"Roll up! Roll up! Dare you face the might of Gosser Papa? Could you last three minutes with Resige Heuhaufer?"
- —Raimund Heenan, ring announcer[2a]
A grizzled pit fighter of the Old World
A pit fighter, known as a gladiator in Tilea, a chain-fighter in Marienburg, and as a bear-wrestler in Kislev, is a warrior of the Old World who engages in brutal gladiatorial fights in a sunken pit or more rarely in an arena for the entertainment of others. Such warriors are often slaves who were once prisoners of war or criminals condemned to death, but there are also those more mercenary warriors who volunteer to be pit fighters in return for potentially lucrative rewards. Pit-fighting is generally illegal in the Empire, but is still widely enjoyed and patronised by various criminal syndicates.[1a][2a][3]
The gladiators of Tilea are the most renowned pit fighters in the Known World, though the chain-fighters of Marienburg and bear-wrestlers of Kislev also draw a crowd. Pugilists and wrestlers might work a travelling fair, challenging the public to survive three minutes in the ring with them, or they might fight a celebrated opponent in front of cheering crowds. Knives, clubs, chains, boxing, wrestling -- there is an almost endless variation of fighting styles and codes a Pit Fighter might adopt.[2a]
It is said that the sport of pit-fighting has its origins amongst the Ogres. It is easy enough to believe that a race as dim-witted as the Ogres would contribute fights to the death to the culture of the Old World. In years past most pit fighters were condemned criminals or prisoners of war. They'd be thrown in a ring or a pit with a few weapons and only the winner would leave alive.[1a]
These days, there is a class of professional pit fighters in addition to the condemned. They seek excitement and glory in the pit, though most find naught but a brutal death as the crowd howls for their blood. Successful pit fighters can become wealthy from prize money and the rampant gambling that surrounds the sport, allowing even enslaved fighters to buy their freedom.[1a]
The styles of competition during these professional bouts are as varied as the pit fighters themselves. Fights may take the form of knife, club, or chain fights, boxing matches, or wrestling competitions. Sometimes, victory is awarded to any member of the public who can survive three minutes with a particularly celebrated pugilist.[2a]
History[]
Origins[]
A gladiator
Few Ogre customs have made their way out of the Mountains of Mourn save one: pit-fighting. When pre-Imperial Men first made contact with the Ogres, they already had violent sports but they involved such things as animal-fighting or bear-baiting. The Ogres had long since developed pit-fighting as a way to definitively decide who was the stronger between two challengers for tribal leadership, while simultaneously worshiping their pit-dwelling deity, the Great Maw.[5a]
Ogres certainly think nothing of sparring, and regularly brawl among themselves, but for many long centuries, a pit fight involved two Ogres entering the pit and only one emerging having defeated -- and eaten -- their adversary. History doesn't record exactly what the Human tribesfolk thought when they first witnessed a pit fight between hired Ogre mercenaries. What is true, though, is that ritualised combat, without actually eating one's opponent, swiftly sprang up wherever Ogre mercenaries roamed.[4a]
Scholars credit these fights with reducing needless bloodshed, as combat between rival champions is rarely to the death and often averts open warfare. This is somewhat ironic given the extremely lethal origins of the practise. Watching others fight remains a popular entertainment throughout the Old World. The Tileans, especially, came to delight in viewing displays of martial skill and professional gladiators remain popular among them to this day.[4a]
The scope of Ogre pit-fighting changed forever when their champion Marn the Mangler had his great revelation in 542 IC. Marn realised, after a particularly spectacular bout, that he didn't have to eat his fallen opponent. It may be that Marn was just tired of the taste of Ogre, as immediately thereafter he also realised that introducing other animals into the pit could lead to interesting fights and a wider variety of meals.
