Pit Fighter

Pit Fighters are combat-trained slaves routinely forced to battle for the entertainment of New Valore’s citizens at the Crucible.

**All newly born or imported slaves are currently made into Labor Slaves. New Pit Fighter characters MUST have been reclaimed in the slave reclaims.**

**All new Pit Fighters must have a PC owner.**

## Overview

Pit Fighters are slaves trained to participate in the brutal, bloody brawls that provide entertainment in the Crucible. A varied bunch, ranging from slaves carefully bred and trained for a singular purpose, to fresh arrivals from faraway lands, the Pit Fighters are united by their skill in combat - and their unfortunate, forced fate. Only a few fighters revel in the bloodshed that is their profession; most fight only because they must.

Outside the Crowning Day Tourney, pit fights are never to the death. Pit Fighters are trained to shed blood and cause injury without death - self-preservation drives them to favor efficiency. Several fighting styles exist, but all share the same principles of causing great harm with minimal risk of death. Deaths do still occur, but are always accidental. Pit Fighters who are ruled to have killed their opponent on purpose are killed for their crime.

Due to the high monetary stakes - for bettors and owners alike - and the incredible competition and cost of training fighters, Pit Fighters are generally well kept. Compared to most other slaves, or indeed poorer citizens, they receive ample sleep, food, water and training. This does not make them equals in the eyes of their owners, nor any less slaves. Any Pit Fighter knows that refusal to fight, or just a whim of their owner, may spell loss of their status, or even their death. Like all slaves, Pit Fighters are robbed of agency by their owners, and are vulnerable to cruelty and abuse - as long as it doesn’t affect their performance.

Despite being slaves, the best and most popular Pit Fighters command fame and recognition comparable to sports stars. Even mid-tier slaves are often recognized in the streets. Fighters may have their own memorabilia and fan clubs - a strange juxtaposition of being admired while also being thought of as less.

Pit Fighters are extremely expensive, especially the ones who have already made a name for themselves, or come from reputable training and breeding programs. As a result, Pit Fighters are most commonly owned by nobles, or particularly rich members of the upper classes.

## Breeding & Pedigree

Many of the best Pit Fighters come from lineages cultivated with selective breeding and carefully calculated matches. Fight statistics are poured over, tempers considered, exact builds charted. Aodhians have a basic understanding of genetics and inheritance, and use both to their advantage.

Successful fighters are often used to stud a great number of potential matches - with the help of shapeshifting necklaces, any pairing can become viable. Breeding two famous fighters together is fairly rare, as pregnancy takes a fighter out of the ring; but it is sometimes done by those who can afford it. Typical pairs are pedigree serviles with desirable build types or looks, retired or injured Pit Fighters, or prospects who never filled their personal potential. The opinions of the slaves themselves matter awfully little when it comes to such a valuable business.

The results of these matches are carefully observed and compared. Children that are not up to par are sold as serviles to recoup costs. The close observation continues all the way to adulthood. Those with undesirable traits are pruned off of the pedigree, making each generation higher performing and better designed to their purpose. Controlled breeding of Pit Fighters came in style during King Calida’s reign (1539-1583) when fighters became less disposable, meaning there is about 150 years of breeding behind some Pit Fighters.

Certain slave traders and nobles who heavily focus on fighter breeding have their own signature lineages, usually coming with a certain striking trait to make them more unique, and as such, desirable.

Despite all the selective breeding, it is not uncommon for hidden talents to pop out from servile slave lines, or from accidental matches between slaves.

### **Selection**

Many things factor into what slaves are chosen to become Pit Fighters - some of them reliant on the personal taste of the buyer, others on more universal preferences.

Most Pit Fighters, about 65%, are born in Aodh, and out of those, many come from purpose-bred lines. These slaves are carefully trained and assessed throughout their lives, removing the weaker elements from the pool. The remaining 35% are outsiders - culled Oneans, Talori criminals and captured Vagabonds. With these slaves, a military or fighting background is generally preferred, although some may just go for a particularly vicious and badmouthed individual. Many a dishonored Raider has ended their life in the sands of the Crucible.

Outside athletic and fighting ability, which are universally desired, preferences vary. Some swear by nimble, small fighters, others by massive heaps of muscle. Great many guidebooks exist, guiding trainers and buyers in picking the perfect fighter, and the perfect fighting style. The trends also come and go - early in Solaris’ reign, there was a particular preference for the stocky, hardy War Forged type, while modern Pit Fighters tend to be tall and muscular without being too heavy.  Flashy fighters are generally preferred, as a more memorable appearance is favored by the audience.

