The Criterion at Balic (CGH)

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The Criterion at Balic is situated beneath the stony, fortified bluff that is the palace home of the dictator Andropinis, the powerful sorcerer king. The criterion is made of pure white marble and is one of the most beautiful of the known arenas. In truth, The Criterion is the name bestowed upon the structure and the surrounding area of the arena. The name means "place of judgment."
Located at the edge of the nobles' quarters, The Criterion is known for its stunning architecture. Great architectural sails rise 120 feet from the arena walls toward the reddish green Athasian sky. From anywhere in the city, the great sails can be seen. It is said the designer based the concept of the architecture on ancient drawings discovered near the Sea of Silt, but the true object of inspiration remains unknown to this day.
A slate plaza surrounds The Criterion for one city block in all directions. The plaza grants an unobstructed view of the structure to all arena visitors.
Just outside The Criterion, a short stair leads to the only entrance. As visitors enter, they stand beneath the enormous vaulted arena seating. The air here is cooler early in the day as the seats shade this lower area from the sun. Some fans linger here before trying to find a seat in the hot sun. Visitors enter the vast arena via vaulted arches that lead to the front of the stands. From there, they climb the many rows of steps to find the best seat possible.
The Criterion and enclosed arena are rectangular in shape, in contrast to the more common circular arenas. The playing area of the arena is 120 feet by 160 feet. The floor is composed of hexagonal marble slabs that are 10 feet across. This unique arena floor is always uneven, since no two adjoining slabs are the same height. The slabs pitch like the Athasian desert and, at times, there can be as much as 10 feet height difference between adjoining slabs. A rule of construct for the arena floor mandates that every slab must have at least one adjoining slab with no more than a 1 -foot height differential. This creates ramps, pyramids, and other strikingly unusual arena formations.
The columns that make up the floor are 10 feet wide and 30 feet tall, and they stand on a deep sand foundation. The columns are shifted periodically to give the rise and fall of the floor a new configuration. As a result, this arena tends to favor smaller, quicker opponents rather than larger brutish ones. On very rare occasions, when a truly prized monster is procured for the arena, the slabs may be more gently sloped or even perfectly flat if this configuration grants the creature more advantage in the arena.
In the back of the arena, near the bluff, is a great out-building: the slave and creature quarters for the arena at Balic. The building is specially constructed from the same type of stone as the bluff. The design of the building and the materials used were chosen so that the building would blend in with the rock of the bluff, so as not to detract from the beauty of the great marble Criterion.
One of the areas finest gladiator schools is also located here. The House Jarko of Balic is known for the training of gladiatorial slaves. It is said that they receive excellent training and pampered treatment. Most do very well in the arena.