“Another pit fighter. Well. I suppose I’ll be teaching you to fight.. or die, depending.” – Jolcherus, Gladiator Guildmaster of Var Bandor
Pit fighter, gladiators are built on wits and guts; they are survivors, and vicious combatants. Gladiators are trained in a variety of weapons, as well as techniques to put them to good use– a lesson hard-learned from the restrictions of the arena. The arena calls to no one faith or alignment, and gladiators often pray to whatever god they feel most likely to grant them victory.
Trained for the arena-fighting that is common throughout Avendar, gladiators transform the gruesome structure into a spectacle of showmanship. Arising from the slave culture of Ashta Harrud, gladiatorial combat grew in popularity as word spread along northern trade routes. With the emergence of the shuddeni into the racial mix of Avendar, gladiatorial bouts have become both more humane and less. Cities such as Earendam the Grand have outlawed the use of slaves and brought a measure of self-determination to the practice. Meanwhile, its brutality has simultaneously increased with the growing number of chaja and introduction of overworlders into the high-risk arenas of Yithoul.
It is common for srryn to come north from their native swamps to ply their bloodthirst in Earendam, their reverence for Fenthiran ideals outweighing the indignity of competing for the entertainment of warmbloods. Harrudim gladiators are nearly exclusively human, whereas the shuddeni favor making their chaja subordinates fight for pleasure. The massive size of the alatharya frequently make them a fan-favorite, their racial proclivity for both resilience and force giving them notable advantages. Kankoran often train as gladiators, although the radical fringe of pack society may shun them for embracing this product of highly civilized life.
Gladiators are trained in a variety of weapons, as well as techniques to put them to good use– a lesson hard-learned from the restrictions of the arena. The spear, the sword, the whip, and the flail are often weapons of choice for a skilled gladiator, as each carries unique, tactical advantages. However, most gladiators settle on two of their staples: the spear, and the whip.
Dolgrael is a favored deity among gladiators, as their lifestyle puts them frequently against the odds in battle. Fenthira, too, is a patron of the gladiator’s creed, Her notion of evolution dovetailing nicely with its brutal culture. The arena calls to no one faith or alignment, and gladiators often pray to whatever god they feel most likely to grant them victory. However, such prayers are a privilege paid for in blood.
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Syntax: Automatic
Small, bladed weapons, daggers are one of the simplest melee weapons, often
favoured by scholars for this reason, most other professions in Avendar also
receiving training in them. Rogues are more intimately trained in their usage,
learning techniques both flashy and subtle. Typically thrusting or slashing
weapons, due to their length, they are poor at warding off blows though it is
likewise difficult to parry against a dagger. Someone wielding a dagger will
have a harder time getting around a shield, a stone phalanx, or a fighter's
fending.
Primary Attribute: Dexterity
See also: PARRY
Syntax: Automatic
A flail is a weight attached by a chain or hinge to a handle, designed to
penetrate armor through blunt or piercing force, though they are often used
interchangably with the less flexible maces. Only gladiators recieve extensive
training in the usage of flails, but other professions are taught the basics.
Because of their flexibility and the somewhat awkward movements to wield them,
they are not terribly suited to defend with, and will make it more difficult
to parry when they are offhanded. Flails are particularly effective against
foes who are dodging, deflecting, or shield blocking.
Primary Attribute: Strength, Dexterity
See also: PARRY
Syntax: Automatic While some may feature ornamentation or spikes, maces are at their heart a very simple weapon: a short length of metal or wood, typically used as a means of blunt force. For this reason, they are often favoured by scholars and templars of the earth, as well as barbarians, though several guilds train in the usage of this weapon. Due to the length and balance of these weapons, maces do not parry blows very well, and if offhanded will hurt one's main-hand parrying. Maces will get around both shields and watchers' deflection relatively easily. Primary Attribute: Strength See also: PARRY
Syntax: Automatic A long shaft with a sharpened tip, spears are typically piercing weapons. They can be found both as slender javelins requiring a single hand to use, or thicker-shafted and needing both hands. One-handed spears are typically the ideal choice for people trained in the usage of shields, as spears are a superior weapon in a defensive capacity. Other professions skilled in dual wielding often favour one-handed spears. Fewer guilds emphasize the usage of two-handed spears, but they are still a relatively commonly used weapon. Spears penetrate techniques such as fend and stone phalanx quite easily, but are little use against watchers' deflection. Primary Attribute: Strength, Dexterity See also: PARRY
Syntax: Automatic One of the most commonly-produced and commonly-trained weapons in Avendar, swords are simple to learn the basics of, but may take decades to master. The only weapon with an entire profession dedicated solely to their usage, in the hands of most others, swords are a particularly average weapon. Typically slashing or piercing, they range from slender rapiers to massive two-handed claymores. Primary Attribute: Strength, Dexterity See also: PARRY
Syntax: Automatic
A whip is usually composed of a flexible cord or a chain attached to a handle,
the lash typically dealing slashing damage, though they are often enchanted,
as well. Gladiators and Void templars are the only professions that receive
dedicated training in this weapon, though many others learn the basics of
using this weapon, and they are often used in the off hand. Because of their
flexibility, they are notoriously poor at parrying with, but they are
similarly difficult for opponents to use any defense save dodge or evade
against. The length of this weapon makes it throw off one's parrying if a whip
is offhanded, as well.
