51052 Wind - (New) Rictoris: Escape from the Arena

(Note: this post is a summary from a tabletop roleplaying session run during the Condamned 2024 event. I ran three such sessions in total, and aim to summarize the two others in due course)

The Marquis Valeris Rictoris managed to conquer New Toth, and has chosen this location as the optimal spot to found the new capital of his empire: Rictoris. Because the town has very few citizens, he then decides to construct a very large and spectacular arena, and to hold daily gladiatorial combat competitions to draw a crowd on new workers and citizens.

Four characters (Alva the Pargon, Five-Six-Eight the Jackal, Avalon the Harpy and Malvine the Explorer) find themselves sharing a single arena cell underground. They meet Taho, the Feline Arena Medic, as well as Max von Blue, the Arena manager and Don Rumpsteak, the Arena Announcer. Unsure what fate awaits them, they socialize with the Arena guards and each other.

Five-Six-Eight, one of the Gladiators

A few days later, they are summoned for the first arena battle, which takes place in a submerged arena against a group of four Marines (a sea-based humanoid race). The party has little to go with, having supplied only the most basic of weapons and a set of four paddle boards. All these obstacles pose little inconvenience for Avalon, as she simply flies up and tries to target the Marines. Meanwhile, the Marines themselves get out their slings and start launching ranged attacks across the Arena. The others make their way on their paddle boards, but take several slingshot hits before they get anywhere close to the other side.

At that point, Alva the Pargon has charged up her powers, and uses her full strength to freeze four icicles from the water and launch them towards the opponents. In a bout of outstanding aim and coordination, she manages to hit all four Marines straight in the chest with the icicles, killing them instantly. The crowd cheers in exhilaration but the Arena VIPs are less pleased with this battle outcome.

Alva the Pargon, the Frost Channeler

Back in their cell, the party realizes that another potentially fatal battle awaits in a few days. However, this time they choose to undertake action. After collaborating with other captives to feed copious amount of Arena wine to one of the Guards, Malvine manages to pilfer the keys from him and open the cell. Soon after they manage to disable one of the other Guards, but the third Guard screams in alarm before the gladiators manage to silence him.

As reinforcements are underway, the gladiators quickly open the other Arena cages, rescuing some 20 more gladiators. However, soon after the arena guards arrive in dozens, and a major brawl erupts.

Although the gladiators fight valiantly, the uprising is ultimately clenched in a bloody onslaught, where twelve gladiators and eight Arena Guards find their demise. However, the main characters in this particular plot all managed to survive miraculously.

Where did the characters end up?

• Alva the Pargon ended up captured and brainwashed by the Arena staff, and eventually was assigned to become Arena medic once again.
• Five-Six-Eight ended up captured, but managed to smuggle in a knife, cutting herself off while being hung on the gallows. Her whereabouts have been unknown ever since.
• Avalon the Harpy, too, got hung on the gallows. However, she was too light for the punishment to be immediately fatal, and got rescued by Malvine the Explorer two days later.
• Malvine the Explorer managed to hide and escape. They liberated Avalon the Harpy shortly after and then decided to leave Toth to travel south.

Avalon the Harpy. Still alive, albeit barely.