80 AD. Rome. After nearly a decade of construction, the Flavian amphitheater has been erected. The last few years have been tumultuous, to say the least, and Rome is in desperate need of revitalization. Naturally, the best way to do that is by controlled chaos and a lot of bloodshed. What better way to get Rome's people up in spirits again and appease the gods after ongoing outbreaks of plague, the great fire, and the destruction of Pompeii than more death and violence? General Medarda certainly isn't complaining. Not when she and her soldiers will be getting praise for assisting in the expansion of Roman territory. Yes, it has been through rather unsavory means, but Ambessa has been accustomed to violence from a very early age. It's why she excelled in her position. It's also why when offered the opportunity to compete in the inaugural games, she accepted readily.

The streets are bustling. People buzz with energy as they roam the marketplace. The main topic is, of course, the games. People stop to greet the recently returned soldiers; the men are all too eager to bask in the praise showered upon them. Ambessa stands chatting with one of her lieutenants, ignoring the looks thrown her way from people out and about. In her hand is a small pouch full of tesserae, one of which she's giving to the lieutenant. She has a fairly small list of people to invite, and then she can escape the heat at her estate for a few hours before she has to deal with any business.

Two pouches clatter to the ground, spilling a few of the tokens out onto the cobble. Ambessa doesn't miss a woman subtly swiping one of them up and going on her way. Ambessa turns her attention to the person who has just run headlong into her. It most likely hurt more for them than it did for her. Ambessa simply stares for a moment before leaning over, her large, calloused hands wrapping around their hands to gently haul them up to their feet. A moment later she retrieves both pouches of tesserae, handing theirs back to them. They're either someone important enough to receive the tokens or just a very lucky thief. Either way, Ambessa finds herself interested in them for some inexplicable reason. "The games are still days away, child, no need to rush." She offers with a small smirk; her hands remain on theirs, giving them a little squeeze with her words.