Free City Arena: Difference between revisions

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m Correcting title, mostly
adding stuff from Dungeon #128
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| region        = [[Free City of Greyhawk]]
| region        = [[Free City of Greyhawk]]
| size          =  
| size          =  
| government    = The Director of the Arena, with oversight by the [[Lord Mayor]] and [[Directing Oligarchy|Oligarch]]
| government    = Director of the Arena Lord [[Henway]], overseen by the [[Lord Mayor]] and [[Directing Oligarchy|Oligarchs]]
| languages    = Varies
| languages    = Varies
| races        = Varies
| races        = Varies
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==Description==
==Description==
[[File:Arena CityOfGreyhawk02.png|thumb|350px|Gladiators in action in the Free City Arena.  ([[Age of Worms Overload|AoWO]] 2005). Art by John Galagher.]]
[[File:Arena CityOfGreyhawk02.png|thumb|350px|Gladiators in action in the Free City Arena.  ([[Age of Worms Overload|AoWO]] 2005). Art by John Galagher.]]
The Arena is and large oval, bowl-shaped stadium.  It holds eighteen{{csb|WoG|70|Gem of the Flanaess}}{{csb|TAB|98}}{{cite dungeon|128|36}} to twenty thousand attendees.{{cite lgj|5|9}}  {{quoted text|Seating occurs in 12 banks of
1,500 seats each. All the seats offer splendid views of the field....there are three types of scats for sale The majority of the seats are high in the tiers and sell for 1sp per day. The lower seats closest to the action sell for 1gp a day.  The 500 most expensive seats are situated in the section nearest [the Director's] Palace.  These seats are cushioned, shaded, and well-staffed by vendors; they sell for 50gp a day.|{{cite dungeon|128|36}} }}  The expensive seats are centered along the northern long side of the oval of the Arena, beside the Director's box.  The Director's Palace is just outside the Arena adjacent to the north wall (and connected by secret, private tunnel),
== Events ==
{{quoted text|In addition to sport and gladiatorial combat, the Free City Arena secs action as a home to militia and city watch drills. countless open-air performances. musical concerts. and holida y celebrations. At least once a year. guild wizards seal the field' s two entrances with walls of force and flood the playing field allowing for simulat ed naval battles that draw observers from as far as Nyrond.| {{cite lgj|5|9}} }}


== Events ===
Twice a month (fortnightly), day-long lethal gladiatorial matches are held.{{cite lgj|5|9}}
Twice a month (fortnightly), day-long lethal gladiatorial matches are held.{{cite lgj|5|9}}


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After [[Zagig Yragerne]] disappeared in [[421 CY]], the [[Directing Oligarchy]] changed the operation of the Arena, and no longer permitted lethal combat.{{cite lgj|5|9}}  In [[590 CY]], however, Lord Mayor [[Nerof Gasgal|Gasgal]] reversed this ruling, as an attempt to better deal with overcrowding in the City's workhouses. {{cite lgj|5|9}}  
After [[Zagig Yragerne]] disappeared in [[421 CY]], the [[Directing Oligarchy]] changed the operation of the Arena, and no longer permitted lethal combat.{{cite lgj|5|9}}  In [[590 CY]], however, Lord Mayor [[Nerof Gasgal|Gasgal]] reversed this ruling, as an attempt to better deal with overcrowding in the City's workhouses. {{cite lgj|5|9}}  
There was a horrid attempt at mass murder in [[595 CY|595]], involving releasing a gargantuan worm-like monster crated by [[Kyuss]] (an [[ulgurstasta]]) in the Arena.  Though it was stopped, the conspirators planned on sacrificing the thousands of spectators in the audience to [[Kyuss]].{{cite dungeon|128|30-62|The Champion's Belt}}  The then-Arena Director, [[Loris Raknian]], was involved in the plot.  He fled for his life, escaping and later being found in the Ruins of [[Castle Greyhawk]] in the Tower of Zagig.{{csb|EttRoG|156-157}}


==Geography==
==Geography==

Revision as of 11:34, 4 September 2023



Greyhawk Location
Free City Arena
The Arena, illustrated in the Age of Worms Overload by John Gallagher (2005).
General information
Type:Civic stadium
Geopolitical
Region:Free City of Greyhawk
Government:Director of the Arena Lord Henway, overseen by the Lord Mayor and Oligarchs
Demographics
Races:Varies
Languages:Varies

The Free City Arena is a large coliseum and center for civic activity in the Clerkburg district of the Free City of Greyhawk, hosting events including gladiatorial combat, holiday celebrations, and sporting events.

