The Crucible

The Crucible and the bloody spectacle it plays host to is a quintessential part of the Aodhian lifestyle. Any tourist visiting the great metropolis will undoubtedly be lured into visiting it, regardless of their opinions on slavery.

As the main hub of legalized gambling, the Crucible is a source of income for some, and a money sink for most others. Besides hosting pit fighting, the Crucible is also used for high profile public executions, important public events (such as crownings) and for extremely well received and popular plays or historic dramas.

The Crucible is a public building owned directly by the Crown, and the monarch receives a tidy cut of the profits from the gambling.

## The Arena

While some might say that the Crucible was beginning to lose some of its luster before it was partially destroyed, none would dare to claim that now: after being rebuilt and partially redesigned by architect Donovan, the Crucible is once more a marvel of engineering: extravagant, beautiful, a fluid combination of classic Aodhian style and the newest innovations.

The massive arena holds the pit at its center, with entryways to the arena placed at each cardinal direction. Rows upon rows of audience seating are placed too high for fighters to reach from the pit, but close enough that the expensive lowest seats can truly taste the sweat, blood, and excitement of the fight. The Crucible can entertain as many as 75,000 equines relatively comfortably, but the less expensive upper pews are often crowded in comparison to the expensive lower levels.

Above the audience seating is a row of wooden supports that may be used to drape shades above the audience.

The Monarch’s Box is located above the main entrance to the fighting ring, protruding slightly from the rest of the audience to give the King and their closest Advisers and family a truly first-row seat to any action in the ring – as well as placing them clearly separate from the common rabble, as it should be. Favored guests may be admitted to the Monarch’s Box as the King’s leisure; a high honor to any Eminent.

### **Inside the Crucible**

Besides the arena and seating, the Crucible hides several rooms and spaces within its walls. A basement, accessible from several guarded stairs around the building, is used not only for storage, but also has the ramps leading fighters up to the arena proper. The basement is strictly off-limits to non-combatants and non-personnel, and even the fighters are not allowed to enter more than the specific waiting rooms. Some say the strict ruling is due to the Crown keeping sensitive political prisoners hidden in the damp cellars, but none can prove such claims.

The main room circling the arena – fittingly called the Ring - houses all common amenities that the visitors might need: restrooms, restaurants, bars and betting stations. The food and drink caters to people from all walks of life, as the Crucible halls are home both to well-respected and posh specialty restaurants, and common street food vendors. Although not advertised, anyone who has visited the Crucible more than once knows exactly where to head on the Ring to find things aimed at their own social class.

The Ring is also home to an utterly insufferable amount of vendors selling anything and everything, from trinkets and fan items to Crucible memorabilia. Any popular fighter is sure to have some of their own merchandise that fans may don to show their support.

## The Spectacle

Unbeknownst (and honestly, unimportantly) to most in the audience, the Pit Fighters and Champions are always afforded the luxury of a short prayer at the shrines located in the basement waiting rooms before a match. Although strict regulations make mortal wounds a rarity, they do occasionally occur for both fighter types; and piety, especially towards Ignacio, is encouraged in the fighters.

A typical pit fight is short - a match between two combatants, even if equal in skill, rarely lasts for more than five minutes, and on average, less than ten actual strikes are exchanged between the combatants; most of the time is spent maneuvering and dodging, rather than striking. Long matches are rare, and usually not desired, as they throw off the tight schedule. In most cases, a match will be extended due to one of the combatants running away from the other, rather than the exceptional skill or determination of the fighters involved. Between each fight there is a short break, which may be extended if the arena gets exceptionally bloody, or something hazardous is thrown in from the audience.

Fights between Champions tend to be significantly longer due to focusing on showmanship and spectacular (but ineffective) combat moves, rather than trying to end fights as efficiently as possible. Champion fights usually last around ten minutes, but some fights last even longer.

### **Special Fights**

Sometimes, fights are held with special conditions. These are often organized on weekends and serve as an attempt to spice up matchups that have been seen before, or that are considered uneven. Such additions include allowing familiars, making the fights three-way brawls, or allowing either or both fighters to wear specific pieces of armor or weaponry.

One of the more expensive, and as such, rare, fighting events is that of a historic recreation. In these matches, a large number of pit fighters are fielded, each armed and armored in a manner fitting their role. They are then made to reenact a historic battle. Although all other regular rules apply, these matches are not betting fights, as the side playing Aodh is usually heavily favored to make sure that they win, regardless of the real history behind the event. The slaves chosen for these fights are usually not very famous, as mass fights are risky, and the freely enlisting champions are usually nobodies. However when possible, a more famous fighter or Champion will be given the role of a hero, such as a previous King of Aodh, or a famous general. King Soleil especially is a popular figure in these violent plays.

#### **New Years Brawl**

A fight held in the honor of a New Year, this was traditionally a day-long tourney that allowed slaves the use of blessings, familiars, weapons, and armor. Casualties during these fights - including animals - were common, and considered good luck. The winner of the day, or more accurately their owner, was given a particularly large winners purse. Due to equipment playing a large role in the fights, these purses would often go to rich Eminents who could afford to field several highly trained fighters.

Due to recent developments, the classic Brawl has now been replaced by a day of show matches, some between Champions, others between Pit Fighters. Some even pit free and slave against one another in spectacular (but not terribly serious) fights that focus on showmanship. Some, but not all, fights feature equipment and blessings.

#### **Crowning Day Tourney**

Crowning Day Tourney is the one day when fights are to the death. Forty Pit Fighters volunteered by their owners to enter the tourney, where each of the fights is until death. The more popular fighters are generally allowed to enter the bracket in the second round, increasing their chance of victory. Although no weapons or familiars are permitted, blessings are, making the fights brutal and exciting. The winner of the tourney is given their freedom, and their owner receives a massive cash prize.

