CE: Gladiator

Level One

People become gladiators for any number of reasons, among them, the most notable is just plain being down on your luck. Those who enter this trade aren't on some get rich quick scheme. However, most first level gladiators claim that free room and board beats the hell out of living on the street. As a first level gladiator, a character is supplied with free room, two meals a day, medical care, a small weekly stipend (a meager pittance of an allowance, really) and access to weaponry for use in the arena, not to keep. In other words, if you want a sword to walk around the streets with, you still have to buy it. Level 1 gladiators are put under the tutelage of a higher level gladiator for tutelage in hand to hand combat and melee weaponry. Fights tend to focus primarily on other gladiators of the same or similar level. The more dangerous beast fights that Edarin's arenas are famous for will not happen in this gladiator's life for a good few years.

Pre-Requisites for Lv.1 Gladiator: None
Skills: 3

Level Two

At the second level a gladiator will have a decent understanding of hand to hand combat and at least one melee weapon. Typically, gladiators are experts at melee weaponry of all sorts, but that doesn't usually begin to show at this level. A second level gladiator typically focuses on empty hand combat and one or two weapons. Financially they're possibly worse off than the first level gladiator because though their stipend tends to increase, so does their debt. However, they do have more hope for future financial freedom than the first level gladiator does.

Pre-requisites for Lv.2 Gladiator: 100 posts and 3 months at game
Skills: 3

Level Three

A gladiator is as much a performer as a dancer or minstrel is though, and the third level gladiator begins to understand this. Dragging out fights for dramatic effect raises bets, and higher bets means better pay. As a result, the third level gladiator may occasionally take unnecessary risks, and the 'quick kills' of previous levels are typically all but completely absent in this gladiator's performance.

Pre-requisites for Lv.3 Gladiator: 300 posts and 6 months at game
Skills: 3

Level Four

The famous 'beast fights' begin at this level. A fourth level gladiator is generally proficient in four or more melee weapons and skilled in at least 2 of them. No longer considered a beginner, the level four gladiator is one of the arenas many attractions and pulls in bets considerably higher than the previous three levels granted. Typically this gladiator has been working for the arena for a year or longer and is starting to gain a name for him/herself in the community, but as a 'promising young gladiator' rather than an expert. It's a double-edged sword, gaining some attention leaves the gladiator wanting more, and fourth level gladiators tend to be somewhat impatient for it.

Pre-requisites for Lv.4 Gladiator: 500 posts and 9 months at game
Skills: 3

Level Five

While a gladiator will never be skilled with range weaponry, a fifth level gladiator is typically proficient in most melee weapons. He/she will have an obvious preference for one or two over all others, but will be able to use most with at least a passable accuracy. A gladiator will never be a "graceful" or "fair" fighter. Their style of fighting favors efficiency and force over flowing motions and a sense of justice. While individually a gladiator may have these attributes to some degree, watching two fifth level gladiators fight is something akin to watching two wild dogs go at one another.

Pre-requisites for Lv.5 Gladiator: 800 posts and 1 year at game
Skills: 2

Level Six

After years of fighting a level six gladiator typically has more scars than a seasoned soldier. However, they are also more skilled 'all-around' than a soldier would be. Gladiators are the 'jack-of-all-trades' of warriors. While they will not be as skilled with a sword as a level six swordsman, the level six gladiator is proficient in so many different tools of war that in wartimes many arenas hire out their high level gladiators to the military. In times of peace though, the level six gladiator is a champion, well-known throughout their chosen city for their exploits and finally well on their way to being freed from their debts and making a decent living from their stipend alone.

Pre-requisites for Lv.6 Gladiator: 1200 posts and 1.5 years at game
Skills: 2

Level Seven

The seventh level gladiator is famous enough that some aficionados of the sport will travel great distances just to see them fight. A typical arena will only have two or three gladiators at this level and they are usually famous among sportsmen throughout the lands of Edarin. Seventh level gladiators almost always have worked their way free of debt, and of their percentage only enough money to cover their living expenses (and anything they happen to have broken) for a given month.

Pre-requisites for Lv.7 Gladiator: 1600 posts and 2 years at game
Skills: 2

Level Eight

The eighth level gladiator is a rare occurrence in its own right and an arena generally counts itself lucky to have one at this level. On some rare occasions this gladiator will still fight men/women of their own level, but there are so few who are at that level that the eighth level gladiator is typically exclusive to beast matches with not only wild animals, but arena-caught monsters. It's a dangerous game, but if the gladiator lives into the eighth level there are very few brave souls who can stand in his/her way.

Pre-requisites for Lv.8 Gladiator: 2100 posts and 3 years at game
Skills: 1

Level Nine

Aged now and often tired of fighting, many ninth level gladiators have accumulated enough wealth to open their own arenas. Having already made quite a name for themselves, their existence alone is advertising enough to get them started, and, after all, beast fights are the most popular sport in Edarin. Ninth level gladiators, while occasionally holding a joint match with another arena to battle others of their level, typically spend the better part of their lives as wealthy businessmen.

Pre-requisites for Lv.9 Gladiator: 3000 posts and 4 years at game
Skills: 1

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