Dockside Pits
A seedy establishment with no fixed address, the Dockside Pits is a name informally applied to fights organised in disused warehouses after dark. Infamous for their ferocity, matches only end when one fighter yields or cannot continue; on rare nights, the ring is scrubbed clean after a death. For those who crave violence and coin, there are few places in Orthay that pulse with such raw, dangerous excitement.
Exterior
The Dockside Pits never advertise themselves, nor do they remain in one place for long. On any given night, the fights are held in a derelict warehouse tucked along the wharves. A faint glow leaks through cracks in the planks, and those who linger nearby can hear the dull thud of fists on flesh, punctuated by raucous cheers. Unsavoury locals loiter in the shadows, acting as lookouts or quietly guiding trusted patrons inside.
Interior
Within, the air is thick with sweat, cigar smoke and the metallic tang of blood. A rough canvas ring is stretched taut over warped planks and surrounded by a press of shouting spectators. Crates and overturned barrels serve as makeshift seating, while coin changes hands constantly—sometimes openly, sometimes with hurried whispers. The roar of the crowd swells with every landed blow, and falls into hushed anticipation when a fighter staggers or drops to one floor.
The Bookie and the Board
Presiding over the chaos is the Pits’ organiser and bookie: Holman Goodbarrel, a gruff halfling with a weathered face, perpetually clenched cigar, and a voice roughened by years of shouting over crowds. He operates from a crude betting table set just off the ring, stacked with ledgers and books of betting stubs.
Above him hangs a battered blackboard, chalked with upcoming matches, fighter nicknames and hastily updated odds—often smudged as new wagers pour in. He keeps a sharp eye on the crowd and the fighters, quick to bark orders or settle any disputes before they turn violent.
Competing in Bouts
No weapons!
No spells!
No potions!
No magic items!
Failure to adhere to the rules of the Pits will result in disqualification, or worse.
All one-on-one bouts are bareknuckle only, both in an effort to lessen the chance of fatalities and to fairly determine each fighter's mettle as a warrior.
Bouts are resolved using an alternating system of attacks from the player, followed by the contested rolls of the Pit Fighting downtime activity from their opponent. Missed attacks by the player count as a success for their opponent. Whomever has the most successes after all six turns is declared the winner.
Competing in Fights Against Monsters
The Dockside Pits are occasionally able to source monsters for parties of adventurers to fight. These fights aren't nearly so strict; so long as the crowd can see the action, anything goes.
Organised by adventure tier and as balanced as a random fight against an unknown enemy can be, a party may find some of these encounters more difficult than others. Whether they choose to tap out or fight to the death is largely up to them.
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