Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

A pre-Spartacus prequel about life in the House of Batiatus. In the opener, a younger Batiatus is placed in command of his father's gladiator-training school, which leads him to use one of the most accomplished fighters to curry favor with a nobleman.

A week has passed since he received his severe beating at the hands of Tullius' men and Batiatus has now recovered sufficiently to leave his bed. Tullius sends him a message to the effect that he acted hastily and offers a compromise. Batiatus is in no mood to compromise however and plans his own revenge. Quintillius Varis comes to Capua to select gladiators for his games and Gaia, who knows him, plots to have him come to Batiatus' house. Batiatus will seemingly go to any length to impress Varis but his blind enthusiasm does not sit well with the men. Doctore and Oenomaus settle their differences in the arena.

Just as his fortunes are on the rise, his future clear before him, Batiatus is stunned by the return of his father. All that he has schemed for is put at risk by the domineering, conservative Titus Batiatus, who frowns on the decadence he now finds in his house and on his son's attempts to gain rank by exploiting those above his class. Short of gaining the elusive approval of his father, Batiatus the younger must figure out how to manipulate him towards his ambitions or how to be rid of him.

The younger Batiatus is having more than just a bit of difficulty accepting his father's ongoing - and seemingly permanent - presence at home. The patriarch refuses to take on the powerful Tullius and continually tells his son to learn his place. When Gaia sees someone she had once met in Rome, she introduces him to Lucretia and he immediately comments on what he has heard about the pleasures available at her home. Gaia again sees an opportunity to make gains for the House of Batiatus but the elder Batiatus would never allow such revelry in their so they convince him to leave for day or two. At the party, Gaia sees an opportunity to influence Tullius and Lucretia ensures that the occasion is the most elaborate yet. It all turns to tragedy for one of the guests.

The mantle of champion of the House of Batiatus is up for grabs as Batiatus' father, Titus, announces a tournament to determine the worth of the men that make up his stable of gladiators. Batiatus is at a turning point, forced to make a decision that threatens no good outcome, either path before him guaranteeing that a family bond will be destroyed. Crixus stands dedicated to proving himself in the upcoming tournament but is drawn into the intrigue of the power play within the house.

Batiatus seeks vengeance against Tullius for all that has befallen him. He obtains the help of his gladiators and his friend Solonius in the cause, each seeking to right the wrongs done to them. The opening of the new arena arrives, promising a spectacle of combat and blood the likes of which Capua has never seen.