Crixus is a slave to Tullius, assigned to carry stones for the construction of the new arena under Tullius' brutal superintendent, Appius. Crixus is first seen fighting with another slave. Witnessing the event, Batiatus interrupts Appius from administering a beating on Crixus and offers to pay fifty denarii to buy Crixus, which is well worth recruiting. Batiatus explains to Solonius that his intention to spend such an exorbitant amount on an undisciplined slave like Crixus is to try to get Tullius' favor.
When Crixus arrives at Ludus, he is placed in a cell with Ashur, Dagan and Indus. Dagan mocks Crixus in his Syrian language, saying that he is the size of a woman. Ashur, on the other hand, is more friendly and welcoming to Crixus. He explains to Crixus that when he arrived at Ludus, he was in a group with seven other new recruits, but now only he, Dagan and Indus remain. Ashur then questions Crixus about how he got to Ludus. Crixus explains that he saw Batiatus pass by and knew him by his words of gladiators and, in an effort to impress Batiatus and show his possible value as a gladiator, he started the fight with the other slave. Ashur goes on to explain to Crixus how their training as recruits leads to a final test and only then, if they pass the test, will they earn the Brotherhood mark.
Like Ashur, Dagan and Indus, Crixus is insulted and harassed by other gladiators, mainly Auctus and Barca, including acts of urination on food and insults about their size, as Barca commenting on how the new recruits look smaller and smaller. year.