The Red Academy
Peace. Calm. A joyful life. The desires of the civilized people of the Greenwold are laughed at in the bloody arenas of the Red Academy. For this city of gladiators, peace comes only through war, calm is found at the bloody end of a sword, and the joys of life are slaughter and glory. There is little humanity to be found in this parody of civilization where the entire populous is devoted solely to battle
Beasts of the Red Academy
Those who dwell long in the Shattered Peaks undergo a curious transformation - gradually taking on the characteristics of animals. The effect is particularly pronounced in those who give in to their savage natures.
Nearly all warriors from the Red Academy show these bestial signs to a lesser or greater extent. These features generally lend a disfiguring look, as if an internal ugliness had made itself plain upon the face, though some wear it proudly - discarding their humanity in favor of a truer nature.
Examples may include: pig-faced, rat-nosed, goat-eyed, boar-snouted, wolf-fanged, snake-tongued, mule-eared, hawk-beaked, lizard-scaled, fish-eyed, frog-mouthed, elephant-tusked, skunk-striped, leopard-spotted, worm skinned, bat-eared or spider-eyed.
Demographics
The entire population of this “academy” are members of the Empyrean's military force, either by choice or by command, and owe absolute fidelity to the Warmaster. As such, life in the Red Academy is built around colosseum culture - where public battles serve as the sole form of social mobility. The city's slaves and conscripts are presented a choice – fight or die. Those who win in battles receive honor, wealth and glory. Those who lose are carted off to the Grand Necropolis and forgotten.
The greatest fighters are invited to the Warmaster's personal arena to swear their undying allegiance to the Empyrean. Given power and privilege far beyond ordinary gladiators, this handpicked force comprises the deadly shock troops the Empyrean sends forth when a quick victory is desired.
Infrastructure
The Red Academy is located in the Shattered Peaks, a rugged land of red sandstone, cut into deep canyons and towering escarpments by swift, narrow rivers. Dry and wind-scoured, these exposed highlands are dominated by rough scrub, great mesas, low peaks and striking formations of barren stone. The Red Academy is built on top and within the red sandstone mesas - connected to each other by massive stone bridges regulated by cunning draw bridges.
Guilds and Factions
The primary form of social organization in the Red Academy are the gladiatorial schools. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of these schools exist on the mesas. Ranging in size from a few wealthy warriors and their slaves, to crowded barracks of hundreds of recruits, life revolves around one's training hall, house master, and team mates.
Schools tend to be titled either after the masters’ family name, or a combination of weapon, animal, or martial maneuver. Examples include: Sword and Lion, Olymander Parries, Ravenspear and Wahl, Halls of the Crab, Falling Hammer and Wyrm, Cestus and Citadel, Ebony Lion, Umberral’s Shield and Cleaver, Wade & Harrow, and Red Feather.
A city in the Shattered Peaks, the Red Academy is rumored to be a place of warriors. There is also a legend that speaks of animal men from there. I wonder if there is a magical effect that makes those who dwell there into some sort of beast men. I suppose it would be warrior-like. Not that I’m familiar with that. There are also accounts of fights with the beast men riding wyverns into battle. There are also accounts of arenas with the animal men fighting in them.
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