Gladiators (Heroscape)

"The Gladiators are part of the Human species in the Heroscape Universe."

Heroscape Races
name = Gladiators


caption =
affiliation = Einar
species = Human
race =
homeplanet = Earth
number of sets = 3

The Gladiators

The Gladiators in the Heroscape Universe are part of the large and diverse Human race from Earth. Historically the Gladiators fought in fighting pits in the Great Coliseum in the Roman Empire.

Gladiator technology appears comparable to Earth’s Roman Empire era.

Toys

Gladiators that have appeared:

"Thora's Vengeance":
*SpartacusGladiator wielding a sword and carrying a shield
A fully-armored man stands on a hillside, silhouetted against the setting sun. The deafening chants of a hundred thousand voices call out his name. Captured as a slave, trained as a gladiator, the warrior now fights, leading his fellow man against the throes of servitude. The mass falls silent as the man slowly, purposefully steps forward, draws his sword with his right hand, and begins crashing it against the shield in his left. The thunderous sound echoes throughout the entire Roman Empire. The crowd pounds out the same rhythmic beat as their voices amplify and scream the name of the one man that fears nothing...Spartacus!

*CrixusGladiator wielding a sword and carrying a buckler
Thump, Thump, beats the heart of the battle-maddened Crixus. Sword bangs against shield as a blood-thirsty crowd howls in excitement, but Crixus hears only one sound: Thump, Thump. A spear, aimed for the abdomen, is narrowly avoided and knocked away. Crixus delivers a deadly counter blow, Thump, Thump. Before his opponent can even fall to the ground, a ravenous lion, 200 kilos at the least, springs from a nearby pit pinning Crixus against the dirt, Thump, Thump! The beast opens its maw wide loosening a roar of such might that the spectators feel it in their chests and return a roar of their own, Thump, Thump! The lion’s claws dig deep into Crixus’ shoulders, he responds, tucking his legs up under the belly of the beast, and with a powerful thrust he throws it off his right side, Thump, Thump! Crixus quickly rolls over and slams his shield into the lion’s exposed flank, snapping three of its ribs, and causing it to flail in pain, Thump Thump! The lion struggles to stand, but Crixus gives it no chance striking it down with a final blow, Thump, Thump! Crixus staggers to his feet, and raises his sword to the sky in victory, the crowd erupts in praise! Under the cover of his mask, Crixus cynically raises an eyebrow as they open another gate releasing upon him still more opponents, Thump, Thump.

*RetiariusGladiator wielding a trident and carrying a net
Retiarius was taken from his home, his family, and his life. He wishes he had died on that battlefield, but his wound was not deep enough to finish him, and he was captured as a prisoner of war. War?! What war? This was not war. This was murder, cold-blooded murder and theft! Retiarius’ people only wished to live in peace, but the greed of the Roman Empire knows no bounds. Retiarius was sent to train as a Gladiator. He was instructed in an eclectic, but effective, fighting style using a net and a trident. He fights just to stay alive; he fights clinging to a desperate hope of someday seeing his wife and child again. Summoned to Valhalla, Einar now offers him a new hope: A hope to return home, free from the shackles of slavery, and free from a life of fighting to survive. So Retiarius uses his gladiator training and fights with a new fervency, for hope seems to lie on the horizon.

Trivia

*The Gladiators should not be confused with the Gladiatrons.
*The Gladiators were the first set to feature characters from real-life history: Spartacus and Crixus.
*Spartacus is the most expensive single hex unit in the game. *
*To date there are no units that "bond" with gladiators. *

External links

* [http://www.hasbro.com/heroscape/ The Official Heroscape Site]