While it took some time, Marn's "strange notions" took hold, and pit-fighting eventually evolved to encompass a wide variety of styles, many of which aren't always to the death. However, Tileans infamously still pay top coin to watch an Ogre mercenary pit fight.[4a]
Ruins of Mordheim[]
During the fall of the Imperial city of Mordheim in 1999 IC, a large number of pit fighters rebelled against their harsh masters and broke out of the holding pens in Cutthroat's Haven. Under the inspired leadership of the renowned Pit King Nasticus, several Pit Fighters overthrew the guards at Filthy Lorenzo's westside arena and went on the run. An enraged Lorenzo hired several mercenary bands to hunt down these fugitive Pit Fighters as most of his guards were killed or badly injured in the breakout.[8a]
Since their escape, Nasticus' band has been seen scouring the ruins of the Cursed City and battling other warbands for possession of the much prized Wyrdstone shards. It appears that the escaped Pit Fighters had decided to stay within the vicinity of Mordheim and vie for employers amongst the multitude of shady merchants and sinister warlocks that infest the encampments. Many mercenaries have come up against these "liberated" warriors and the few survivors claimed that they were worse than fighting the Possessed, such is their skill and ferocity.[8a]
Role[]
A pit fighter
All across the Empire there are gladiatorial fighting pits where tough warriors are forced to take up arms against each other in brutal hand-to-hand fighting, often to the death, for the bloodthirsty pleasures of the baying crowd. From the vicious pits of Cutthroat's Haven to the Black Pits on the outskirts of the ruined city of Mordheim, there can be heard the clash of steel and the screams of the dying. In most regions of the Empire, these fights are outlawed, but the culture itself remains a haven for ex-mercenaries, escaped convicts and itinerant conmen, and bribes to local officials ensures that this brutal sport continues unabated.[3]
There are as many different types of pit fight as there are venues, from small fistfights in an old barn or a back alley, to huge conflicts with many heavily armed combatants. There are vast amounts of money to be made by the illegal gambling cartels and on the sly by the merchant guilds from the pit fights. In the more lawless areas of the Empire, such as around the Cursed City of Mordheim, the pit fights are bigger, more widespread and far more lavish. There are many different types of pit fighter: huge and brutish Ogres; frenzied, fearless Dwarf Troll Slayers and even those unfortunate Men who are sold as pit fighters have many different fighting styles.[3]
Each type of pit fighter is easily recognisable from his armour and weapons which are heavily stylised in the appearance of the Empire's many foes. Close combat specialists wear heavy plates of armour across their shoulders, thick iron gauntlets and heavy greaves. They also wear horned helms that caricature the Warriors of Chaos, helmets with fake tusks and leering faces akin to Orcs or skull-faced helmets that look like the Undead, while some pit fighters from Tilea wear the spiked harness known as lorica clavita.[6a]
The weapons these warriors carry are invariably heavy flails, gauntlets with razor-sharp iron claws like Ghouls and Orc choppas. There are also specialist pit fighters called "Pursuers" whose gear and fighting style is based upon the expert light skirmish troops of other races such as Lizardmen Skinks or Witch Elves, and their weapons and armour reflect this. They wear very little armour besides a stylised helm and often carry two light swords, a spear and net or several javelins. Unlike the heavy pit fighters, these warriors harry their foes with hit-and-run attacks, using speed and agility over brute strength.[3]
A Greenskin wearing armour reminiscent of the lorica clavita in use in Tilea.[6a]
The most feared and respected type of pit fighter is the "Pit King" -- a veteran fighter of many bouts, a heavily-scarred killing machine with muscles like iron. Pit Kings are often dressed in heavy armour reminiscent of Imperial heroes of old, adorned with a laurel wreath which is the symbol of his status. These dynamic warriors have access to many weapons, often favouring great axes and great swords which they wield with consummate skill.[3]
The vast majority of pit fighters are slaves who work for the so-called "Circuit" and they have to go through rigorous training before they are let loose in the bloody world of the fighting pits as they are considered an expensive investment by their owners. They strive to survive long enough to earn their freedom by paying off their owners with a large cut of their winnings.[3]
But those who are not slaves fall into their sport because they have the talent and they simply need the money. Some would jump at the chance to leave their seedy world behind and put their talents to a slightly better use. Fortunately, Pit fighters are generally free to use their time as they will, provided they turn up on time for the next big fight, and even if they don’t, there is always another pit.[2a]
Most successful pit fighters live for the sport (and, of course, often die for it also!) because they know little else. Enough pit fighters either earn their freedom or, as is more often the case, escape and form bands of fugitive slaves on the run from their former owners. These bands of outcasts make ideal warbands for hire to those shady characters who wish to explore the ruins of Mordheim.[3]
The warriors in a pit fighter warband are very dangerous adversaries indeed even for the most rugged, experienced of mercenaries for they are entirely ruthless and offer no quarter. Pit fighters are especially adept at fighting in close quarters with little room to manoeuvre such as among the cluttered streets and ruined houses of Mordheim and this makes them much-feared opponents amongst the denizens and warbands of the Cursed City.[3]
Types of Pit Fighter[]
"Vanvitelli, she finds out what I do. She calls me a ‘Kislevite bestiarii.' She says, ‘we canna make some good money’. I say sounds good. Tell you truth, you know I would do it for free. I got to fight in the House of Glory! One of the lizard creatures she brought from Southlands, much smaller than big ones, but dangerous. They call it a Horned One. Wicked teeth and, no surprise, sharp horns. Quick. Lethal. Normally, pack hunter. But no pack now, so good for Vasya, da? We do an exhibition bout. “Northern skill versa Southlands fury!” Was good crowd. Tileans know how to cheer. Was great fight. She left me scar as memory of Great Coliseum, da? Pity I couldn't kill her."
