Diamondskin's Arena
The lizardman
Vascar Diamondskin runs an arena out of a large cavern in the contested borderlands
between two countries. The cavern is set within an old crumbling limestone
hill and the floor is covered in smooth soft sand. A number of large,
natural skylights, keep the cavern well lit, but the crumbling ceiling can
occasionally drop rocks and dirt 50' onto unsuspecting arena patrons.
Despite the occasional crumbles, the ceiling is in no danger of fully
collapsing, and anything that does fall is quickly cleaned up by Vascar's
crew.
Fight
nights draw large crowds that range from passing adventurers, mercenary bands,
gangs of outlaws, off duty soldiers looking for fun, and the occasional
wanted man looking to make quick coin before trying to disappear. Since
most of the spectators are relatively local, the arena clears out pretty
rapidly once the fight is done, and nights with no fights can be quite
peaceful in this large cavern. There is a small sleeping area for travelers
and, since any thievery is punished by immediate death, it tends to be a
pretty safe place to stay, no matter who you are. Food and drink are
provided by vendors, but the vendors and the prices change with the winds.
The patrons are ever changing as well, there are regulars of course but the
majority.
TO
RECREATE THIS MAP
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Random Seed:
1340961763
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Layout: Cavernous
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Size: Fine
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Egress: Yes
BASIC INFO
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One square is 5'x5'
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Ceilings 50
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1
- ENTRANCE
The
entrance to Diamondskin's Arena can be found in a cliff side along an old
riverbed. The opening appears to be a natural cave entrance 20' wide and 10'
tall. The floor of the cavern is smooth and sandy, and it slopes downward as
it moves west. The sand shows signs of heavy foot traffic, and piles of large
stones lie along the cave's walls in this area.
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2 - POST
BOARD AND ENTRY FEE
A solid
chunk of earth and stone connects the floor and ceiling in this area, and a
post board, covered in poorly spelled fight lists and crudely drawn portraits
of victors, is planted firmly in the ground. A small wooden table sits to the
right of the board, and a closed oak water barrel is on the left. A tin cup
on a 3' hemp rope dangles on the side of the barrel. Visitors can drink
freely from the barrel
Two hardened
looking human warriors in chainmail (Oscar and Useph) will almost always be
found in this area to charge an entry fee of 1 silver.
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3 - VENDORS
Dirty
stalls filled with pushy vendors selling all manner of questionable things
can be found in this area. Stalls selling mundane things like food, drink,
weapons and armor sit next to stalls that openly sell poisons, exotic drugs,
and stolen art. Slave traders and contract killers have also been known to
set up shop here from time to time. Numerous types of incense burn in a poor
attempt to cover the smell of blood and sweat. Torches light this area as the
natural skylights in the main cavern do not reach these corners.
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4 - "THE
ROCKS"
Mismatched
benches, chairs, stools and barrels line the walls of this area in crude rows.
A circle, 30' in diameter, of large and medium rocks marks out the fighting
area, of this arena. During a fight, the rocks can hardly be seen due to the
crush of spectators cheering, and cursing and shouting their bets.
Rashar
the lizardman acts as referee for the Rock Arena. Due to the nature of these
fights he doesn't referee much, but he does look for blades during bare-knuckle
fights and is excellent at determining if poison or possession was used to
swing a fight. Should blood, or worse, end up on any of the rocks, Rashar can
be found cleaning or replacing them the next day.
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5 - "THE
POSTS"
Like The
Rocks, the cavern walls around The Posts Arena are filled with an assortment
of mismatched benches, chairs, and stools. Due to the nature of the fights
that occur here, the spectators seating is further back (8') from the
fighting area of this arena when compared to The Rocks.
Wooden posts,
2' tall and 1' in diameter make up the ring of this arena (20' in diameter),
with a few (1d8) 6' tall posts mixed in. The 6' posts are often used to
"liven up" the fights. They are occasionally lit on fire, or
equipped with dart or spear traps. Every fight that occurs in this arena is
between armored opponents, unrefereed, and always to the death.
During
fights, Vishi works the crowd to keep an eye on things.
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6 - VASCAR'S
TENT
Chests,
crates, stools, and burlap sacks lie scattered around a small fire pit
outside of Vascar's 10' circular, canvas, tent. Vascar and the twins live
here with their minimal belongings. 1d6+1 hired hands may be found sleeping
outside the tent, but the Lizardmen have little need for permanent employees
other than Oscar and Useph who both live in a nearby farmhouse.
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7 - HEALER'S
TENT
Angol
Harbor the Healer (cleric) has a 10' wide 20' deep tent set up here to house
injured warriors that require long term care. At most long term care means
waiting a week for a limb regeneration or resurrection. Numerous wooden
stools sit outside the tent, and Angol can often be found napping on one when
he tent is full of people being healed. Since his services are needed often,
and because he is well liked, small crowds will often congregate around his
tent.
Small oranges
studded with cloves are kept throughout this area to combat the smells of
blood and sweat, and three water barrels to be used by the injured only sit
outside the tent. If anyone attempts to drink freely from them Angol will
politely ask them not to. This usually works, even the wicked don’t want to
offend the only healer in a cave full of killers, but some frogs get jumpy. Being
a pacifist, Angol will never attack anyone, though he will be persistent in
trying to take the cup from your hands.
