Underworld Duck Fighting
Few things bring true joy to the people of Razhea Capita's Underworld. When your entire life is spent trying to survive rampant disease, radiation, and mutated monsters, you find pleasure in the bizarre. Underworld duck fighting is a popular sport, where stillwater ducks are made to battle in an arena. Large bets are made, and people are willing to gamble away their entire life savings.
The last duck left in the arena is the winner of a duck fight. It is an intense battle to the death, with these mutated creatures having unique abilities and powers that may give them the slight advantage in battle.
It is not just a game of luck; the more dedicated gamblers will spend hours analysing the roster of ducks, studying each of their abilities in order to bet on the duck they think will come out on top.
Fighting Fowl
An hour before a fight starts, the two (or sometimes more) ducks are stored in a small cage on a raised platform. Spectators and betters can observe this duck, using the hour to formulate the best strategy and place their bet. A klaxon starts the fight, the ducks released from opposite sides of an arena the size of inkback.
Spectators gather around the circular arena, screaming and yelling for their duck to win. As it is a fight to the death, the winner is the last duck standing. These are wild ducks, collected in advance and fed aggression stimulants for a more 'interesting' fight. Prize money is then dished out as soon as the winner is determined.
Stillwater Ducks
Stillwater ducks are the result of radiation and bacteria mutating ducks in the Underworld. Abandoned sewage lines have an unusual propensity to catch both wild and domesticated ducks from the Surface, dragging them down into the Underworld.
As these ducks search for a water source they discover the thousands of stillwater ponds and lakes that litter the Underworld. Low levels of radiation, mixed with ravenous bacteria and other pathogens in the water, causes these ducks to mutate and disfigure.
These ducks are driven mad by these mutations. Bacteria slowly eat at their brains, and stillwater ducks gradually lose their ability to regulate emotions, control their own movements, and eventually, become a wandering, malevolent husk.
This causes them to lash out at any and all moving things, including the people that call the Underworld home. They are not overly dangerous, and the Underworld's inhabitants enjoy taunting them and forcing them to fight each other for pleasure and profit.
Bets & Gambling
Ayup bruv, here comes the big better. Last time he bet like a million bucks. Mental, innit.
AY! TWO MILLION ON THAT BIG FAT ONE!
The currency of the Underworld, novabucks, is the traditional currency in duck fighting. The average bet is ten bucks, the same as a bottle of water.
Duck fights attracts plucky gamblers from far away planets. Passerbys are invited to experience this thrilling sport, although the brutality of duck fighting tends to scare off the faint hearted.
Small groups of people often engage in friendly betting battles, not just pitting ducks against each other, but spectators too. Almost all betting battles end in an anti-climactic squabble between a proud winner and a jealous loser, now down several hundred bucks.
Notably, cyborgs tend to avoid duck fighting. With detachable body parts it is very easy to gamble these away, particularly if you don't have a lot of money and no impulse control.
How much for the eye?Not for sale.How much for the leg?Not for sale.Wanna bet?...
Duck fights in the lowest classes of the Underworld are everywhere. The poorest of folk go to these fights in order to gamble their entire life away, preying on the thin hope that it will bring them great fortune.
It rarely does; in fact, most duck fights in these regions are rigged to take away as much money from people as possible.
The upper echelons of society conduct their duck fights in secret. The practice is often associated with the poor, however the rich have secret desires they keep to themselves.
These duck fight rings are some of the most well-hidden establishments in the Underworld. The rich bet millions at a time, hardly making a dent into their personal stashes.
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Stillwater Duck
Ducks mutated thanks to radiation in Razhea Capita's Underworld.
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This article is so good and bad at the same time. I guess you understand what I mean with that.
hehehe, thank you! <3