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Gladiator 'lore' - Printable Version

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Gladiator 'lore' - shotgunbadger - 06-30-2015

Forgive me if this has been asked before, a quick search didn't pop anything up but I may have missed it.

So...what's up with gladiators? I never really messed with the class before so I have a feeling most of these questions can be answered with just 'do the damn Gladiator quests, dummy' but I figured it could be fun, RP wise, to have my Au Ra go into gladiator stuff.

Basically I'm just not solid in what the deal with gladiators, as a concept, is. It's a pretty brutal thing for a major civilized city state to have as a core feature. I assume they don't go full on Roman with slaves involved and all, and it's more a 'voluntary bloodsport' thing than 'I bought this dude and now he has to fight for me'? How bloody does this bloodsport get, though? Does signing up to go into the arena mean you could wind up dead, or is it a 'ok you kicked his ass, you won' thing?

I know from other quests that in their city gladiators are respected, seeing 'gladiator fangirls' and all, but how do the other cities view it?

Along with that, how 'open' is gladiator stuff? Like obviously in game a 'gladiator' is someone with a sword and shield and heavy armor but we know historically speaking there were many kinds of gladiators and many kinds of gladiator events beyond 'two men with swords walk into the ring and fight eachother while we cheer'. Is there an example of another kind of gladiator than the actual game mechanics' version in the fluff?

RE: Gladiator 'lore' - Unnamed Mercenary - 06-30-2015

fun fact: The Gladiator's Guild in Ul'dah accepts all weapons equally. They just happen to teach the player to use a sword and shield.

It is for bloodsport, fame and most especially, MONEY. A number of prominent Ul'dahn people have vastly improved their lives by fighting in the Bloodsands. (Like Raubahn).

While inaccessible now, (outside the Ultros fight I think), the player used to have to fight on the Bloodsands during the FFXIV 1.0 days. Now, the story quests are a bit different.

RE: Gladiator 'lore' - Sounsyy - 06-30-2015

I come with Gladiator Lore!

The term Gladiator specifically refers to a trained fighter of Ul'dah's famed Bloodsands. It does not necessarily refer to a sword n' board fighter. The Coliseum (the guild which houses the Bloodsands) teaches willing participants how to fight with a sword and shield, but Gladiators are not limited to such weapons.


(06-30-2015, 05:58 PM)shotgunbadger Wrote: I assume they don't go full on Roman with slaves involved and all, and it's more a 'voluntary bloodsport' thing than 'I bought this dude and now he has to fight for me'?

Actually... they do! Ul'dahn prisoners have the option to fight on the Bloodsands to use the money to buy their way out of their sentence! These "slave" fighters are called Noxius.

Galeren Wrote:Aye, they let criminals take to the bloodsands now an' again--them what's caught murderin', thievin'. piratin', an' whatnot. Ain't winnin' what gets 'em turned loose, though. Fight's got to turn enough profit for them to buy their freedom. And that ain't no modest sum.


(06-30-2015, 05:58 PM)shotgunbadger Wrote: How bloody does this bloodsport get, though?

It can get very bloody! Though that is not always the intent. Gladiators are not supposed to kill other Gladiators, but accidents can and have happened with some frequency. Beasts, on the other hand, are fair game.

Lulutsu Wrote:Yes, I see in you a man who understands there is more to glory than mere victory. More than killing. We are entertainers, and so we must entertain. Give the crowd something to remember you by, and they will make your name legend!


(06-30-2015, 05:58 PM)shotgunbadger Wrote: I know from other quests that in their city gladiators are respected, seeing 'gladiator fangirls' and all, but how do the other cities view it?

The Bloodsands, according to 1.0 quests, are famed world-wide. And thousands come to spectate and some to participate in the tournaments. Do note that there is a fee to participate unless you are Ala Mhigan. But every victory is accompanied by a payment.

