The Forest Arena of Gulg (CGH)

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Located deep within the Crescent Forest, the arena at Gulg is breath-taking to first time spectators. Since Athasian forests are so rare, the living, growing arenas are beyond the imagination of most outsiders. To get to the arena, one must travel for almost an hour deep into the forest. The structure seems to rise from the forest floor of its own volition. The arena structure is intertwined with trees and vines which give it the appearance of harmony with its surroundings.
On gladiatorial days, visitors arrive at the arena via Lalali Puy's Opulent Ascension. The immaculate grassy byway has been cut painstakingly through the forest, and links the city to the forest arena. The walkway is trimmed and accentuated with the most rare and exotic flora and fauna to be found anywhere in the Crescent Forest. The soft grass path leads to a great natural archway. The archway is the only opening in the extensively cultivated bramble weed fence that surrounds the arena.
The archway opens into the arena, which is partially inset in the ground and surrounded by viewing stands rising into the sky Great deciduous trees and hardy vines intertangle and interweave to support the structure. It is truly a forest masterpiece.
Along the sides of the arena, four entrances are visible amid the trees and vines. The doorways are framed by massive wooden planks. Beyond the doors is a large corridor 20 feet high and 20 feet wide, extending almost completely around the building. Spectators are free to sit anywhere in the arena, save the templar and sorcerer queen's viewing space.
The Forest Arena of Gulg is unique. It is a long, narrow, grassy oval 300 feet long and 80 feet wide. Over 40 rows of wooden benches parallel the long, narrow sides of the arena.
The stadium floor itself lies in a pit 20 feet deep. The arena's grassy floor is studded with large trees throughout the playing field. The random placement of the trees allows gladiators to improvise when stalking opponents. KIo tree or tree limb, however, is within 20 feet of the wall, leaving no opportunity for a gladiator to escape from the physical arena.
Vines and mosses grow throughout the trees, enabling combatants to climb the trees, swing from tree to tree, or use the natural materials to their advantage. lSJot all of the trees are "friendly"—one is an ancient bramble tree covered in myriad sharp thorns. In one legendary combat, an incredibly strong arena champion actually removed a limb of the tree and used it to his advantage in combat.
Some of the trees in the arena bear red leaves year round. Legend says the blood of the slain gladiators waters the trees in arena, yielding the red leaves.
Malicious destruction of the grass or trees through physical combat or defiler magic draws immediate boos and hisses from the crowd. If a gladiator who uses such tactics survives, he is beaten or tortured before being allowed to return to the arena. On a subsequent trip to the arena, such offenders are almost certainly pitted against a superior opponent. This is punishment for the purposeful destruction of the arena during previous gladiatorial combat
Arena combat begins when two gladiators or gladiatorial teams enter from opposite ends of the arena. Some gladiators or teams quickly rush their opponents, while others take a defensive posture in the rich foliage, wilier combatants prefer a hide and seek approach, using the terrain to advantage. They involve the crowd by taunting the opponent or a show of bravado, lest the crowd think the combatants are cowards and turn against them. The crowd in Gulg hates cowardly gladiators who attempt to hide in the greenery of the arena.
The arena grounds are maintained by over 50 slaves who toil daily to keep the arena ready for the next games. Failure to do one's best is rewarded by appointment as quarry for the Red Hunt.
A lush, green place that thousands may visit is a very rare occurrence on the world of Athas. The people of Gulg love things that grow, and the Sorcerer queen tacitly endorses it The more that people work to help the forest around Gulg grow, the greater her base for raw power becomes.