behind him! This is an impressive move for a man who is known to be a weak finisher! Yes, he’s going right by Xerus! That’s either brilliant driving by the dwarf or incredible incompetence by Falkon Xerus, but either way the Red chariot is now in second place, right behind Magnentius Ferro.

And this is it, citizens of Constintinople! The last lap, with the fate of Scopia hanging in the balance. Magnentius Ferro leads as he has done almost the entire race! He’s been in dominating form, though there is bound to be a great deal of anger over his blatant cheating in a race of this importance! It’s not quite over though, as the Green horses are now very tired from Magnentius’ hard driving, and Short Longinius is right behind him. Watch out, little man, or you’ll get a face full of whip! He’s a brave one, that’s for sure, as he’s driving right by Ferro. Ferro’s doing nothing! He’s definitely not letting up on the speed, but neither is he attempting to block the pass nor is he whipping his foe in any way! This makes no sense at all! Of all the chariots on the track, Nicerite’s Red is the only one that is a true opponent no matter how he looks at it. Nicerite is past! Red has taken the lead! AND IT’S OVER! The Red Team under Longinius Nicerite has won the race!

The fate of Scopia is decided, and Nikiphoros Manouelitis has prevailed! What’s this? This can’t be right, can it? Oh, my. The humiliation of famous Xerus is now complete! It seems that somehow on the last lap, Kaspax managed to overtake him! With an injured horse and a damaged chariot, the Blue charioteer still managed to overtake the former pride of the Green Faction. Oh, how the mighty have fallen here in the Hippodrome.

In first place, for the Blue Faction and Red Team, Longinius Nicerite!
In second place, for the Green Faction and Green Team, Magnentius Ferro!
In third place, for the Blue Faction and Blue Team, Constans Kaspax!
In last place, for the Green Faction and White Team, Falkon Xerus!

I am almost speechless after that race! But almost isn’t good enough to shut me up! HAH! This was a race that will be remembered for ages! What a dramatic turn. I don’t even want to imagine how Magnentius Ferro is going to confront his sponsor after this one! What could Senator Arianitis have said to him to make such an honest man cheat like that? I suspect that we haven’t heard the end of that story. But let’s not forget to give a ‘little’ glory to the impressive Longinius Nicerite. While Ferro certainly didn’t contest that last pass, Nicerite earned that first place in his own right! An excellent race from a man who has been greatly underestimated these past years. He was last out of the gate, and yet he finished first! That’s the second race in a row that he has bested Kaspax, and I suspect that we may see a change in the primary and secondary drivers of the Blue Faction in the future. What a pity about Falkon Xerus, though. He is truly a broken man. For such a famous racer to finish fourth in two consecutive races is horrendous, especially when it was his own bad luck that kept him out of first place! Xerus should have retired long ago, but I suspect he is done now. Ladies and gentlemen, give a round of applause for Falkon Xerus. His glory days are long since past, but he deserves some applause for the entertainment he gave us in his youth. Cheer him now, as he will surely never be seen in the Hippodrome ever again!