Prequel : Ep. 2 Missio

Batiatus, safely back in the ludus, still has nightmares of what happened in Capua and flashbacks of being violently beaten. Lucretia and Gaia enter as he wakes up, and Lucretia expresses her fears for his health. She suggests that he talk to magistrate Sextus about what happened. Knowing of his and Tullius' close relationship, Batiatus refuses and decides to take the matter into his own hands.

In town, Solonius is buying wine as a gift for Batiatus when he is approached by Tullius and Vettius. The two of them buy the wine so that Solonius may take a message to Batiatus. Against his better judgment, Solonius tells Batiatus that Tullius has offered double his original price for Gannicus.

At the villa, Batiatus reacts to the offer in anger, and recalls the champions of his forefathers: Magneteus, Adrianus, Acolytus, Dolo and Zephyros. He says will not give up his own champion, even when told by Solonius that should he continue to refuse, Solonius will also be excluded from the games along with him.

Among the gladiators, Crixus improves and manages to best Oenomaus during training. Batiatus and Solonius watch over them as they discuss what to do. The latter mentions that Quinctilius Varus is visiting Capua to pick gladiators to fight in the games, and that Vettius will be meeting with him in town. Gaia, who knows Varus, says that he is quite influential. As Batitatus stands thinking, he notices Indus giving missio - raising two fingers in surrender - in jest, during training. In his anger, Batiatus sentences the man to the mines, and declares that nobody surrenders in his house. He then decides to gain Varus' favor so that Gannicus may enter the games.

Ashur and Indus ambush Vettius.
Melitta arrives in Oenomaus's room to find he and Gannicus sharing wine. There, she berates Gannicus for discussing the possible death of her husband so lightly, and asks him what he would do if he were unable to laugh or fight his way out of such a situation (which is what he would normally do). Joking, Gannicus replies that he may have to "fuck his way out," foreshadowing future events.

The next day, Batiatus goes into town with three recruits: Ashur, Dagan, and Indus, the recruit who was to be sent into the mines. Barca accompanies him as his personal bodyguard, going against Opious' better wishes, who feels as if his gladiators are being misused. Once in town, Batiatus sends the recruits off to their tasks, promising them the mark of the brotherhood if they succeed.

Indus meets Vettius, who is out to find Varus, and tricks him into entering a side alley. There, Ashur and Dagan ambush him, killing his slaves and beating him unconscious. Similarly to what he had done to Batiatus, one of the recruits urinates on Vettius' face. After the deed is done, Ashur suddenly strikes and kills Indus, whose face was seen by Vettius, who could easily link him to Batiatus.

Meanwhile, Gaia and Lucretia come upon Varus in the market. They charm him into coming to Batiatus' house to wait for Vettius, who is late to meet him. They pass the afternoon talking and drinking until Batiatus arrives in the early evening.

Batiatus suggests Varus to pick some of his gladiators for the games, and shows him a demonstration of Gannicus' skills. Gaia chooses Crixus as his opponent, enthralled by the Gaul's fighting. The battle commences with metal swords instead of wooden ones, and Crixus proves to be a strong fighter. Although he manages to disarm one of Gannicus' swords and down him, Crixus loses; Gaia decides to let him live.

Varis admires Gannicus.
As they reenter the villa, Varus appears to be more interested in Gaia than in the gladiators. Gaia insists that she has the situation under control, and orders Gannicus prepared and oiled to be placed before Varus. The man admires Gannicus' physique, but declines the option of sleeping with him as he is too tired. Instead, he asks that Gannicus have sex with one of the slaves, and chooses Melitta. The two are hesitant at first, with Gannicus appearing apologetic as he is close friend with her husband, Oenomaus. Melitta, in turn, has not slept with anyone other than Oenomaus. Eventually, however, she begins to take pleasure and shows enjoyment; her feelings are replaced by shame and tears when it is over. When she visits Oenomaus in the evening, she mentions nothing of it to him.



Oenomaus is promoted to Doctore.
Outside in the ludus, Ashur and Dagan receive the mark of the brotherhood for their services that day. Believing they were undeserving of the mark, Opious argues with Batiatus, which leads the latter to strip him of his title of Doctore; he tells him that Oenomaus is to take over the role. When Oenomaus later confronts Opious about the marks on Ashur and Dagan, the old Doctore challenges him to a battle. Even though they are evenly matched, Oenomaus receives a deep slash to the chest. Eventually, he is forced to stab Opious through the stomach, killing him. In his last moments, Opious grins and holds Oenomaus' face fondly and says he has taught him well. Pleased with the evening's events, Varus states that he wishes to see Gannicus perform again—in the primus. After he leaves, Batiatus and Lucretia celebrate their triumph with wine and sex. As she watches from behind the curtains, Gaia is noticed, and joins them for a threesome.