As do all city states in the Tyr region, Balic has a gladiatorial arena. Built by the sorcerer
kings, the arenas existed to entertain the god rulers and citizens by pitting slaves and
gladiators against beasts and each other.
Today, the arena in Balic is no longer used for the amusement of the sorcerer king. It now
holds a variety of events. During most days, its floor is covered with trading carts and
vendors. On certain occasions, it is used for combat, but combat is voluntary. At least, that
is the theory - House Tomblador is notorious for forcing gladiators to fight against their
will. Fighters can test themselves for the chance to win prize money, supplied by the three
merchant houses. Admission to the events are free, though the merchant Houses make money by food sales. Fighting in the games is one way to be noticed by the Houses, who
often select prospective guards from the contestants.
The arena is an oval structure running north-south with a sand floor. At the center of the
arena, to the east side of the combat area, are luxury boxes for the noble families of Balic to
enjoy the games. These boxes are located at the top of the arena, and the more powerful
the family, the closer to the center their box is. When gladiatorial games are held, the
nobles bring their guests and servants and wagers between families is the norm.
To the west side, opposite the nobles' boxes, is the kings box, now occupied by the
merchant Houses. Though technically in Wavir held Balic, the arena is shared by the three
Houses. The kings box is elegantly furnished with furniture of exotic woods and silks.
Unknown to anyone in Balic, a secret tunnel leads from a hidden treasure vault in the
White Palace to the kings box, a spiral staircase twisting down through one of the pillars
that support the arena. Though Andropinis rarely used it, it existed in case he needed to
move quickly and secretly between the two locations.
Fights in the arna are typically not to the death, though fatalities are not uncommon.
Houses have champions, and are paid and treated well. Gormoth is the champion of the
House Tomblador, a monster of a man with thick hide armor covering half of his body,
including his face. Of all fatalities in the arena, most are attributed to Gormoth. Jeremon is
the hero of House Rees, a thin but very quick half elf - a smirking, angry assassin. He is
rumored to use a poisoned blade, which is strictly illegal, but no proof has ever been
found to support the claim. House Wavir has the Mul warrior Avemoc, an ex-gladiator
freed by the house and intensely loyal to them. He appears to have a sixth sense, knowing
where the opponents blade will try to strike before they do.