Primary Attribute: Dexterity
See also: PARRY
Syntax: Automatic
Dodge is a melee defense skill focused on the avoidance of blows. It is
particularly difficult to dodge flails and polearms, and easier to dodge
whips. Dodge is the favored defense of rogues, but it is taught in many other
schools as well.
All aelin receive a bonus to this skill.
Primary Attribute: Dexterity
Syntax: Automatic Fast healing is a skill taught by most guilds, that their students might apply their knowledge to quicker recovery of bodily injuries, increasing the rate at which they gain hit points. Primary Attribute: Constitution See also: HIT POINTS
Dual wielding is the ability to use an additional weapon in the character's offhand. Weapons being dual wielded will suffer a slight penalty in the amount of damage and have a lesser chance of iterative attacks. Weapon weight must be considered with this skill, as only weapons lighter then the one being wielded in the main hand are capable of being dual wielded. Swordmasters are exempt from this restriction, and can dual wield nearly any two swords they can hold. Certain unwieldy combinations of weapons will be more awkward to defend oneself with. Large-sized races, such as the chaja or alatharya, are able to hold certain kinds of two-handed weapons with one hand, and dual wield them. The balance of spears, staves, and polearms are such that this is not possible for these weapons. The ambidextrous trait, available upon creation and given to gladiators and swordmasters automatically, reduces but does not remove the weight restrictions (though swordmasters have none in either case). Primary Attribute: Dexterity See also: PARRY, AMBIDEXTROUS
Syntax: Automatic One of the few skills taught by almost all guilds of Avendar, parrying is the art of fending off an opponent's blows with one's own weapon. It is easiest to do so with a staff, though polearms and spears are well-suited to it as well. Swords and exotic weapons are neither good nor poor to one attempting to parry, though gladiators will parry better with an exotic and swords parry more effectively when wielded with both hands. Maces, axes, flails, daggers and whips are in turn less and less suited to parrying with. Fighters, by virtue of their training in a variety of techniques, will be more skilled at parrying no matter what the weapon. Wielding a weapon other than a sword or a spear in one's offhand will inhibit parrying with the main hand, though gladiators learn techniques to parry better while offhanding a whip. It is typically easier to parry when skilled with one's own weapon. It is particularly difficult to parry against daggers and whips, and easier to parry polearms. Primary Attribute: Dexterity See also: DUAL WIELD, individual weapon helpfiles
Syntax: Automatic Most of the non-scholarly guilds offer their students training in heightening the force of their blows. A higher skill will see better results at these techniques, as will a better weapon. Primary Attribute: Strength See also: BRUTAL DAMAGE, PROWESS
Syntax: Automatic The art of fisticuffs is taught by several of Avendar's martial guilds. Students will hit harder while unarmed than those who are untrained. If someone who is trained in both fighting unarmed and dual wielding has even a single free hand, he will use that as an off-hand attack. Having claws, both srryn and kankoran will do more damage with this skill than other races. However, this basic training only goes so far, and those who fight without a weapon in hand will find themselves unable to parry. Primary Attribute: Strength, Dexterity See also: PARRY
Duration : 0.5 Hours Cost: 5 Mana Range : Single PC or Mob Syntax: Dirt <target> This skill attempts to temporarily blind a person by kicking dirt in their eyes. This skill cannot be used on or underwater, or in the air. Primary Attribute: Dexterity
Duration : 2.5 + Level/2.5 Hours Cost: 15 Mana
Range : User Only
Syntax: Bravado
Connsumate showmen, gladiators may put on a show of bravado for onlookers,
striking harder and more accurately in combat, the better to create a
spectacle with.
Primary Attribute: Charisma
Equipment: Arms Syntax: Automatic Often needing to make do with next to nothing to defend themselves, gladiators are able to deflect blows onto their armguards, in a showy, if uncomfortable maneuver. Primary Attribute: Dexterity, Charisma
Duration : Instantaneous Cost: 3 Mana Range : Current Enemy Syntax: Kick Many guilds teach this basic martial manuver, allowing them to slightly augment their damage in combat. Bandits receive further training in making well-placed kicks. Primary Attribute: Strength, Dexterity See also: KNEE SHATTER
Range : Target PC or Mobile
Syntax: Rescue <target>
Rescue allows the user intercede in combat for another. This will direct the
melee blows of the target's foe at the user, removing them from combat. If the
target is being targeted by multiple opponents, they will need to be rescued
from each one in turn. It is not possible to rescue someone who is not being
targeted by any enemies. A character who is autoassisting will immediately
rejoin combat after being rescued.
