The Grand Arena of Ilmius I

"For too long have the blood of Gratic people spoiled the dirt and sand of our homeland and for what? Sport? Bloodlust? Some other, more deadly crime? Such a thing cannot be allowed to continue in a truly merciful society and a truly religious society."
~Edict by Head Priest Prek Zaklar in reference to the practice of arena fighting

"The Great Arena is the cener [sic] of the imperial practice of letting some violent criminals earn their freedom through sport. This circular wooden structure is almost always full of spectators from all walks of life. People cheer on specific fighters and teams as these men and women fight for their lives against beasts and each other."
~ The City of Cities

Purpose / Function

This place is purely for the sport of arena fighting, a practice that has been outlawed and reopened again and again during The Gratic Empire's history. Here, criminals that are not necessarily hardened to that illegal life and might put up a fight are sent. Those who are sent can earn their freedom by fighting their way to the top of the lists. At the same time, they might be killed by other fighters or the beasts and monsters brought in to spice up the fights, so being sent here is commonly a merciful death sentence. People here also place bets on fights and egg on the combatants.

Alterations

The original structure has been rebuilt many times due to its wooden structure and its tumultuous history with the law. The current structure is about forty years old.

Architecture

It is wooden in construction and forms a slight oval. The upper portions of the structure (which are also on the edge of the ellipse) are open to the sky with the exception of a cloth overhang in times of rain. They are filled with benches and the occasional staircase leading deeper into the Underdungeon or back out onto the streets of Southwark District.
The arena itself is in the very centre of the structure, and all of the stands surround it and point towards it. The floor of the arena is a very fine sand, which makes it very easy to clean up after a fight. The fighters and the beasts emerge from the sides of the arena, going up long tunnels from the Underdungeon.
Speaking of the Underdungeon, this is where the beasts are stored and prepared and fighters train and rest in between fights. The area is filled with cages and cells, and a large central area contains a training ground and weapon storage.

History

As the practice of arena fights has been outlawed and renewed over the centuries, the Arena has seen waxing and waning periods of use. During the times that it was outlawed, the arena was used for contests of strength and theatre.

Type

Amphitheatre

Parent Location

Gratic City

Art Credit: emperorcharlesii (me!)