Arena Animals (CGH)

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More exhilarating than watching two robust warriors in combat is watching a much-anticipated match between a bizarre captured creature and a team of champion gladiators. Pronounced excitement surrounds a Reaver hunting group return—especially when one of the Athas's feared desert creatures has been captured. Such events generate immense excitement among die-hard fans.
The desert world of Athas is ever changing. New creature races, some previously unseen by even the sorcerer kings and queens, have been brought to the arenas. This creates an additional stir as the kings and queens themselves look forward to upcoming events. Great care and preparation are taken in housing these creatures, especially before the match, lest some harm befall them and the spectators be disappointed. If possible, the champions will attempt to spar with the reluctant creature before the actual day of the event. This is only to allow the champions a chance to learn more of their adversary before they face it in the ring. It is not unheard of for trained or untrained slaves to be pitted in training against a creature so that the champions may observe what tactics succeed or fail. Under no circumstances will a good arena manager allow a creature be maimed or killed.
Some of the crowd-pleasing fighting beasts of Athas are listed below. Information pertaining to their fighting style, ability, and preferred methods of combat are also listed. There are certain very powerful creatures not listed, as these would be far too dangerous to be brought into a crowded city arena.
==Braxat==
These stony-skinned creatures of the desert are seldom seen in the arena. Not only are they dangerous adversaries in the wild, but because of their immunity to all weapons other than steel or those with magical enchantment, they are tough to capture in the first place. In the arena, braxat circle their opponents, looking for a weak spot in the opponent s defenses. They then use psionic attacks (inflict pain or invincible foes) before charging, capitalizing on their superior strength. Braxat always wait until very close combat before releasing a cone of acid in the face of the opponent.
==B'Rohg==
Crowds love the b'rohg. These four-limbed creatures are the best in primal combat. Because of the complexity of their attack abilities, only the thri-kreen are a match against them in one-on-one combat. Unfortunately, b'rohgs are not known for the subtlety of their attacks and can be fooled by a feigned attack.
==Tagster (Psionic Cat)==
Unpredictable and cunning, the tagster makes an excellent arena opponent, with possibly the best combination of speed, raw power, and psionic abilities. These natural killers make excellent arena sport.
==Gaj==
This desert horror is a formidable opponent against even a half-dozen trained gladiators. The gaj fights using its barbed mandibles, sharp claws, and pain-inflicting antennae in deadly combination. If pressed, the gaj will use a fighting retreat in order to protect its eye stalks and delicate underbelly. Few creatures enjoy the painful death of an opponent as much as the gaj.
==Pterran==
The bizarre appearance of a pterran gladiator walking into an arena brings the crowd to its feet. Although not known for their brute force, they are clever and cunning
fighters. Care should be taken when battling a pterran, as the creature will drop its weapons and feign mercy, waiting for the gladiator to turn his head to see if the pterran s life is to be spared. A schooled pterran warrior will take the opportunity to plant his jaws on the throat of the opposing gladiator and chew through to the spine, while raking his claws and talons against the gladiator's body.
==Sloth, Athasian==
Incredible speed and a powerful bite make the Athasian sloth a special crowd favorite against unarmed combatants. Because of their love/hatred of halflings, there is excellent entertainment in pitting a single sloth against a meagerly armed halfling family. The winner, of course, eats the spoils.
==So-Ut==
A battle with a so-ut is strange indeed. Since the creatures are enraged by the sight of a building, a so-ut will basically ignore a gladiator and instead attempt to attack the arena. If a gladiator with a metal weapon or metal armor gets in its way once too often, the so-ut will attack the gladiator. A so-ut will barely notice a gladiator who carries no metal.
If a so-ut is reduced to less than half its hit points, it will turn its full attention on any competitor (whether possessing metal objects or not). This can come as quite a surprise to a gladiator who is able to hack at the so-ut fully ignored, then have the creature turn on the unsuspecting gladiator.
==Tohr-Kreen==
The tohr-kreen is an anomaly. Although more cultured than their thri-kreen cousins, they are far more savage in the arena. Their multilimbed attacks, coupled with their sheer cunning, make them the most formidable, intelligent opponent a gladiator can face (next to a templar).