“Sight is a luxury.”
Originally established as a farce, the blind gladiator contests were humiliating matches in which blinded gladiators were pitted against each other or monsters hauled out from the desert. These disadvantaged warriors caused more harm to themselves while casting about for their unseen foes than they ever did to their opponents. In time, though, gladiators learned to overcome these challenges, learning to use other senses to pinpoint their opponents and secure a victory. Of these versatile warriors, none are as feared as Gulg’s Nightmare.
Although not blind himself, Nightmare specializes in unseen matches all the same. In battle, he dons a heavy helmet made from a nightmare beast’s skull with the sockets sealed with clay to obstruct his vision completely. Nightmare proves blindness is no hindrance because he focuses psionic energy to heighten his other senses, which allows him to fight with equal ability. In fact, many of his foes have been deceived by his apparent handicap only to learn their error with a sudden painful death.
Nightmare is named aptly, because he is a sinister
figure, remorseless and vicious on the arena floor.
When he takes on a student, it isn’t out of kindness,
but rather it is a chance to spit in the eye of the arena
masters who orchestrate the ends so many gladiators face. Nightmare is selective about his pupils, and
should he find weakness or hesitation, he might discard or slay his pupil with little warning