[Information] The Colosseum

[Lormador]

Details of the Arena   The center of the Colosseum is the Arena, where the battles themselves are fought. It is a 40' deep circular pit, 100' in diameter, with a sandy flagstone floor and brick walls smeared with dried blood, grease, and soot. Iron double doors, 10' wide with internal hinges, are set around the edge of the Arena: there are ten in total. When a battle is to be fought, gladiators are brought to small internal cells behind these doors and when they open, the battle begins. Invisible to the naked eye and even concealed from some magic users are the protections and defenses built into the Arena. First, to prevent interference in heavily wagered-upon matches, and secondarily to protect the audience, an Invisible Prismatic Wall (affecting both magic and psionics) covers the lip of the Arena. It is rumored that a similar dweomer extends down through the walls surrounding the Arena, as well as beneath the floor. Second, to prevent the disruption of this defense and to avoid the unfortunate destruction of valuable magical equipment worn and carried by the combatants, a mystical field preventing Mage's Disjunction effects pervades the Arena. Third, the doors. Though their surface is merely rusted, blood-stained iron, beneath lies an antimagic-shielded Wall of Force. The doors are opened and closed by means of a mechanism inside the walls. Gladiators are brought to their cells by attendants charged with preventing them from using unauthorized spells and powers. In general, they do so quite effectively. Gladiators may be fined or disqualified for cheating if they attempt to cast a spell, manifest a power, or activate an item on the way to the cell that opens on the Arena. Once a gladiator has been secured within a cell, it is never long before the door opens and battle begins. It takes 1d3-1 rounds for the door to be opened, and a gladiator never knows just how long it will take.   In addition to these intentional Arena structures, both physical and magical, certain unintentional effects have arisen. The constant slaughter, pain, aggression, and suffering here have precipitated the formation of a Class 2 Evil Node, 40' in radius and growing from the center of the Arena. Thus, most Arena combat takes place within the class 2 layer, with the outer 10' within a class 1 layer. In addition, the strange planar energies of Olothruul and the martial focus of the Arena have given the area a peculiar planar resonance that seems to harmonize with the gladiators. Planar Touchstone: Olothruul Colosseum Object: piece of equipment or gear possessed by a gladiator during a victory, or a body part from a defeated gladiator Base Ability: gain access to one martial maneuver or stance for which you qualify. Higher-Order Ability: 3 uses of Extra Stance. Whenever you switch stances, you may choose not to lose the effects of your previous stance. You may maintain the effects of the additional stance for 1 minute. If you already possess the Dual Stance ability (from Warblade 20 or Master of Nine), you may use this ability to maintain 3 stances at a time. To Unlock: must win a match in the Arena.

Note: this thread will be updated as the building is expanded.