The Brawler's League

The brutal bloodsports of the Brawlers’ League began, unsurprisingly, during the vicious Drassig Dynasty. In that cruel era, many of Emon’s affluent and indolent social elite used their wealth to engage in entertainment of a more “visceral” variety. The kingdom’s poor were already fighting each other for scraps, so why not pay them to literally fight to the death for their amusement? Some strong, charismatic ruffians used this opportunity to gain social power for themselves, and chief among them was a rough-and-tumble entrepreneur from Kraghammer named Bruel Sunderchin. Reaching out to his network of lowlifes and cutthroats, Sunderchin became ringleader of an annual gladiator tournament that caters expressly to Exandria’s wealthiest elite. Those who have become invested members of the League’s events are anonymously delivered a golden coin stamped with their symbol in the weeks leading up to an event. These coins are required for entry into the events, and each of those who wish to join, whether as a patron or sponsor, requires a coin of their own.

Public Agenda

The Brawlers’ League is always in search of hidden and well-guarded locations around Tal’Dorei (and sometimes other realms) to establish their annual event. A combatant or team is required to have a known and cleared sponsor or manager to enter the event. There are two tiers of bouts; one tier has teams of six battling via single elimination until a victor is declared. The other features single combatants fighting one-on-one, single elimination, until a victor is declared. Killing your opponents isn’t encouraged, but isn’t explicitly discouraged, either. Bets are placed in person at the event, or remotely (via arcane messages and sending stones) from all around Exandria.

Foreign Relations

The Brawlers’ League is extremely illegal in all major cities across Tal’Dorei. Should lawkeepers of any nation discover the location of the annual event, the venue would find itself swiftly strangled by the long arm of the law. As such, magical protections and sentinels are placed throughout the event to prevent any unapproved entry, or to wipe the memory of those who do infiltrate. A common rumor states that numerous political figures who publicly decry the event secretly partake in the gambling, and the location of the event is concealed not only by magic, but also impenetrable layers of bureaucracy. Kraghammer has hosted the event several times, with most local guard and political clan houses turning a blind eye. If there is a nest of Clasp working near an event, it’s not uncommon for the Brawlers’ League to hire them to get word out to the right folk, providing protection and allowing them to grant loans to poorer patrons.

Legislative Body

Figures of Interest
Oben “Broadstaff” Sunderchin Dwarf Organizer and Head of Brawlers’ League. Descendant of Bruel and inheritor of the League’s top position, Oben secretly goes by the name Broadstaff and doesn’t directly appear at events to avoid public connection with the League.
Kradin Grimthorne Dwarf Fight Manager. A previously disgraced and ostracized fellow, Grimthorne is making a name for himself outside of Kraghammer as a finder and manager of fighting talent.