Arena of Blood The infamous Arenas of Blood , also known as the Blood Arenas , were a pair of identical gladiatorial arenas located in the city of Manshaka in Calimshan . Location . One of the Arenas was located in the northeastern drudach of the northwestern sabban of the city ; the other was found in the southern drudach ( south of Drudach Street ) of the northeastern sabban . Description . The Arenas were large , circular structures , walled all around and with two levels of stands for spectators . The high walls around the arena bore banners and circular emblems depicting downward - pointing daggers . Huge gates led down to the dungeons beneath . Defenses . Beneath each Arena was a labyrinth of passages and tunnels intended to prevent escape , in addition to 100 guards . These dungeons were such a maze that it took the gladiator Vajra two years to memorize them before she made good her escape . Since that time , by 1357 DR , a blue dragon was kept in the dungeons as a guardian , though it was slain that year . Activities . As of 1370 DR , each Blood Arena held five shows per day for three " djenayin " per show or one " djenarba " for the whole day . The matches were almost always to the death . An exception was if a match was set up to settle a political matter rather than for entertainment . The Manshaka city council focused largely on maintaining the Arenas of Blood , and openly encouraged betting on the fights , as these were a primary source of tax revenue . All matches generated huge sums of money from bets . In fact , Manshaka was second only to Calimport as a gambling center because of the Arenas . On an average day , the combined attendance of both arenas was over 10 , 000 spectators , and this number increased to 14 , 000 in the winter months when it was cooler . History . In the time of their existence , only two gladiators had ever escaped the Arenas of Blood — Vajra Valmeyjar and Jhalarn . Vajra was a 12 - year - old Tethyr ian slave of Pasha Abon Duum , placed with his stable of gladiators at the Arena of Blood . There she learned the arts of the sword , spear , and net and became the most accomplished of Duum ' s stable . She slew creatures such as a bugbear and a reptilian , and the crowds roared her name , but she never responded . She found a friend in a fellow gladiator , Salabak . However , after ten years , she had had enough and wanted out . Escaping , she seriously wounded several of Duum ' s best fighters and escaped from the labyrinth of corridors below the arena and into freedom . However , Abon Duum sent many bounty hunters after her , seeking to punish and reclaim his champion gladiator , though she remained free by 1357 DR . Eventually , Salabak agreed to serve Duum : he would gain Vajra ' s trust and return her to him . Finally , in the Year of the Prince , 1357 DR , Salabak did just that , and Vajra was again in Duum ' s power . He put her back in the Arena , setting her against a troll : she hacked its arm off , skewered it on her sword , then drove it into the otyugh kept to devour carrion , all to the cheers of the crowd . However , Salabak created an illusory manticore to appear to assault Duum as part of a ruse , causing chaos among the spectators , such as Allamon Sorn . Meanwhile , Vajra escaped into the tunnels beneath the Arena , where she battled the blue dragon guardian . The Catlord came to her aid , slaying the dragon , whose death throes collapsed part of the roof and opened a hole in the outer wall . The largest event ever held in the Arenas was the Great Games . They were held in Hammer of 1370 DR on the last tenday and resulted in the deaths of over 3 , 000 gladiators and 5 , 000 wild animals and monsters as the crowds cheered on . During the Great Games , a spellcaster disguised as a slave appeared and dissolved one of the walls with magic . He was quickly killed by arrows from the guards , but a pack of dire wolves did escape and attacked the audience . Inhabitants . Each Arena had pens for over 30 monsters and cells for between 50 and 100 humanoid gladiators . Both free folk and slaves fought in the Arenas . However , very few slave - gladiators survived their time there . Champion gladiators wore a special golden manacle bearing the symbol of a jawless skull on one side and a dagger on the other . Those who recognized it knew they were in the presence of a deadly warrior . Champions also tended to wear other skull emblems , such as an earring or belt - buckle . A number of otyugh s were kept behind bars beside the arena . They were used to dispose of the dead , but Vajra found they seized the living readily enough .