Discontent and resentment had long been simmering among the gladiators of Capua. When Praetor Crassus killed a rebellious gladiator, the spark for a rebellion was ignited. Spartacus, also a gladiator and a slave, who loved the slave Varinia, made the foolhardy decision to fight for freedom. At first, only a few followed him, then more and more. Finally, Spartacus had gathered an entire army around him, and a murderous battle began. Despite the deployment of many Roman legions, the battle was victorious for the rebels, and Spartacus marched south with his army to charter ships for the return voyage to their homeland. Varinia, who was pregnant with Spartacus's child, was also with him. But they had been deceived. The ships never arrived, and the rebels had to face a vastly superior number of Roman legions once more—a fight to the death.