### **Training**

This describes the typical training path of a slave born into a Pit Fighter breeding program. Most Pit Fighters are started young, and often trained for many years before being sold for high prices. However, it should be noted that exact training methods vary wildly based on the resources of the owner and trainer. This is just the typical experience.

They usually begin their training at around 7 years of age, although youths are often given exercise regimes and diet plans even before then. In their early training, they learn basic combat skills, but mostly train their bodies as any athlete would. Children at this stage are carefully monitored for their progress, and those who fall behind are generally sold as servile slaves.

The training increases in intensity as the children age. Pit fighting prospects are often trained with weights on their legs and/or backs to grow their strength, as well as otherwise subjected to harsh physical conditioning. It is at this stage, usually as preteens of around 12, that bait slaves are introduced to make the fighters comfortable with the idea of harming another equine.

Typically it is only as teens, around 14-15, when prospects start to practice against one another. Most trainers prefer to keep these fights short and avoid injuries, but others encourage bloody fights between candidates. Practice bouts with bait slaves become more vicious, and more frequent. The fighters are trained to skillfully administer painful but non-fatal injuries.

Pit Fighters won’t see the actual fighting ring until they turn 18. After they become adults, the training continues throughout their careers.

Freshly captured or culled slaves from other herds are trained similarly to born slaves, started from the stage that matches their age. For them, breaking the slave in is often a higher priority than the fighter training.

## Legal Status

Slaves are considered the property of their owners, and as such, do not have any rights that a citizen would have. Their possessions (accessories, familiars etc) legally belong to their owner, including any children they bear. They cannot own property, earn money, enter into contracts or marry.

This does not mean they are completely unprotected, however. As slaves are private property, damaging someone else’s slave leads to a fine proportionate to the slave’s value and the damage done - or even heftier consequences, should you happen to harm the valuable slave of some irate noble. While special circumstances (pit fights, a Chevalier wrestling down an uncooperative or escaping slave) allow some leeway, for the most part slaves do not face random abuse from strangers, and can expect to carry out their duties in relative peace.

From their owner, slaves are protected by proprietary laws - while basic disciplining is fine, taking out your anger on a slave in public is considered disturbing the peace, and may lead to a fine. Repeat offenders may face heavy fines and even jail time.

As property, slaves can be sold, rented or loaned. Slaves can have families, but owners are in no way required to keep the family unit together. The only exception to this are twins, who are never separated, and always sold as one unit.

The children born from slaves are automatically slaves themselves, regardless of the status of the other partner. If a free person carries the child of a slave, they can use deniability to allow the child to become a citizen - however, this means the slave parent can never openly be a father or mother to their child, as this would risk the discovery of their deception. This would, in almost all cases, see the citizenship of the child revoked.

### **Pit Fight Rules**

* Slaves must be properly registered to fight in the Crucible. There is a yearly season fee to renew registration.
* Pit Fighters must be 18 years or older to fight in the Crucible. Anyone caught trying to field a fighter younger than this is severely punished.
* Twins must fight together. They count as a single fighter.
* Breed specific advantages are to be removed to ensure a fair fight.
	+ Unicorns have their horns and gemstones filed down and rounded.
	+ Pegasi must be made unable to fly, whether by clipping or tying down wings
* Fights outside Crowning Day are not to the death.
	+ Fighters who purposefully kill their opponent are punished with death.
	+ Trainers/owners found to have instructed the slave to kill are fined the value of the dead opponent.
* Weapons, armor, blessings and/or familiars are only permitted in specific fights.

## Rank Levels

* **At 25 AP** | As a fighter, do you carefully consider your strategy or improvise? You may gain your **Tier 1 Talent** early (for your first talent only).
* **At 50 AP** | Some matches permit armor. Receive a **Breastplate** and **Bracers** from your master.
* **At 75 AP** | Strength and speed are obvious assets, but don’t let your training neglect other physical attributes. Receive +15 SP to Agility or Vitality.
* **At 100 AP** | Occasionally, pit fighters are permitted to fight alongside a familiar. If your familiar spot is open, receive an **Aodhian** **Level 2 Familiar (except rare).**