Primary Attribute: Charisma, Dexterity
See also: AUTOASSIST, AUTOATTACK
Duration : Level/10 Hours Minimum Cost: 3 Mana Range : User Only Syntax: Grip Many combatants learn to grip tightly onto their weapons, providing them a significant defense against being disarmed, being stripped, or affected by the magnetic grasp spell. Due to their intimate awareness of the strip skill, gladiators have a heightened defense against it. Primary Attribute: Strength, Constitution
Syntax: Automatic Characters with proficiency in this skill will attempt a third attack each round with both their main and any offhanded weapons. Mastery of this skill does not guarantee the attack will be attempted every round, but it does make it very likely. Primary Attribute: Dexterity See also: DUAL WIELD, SECOND ATTACK
Duration : Instantaneous Weapon: Spear/Polearm Range : Single Mob or PC Syntax: Legsweep <target> With this skill, a gladiator is able to use the long shaft of a weapon to sweep his foe's feet out from beneath him, lagging him. Primary Attribute: Dexterity See also: TRIP
Duration : Instantaneous Weapon: Sword Range : Current Opponent Syntax: Cross Gladiators wielding a sword in their main hand are able to step close to their opponents in combat, crossing weapons with them. They can then take advantage of this to sharply knee their opponent, dealing damage and potentially lagging them. Primary Attribute: Dexterity See also: LAG
Duration : Level/20 Hours Cost: 24 Mana Range : User Only Reuse Delay: See Text Syntax: Endure Often pushing themselves to the limit in order to better impress their audience, gladiators are able to endure blows far beyond their ordinary capacity, temporarily increasing their maximum hit points. The strain of doing so, however, is such that once this skill's duration expires, they are unable to endure pain in this manner again for an equal amount of time. Primary Attribute: Constitution
Duration : 3 Hours Cost: 24 Mana Range : All Opponents Syntax: Taunt Always prepared to make a show of a fight, gladiators are able to cry out a taunt to their opponents, reducing their ability to deal damage and increasing his own. Primary Attribute: Charisma See also: BATTLECRY
Duration : Instantaneous Weapon: Whip/Flail Range : Single PC or Mob Syntax: Lash <target> Gladiators may use a flexible weapon to lash at their foes, dealing some damage and having a decent chance of lagging them. Primary Attribute: Dexterity See also: LAG
Syntax: Automatic Characters with proficiency in this skill will attempt a third attack each round with both their main and any offhanded weapons. Mastery of this skill does not guarantee the attack will be attempted every round, but it does make it very likely. Primary Attribute: Dexterity See also: DUAL WIELD, SECOND ATTACK
Duration : Level/16 Hours Weapon: Spear/Slashing Exotic Range : Single PC or Mob Syntax: Hamstring <target> This skill uses the sharp blade of the user's weapon to slash at a foe's hamstrings, dealing some damage and penalizing his dexterity. The victim will also find movement more taxing, and will bleed continuously until the wound heals. This may be used with an offhand weapon. Primary Attribute: Strength, Dexterity
Duration : Level/15 Hours Range : Single PC or Mob Syntax: Gouge <target> A trick learned by the arena-fighting gladiators but also used by druids who have taken on the aspect of the hawk, this skill is an attempt to tear at another person's eyes. This will deal a small amount of damage and blind them, if successful. Primary Attribute: Dexterity See also: MEND WOUNDS, REGENERATION, BLINDNESS
Duration : Level/30 Hours Range : Current Opponent Syntax: Kick Bandits and gladiators, both comfortable with using dirty tricks in combat, are able to shatter their opponent's knee when they kick at them. It is more difficult to shatter the knee of someone whose skin is protected by the stone skin or stone shell spells. Characters who have a shattered knee will have markedly reduced dexterity, will be slowed if they walk, and consume extra movement points when they do walk. Flying will naturally obviate the latter two penalties, but the first will still apply. Someone with a shattered knee will have a much harder time kicking people themselves. Primary Attribute: Strength See also: KICK
Syntax: Automatic Wise to many common tricks of the battlefield, gladiators often have a nasty surprise in store for enemies who try to bash, shield bash, ambush, or charge them. They are able to swiftly retaliate against such tactics with a blow from the weapon in their main hand, provided that they are wielding one. Primary Attribute: Dexterity
Duration : Instantaneous Cost: 8 Mana Range : Single PC or Mob Syntax: Batter <target> This skill allows a gladiator to strike at his foes punishingly with a mace or flail, penalizing the target's movement points in addition to dealing damage. Primary Attribute: Strength
