Hasta

In the Dercian Empire, the charioteers or Hasta as they are called in Crienic are some of the best paid athletes in the Empire of Dercia.   Many young boys dream of becoming a Hasta and racing in the Hippodrome Festivus, as Hastas they would be part of a cultural spectacle and at the same time be pieces on the political stage as senators would sponsor different teams and gain support in return.   There are many reasons why becoming a Hasta is a coveted profession. On one hand, it promises large amounts of wealth and fame, and a successful Hasta can use his fame to raise up through the social ranks in just a few years. Likewise, it's a profession that has been romanticised in songs, murals and tales about legendary Hastas.   Each year, countless of young boys seek to become Hastas, but only a few manage to even enter the clubs that train them, even for those that manage to enter, they will then experience a brutal training regime, its not uncommon for a handful to die each year, but its hardly spoken about as so many seek entrance to the clubs and the sport they train to are more likely to kill them within a few years than them becoming rich and famous.   While the profession still maintains a huge amount of prestige, it did suffer a serious setback during the Darkness of 24th of Fira when a riot broke out in the Hippodrome Festivus during some of the games being held there. The clubs training the Hastas were banned for 50 years and it took years of negotiating before they were allowed to train again and partake at the games.