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This article is about the occupation. For the achievement in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, see The Witcher 2 achievements. |
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Gladiator fights in massive arenas are a popular form of entertainment in Nilfgaard. Usually the fighters are slaves specially trained for this purpose, yet at times the arena masters pit humans against monsters... |  | |
| - Dandelion, Blood and Wine expansion | |||
Gladiators are professional warriors, usually drafted from enslaved men, used to entertain the audience by fighting each other or wild animals and beasts in the Nilfgaardian Empire. Despite their prowess, gladiators are never used during battles for two reasons; first, an unwritten custom forbids such things as unethical and against the rules of honest warfare. Second, while good in the arena, gladiators wouldn't do good listening to commands and standing in formation.[1]
As the contact with the Empire has some huge cultural influence on Nordlings, terms "gladiator" and "gladiator fights" are used in Kaedwen as well. The first stands for a non-knight arena-fighting professional and the second for army tournaments.[2]
Selection and training
The majority of those who enter the arenas as gladiators are slaves and prisoners-of-war, but it may happen that a free woman or man looking for glory or driven by their debts, become one. The warriors-to-be are selected at a young age and then trained at special schools under the watchful eye of lanistae – the school directors.
Usually fighting against each other or wild animals (e.g. panther, bear or even elephant)[1] and monsters (the most noted of which for this is undoubtedly shaelmaar), gladiators are drilled in several different fighting types: classic fight, fistfight, fight with clubs or maces and finally acted out battles (including sea ones on artificial ponds).[1]
Organisation
Gladiator fights in massive arenas are such popular form of entertainment, that all the major cities of the Empire have a massive arena or at least a pit dug out for them from Lower Alba to Ebbing. The better of such venues include the Grand Amphitheater[3] and Houvenaghel Stadium, both in the capital City of Golden Towers, or the arena in Claremont which also belonged to the famous businessman Dominik Bombastus Houvenaghel.[4]
Although the gladiators' fights are seen as a pastime by the audience, it also happens at times that the arena fights serve as an alternative form of execution or hard labor for convicts.
Freedom
Gladiators-slaves who survive for many years and gain notoriety have a chance of becoming free in another way than dying. Veteran warriors are at times given wooden swords by the Emperor to symbolize their just earned freedom. These gladiators can, if they wish, continue their carrier in the arena or do anything else. It's almost a rule that they become lanistae and thus earn money for the rest of their lives.[1]