Duration : Instantaneous Weapon: Whip Range : Single PC or Mob Wielding a Weapon Syntax: Strip <target> This skill allows a gladiator to attempt to curl a whip around his opponent's weapon, snatching it out of his grasp. Should the whip wrap just so around the other weapon, the gladiator can snap it back, taking the opponent's weapon directly into his own inventory. Elsewise, it will simply fall to the ground. Disarming a person in this manner will bypass some common magical protections against simple disarmament. Primary Attribute: Dexterity
Syntax: Automatic A basic technique for focusing one's thoughts, meditation is a skill taught by all guilds that their students may recover mana more quickly. Primary Attribute: Intelligence, Wisdom See also: TRANCE, MANA
Syntax: Automatic Characters with proficiency in this skill will attempt a fourth attack each round with both their main and any offhanded weapons. Mastery of this skill does not guarantee the attack will be attempted every round, but it does make it very likely. Primary Attribute: Dexterity See also: DUAL WIELD, THIRD ATTACK
Duration : Special Weapon: Axe/Sword/Slashing Exotic Range : Single PC or Mob Syntax: Cleave <target> Gladiators being so well versed in bloody and messy combat wounds, can use axes, swords, or slashing exotics held in their primary hand to attempt to cleave their opponent. In addition to dealing damage, this skill will also penalize the target's maximum hit points, for an amount and duration proportional the the damage dealt by the blow. This skill cannot be used with an offhanded weapon. Primary Attribute: Strength, Dexterity
Duration : Level/16 Hours Weapon: Spear/Piercing Exotic Range : Single PC or Mob Syntax: Impale <target> With this skill, a gladiator may use a spear or piercing exotic weapon to impale his opponent on the sharp point. This will deal damage and penalize the opponent's strength, as well as causing him to bleed. Primary Attribute: Strength
Syntax: Automatic After a barbarian or gladiator has slain an opponent, the bloodlust skill allows him to become energized by the death of his enemy, using his body's own adrenaline to help him recover from some of his wounds. Primary Attribute: Constitution
Duration : Instantaneous Range : Current Item-Holding Opponent Syntax: Offhand This skill is used by swordmasters to strip items in their opponent's offhand. This can be a dual wielded weapon, a held object, or a shield, causing it to fall to the ground. Items bearing the noremove or nodisarm flags cannot be disarmed with this skill. This skill must be used while already in combat, and only against the person the user is currently fighting. Primary Attribute: Dexterity See also: DISARM
Duration : 0.5 Hours Weapon: Whip Range : Single PC or Mob Reuse Delay: 1.5 Hours Syntax: Choke <target> Wielding a whip, a gladiator may attempt to choke out an opponent, knocking him out. The reuse delay applies only upon success, and only to a person who was choked; the gladiator may choke another target within this time. Primary Attribute: Dexterity
Duration : Instantaneous Minimum cost: 5 Range : All currently fighting the user Syntax: Feint This skill may be used to make a quick feint at one's enemies, distracting them and causing them to lose an attack in the next round of combat. Primary Attribute: Charisma, Dexterity
Duration : Level/16 Hours Cost: 30 mana Syntax: Enthusiasm Showing their thrill for combat, gladiators who have their attacks blocked in combat will have an escalating chance to succeed at their iterative attack skills, with both hands. Primary Attribute: Dexterity See also: CONSUMING RAGE, SECOND ATTACK, THIRD ATTACK, FOURTH ATTACK
Duration : Instantaneous Weapon: Sword/Axe/Slashing Exotic Range : Current Opponent Syntax: Automatic A gladiator wielding a sword, an axe, or a slashing exotic in his primary hand will, when fighting a severely wounded foe, have a chance to swiftly lop off their head in a showy display of prowess. Certain powerful mobiles, or those who are particularly wary will not be able to be decapitated. Naturally, a gladiator who seeks to show mercy to his opponents will not attempt to remove their heads. A decapitated corpse obviously cannot have its head trophied. Primary Attribute: Strength, Dexterity See also: MERCY
Syntax: Automatic While gladiators are skilled with the use of many weapons, the whip has found particular favour in the arena, due to its ease of use in flashy tricks. With the whip mastery skill, not only will an offhanded whip's penalty to parry be mitigated, the gladiator will have a much easier time penetrating his opponent's defenses while using one. Primary Attribute: Dexterity
Syntax: Automatic With their training often placing them in a tight spot or vastly outnumbered for showmanship and crowd-pleasing affects, gladiators are able to fight in such a way that they are able to take a full round of attacks against each opponent who is fighting them. Contrary to popular belief, the visual spectacle of this skill is solely reliant on the sheer number of attacks; this skill provides no bonus damage to the gladiator at any time. Primary Attribute: Dexterity