The reason Ala Mhigans have reduced/no fees for participation is because of an Ala Mhigan gladiator named J'moldva the Hellfire Phoenix, who, shortly after the fall of Ala Mhigo abandoned the refugees in Thanalan to join in the Bloodsands with the intention that every gil she earned in her victories would go to fund her people's struggles to reclaim their homeland. J'moldva was undefeated, until, in a match against the champion of Ul'dah, Greinfarr the Great, the spectators grew so riotous over the eventual outcome of the duel that it threatened to throw Ul'dah into chaos and rioting. If the Ala Mhigans won, angry Ul'dahn fans would have slaughtered the hated Ala Mhigans. Choosing to protect her people and stave off the inevitable riot, J'moldva gave up her victory and allowed herself to be struck down by Greinfarr. In payment for her sacrifice, Greinfarr and the Gladiators Guild gifted the Ala Mhigan refugees the winnings of that match and established a rule that any willing Ala Mhigan could find employment at the Gladiators Guild, when at the time, employment was denied to the refugees anywhere else in Ul'dah.

Yoyobina Wrote:The Coliseum is my responsibility. And yet I was not able to guarantee the safety of its combatants. I failed to protect J'moldva, and for that I have nothing but regret. I came to make what reparations I can. I am waiving fees for all Ala Mhigans at the Coliseum. You are free to take part in the games whenever you wish. Think it whatever you will. Just know that it is a victory for you and your people - born of J'moldva's loss.

Yoyobina Wrote:We had a match once... Future of the whole damn Coliseum rested on the outcome. Things...got out of hand. The crowd was whipping itself into a proper frenzy. Before things could turn violent, one of the combatants sacrificed victory to quell their fury. In the end, the Coliseum couldn't guarantee the safety of its own fighters. It was unforgivable, despicable.

Gridania seems to deplore the Bloodsands, as expressed by some Wood Wailers in the quest "Unalienable Rights."
Helbhanth Wrote:The swords of the Bloodsands are as lost as ever, as are all of the souls who still fight upon them... Gridania has no need of your blood quarrels Gladiator.


(06-30-2015, 05:58 PM)shotgunbadger Wrote: Along with that, how 'open' is gladiator stuff? Is there an example of another kind of gladiator than the actual game mechanics' version in the fluff?

Lulutsu Wrote:Welcome to the Coliseum, friend. This place is home to the bloodsands, where wielders of both steel and spell come to dance the deadly dance of battle. You'll not find a more lively venue in all of Ul'dah─hells, make that all of Eorzea. Just spectating has been known to make people faint, and when you add a wager into the bargain, you can imagine the thrills to be had.

[Image: FFXIV_Coliseum_Floor.jpg]
[Image: Gladiator-lvl-30-Unalienable-Rights.mp4_....14.32.jpg]
[Image: maxresdefault.jpg]


Hope that answers your questions! I'll go into a bit more Gladiator/Coliseum Lore below!


Lulutsu Wrote:Welcome to the Coliseum, the place where legends like Flame General Raubahn Aldynn are forged. Most 'round here call it the bloodsands. Name don't matter much, though─certainly not if you're the one fighting.

You'll come to love it here. All who come do. Watching the fights is entertainment enough, but nothing roils the blood like a sizeable wager.

Lulutsu Wrote:I had marked you as a woman of action. I am pleased to see that I was not wrong! Now, while you may be familiar with the deadly dance of battle, you are new to us, and must begin at the beginning. If you would take your place in these hallowed halls, you must be willing to undergo the most rigorous training. You must endure cuts and bruises beyond counting, and like as not far worse. A daunting prospect, I concede--but there is no other way if you mean to take to the bloodsands one day. And why wouldn't you? The Coliseum is only the most celebrated place of public entertainment in all of Ul'dah! Where else could a poor man amass a fortune so vast as to one day allow him to claim a seat on the Syndicate?

Ahhh...there's not an Ul'dahn alive who isn't inspired by the rise of the self-made man. And there is no truer embodiment of that dream than the gladiator who wins riches and fame with his sword. Throughout its long and storied history, this guild has nurtured countless champions. Our training methods are second to none, and our members ever strive to develop new techniques. If you desire true glory--to fight and triumph, 'midst the roar of ten thousand voices--then this is where you belong, adventurer. ...Think of it. Think of your legacy.

Papawa Wrote:You wish to view the games? Please, do not embarrass yourself with such brazen requests. You'll not find a soul selling tickets to the likes of you. They are reserved for the wealthy, as all things are here.


