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The Little Arenas

"Get pitted: to die in the Pit of Claws." — Gamehead slang

The urban eastern edge of Gamehead, cobblestoned and half-timbered in sharp contrast with the rural swampland to the west. Sits on the border with Soma. Renovated after Krenald's elevation to Peerage, it became one of the city's great entertainment districts — and never fully lost the violence that gave it its name. Dominant attitude: Pugnacity.

Day: Loud, colorful, and on edge. Rich visitors and street folk press together in the arena streets; the crowd feels friendly until it doesn't.
Night: The tension peaks. Lanterns illuminate the Pit from below; shadowy figures move through the back alleys around the Weapon Trade Market; and somewhere in the dark, the Huntsman is said to walk.

Locations

  • The Pit of Claws (Pugnacity / Provocatores) — originally the Howlers' sacred ritual pit, now the arenas of Cadwallon: a deep, irregular pit dug into the rocky ground, surrounded by bone-decorated walls and packed stands. The rich and the commoner watch together. Day or night, a strange tension keeps the crowd aggressive and quick to spark. Headquarters of the [[Provocatores]] — officially a brotherhood that supplies gladiators; unofficially, the hand that controls gambling and clandestine fights across the fief.
  • Gladius Street (Sleight / Devourers) — in 990 a gigantic tree erupted from the ground during an earthquake, wrecking the street and killing several. The locals consider it cursed. A small group of [[Devourers]] under the [[Apostle]] — a terrifying Wolfen — has settled among the ruins around the tree. [[Serdak]] has been seen in the Apostle's company more than once, and the Howler schism is worse for it.
  • The Weapon Trade Market (Subtlety / Guild of Blades) — a massive warehouse occupying the ruins of an old Dogs of War fortress. Both sales floor and stronghold. Stocks exotic weapons and armor, much of it second-hand or tomb-raider salvage; patient searchers find genuinely ancient items. Managed by [[Traggab]], an Akkylanny woman whose warmth and reputation make it the primary recruiting ground of the Guild of Blades. By day, a chaotic but navigable market; by night, silent figures go in and out the back and no one asks about it.
  • The Huntsman — an urban legend the locals take seriously. A great hooded figure that moves through the district after dark, killing indiscriminately and leaving mutilated bodies. The bodies are real. Whether they're the work of one killer or something older is unknown.

NPCs

  • [[Traggab]] — Guild of Blades recruiter and market manager; an excellent contact for work, gear, or discretion
  • The [[Apostle]] — Devourer leader; Wolfen; terrifying; Serdak's new influence problem
  • [[Serdak]] — Krenald's ambitious son; seen with the Apostle; wants to end Howler isolationism by any means

Hooks

Clandestine Card

The [[Provocatores]] are running an unlicensed fight — off the books even from the arena — in a basement three streets from the Pit. The fighter scheduled to die tonight knows something. Getting them out before the bout starts means going through Tokkt's hired muscle and a very crowded crowd.

The Tree's Other Roots

The Devourers moved in around the Gladius Street tree weeks ago. Now a merchant from the upper city has gone missing — last seen asking questions about the tree's origin. The Apostle says nothing happened. The tree is growing.

Find the Huntsman

A militia lieutenant privately contracts the free leaguers to identify the killer leaving mutilated bodies near the Weapon Trade Market — officially unsolvable because officially the bodies are "accidents." The trail leads somewhere the militia cannot officially follow.

See Also