Thread:Bizippo/@comment-24448826-20180602075712/@comment-24448826-20180629225841

Fuh... so here it finally is. As written by the minstrel Floveer of Temeria, a lecturer at the Oxenfurt Academy's Faculty of Trouvereship and Poetry:


 * A sport blossoms in the Empire as well, one that the sensitive part of my soul would call hideous, and the rest of me - an exciting spectacle. I am talking, of course, about the gladiator fights! This pastime is very popular, equally among rich and poor, young and old. In every proper place, there is an arena, even if it is just a pit dug into the ground. Fights are often organized during holidays. Fighting in the arenas are usually slaves but it isn't that rare to see thrill-seeking free men - or even women. A true equality in the face of death!
 * Gladiators are, as I mentioned earlier, slaves, specially selected for this entertainment. It also happens at times that the arena fights serve as an alternative form of execution or hard labor for convicts. The warriors-to-be are trained at special schools under watchful eyes of lanistae, the directors of these places, not very popular with the rest of society. Eh, it's quite a weird thing with respect at all... Officially, the more rich people show nothing but contempt for gladiators. Nevertheless, they faint from joy upon seeing some famed killer entering the arena and waving his sword in their direction. With sadness and disgust I must say, however, that in the Empire gladiators are overall much more popular among commoners and young maidens, then minstrels and poets who deserve it more. Humans and nonhumans alike sometimes fight over parts of their clothing and equipment. The only thing that needs to be said is that some Nilfgaardian girls believe that accessories made of some part of gladiator's spear will grand them success with men.
 * Gladiators fight mostly for life and death but, as a custom, the winner usually asks public or the most important person present what he should do. From what I saw, the majority says to kill the opponent.
 * These people, however, don't want to look only at other humans fighting each. Letting out wild beasts or unarmed people against gladiators are also popular alternatives. There are many different types of gladiator fights: classic fights, fights with animals, acted out battles (even the sea ones, on artificial ponds), fights using only fists, maces or clubs.
 * Gladiators-slaves, who survive for many years and gain notoriety, have a chance of becoming free in another way than dying. Veteran warriors are at times given wooden swords by the Emperor, which symbolizes their just earned freedom. These gladiators can, if they want, continue their carrier in the arena or do anything else he wants. It's almost a rule that they become lanistae and thus earn money for the rest of their lives.
 * A bit of trivia at the end - it would seem that bunch of well-trained warriors could be well used in battle. Yet no! First, an unwritten custom forbids such things as unethical and against the rules of honest warfare. Second, gladiator might be good at arena, but not so much on the field where he needs to listen to commands and stand in formation.