Gladiator

“*Gladiator fights in massive arenas are a popular form of entertainment in Nilfgaard. Usually the fighters are slaves specially trained for this purpose, yet at times the arena masters pit humans against monsters...*”
―Jaskier, famous nordling bard

**Gladiators** are professional warriors, usually drafted from enslaved men ( and on several occasions women or criminals who have been given a chance in the arena ) although from time to time free professional warriors, they have been seen to become gladiators, used to entertain the audience by fighting each other or wild animals, beasts and monsters in the Nilfgaardian Empire, among other spectacles, such as fighting in naval battles recreated in the arenas. Despite their prowess, gladiators are never used during battles for two reasons; first, an unwritten custom forbids such things as unethical and against the rules of honest warfare. Second, while good in the arena, gladiators wouldn't do good listening to commands and standing in formation.

As the contact with the Empire has some huge cultural influence on Nordlings, terms "gladiator" and "gladiator fights" are used in Kaedwen and other Northen Kingdoms as well. The first stands for a non-knight arena-fighting professional and the second for army tournaments.

## Origins

Gladiator fights are not of Nilfgaardian origin per se, but come from the period of Magne's annexation to the empire. The closest thing there had been up to that time was fighting between slaves and beasts, taken from Aen Nílfe customs. But these slaves, unlike a standard gladiator, had no training in combat.

## Selection and training

The majority of those who enter the arenas as gladiators are slaves and prisoners-of-war, but it may happen that a free woman or man looking for glory or driven by their debts, become one. The warriors-to-be are mostly selected at a young age and then trained at special schools under the watchful eye of lanistae – the school directors. The majority of these lanistaes are usually from slave-owning families as well, such as the Aep Brelchlohns. Who have made training and owning gladiators their way of life.

Usually fighting against each other ( alone or in teams ) or wild animals and monsters (the most noted of which for this is undoubtedly shaelmaar), gladiators are drilled in several different fighting types: classic fight, fistfight, fight with clubs or maces and finally acted out battles (including sea ones on artificial ponds and naval battles).

## Organisation

Gladiator fights in massive arenas are such popular form of entertainment, that all the major cities of the Empire have a massive arena or at least a pit dug out for them from Lower Alba to Ebbing. The better of such venues include the Grand Amphitheater and Houvenaghel Stadium, both in the capital City of Golden Towers, or the arena in Claremont which also belonged to the famous businessman Dominik Bombastus Houvenaghel.

Although the gladiators' fights are seen as a pastime by the audience, it also happens at times that the arena fights serve as an alternative form of execution or hard labor for convicts as mentioned before.

### Freedom

Gladiators-slaves who survive for many years and gain notoriety have a chance of becoming free in another way than dying. Veteran warriors are at times given wooden swords by the Emperor to symbolize their just earned freedom. These gladiators can, if they wish, continue their carrier in the arena or do anything else. It's almost a rule that they become lanistae and thus earn money for the rest of their lives.

### Tournaments

Annually, an empire-wide tournament is organised to find the best gladiator(s) and give them freedom or a large amount of money with which to buy it, with its finale being held at the Grand Amphitheater. In addition, several sub-tournaments are held at the provincial level to select the best, These gladiators will represent the different provinces in the grand final (although it may be the case that they do not represent the province, but certain groups or families that have registered separately, this is rare outside Lower Alba, Ruach, Ymlac and Vicovaro, but there have been cases).

## Famous gladiators / ‎gladiatrixs

* Aben
* Brianna Vassermiller
* Cala Aep Gelorn
* Cervin
* Christa
* Cuato
* Durdigyrn Aep Ilwedlul
* Drylvick
* Kullo
* Roym
* Sonya "The Wild One"
* Verusio
* Yekba of Aram

## Arenas

* Claremont Arena
* Grand Amphitheater
* Houvenaghel Stadium
* Kharkiv Amphitheater

## Trivia

* The sea ones battles, are different from naval battles. These are battles that are done as typical battles, but as the combat progresses, the arena gradually fills with water. Changing the terrain, and giving the gladiator more haste to kill the enemy before drowning.