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8 - FIGHTER'S
REST AREA
Ten
small tents speckle this area. Fighters and their crews use this area to
relax before and after fights. Vascar is most frequently found here, watching
the warriors and ensuring nothing unprofessional occurs. Brawls break out
frequently here between the fighter's support crews, but they're broken up
rapidly. If they're not, and Vascar gets involved, brawls turn into
bloodbaths, courtesy of Vascar's dagger.
The
tents belong to Vascar and are always up. As soon as someone leaves he will
clean them, and get them ready to be used again. Most fighters only stay a
single night, but well known fighters that really pack the crowds may stay as
long as a week. Two rows of benches line the north wall and are used for
staging immediately before a fight.
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VASCAR DIAMONDSKIN
Physical Description: Light green scales broken by black scales in a
diamond shapes. He is covered in numerous scars, and is missing part of his
tail
Vascar was
born to the greatest warrior of his clan. His father was as great a teacher as
he was warrior. Vascar showed himself to be the strongest and smartest of his
generation, but like his father he was a warrior and being a warrior prevented
him from being chieftain. Though warriors were valued and vital they were not
trusted to lead, that was left to the shamans and medicine men. Eventually, a
civil war was about to erupt and rather than watch his clan tear itself apart
he chose to change the game. Vascar slayed the chieftain and claimed the title
himself. His skill as a warrior and willingness to use others in settling
disputes united his clan and left few challengers.
The clan
had enemies though, and Vascar acted just in time. Months after he became Chief
of the Smoothwater clan, their namesake lake became vital to their enemies.
Dams of the humans had been torn asunder and the lands of the neighboring clans
forever changed. Vascar was able to keep the lake for three long, bloody years
filled with defeat and death. The fight was abandoned when there remained only
a dozen warriors left, everyone else had fled the war or been killed and there
was little point to continue fighting. Vascar and his men abandoned their home
and began a campaign of assassination. It took two years, but the head of every
clan that moved against them was slain. Vascar had lost all but two of his men
by the time it was over and he was seeking a new purpose.
In his
years as a child he had navigated the civilized lands often as a challenge to
not be seen and one of his favorite spots had been a cavern that’s entry was
hidden under a river. Within the cavern there was a shallow pool lit by
numerous natural holes in the ceiling. Once the dams were destroyed the pools
and river quickly disappeared to leave a large open cavern with a soft sandy
floor that very few people knew of. Vascar and his men began making a name for
themselves as mercenaries to get enough coin together to outfit the cavern with
tents and supplies. Then with the small amount of contacts they had made, they
put out word of an arena where men could test their skills and fill their
pockets. Before the year was up there was a steady enough stream of visitors
that Vascar was able to set up two solid fight nights a week. Being tucked just
outside of two nations borders Vascar has never had trouble with any so called
authorities, however bounty hunters will often frequent the place just to
browse the crowd.
THE TWINS - RASHAR AND VISHI
Physical Description: Rashar has dark green scales with yellow spots and
Vishi has yellow scales with dark green spots.
Other than
Vascar, these two brothers are the last of the Smoothwater clan. They grew up
with Vascar, though never as smart, they were each almost as deadly. The loss
of their clan pains them deeply, but not as much as the sorrow they know their
Chief feels. Their loyalty is without question and either would gladly put
themselves in front of the spear for Vascar. They are experts with any melee
weapon and vicious when tasked to combat.
Angol Harbor
Angol is a
man nearing his fifties and looking every day of it. Though tired and aged, the
gray haired man does look very happy. It's clear that he enjoys being able to
help people while working with Vascar. Angol met Vascar and the twins working
with the now disbanded Black Root Raiding Company. Vascar was interesting to
Angol because Angol never liked the people he worked with. However the best way
to do the most good as a healer is to follow around warriors. If it were his
world more warriors would not be ruthless killers. Instead, noble warriors would
spend their time in courts and castles leaving the hungry, mean and desperate
to fight amongst themselves. In this reality, Angol's fondness for the
lizardmen was despite their brutal nature. Their leader had a deep sadness in
him that intrigued the cleric. And the twins undying loyalty to Vascar was
stronger than any bond he had ever witnessed, even with his own god. When he
heard that Vascar had opened a fighters arena, he left the road immediately and
sought the old Lizard.
Angol, sometimes, keeps the fighters alive even when he should not. Some fights are "to the death" and Angol has once or twice nearly lost his own after raising a dead warrior out of pity. Vascar and the twins let no one hurt the pacifist cleric out of a feeling of debt because the healer had saved their lives in the past. Just about everyone who has ever fought here has been healed, fed or cared for by Angol and few tolerate any disrespect of him. Angol has collected a large amount of gold from donations, but he saves that for the fighters who have lost and been abandoned penniless by their party or manager. Outside his tent there is always an open stool, even if just one, and if not busy repairing flesh Angol will gladly engage in conversation on whatever topic is raised. He is very well informed, quite smart and capable of approaching situations from many perspectives.
Angol, sometimes, keeps the fighters alive even when he should not. Some fights are "to the death" and Angol has once or twice nearly lost his own after raising a dead warrior out of pity. Vascar and the twins let no one hurt the pacifist cleric out of a feeling of debt because the healer had saved their lives in the past. Just about everyone who has ever fought here has been healed, fed or cared for by Angol and few tolerate any disrespect of him. Angol has collected a large amount of gold from donations, but he saves that for the fighters who have lost and been abandoned penniless by their party or manager. Outside his tent there is always an open stool, even if just one, and if not busy repairing flesh Angol will gladly engage in conversation on whatever topic is raised. He is very well informed, quite smart and capable of approaching situations from many perspectives.
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