Arenas & Dueling Grounds of Vvardenfell

[KuKulzA]

Dunmer dueling/arena style or history
according to Redoran Councilor, Athyn Sarethi:

"The duel is an honorable tradition dating back at least to the founding of Resdayn. Each party to the duel makes an agreement as to the compensation that will be given to the winner. The loser is legally bound to this agreement. Most duels are fought until one party admits defeat or falls in battle. The duel to the death is less common and only ends when one party is dead. The winner of a duel may take what he wants of the loser's possessions, but some consider this dishonorable."

apparently some duels are in Arenas, but still not very much about actual arena teams. However we do know Vivec has an arena fighters training area.

according to a Savant's Note on Vvardenfell (on House Wars):

By the immemorial custom of Dunmer society, a House may challenge the honor of another House in the person of one of the House's ranking nobles. The ranking noble of the impugned House is 'marked for death' -- in ancient times, actually formally marked with a black banner, but in modern times, served with a formal written public announcement. If within a year of the challenge, the marked noble still lives, the challenging House must publicly forego any further complaint or scandal on the matter.
Only a ranking challenging noble or a Morag Tong may attack the marked noble; in modern times, Houses routinely engage Morag Tong. This custom permits Houses to war upon one another on a small scale without threatening public peace and rule of law. Such violent disputes among Great Houses are called 'House Wars.'

This is the way people are killed to settle disputes to avoid open war. The noble either challenges the other out in the open OR in an arena (a convenient battleground) or hires the Morag Tong to kill people. However, the Morag Tong are different from the Dark Brotherhood in that the Morag TOng is MORE religious and more of a cult, it is also strict and legal, although there are rumors of 'grey writs' which are illagel... they are unsubstantiated claims... but who knows...

according to the same Savant but on Ashlanders:

Ashlanders may challenge a stranger who enters a yurt without invitation. Customs differ with different tribes, but leave when requested, and you may be forgiven. Be particularly careful about ashkhans -- tribal chiefs -- and wise women -- tribal seers and counselors. Some are welcoming, some are hostile. Be courteous, and leave if requested. If offended, they may attack.
When challenged for sport, it is acceptable to decline. When challenged for honor, it is shameful to decline. Honor challenges come from offense given in speech or action, or may represent customary formal challenges of status or ritual.

even Ashlanders have such traditions, so you can see that among the Velothi/Chimer/Dunmer dueling which evolves into arena fighting is very deep seated in their history and tradition


Arenas that we are modding
Vvardenfell
--- Official Arenas ---
Vivec City: Arena Canton
This is the greatest arena of Vvardenfell and hundreds gather to witness its terrifyingly powerful gladiatorial team. This is one of the few formal arenas in Vvardenfell.
Ebonheart: Arena
This is the imperial arena on Vvardenfell. Because of the prestiege of Vivec's arena, this one is one of the stepping stones to Vivec arena. If a fighter can pass this one, he/she is on his/her way to Vivec and glory!
--- Dueling Grounds ---
Balmora: Duelist Manor
Nobles come here to practice dueling and at times serious offenses are settled here. The Cammona Tong is rumored to occasionally rent out the building for their training... but that's just a rumor... of course...
Ald Ruhn: Under Skar- Duelist Lodge
Nobles come here to practice dueling and at times serious offenses are settled here. This dueling ground is probably used more than Balmora's. When two Redoran nobles have a deadly quarrel, they will come here to settle their differences, and family and friends gather to cheer on their duelist.
Tel Aruhn: Underground- Arena
If Sadrith Mora is the political center of the Telvanni on Vvardenfell, the Tel Aruhn is certainly the economical center. Here the Festival Slave market is held, mercenaries hired, and arena battles waged for the enjoyment of the people. Gothren, before his death, certainly demonstrated his belligerent side and commissioned the growing of barracks and arenas in his city of Tel Aruhn.
--- 'Abandoned' Arenas ---
Odrosal Arena
Long ago, this was a training facility for the Dwemer. Here they trained their soldiers and refined their weaponry. What is unique about this facility is that it had an arena... and arena to train the Dwemer against Daedra.
Rotheran Arena
This was once a training area for the Dunmer warriors. After the abandonment of the Dunmer strongholds, a group of cruel Molag Bal worshippers captured ashlanders and betmeri slaves to torment in the arena. Later when the betmeri guerillas began converging, the worshippers were driven out to nearby Mzulelf. Now the arena is a training area fo rthe guerillas.

