Lion's Den Arena

Location: Just outside Firehawk
Objective: Arena Combat
Known Gangs: Iron Boys, Go-Gore Goblins
Noted Gladiators: Iron, Cecil, Nobi, Kander, Blug

The Lion's Den Arena has been around for centauries, and the owner has always been known as "The Lion".

The arena is legal by the laws of The Valley of the Sun Empire; in fact, the government highly supports the arena as the tax revenue flows in for the empire.

There are three ways one may become a gladiator in The Lion's Den Arena:

1 - Sold into slavery: The Valley of the Sun Empire decrees that anyone who is not a citizen of their empire is free game to be captured and sold into slavery. The Arena buys many slaves and captures some of their own too, to save money. Slaves are rarely released by any means other than death.

2 - Criminal Punishment: The Sun Empire saves money by tossing many of its criminals to the Lion and his arena. Most often, thieves and murderers and other violent criminals are given life sentences as an arena slave.

3 - Volunteer: A (very) small percentage of gladiators are actually their by their own free will. Why some may believe they're crazy, they state the glory of victory is worth it.

Much like in prison, gangs are formed in the slavehold. Usually, such gangs are defined by one's race, age, and/or fame. Gangs will stick together and watch each others' backs from rival gangs.

Although most fighting occurs in the arena, there is quite often violence in the slavehold when gangs get bored or angry with another.

To help keep slaves in line, there is a torture chamber reserved for those who break The Lion's rules: 1 - Never show mercy and 2 - Never use magic. The latter of the two is, by far, considered the worse of the two, and such action will warrant two weeks of horrid torture at minimum.

After a battle, dead bodies are left in the arena for The Lion's many pets to feed upon in the evenings.
 

Image from "Desert Dreams".  Datton refuses to battle his friend in the arena.

APPEARS IN:
Desert Dreams