Fight Pits

Gladiator-style combat has long been a popular form of entertainment in both the Empire and the Republic.

An important part of Imperial dwarven culture is the pursuit of extreme experiences, including raucous revelry, sensual hedonism, and brutal combat. There is a dwarven saying that roughly translates as, "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may be Chilled." A proper fight pit is a both a holy site and political venue. Fights are steeped in complex rituals connecting the Reverence, the aristocracy, and the officer ranks of the Army. Not all fights are to the death, but the deaths that happen are almost always dedicated to the Eternals. Additionally, fight pits are part of the Imperial justice system, including trial by combat and duels of honor.

In principle, the fights are celebrations of ability, passion, and teamwork, never gratuitous bloodsport. For example, the master of a pit won't arrange a battle between a wild beast and an unarmed civilian. Even when slavery was still legal, slaves couldn't fight in the pits. Furthermore, no self-respecting gladiator would style themselves as a dedicated professional. Rather, the pits have long been used by warriors and clerics for training, assessment, and staying fit for battle.

Different states in the Republic have adopted traditions around fight pits, with their own idiosyncratic modifications. For example, some of the goblinoid tribes focus on team fights against giant animals as part of their shamanistic version of the Reverence.

In practice, there are some gladiators who ostensibly hold ranks in the Imperial Army or a noble's house guard, but spend most of their time in the pits. Also, there are some clandestine fight pits with much uglier fights and unwilling combatants in the Imperial black market and parts of the Republic.