Brawler’s League
The brutal blood sports of the Brawler’s 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; 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 gladiatorial 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 bearing their symbol in the weeks leading up to an event. These coins are required for entry into the events, and those who wish to join, whether as a patron or participant, require a coin of their own.
The Brawler’s League is always in search of hidden and well-guarded locations around Tal'Dorei (and sometimes other realms) to establish their semi-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.
The Brawler’s League is extremely illegal in all major cities across Tal’Dorei. Should lawkeepers of any nation discover the location of the semiannual 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 pre- vent any unapproved entry, or to wipe the memory of those that do infiltrate.
A common rumor states that numerous political figures who publicly decry the event secretly partake in the gambling, and that the location of the event is concealed not only by magic, but also impenetrable layers of bureaucracy. Kraghammer has hosted the event a number of times, with most local guards and great houses turning a blind eye.
The Brawler’s League frequently hires local Clasp agents (or Myriad operatives, in a pinch) to spread word of their next event through the criminal underground. If all goes well, they get hired at the event itself to provide protection, run interference, and make money on the side by providing loans and taking bets.
These figures are major members of the Brawler’s League that you can use as NPCs in your game. You should also take inspiration from these figures to make up new NPCs for your own campaign.
Oben “Broadstaff” Sunderchin
Dwarf organizer and head of Brawler’s 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, as he avoids public connection with the league.
Kradin Grimthorne
Dwarf fight manager
A previously disgraced dwarf, exiled from Kraghammer for murder, Grimthorne is the foremost brawler talent scout in Tal’Dorei.
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 gladiatorial 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 bearing their symbol in the weeks leading up to an event. These coins are required for entry into the events, and those who wish to join, whether as a patron or participant, require a coin of their own.
Goals
The Brawler’s League is always in search of hidden and well-guarded locations around Tal'Dorei (and sometimes other realms) to establish their semi-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.
Relationships
The Brawler’s League is extremely illegal in all major cities across Tal’Dorei. Should lawkeepers of any nation discover the location of the semiannual 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 pre- vent any unapproved entry, or to wipe the memory of those that do infiltrate.
A common rumor states that numerous political figures who publicly decry the event secretly partake in the gambling, and that the location of the event is concealed not only by magic, but also impenetrable layers of bureaucracy. Kraghammer has hosted the event a number of times, with most local guards and great houses turning a blind eye.
The Brawler’s League frequently hires local Clasp agents (or Myriad operatives, in a pinch) to spread word of their next event through the criminal underground. If all goes well, they get hired at the event itself to provide protection, run interference, and make money on the side by providing loans and taking bets.
Figures of Interest
These figures are major members of the Brawler’s League that you can use as NPCs in your game. You should also take inspiration from these figures to make up new NPCs for your own campaign.
Oben “Broadstaff” Sunderchin
Dwarf organizer and head of Brawler’s 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, as he avoids public connection with the league.
Kradin Grimthorne
Dwarf fight manager
A previously disgraced dwarf, exiled from Kraghammer for murder, Grimthorne is the foremost brawler talent scout in Tal’Dorei.
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