The Caraed

Multiple small stadiums where you can play sport, observe sport, and also bet and drink.

You see lots of folks, working at the Caraed.  It's no secret that there are some who have there issues with the law, but if you keep out of their business they'll keep quiet - or at least settle their differences out the back in the alleys.  The watch doesn't come in here on duty, they know better than to stir the pot that way.  But occasionally you get someone from out of town...
See that fellow in arena 5?  Yeah, him.  Out-of-town auditor git.  Told big-muscles over there that he was going to arrest him on charge of arson - I mean honestly, out of everyone in here, he chose him?  We get the odd real criminal here.  For example, we definitely don't get Therren Darks in here.  Yes, that Therren Darks.  He never comes here.  Anyway, auditor git's been told by big muscles that if he can beat him in a fight he can take him in.  Yeah, that was my face too.  Be a good watch, I'd say.

Purpose / Function

The Caraed is a stadium, of a sort.  To be precise, it's seventeen stadiums.  That are all tiny.  Inside a big stadium.  Look, you'll just have to come there with me.

The Caraed was built to accommodate the entertainment needs of the increasingly large population of Cada Cratal.  By decree of Lady Leena, the first small stadium was constructed in order to hold various organised tournaments and sports.  After its construction, however, the city's administrators were faced with a problem.  Uncontent with simply watching, it became a regular occurrence that members of the fledgling Cada Cratal City Guard, after investigating suspicious noises within the venue, would find people using the stadium for their own games.  Lady Leena made the decision to allow free use of the stadium to citizens, but then found herself faced with another problem - there was too much demand for the facility.  As civil unrest built, the city's administration began works on the stadium, partitioning it into seventeen small arenas around its circumference, and at the centre a viewing area and bar.  The new system won popular favour and has remained through to the present day.

Alterations

The alteration of the original large stadium into several smaller stadiums was seen as quite a controversial move at the time.  The citizens of Cada Cratal continued to demonstrate, one notable example being The Street Games.  Therefore, Lady Leena decreed that the exterior of the stadium would have small, temporary games areas constructed around it, in an attempt to allow a safe outlet for the populace's desire for entertainment.  These temporary shelters were well-utilised during the construction, and the locals made them more permanent than was originally intended.  Today, they ring half of the stadium, paying host to many small food and drink vendors as well as children's courts for various games.

Architecture

The Caraed is reminiscent of classical architecture of the real world - its pillared entrance looms over the street in front of it, while its many arched windows into the seventeen tournament windows are reminiscent of the arches in the Colosseum.  The main material used is stone, with tinges of marble accentuating various lines in the structure.  The windows carry the characteristic shimmer of a Preservewrit, as they have been treated to ensure they aren't damaged by the games that happen inside.
The interior of the Caraed is laid with redwood, and covered with a solid oak roof.  A bar stands at the centre, surrounded by the spectator and queuing areas for the various mini arenas.

Tourism

Many people visit the Caraed, although it is interesting to note the makeup of its clientele.  Surprisingly, although it is nominally a sports stadium, there are very few professional athletes or teams that visit the Caraed frequently.  Due to the small size of its arenas, the Caraed is unsuitable for many sports at a professional level, so much so that it has occasionally spawned new versions of sports to allow them to be played in its arenas.  Those who compete at the Caraed are often amateur or semi-professional athletes, and those who aren't are typically members of sports that don't require large playing areas, such as boxing or wrestling.
The other significant portion of the Caraed's clientele is those who, in one way or another, are on the wrong side of the law.  Because of its creation at a time when citizen power ran mostly unchecked by the watch, and the culture of the Caraed has remained mostly unchanged over time, the watch tacitly agrees to leave its patrons alone.  More than once this embassy-like power has saved criminals from being caught by the watch - notably, Therren Darks and it is even reputed that the Notorious Kales attended the Caraed at one point.  The betting activities in the Caraed also draw the organised crime groups of Cada Cratal to it.

Parent Location

Cada Cratal

Characters in Location

• Joss Martins