### **Fights and Casualties**

On an average weekday in the Pits, there are about ten to fifteen fights, while weekends bring the total as high as thirty per day. Special fights or other events requiring more organization will usually bring down the number of fights held. On average, about a hundred fights are held at the Crucible every single week. Out of these, about ten results in serious injury. Deaths in the Crucible happen about once a week. Both serious injuries and deaths are exceedingly more common among the less experienced fighters, especially among those who are fielded multiple times a week. This also holds true for Champions, although deaths are less common in favor of serious, career-ending injuries.

All injuries are treated on-site by individuals blessed with healing regeneration to cease bleeding and stabilize the wounded fighter. After first aid, it is up to the owner what, if any, additional measures they wish to take. For Champions, the situation is surprisingly similar - the famous fighters generally have insurance to pay for expensive private care, while newbies might be left scarred for life.

## Schedule

The Crucible organizes fights five days a week and then rests for two days. The fighting days are Wednesday through Sunday, with the more notable fights and tourneys always placed on the weekend evenings, when more people will be able to attend. Monday and Tuesday are often used for cleaning or any maintenance that the arena might need, as well as lending the space for events other than fighting. The Crucible is an especially popular place to host mass lectures for students of architecture. These and other lectures are often held on Tuesday mornings. Occasionally art showcases, sporting events or other such events might also take place there during the rest days.

Wednesday through Friday are dedicated to fights and training. Crucible is open to training, including training matches, from early morning to afternoon around 2 pm. During this time, the arena is available for both Champions and Pit Fighters.

The arena rests for a few hours before the evening matches begin at around 6 pm. Wednesdays and Fridays are reserved for Champions, while Thursday is for Pit Fighters. These weekday fights are usually ones featuring lesser-known fighters or unpopular fighters, meaning they’re filled with hopeful young Champions and aging Pit Fighters. Friday matches tend to be slightly more spectacular, but pale in comparison to weekends.

Saturday and Sunday are dedicated to matches throughout the day, starting at 8 am and ending at midnight. Intermissions of 1.5 hours in the afternoon and early evening to allow for a change of staff, cleaning, and for the visitors to eat, of course. The most high-profile fights are usually held late in the evening, serving as a crowning moment of the night. When public executions are held, they usually take place in the Saturday afternoon, as a preliminary for the weekend’s fights. Saturdays are reserved for Pit Fighters, Sundays for Champions.

Although there is no law for how often a single fighter might be made to fight during a week, usually more well-known fighters are fielded somewhat sparingly to keep up the hype for when they do appear, whereas less popular fighters might fight almost every day if their owner or manager is able to secure them the matches. This holds true for free and slave fighters alike.

### **Special Events**

The first Wednesday of every month was host to a special morning event aimed at Eminents and other potential buyers. During this event, first time fighters were fielded against one another for the sole purpose of showcasing them to customers, and there is no betting involved. All fighters shown in these matches were for sale, but the fights were reserved only to fighters with little to no previous history in the Crucible – whether it be because they were fresh imports, or because they’d only just turned 18. These events were generally considered a good way to get a Pit Fighter from a reputable source, as all paperwork was checked before the fighter was admitted to the ring.

However, after the seizing of the slaves, these showcase matches were discontinued. Now the first Wednesday of each month hosts a smaller scale event where Champions - new and old - advertise themselves to new benefactors.

About once a year, usually during summer, a Wednesday showcase will admit any fighter that is for sale, rather than simply newcomers. These events are very exclusive, and as there is no betting element and the fighters tend to be far more expensive than the usual newcomers, the showcase is invitation only. These showcases are still being held, but now also admit Champions looking for new sponsors.

## History

For being such an important part of New Valore, both in terms of economy and landscape, there is strangely little written about when and how the building first came to be. It is known that the very first mentions of the Crucible by name date back to 921, shortly after the return of Ignacio, but the central location of the Crucible has led many to theorize that it was predated by a smaller, less impressive arena. This theory is supported by a few surviving receipts and bookkeeping records that show some form of pit fighting existed at least since 850s.

Landscape art from the theorized time of its construction proves that the Crucible – as it was before the Vindicator attack – existed in late 920s. Based on old diaries and artwork, it seems that the Crucible was mainly built with pit fighting in mind, proving that it was already a popular pastime before the Crucible came to be. Interestingly, some sources indicate that many of these fighters were free entertainers, rather than slaves. Based on these same sources, historians have theorized that the Crucible was also regularly used for executions, public discussion, theater, sports and important public events.

The gambling business seems to have slowly overtaken all other activity at the Crucible, and some sources even suggest that the building was sold by the Crown at some point, ending up in the hands of private organizations. This led to entirely uncontrolled, wildly dangerous fights with little to no rules to protect fighters, or even spectators. Whatever the exact reasons for it, it is known with absolute certainty that by the time King Calida came to power, the Crown had not had any control over the blooming gambling business of the Crucible for a good while – and that reinstating control of said business eventually got her killed. Still, the Crown’s control on both the regulation and gambling of the Crucible stayed.

With new, stricter regulation, the Crucible flourished under the watchful eye of the Crown and became a far more respectable establishment. It remained as such until its partial destruction during the events of new year of 1700, when Vindicators bombed the arena, causing some sections to collapse.

The refurbished and partially rebuilt modern Crucible was opened in late summer 1700. In May 1701, due to the reduced numbers of Pit Fighters, the arena opened its doors to free fighters, known as Champions.