Arena Combat in the Northern Province

                There are many places and instances where people can kill and be killed without running the risk of a Blood Debt, Feud or Revenge Killing.  Thers are some of the places in the Northern Province where Arenas are located.

There are four in Brighton; 

The Arena is run by the Freeblades Guild.  It is off limits to all but Freeblades guild members.  It is used to settle differences between guild members, host Monster Fights and for entertainment.  It is not used for executions as there is no real law in the Freeblades Guild.  The worst crime is punishable only by the revocation of membership.

The Field of Aday is the ancient stable for Aday’s Knights from the Pre-Leah’dic era.  All that remains now is a field some 100 strides square next to the stone ruins which resemble a stadium on one side and is usually where spectators sit.  The Field is used only by the elite to settle differences through the Trial of Combat; an ancient right from Pholtic times still practiced though bereft of religious significance.

The Pits are literally that, a collections of pits each a bit different in size, but mostly they are ten feet deep and rarely more than 20’ square.  The poor and the slave fight here for gold.  Most who are connected to the underworld know the goings on of the fights.  It is not uncommon for new arrivals to be drugged kidnapped and thrown into the pits to fight or die for the “right” to stay in the Province.  The fights are irregular and often are more of an execution that a real fight.  Anyone can use the pits.

The Place of Justice is located on the southern hill of Brighton and is also the remains of Pholtic architecture.  It is the place where the Ascendants judged the people in ancient times.  The Place is now operated by representatives of the five Guard houses of Brighton; the Coldwater Guards, The Rangers, The Kings Men, The Men of the Keep and the Long Riders.  It is mostly used to execute or to settle disputes. It is empty except for Sunday when Justice is delivered by the Guards houses, each taking their turn with their prisoners and petitioners. 

There are other Arenas throughout the northern Province;

There is the Tree of Ash in the King’s City of the North where prisoners are set to fight undead bare handed for their freedom and forgiveness. 

There is also the Field of Hearts located just east of the Kings City of the North where heroes meet to prove their worth or settle differences and disputes or fight for the glory of combat.  The field of Hearts is known throughout the western world as a place to prove yourself.  Warriors from all corners of the knowable world come here to fight and sometimes even kill each other.  Mostly they will yield, make friends, teach each other things, trade and sell relics and feast.

There is the Liars Pole in Needles Bunk where two people will be tied when they disagree about the Truth and they must fight or both be stoned.  Needles bunk is home to one of the last mendicants who still try to follow Pholtus though that god died millennia ago.

There is The Pit in Bricking where weekly, the strong men of Bricking meet to wrestle bears or arm wrestle or fight for beer and women.  The only killing here is accidental.  Even the bears are just subdued.

There is the Hero Stone at Many Rivers, the adventurer camp west of Bricking at the feet of the Brake.  Here, adventurers fight each other out of hate, avarice, perversity and the joy of killing.  There are no rules really, just peer pressure.

Kneeling has the Water Cages where they will throw their criminals and trespassers they find in the Nehi.  The victims have cages built around them then they are thrown to the water dragons.  If they escape they live.

The Nehi is also home to the Medusa Queen Ithulia.  At her altar, many come to fight for her favor and the winners receive her mark and a choice from her treasury.  It is a secret how these matches are arranged.

Tenwillows has the Tree of Justice where rule-breakers are tied to fight off harpies.  If they can kill a harpy or can drive them away, they are forgiven.  People also call duels to the tree.