We don't know how long ago the Coliseum was established, but we do know it was a long time ago. At least 25 years. The Coliseum is currently owned by Flame General Raubahn Aldynn, who was an Ala Mhigan refugee until he amassed enough prize money to buy the Coliseum from its previous owner, a man named Rycharde, in the Year 1570 (7 years ago).

There's some important Coliseum terminology we should get into as well:
"The Coliseum" - the name of the Gladiators' Guild.
"The Bloodsands" - the name of the circle in the middle of the floor on which the Gladiators fight.
"The Hypogeum" - the arena itself, which includes not only the Bloodsands, but the stands and boxes in which the audience sits as well.
"Gladiator" - specifically refers to a Bloodsands fighter or Coliseum-trained fighter. Gladiators do not technically have to use shield and sword. Some combatants fight with axes, spears, bows, or whatever. They are all still Gladiators. So, not every person you see running around with a sword is a "Gladiator" despite what the class infers. These non-Coliseum-trained fighters are just Swordsmen.
"Lanista" - Trainer of Gladiators. Every Gladiator or team of Gladiators has one.
"Noxius" - a slave fighter. Ul'dah gives all of its prisoners the option to fight on the Bloodsands to try to earn enough prize money to buy their freedom. People who chose to do this (at their own risk) are called Noxius.

Galeren Wrote:Aye, they let criminals take to the bloodsands now an' again--them what's caught murderin', thievin'. piratin', an' whatnot. Ain't winnin' what gets 'em turned loose, though. Fight's got to turn enough profit for them to buy their freedom. And that ain't no modest sum.


There are three types of matches.
1) Gladiator vs Gladiator
2) Gladiator vs Noxius
3) Gladiator vs Beast

Very important is that these matches are primarily for sport. Especially Gladiator vs Gladiator. They are real fighters, yes, but the goal is to put on a good show, not kill the other person. That said, people do die on the Bloodsands and have frequently in the past. Beasts have killed Gladiators, Gladiators have killed other Gladiators, etc.

All Bark And No Bite Wrote:Yoyobina: Another Ala Mhigan? When they goin' to learn? I can't dig the bloody graves fast enough!

Abylgo Hamylgo Wrote:Have you ever viewed the games from above, in the stands? Noticed the handrails, perhaps? Placed there for safety, they were. More than one spectator has fallen to their death, what with all the jostling that goes on up there.


I also wanted to bring up Gladiator VS Beast fights a bit more as well. A few decades back, when the Coliseum was having difficulty exciting the crowd after the aftermath of the Greinfarr vs J'moldva fight, the Coliseum began importing savage beasts from around Eorzea, particularly from Ishgard. These were housed, and trained, in a place called Halatali.

Fineco Romanecco Wrote:Used to be we'd have all manner of beast shipped down from the mountains to the north. Trade with Ishgard ain't what it was, though. I'd like nothing more than to see things returned to the way they were, but it seems less likely with each passing moon.

Quote:Halatali
Originally a holy place for the first Lalafell arrived in Eorzea, the twisting labyrinth of natural caverns which wind through this massive mesa was transformed by the Gladiators' Guild into a series of training pits, animal pens, and holding cells to accommodate the ever-growing popularity of Ul'dah's Coliseum. After the Calamity, however, the location was abandoned - those remaining in the pens, left for dead. Not all of them, however, met that fate, and now the tunnels are rife with those who survived... as well as the tormented spirits of those who did not.

Quote:Maahes
While Halatali is a cultural institution of note, it has also been less than perfect in keeping track of the fighting beasts it starves into greater savagery. Maahes is an object lesson. The blood meant for spilling on the stadium sands has instead grown richer, feeding on the flesh of caravaneers.

Quote:Lampalagua
Lampalagua. A dragon of many heads, cage-born and stadium bred. His escape en route to the Coliseum was a major embarrassment for his handlers, or more precisely, to their heirs. Each head having been blooded as a hatchling, Lampalagua is exceptionally barbarous and exquisitely attuned to the bloodlust of the crowd. Lacking a conventional audience in the wilds of Eastern Thanalan, Lampalagua has instead taken to appearing wherever violent business is afoot.


