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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Jan 2012 : 00:31:40
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In many fantasy settings gladiators are glorified and revered as heroes. Is the same so in your home campaigns of FR?
I haven't encountered many arenas in FR products except from a few scant references to gladiator pits in Thay. Killing for the entertainment of the people can be seen as an evil for our modern minds, and at the least bring writers of realms lore into an uncomfortably gritty atmosphere.
Ritual combat of real human tribes could sometimes be a similar, bloody affair aimed to both awe and enforce holy scripture in the language of a particularly bloody dance. What races in the realms would explore similar means of entertainment? Are those mainly dominated by the evil races or are more gladiatoral fights also found among for example Hin or elves?
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My campaign sketches
Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2012 : 01:24:59
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quote:
Gladiators and professional fighters are a rare occurrence in the North, though some debauched regions do set up such matches, usually between slaves or prisoners and monsters. The older realms to the south, including Amn, Calimshan, and Unther, have established gladiatorial guilds.
So in the North gladiatorial combat is considered cruel and decadent, associated with slavery, mainly taking place in cities with evil or avaricious rulers (Hillsfar, Zhentil Keep, Westgate), or on a smaller scale in criminal underworlds. Apart from humans, it's practised by races with both a propensity to brutality and relatively sophisticated commercial societies, such as drow and other Underdark races. Limited, ritual combat for purposes other than entertainment is another thing. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4687 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2012 : 01:37:53
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No contest is Evil if freely entered under the set rules of the Contest, an event only becomes Evil if rules are imposed against one or more participants.
Joists were considered very honorable, because the rules were set and no one forced to participate. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2012 : 01:59:52
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If they're slaves, or otherwise forced to fight against their will, then yes it's considered evil.
However, the legality of slavery and forced combat really depends on where you are in the Realms. Some nations don't bat an eye at slavery, but rather consider it an important part of their economy. So it can be legal, but still evil.
On the other hand, if it's given to a prisoner as an option (jail or gladiator combat) and they choose to participate, it becomes hazier. Professional fighting matches, where both combatants enter of their own free will, I wouldn't consider that evil at all. Dangerous, sure.
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Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2012 : 04:21:04
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The simple answer is: It Depends.
Depends upon region, faith of the participants, faith of the spectators, personal ideologies and preferences of all parties, reasons for the combat (are they criminals? slaves?). Is it to the death? etc, etc...
It Depends. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2012 : 05:03:18
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My understanding is that most gladiatorial combats were staged performances between trained athletes, something not dissimilar to the sport people call "professional wrestling" today. The intent to kill or to seriously injure was not commonplace, but of course history highlights the most nefarious and bloodthirsty elements of the games when taken to their worst extremes. How will our popular entertainment define our culture to enlightened societies of the future?
And of course some gladiator arenas in the Realms are basically dogpits filled with a mix of desperate victims, brutal veterans, and random encounters from every page of the monster manual. While others are conducted more in the manner of professional duelling matches, jousting tourneys, or spectacular circus displays of martial prowess.
The gladiators themselves may not always be convicted criminals. They might be celebrities and professional elites who train hard to be good enough to participate in the games. They might simply be thirdborn sons sired into poverty or even into the gentry ranks, so filled with balls and braggadocio they choose the glorious life and death of a gladiator over that of a soldier or farmer. They might be unfortunates willing to risk entering a few games in the hopes of winning prize money. They might be champions, leaders, or heroes who are somehow involuntarily compelled to participate by corrupted powers. They might have been inspired by gory visions from Tempus. All sorts of reasons, not all evil. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2012 : 14:16:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
No contest is Evil if freely entered under the set rules of the Contest, an event only becomes Evil if rules are imposed against one or more participants.
Joists were considered very honorable, because the rules were set and no one forced to participate.
Well said, though joists were much safer than fighting in a pit. |
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Are Gladiatorial Fights considered Evil?