Description

Gladiators in action in the Free City Arena. (AoWO 2005). Art by John Galagher.

The Arena is and large oval, bowl-shaped stadium. It holds eighteen[1][2][3] to twenty thousand attendees.[4]

"Seating occurs in 12 banks of 1,500 seats each. All the seats offer splendid views of the field....there are three types of scats for sale The majority of the seats are high in the tiers and sell for 1sp per day. The lower seats closest to the action sell for 1gp a day. The 500 most expensive seats are situated in the section nearest [the Director's] Palace. These seats are cushioned, shaded, and well-staffed by vendors; they sell for 50gp a day."[3]

The expensive seats are centered along the northern long side of the oval of the Arena, beside the Director's box. The Director's Palace is just outside the Arena adjacent to the north wall (and connected by secret, private tunnel),

Events

"In addition to sport and gladiatorial combat, the Free City Arena secs action as a home to militia and city watch drills. countless open-air performances. musical concerts. and holida y celebrations. At least once a year. guild wizards seal the field' s two entrances with walls of force and flood the playing field allowing for simulat ed naval battles that draw observers from as far as Nyrond."[4]

Twice a month (fortnightly), day-long lethal gladiatorial matches are held.[4]

History

In the 390s CY, the arena was built as a joint effort between then-Lord Mayor Zagig Yragerne and the Grey College as a place for "student assemblies, spotting events, pubic entertainment, and so forth could be held."[2]

After Zagig Yragerne disappeared in 421 CY, the Directing Oligarchy changed the operation of the Arena, and no longer permitted lethal combat.[4] In 590 CY, however, Lord Mayor Gasgal reversed this ruling, as an attempt to better deal with overcrowding in the City's workhouses. [4]

There was a horrid attempt at mass murder in 595, involving releasing a gargantuan worm-like monster crated by Kyuss (an ulgurstasta) in the Arena. Though it was stopped, the conspirators planned on sacrificing the thousands of spectators in the audience to Kyuss.[5] The then-Arena Director, Loris Raknian, was involved in the plot. He fled for his life, escaping and later being found in the Ruins of Castle Greyhawk in the Tower of Zagig.[6]

Geography

The Arena sits on a small rise, approximately 30ft tall. The Arena itself is several stories tall and has a service level in the hill beneath it.

People

Resources

Rumors & Legends

See Also

See also:

  • Loris Raknian—former Director of the Arena
  • Auric—Noted previous Champion of the Arena's annual "Champion's Games"

Maps

References

Notes

Citations

  1. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.70, Gem of the Flanaess.
  2. a b The Adventure Begins (1998), p.98.
  3. a b Dungeon #128 (Nov 2005), p.36
  4. a b c d e Living Greyhawk Journal #5 (Jul 2001, published March 2002), p.9.  
  5. "The Champion's Belt". Dungeon #128 (Nov 2005), p.30-62
  6. Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007), p.156-157.

Bibliography

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic Type Description Product Page/Card/Image

Free City Arena (City of Greyhawk) Building Arena, The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess 70, 71
Free City Arena (City of Greyhawk) Building Arena, Living Greyhawk Journal #2 4
Free City Arena (City of Greyhawk) Building Arena, Living Greyhawk Journal #4 6, 9
Free City Arena (City of Greyhawk) Building Arena, Living Greyhawk Journal #5 1, 8, 9, IBC
Free City Arena (City of Greyhawk) Building Arena, Player's Guide to Greyhawk 32
Free City Arena (City of Greyhawk) Building Arena, The Adventure Begins 59, 98
Free City Arena (City of Greyhawk) Building Arena, War Captain's Companion Boxed Set: Book 1 37
Free City Arena (City of Greyhawk) Building Arena, WGA1 Falcon's Revenge 15
Free City Arena, Grand Box of the Lord Mayor (City of Greyhawk) Building Arena, The Adventure Begins 98