Concluding the Game (CGH)

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Eventually, of course, each game draws to a close. Whether an opponent is humanoid or not, one of the contestants almost always dies. Although certain games allow the crowd in the arena to decide the fate of the fighters, most of the action in a typical day at the arena is too brutal to allow such niceties.
Some contestants in the games invariably decide that faking their own death is preferable to suffering more permanent damage by a superior opponent. When they take any serious blow, they fall to the ground, feigning death. To most tests (such as poking, prodding, and the like) they appear dead. Unfortunately for them, both their opponents and the arena masters like to make sure they are in fact dead — they do not want the crowd cheated of the spectacle of the game. The way they insure this varies from city to city, but the following is the most common: When one of the combatants falls, a team of slaves bearing heated obsidian blades enters the arena. They remove whatever footgear the fallen one wears and press the burning blades into the soles of his feet. A successful Con —12 roll allows the victim to remain motionless; otherwise, he naturally jerks away. The slaves then restrain him as his opponent cuts his throat. Dead people, of course, do not jerk away. Even if the cowardly gladiator does make his Con check, he is likely crippled for life.
In other arenas, they do not even bother with such civilized niceties as heated blades. Often, they simply encourage the victorious gladiator to run his vanquished foe through, then and there. However, most gladiators are loath to perform this duty, for they know their enemy could simply bluff like this to lure them in close and then strike the exposed champion. Even the bravest of gladiators do not enjoy endangering themselves in this fashion, and thus the use of slaves for this work arose.
Certain billed games do allow the crowd to decide the fate of the fighters, depending on which one has defeated the other. While standing over his fallen, disarmed, and yet-living foe, the victor looks to the sorcerer-king, nobles, or other high-ranking attendees. These folk generally (but by no means always) abide by the decision of the crowd around them, which hoots, yells, and screams for the fallen gladiator's life or death.
If the fallen one put on a good show before his defeat, struggling desperately to survive and fighting masterfully despite obvious handicaps, the crowd clamors for his life. They want to see him again, hopefully faring better the next time, for his skill and tenacity have brightened their lives. On the other hand, even if the fallen gladiator is one of the great champions, if he fought poorly this day the crowd calls for his death. They have no loyalty for has-beens; all they care for is a good show, and if their favorites are unable to provide for it, they move on to new heroes.
Gladiators themselves honor their fallen opponents. After the battle is over, their artificial enmity comes to an end and they are able to respect one another's fighting styles. Even when one of the gladiators must kill the other, the short time between the judgement and the killing stroke is a peaceful place where they can offer their advice, strategy, suggestions, and farewells to one another if they feel the other deserves or needs it.
The greatest salute one gladiator can pay to another, reserved only for the fiercest opponents and thus only those worthy of one's respect, resounds in both the ears of dying men and victors alike: ""You fought like the Dragon." On the other hand, those who don't fight well find that the final action they witness is the spittle from their opponent's mouth, the final sound a contemptuous grunt as the victor dispatches his enemy.