Fighting Pits / Gladiatorial Arenas

Both fighting pits & gladiatorial arenas are found throughout the world. Many nations have banned them, but most survive in one form or fashion. From back alley pits to the arenas found in some Underdark cities, entertainment involving violence and bloodshed exist. Some are small ventures, usually a blood sport like bull baiting, dog fighting, and cockfighting happens in any number of region where these animals are plentiful. Others like wrestling, and bare knuckle boxing are also quite common. These happen anywhere where there is a thirst for it. Many take part to prove their animal or skill is superior to another, or for money, whether an agreed upon amount or a part of the pot. Gambling is nearly always involved for all these games. Gladiatorial games have waned in many regions, as this is usually to the death, and many professional fighters are far more useful on the battlefield than in such a match. Most buildings used range from old abandoned buildings, to underground sections, to specifically designed arenas favoured by the Black Elves. The latter species are known for massive displays of gladiatorial carnage, sometimes with their best warriors taking on members of the 'lesser races'.
There is no set building or arena even in a single region, with this and the rules decided before the fight. Sometimes this can happen days to weeks in advance, sometimes on the day itself. Sometimes there is barely any room to stand and the patrons of the fight are practically on top of the fighters. Others are massive arenas, an area in the middle to allow fighters & animals to fight in a large designated place, while surrounded by raised seated area for crowds of spectators. Most will have a place to one side (usually as part of the overall building / structure), or below to store weapons, chambers for animals, and/or accommodation for the fighters. Some of the larger structures will have apothecaries, physicians, and other healers in designated rooms, as well as places to store the dead until they are disposed off. Sometimes an animal wrangler will have a similar set up to deal with any animals.
Most of these are run by shady elements of a locality, usually illegal gangs of cut-throats and people smugglers. Others such as the Black Elves, have a thirst for controlled violence & slavery that means they can easily combine the two practices. Others, see it as a way to make money through gambling, or toughening up younger fighters before they have to go to battle. Many of those that are involved quite regularly have a network of fighting pits and arenas around a given region, and usually the odd contact in other nearby nations or groups. Either way, the majority of nations have cracked down on these practises, thinking of it as barbaric & crude. When they get word of such practises, many local militia groups will crack down on it. This does not mean that all militia will though, after all they could be the ones behind it. They could also be bribed to look the other way, or even be the ones joining in.

Type

Arena