Mainland
Firewatch
Bal Falls




and for reference.....
Arena Descriptions from Arena
These are descriptions from the game Arena I believe... you can see much stuff had already been concieved of... and much had been added.... you can also see some of it has little to do with current TES lore, which is much more solid now.
Morrowind
Ebonheart
You enter Ebonheart, also known as the Black City. To the north you can see the red-orange glow of Dagoth Ur, the firecone on the Black Isle. The Reavers reside here. They have a reputation of being extremely ruthless...
Narsis
Narsis weaves it web of sleep upon all those who enter, for the Dark Elves of Narsis discourage visitors. It seems however that you are unaffected. The Stormlords hold dominion over this city- state, and the wind seems to whisper their name...
Blacklight
Blacklight holds the northern tip of Morrowind, and to the east is Dagoth Ur in all its fiery glory. The Dark Knights fight for this city-state and seldom show mercy to their opponents...
Firewatch
Firewatch is the closest city-state to the firecone, Dagoth Ur. Legend has it that a great labyrinth resides under that fiery mountain. Here in this city however, the danger comes from the Blood Mages, who are old veterans of the Arena...
Necrom
Necrom, eastern port of the Realm, and city-state of the Dark Heat. Necrom is known for two things, the ferocity of their Arenists, and the quality of their arms...
Mournhold
You enter Mournhold, lost city-state of the first empire. It is said that a great evil resides under this city, slowly driving its citizens mad. The Blade Dancers fight here, and it is said that none have ever seen the bodies of the slain after the Arena is over...
Tear
The southeastern port city of Tear is also known as the Jewel of the East, and home of the Immortals. Of all the city- states in Morrowind, Tear is most open to trade and commerce. Perhaps this is why few have complained about the strange happenings when night falls...
Kragenmoor
Kragenmoor holds the western border of Morrowind. Its team, the Warhammers, have enjoyed a unique reputation. Up till now they are the only ones to have successfully killed every opponent who has ever challenged them...
Arena Description Analysis
Ebonheart certainly was different, and moved from mainland to Vvardenfell. Its not really black either... and has no arena.... but the Ebonheart of TES3 was tiny.... it was SUPPOSED to be a huge trade/port/legion city.
The thing about the sleep spell of Narsis appears to be all B.S. The Hlaalu WANT visitors and traders.... but the arena team doesn't sound that bad....
Blacklight... nothing new... but mostly Imperial... however, this is NOT our territory but Rodan's :yes:
Firewatch, well they are labyrinths beneath Red Mt., but you never got to travel them... since you ended at the Heart Chamber. But the Mages make sense.... it is a Telvanni city after all.
Necrom is an Indoril/Temple city that also has nearby an ENORMOUS system of tombs, catacombs, and shrines... an arena... well, maybe... maybe not.... its a holy city... but so is Vivec City... hmmm...
Mournhold... I dunno if an evil is driving people mad... but there are goblins, undead, daedra, and a Dwemer ruin all beneath it! we noly got to see the inner circle in Tribunal, hope we will mod in more parts of it!
Tear... seems the same
Kragenmoor isn't our territory... possibly Ben Vagara's... seems very similar to the present city....


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Opinions, suggestions, comments, all welcome... feel that something needs to be added? let me know!

[Arbiter]

Need time to read it all. Hell of a effort placed here, KuKulza. :yes:

[KuKulzA]

updated the Vvardenfell arenas... haven't done the mainland ones yet

[Arbiter]

Necrom simply isn't the kind of city where youz would get to see Arena fights. With all the zeal and everything.

[KuKulzA]

well its a temple city... and in Arena it did... but you are right and I never felt that it was a city of entertainment...

[Arbiter]

More likely of constant chanting and praying.

[KuKulzA]

this will be updated as we learn more of the Arena guild in TES4

[Ixidors Bane]

--- Dueling Grounds ---
Balmora: Duelist Manor
Nobles come here to practice dueling and at times serious offenses are settled here. The Cammona Tong is rumored to occasionally rent out the building for their training... but that's just a rumor... of course...

Glad I read through this now, before I got to naming all the new manors and such in Balmora. I'll throw the Duelist Manor in when I update the thread next.

[KuKulzA]

make sure you put it on the aristocratic west section... cause that's where the nobles are and noblemen usually duel as a sport/art

[Ixidors Bane]

Originally posted by KuKulzA
make sure you put it on the aristocratic west section... cause that's where the nobles are and noblemen usually duel as a sport/art

:yes:, I already got the manor I want for it in place. I'll be working on updating over the weekend, and something new for the thread on Monday.