Gladiators all have stage names/titles, naturally. And there's a few really famous Gladiators that every man, woman, and child in Ul'dah (and sometimes beyond) knows about. The Bloodsands is one of the biggest spectator sports in Eorzea, people come from all over to see the matches.

1) The Bull of Ala Mhigo (Raubahn Aldynn)
2) The Hellfire Phoenix (J'moldva)
3) Greinfarr the Great / The Bronze Bull (Greinfarr)
4) The Twin Swords of Nald'thal (Aldis & Leavold)
5) Prince of the Bloodsands (Franz the Fair)


Below is a video of the 1.0 GLA class cutscenes, which are much more informative about the Bloodsands than the current 2.0 ones. They follow the story of the fall and rebirth of the Coliseum of several years ago and also (through Echo flashback) follow the story of the two biggest names in Gladiator history: Greinfarr the Great and J'moldva the Hellfire Phoenix. Though I would still recommend reading over the 2.0 GLA class quests as well.

Gladiator Quests 1.0

Then there's this cutscene which is the rise of Raubahn, the Bull of Ala Mhigo in 1570.
There Might Be Blood


What do Gladiators do when not fighting? Well, the Gladiator's guild will often-times mercenary them out! As a lot of Gladiators are mercenaries in the first place, many continue on in this fashion. The Platinum Mirage, a very exclusive club for Ul'dah's most elite blood, will often hire accomplished Gladiators to guard their gambling halls to make sure guests don't cheat the house.

Jajakuta Wrote:Did you ever wonder why the Gladiator's Guild is found next to the Platinum Mirage? The casino hires the swordsmen to watch over their elite clientele. But not to keep them. No, they are there to see to it the wealthy patrons do not cheat the house.

A lot more Gladiator stuff is discussed in the Moogle Delivery Quest, Sudul Eht Nioj:
Sudul Eht Nioj


Hope this all helps! ^^ Lemme know if you have more questions!

RE: Gladiator 'lore' - shotgunbadger - 06-30-2015

That was incredibly helpful, and absolutely helped!

RE: Gladiator 'lore' - Klynzahr - 07-01-2015

So much delicious lore!

*Gobbles up*

Big Grin

RE: Gladiator 'lore' - Gaspard - 07-01-2015

(06-30-2015, 07:19 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: -le snip-

How likely do you believe it is that Garleans have an equivalent to the Gladiatorial set up of Ul'dah?

Given Garleans seem to draw heavy Roman influences in their entire set up.

RE: Gladiator 'lore' - Sounsyy - 07-01-2015

(07-01-2015, 02:11 AM)Gaspard Wrote:
(06-30-2015, 07:19 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: -le snip-

How likely do you believe it is that Garleans have an equivalent to the Gladiatorial set up of Ul'dah?

Given Garleans seem to draw heavy Roman influences in their entire set up.

I would say highly likely.

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EDIT: Merp, clearly I was tired this morning when I wrote this. Clearly you said Garleans, not Allagans. So I'll add that if its a possibility Allagans may have had a gladitorial sport, the Garleans may have copied the idea. Similar to how we today reinstated the Olympic Games.

But like Kell said, it could just be that every Allagan was combat trained, but also given that the Allagans had nearly fully automated armies, I don't see where these combatant Allagans would employ their expertise- hence my belief that the Allagans would have had gladiator vs clockwork duels for the public. Garleans may have adopted some version of this to train their soldiers in the homeland. Maybe citizens from conquered territories can raise their social/political standing by winning a number of these duels. But of course we're getting into headcanon and theorycrafting now.

RE: Gladiator 'lore' - Tiergan - 07-01-2015

Sounsyyy, you are the best. ;A;

RE: Gladiator 'lore' - Kellach Woods - 07-01-2015

(07-01-2015, 04:24 AM)Sounsyy Wrote: I would say highly likely.

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RE: Gladiator 'lore' - Mountie - 07-01-2015

(06-30-2015, 07:19 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: - snip -
My thanks for this! I can use this information to tweak the background of my secondary character!

RE: Gladiator 'lore' - Seraphine Felstar - 07-02-2015

Amazing post! Always happy to get more Ul'dah lore and this is just perfect.  Thank you so much for taking the time to write this all out for everyone. Thumbsup