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- Bestiarii (sing. bestiarius) - In the Great Coliseum of Remas, pit fighters called Bestiarii or Boia Silenzioso can fight against beasts and exotic creatures from all around the Known World. If these gladiators manage to survive and win against the beasts, due to the great valour of those creatures it is not uncommon to grant them a stay of execution.[5a]
- Dwarf Troll Slayers - Troll Slayers are members of the morbid Dwarf cult obsessed with seeking an honourable death in combat. Having committed some unforgivable crime or been dishonoured in some way, a Dwarf will forsake his home and wander off to die fighting the enemies of Dwarfkind. Troll Slayers are insanely dangerous individuals, psychopathic and violent. There are, however, few better fighters in the Known World, so few places are more fitting for them than the fighting pits! Battling against the most hardened veterans and monsters in the Old World, many Troll Slayers hold that pit-fighting is their true vocation.[3]
- Ogre Pit Fighters - Ogres are large, brutish, humanoid creatures standing some ten feet tall, and all of it is bone and muscle. It is unsurprising then that they are one of the most brutal and feared of all pit fighters. These massive, savage warriors are often called upon to fight such fearsome beasts as captured Trolls in some of the most incredible bouts held at the pits.[3]
- Pit Fighters - Pit Fighters are close-combat specialists armed with a variety of weapons and armour. Usually, they are fairly heavily armoured and equipped with a sword and shield, although sometimes they will be skilled in the use of two-handed great weapons.[3]
- Pit Kings - A Pit King is a very renowned warrior; a spectacular fighter used to pleasing the baying crowd with his martial display and bloody triumphs. He has often managed to buy or free enough fellow pit fighters to start a warband of his own. He's the smartest and toughest pit fighter around and will fight anybody who puts his position in danger. He is held in a mixture of awe and fear by his fellows and his loyalty to his fellow fighters is undisputed.[3]
- Pit Veterans - Pit fighter veterans are experienced warriors who carry out the orders of the Pit King with ruthless efficiency. These fighters ensure that the warband is held together with iron-hard discipline and always keep a watchful eye on the Pit King's back lest an over-ambitious fellow pit fighter gets any ideas.[3]
- Pursuers - Pursuers are a special type of pit fighter often used for "warm-up fights" before the main show. These warriors are usually lightly armed with tridents, nets, javelins or war chains with which they pursue and harry their enemies in a hit-and-run style of combat. This style of fighting dates back to ancient times in Tilea when gladiators, as they were known in the Tilean tongue, would fight in massive stone arenas in front of huge crowds of citizens baying for blood.[3][7a] In 2006 IC in the great city of Remas in Tilea, the brilliant inventor Leonardo da Miragliano directed a reconstruction of one of those structures, the Grand Coliseum. Leonardo built dozens of innovative devices into the massive arena inspired by conversations with the legendary Ogre gladiator Brognal Bullsmiter.[4a]
Miniatures[]
Trivia[]
Bestiarii pit-fighters are a reference to the real-world Bestiarii of Ancient Rome. Among the Romans, the bestiarii (singular bestiarius) were those who went into combat with wild beasts, or were exposed to them.
It is conventional to distinguish two categories of bestiarii: the first were those condemned to death via the beasts (damnatio ad bestias) and the second were those who faced them voluntarily, for pay or glory (venatio).
The latter are sometimes erroneously called "gladiators"; to their contemporaries, however, the Latin term gladiator referred specifically to one who only fought other men. The contemporary term for those who made a career out of participating in arena "hunts" against dangerous animals was venatores.
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- 1a: pg. 48
- 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- 2a: pg. 112
- 3: Mordheim: Hired Swords - Pit Fighters (Specialty Game)
- 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Archives of the Empire - Vol II (RPG)
- 4a: pg. 9-12
- 5: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: The Imperial Zoo (RPG)
- 5a: pg. 80
- 6: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition: Doomstones 3 - Death Rock (RPG)
- 6a: pp. 52
- 7: Town Cryer 14
- 7a: pg. 37
- 8: Town Cryer 21
- 8a: Cover