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MalariaMoon
Learned Scribe
324 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Nov 2011 : 16:14:24
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Hi All,
I'm designing a Fighter 1/Monk 6/Gladiator 2 and I'm having trouble putting together a suitable backstory that reconciles the rather divergent classes of Monk and Gladiator. Some suggestions would be helpful.
The character is a Chondathan female from the Heartlands. My rough concept is that she begins her career as a fighter, and her adventures took her east - eventually entering Thay as a mercenary. Whilst there she became an ardent follower of Kossuth; joining the neutral aligned order of the Brothers and Sisters of the Pure Flame (mentioned briefly in Faiths and Avatars). After training for some years, she makes the mistake of crossing a Red Wizard, and is enslaved and forced to fight as a gladiator.
What are your thoughts fellow sages? Are gladiatorial games popular in Thay? Do any of the cities have notable arenas? If not, can you point me in the direction of any other cultures with gladiatorial traditions where my character might have earned her levels?
Furthermore, have monastic orders of Kossuth ever been expanded upon canonically?
Cheers all
P.S. I should probably note the setting is post ToT, pre-Spellplague, using 3.5 rules
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2011 : 16:29:57
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I know Mulhorand has them, and it wouldn't be too much of a leap to say someplace in Thay (a nation that split-off from Mulhorand) would have at least one. Thay has slaves, so I would think it would be a logical assumption to make.
There are probable other areas - the Vilhon reach jumps to mind, but I don't have sources handy. Unther would be another logical guess (given it has the same origins as Mulhorand).
And this thread now makes me wonder if Imaskar had gladiatorial combat.  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2011 : 16:42:50
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| 3.x has some splat class called Thayan gladiator in Champions of Ruin. It implies that they are the baddest gladiators and that all other gladiators are mere sniveling babes in arms. Also, that Thay is pretty much exclusively Red Wizards and gladiators, with a few undeads in the mix. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2450 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2011 : 18:36:46
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There are also gladiatorial arenas in Hillsfar, though they're used more for exterminating the local demihuman population.
Where is the Gladiator class from? Or is it the Thayan Gladiator PrC? I'd say your backstory works fairly well at explaining a weird class mix.
As for Kossuth's orders, if they aren't in F&A, which you obviously already have, I don't think there's anything elsewhere. Nothing comes to mind, at least. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Farrel
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
239 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2011 : 21:12:18
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Ever since watching Spartacus, Blood & Sand, i've wanted to run a Gladiator type campaign set in Thay. I thought that series was amazing, very gritty. John Hannah stole pretty much every scene he was in, and it's a real shame Andy Whitfield is no longer with us.
I'd personally have the Red Wizards running their own stables of Gladiators, that could get nicely competitive. Some of the Tharchions and wealthy merchant classes could have their own gladiator training schools. The opportunities for vicious combat, rivalries, and politics would be endless. I wonder if the gladiators would have to adhere to the general Thayan policy of having hirsute slaves, or if they would be an exception?
I believe there's also an arena (or at least pits for fighting) in Manshaka, it was briefly mentioned in Terresk's writeup in one of the early Waterdeep sourcebooks (I can't remember what sourcebook). He was a Lawful Good Half Orc and a former gladiator/pit fighter. His face was covered by an iron mask that served to hide acid burns sustained in a match against a black dragon. I seem to remember that he wore a golden(?) manacle to remind himself of his former life. |
Edited by - Farrel on 21 Nov 2011 21:12:57 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 22 Nov 2011 : 01:01:21
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Gladiators tend to be rare in most places, especially the North. Some particular areas, those evil or less-inclined to enforce laws against such practices, will likely have available slaves or prisoners set for such matches -- either against each other or against dangerous creatures/monsters. We know that Amn, Calimshan, and Unther all have or have had established gladiatorial guilds also.
As for a few references to arenas in the Realms...
The Arena of Blood is mentioned in the 2e Lands of Intrigue boxed set. It is located in the city of Manshaka in Calimshan. Empires of the Shining Sea provides more specific details on the Arena.
The Westgate Arena -- FRCS.
A gladiatorial arena in Surkh.
Hillsfar Arena -- home to the famed fighter "Taurus."
There are arenas in several illithid enclaves in the Underdark -- particularly Oryndoll.
There are arenas in various locales throughout the Old Empires region.
In Menzoberranzan. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
8027 Posts |
Posted - 22 Nov 2011 : 02:43:55
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| Well, in my campaign Taurus was quickly forgotten after losing to the new popular minotaur champion, Knoxx. He's still managed to hold his title, even after suffering from a Polymorph into NPC curse. The Hillsfar gladiator campaign was fun for a while but seemed to grow stale more quickly than most, plot options were always constrained to revolve around events at the arena. |
[/Ayrik] |
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MalariaMoon
Learned Scribe
324 Posts |
Posted - 22 Nov 2011 : 17:26:46
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| My thanks sages for your input. It looks like the Thayan backstory is eminently suitable! |
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Thay: On gladiators and monks
