Can Faith Move Mountains?

Previously.....

BY DECREE OF THE COMITIA CENTURIATA:

We have captured an intruder who calls herself Shedimiel, who has at the invitation of this assembly voluntarily appeared and given a statement before it.

Heraclea addressed this assembly and stated that the flying stranger had spoken opprobrious things about the customs of the mos maiorum. Shedimiel states that Heraclea assaulted her. Heraclea stated that she merely had intended to initiate a round of Foreplay with the newcomer, and that she defeated her without claiming her due service, causing her great grief and annoyance.

The stranger then said that she seeks the one called Conqueress, that this Conqueress has a mission and duties elsewhere. The consuls explained that while Conqueress too is a guest here, she has adapted to our customs and is entitled to the protection of our laws; and so far she had not. The flying stranger then said that Conqueress has a destiny to fulfil in a prophecy whose details she declined to explain. The consuls started to explain that we could not take such reports at face value.

Then Conqueress herself appeared in the assembly. She stated that she had been brought to these islands by shipwreck, and that she was unfamiliar with any prophecy. Heraclea then addressed the Comitia, and pointed out that the stranger's remarks could be interpreted as a personal challenge. Conqueress agreed, and stated that she would accept the challenge.

By our laws and customs, the challenged person gets to choose the nature of the contest. After briefly consulting with Heraclea, Conqueress indicated that the matter would be settled by the luctatio iaponica. It was commanded that this should be done. It was also commanded that the customs of Foreplay must be honored, and that should the stranger lose the bout she would owe a night's service to Conqeress; and that she was also due a day's service from Heraclea if she chose to receive it.

SO DECREED by the Comitia and Amazon People of New Colchis, this eighth day before the Ides of April, during the consulships of Calpurnia Ælia (second) and Diotima Spelæa.

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CULTURAL NOTE: The Roman Amazons of New Colchis maintain a lively interest in martial arts traditions from around the world. They have added a substantial East Asian component to their inherited traditional wrestling games.

The rules of the luctatio iaponica are quite simple. A large circle is drawn in the sand of the arena. The two grapplers seek either to push the opponent out of the circle, or to make the opponent touch the sand with any part of her body other than her feet: all beneath the eyes of the referee.

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Heraclea watches the match, which has already lasted much longer than these bouts usually do, with intense interest. "She really doesn't have a clue what she's doing, does she? Her stance is all wrong. She's trying to overpower Conqueress's backside with upper body strength, and the amazing thing is that she's lasted this long."

Next.....