afternoonmaps

Fighting Pit Battle Map - Launch

Added 2020-08-14 19:30:27 +0000 UTC

Hello Adventurers! Here is our latest map, the Fighting Pit! What I wanted to create with this map was a smaller arena style fighting pit, with some of the buildings I imagine would go with such a structure. So I added a holding area with cells if you want to use this as a place where people are forced to fight. A training ground behind the pit with some equipment and cages for animals. There is also a villa style building attached to the arena with a balcony for the use of dignitaries or the owner. Out front are a few stalls which round out the scene. Hopefully you’ll find it useful as another interesting urban setting to add to your town or city adventure.

Next up will be the Flooded Dwarven Excavation site which will be a mini dungeon based around the idea of a partially flooded excavation site situated inside a dwarven style complex (dungeon). Around the end of the month you’ll be getting the third map of the month, a Farm Road (Trackway) running between fields of corn and wheat, lined with hedges, the odd tree, maybe a small ruined farm building.

Thank you for the support, you really are the best! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and as always happy adventuring! Now let's write some notes and let the games begin!

Introduction

The crowd roars as you and your fellow prisoners are pushed out into the glare of the noonday sun. Around the shabby stone arena people of all types shout and jeer at you, ready to see the next set of criminals face justice. In front of you a huge man in gladiatorial armour, his exposed skin glistening with oil and sweat, stands with trident in hand. Dark bloodstains cover the arena floor, drag marks lead off to other archways blocked by heavy looking iron gates.

The gladiator starts to work the crowd, strutting up and down, throwing his hands in the air and roaring, kicking up sand and sawdust. After a minute or so he stops in front of an elevated viewing box filled with nobles or wealthy merchants. At the center of this box is a wooden throne, on the throne lounges a pale youth in extravagant robes, a circlet upon his head. A half smile on his face, ignoring the antics of the gladiator, you realise he is watching you and your fellow prisoners with a look of hungry anticipation. The gladiator salutes the youth and then with an exaggerated motion points at you. The crowd goes silent for a moment, waiting for a response. Never breaking eye contact the young man nods once. The crowd erupts, the gladiator bows towards the box and turns to face you. From behind you hear a clatter and turning to look, you see a small pile of rusty and flimsy looking weapons. You grab one and turn to face the advancing gladiator.

Hints and Tips

30x30 Grid map
Your party has been arrested for some misdemeanour while out drinking one night and wakes to find themselves in the holding cells of the fighting pits. It turns out the local nobles like to put on a show for the citizenry and they ran out of actual criminals a while ago.
The underside of the arena can have a set of tunnels and passages that link the cages in the back to the gates around the arena. This allows for animals or humanoid combatants to enter the arena from any of the gates.
The cages at the back of the arena are used for dangerous animals.
The training grounds can be used as a combat area for an encounter, if a player gets too close to a cage have a monster attack through the bars.
The arena stands are elevated and would need a climb check to scale. Have ranged guards ready to shoot anyone that tries to escape that way. Make sure the players notice them.
A monster has escaped from the cages at the back of the arena and is running wild in the training grounds, the guards can not contain it! Maybe you can?
A crime boss is only accessible through the ‘games’. Maybe he hands out the prizes to the winners or he offers the winner a position with his personal guard. Join the tournament and win to get close enough to arrest or dispatch them.
A prized pet has been stolen by the crime syndicate that runs the fighting pit. Turns out the pet is a dangerous monster/creature your party needs to rescue. Give them a ‘safe’ word to calm the beast while trying to break it free from the cages.