Swordaine
Swordaine goes by many names including the City of Swords, Colosseum City, and Titan Fall. It houses the Grand Colosseum, known for its competitive gladiator fights and for being founded by the infamous Gladiator King nearly a century ago. Though Swordaine and its arena exists before the Gladiator King’s time, it did not become the Grand Colosseum until he rose the ranks of gladiators, earned his freedom, and liberated the people from the tyrant ruling the lands in his day.
Though technically an elected emperor, he is known as the Gladiator King because that was his moniker during his gladiator career. He has used his fame and power to create an unstoppable army and police force that whipped the Empire back into shape from declining ruin. Now, the Empire is thriving with an economic boom centered around the colosseum in Swordaine, more commonly known as the City of Swords or Colosseum City.
Public violence is not illegal if all involved in it consented (although proving this is difficult and controversial) and all damages are paid for. However, locals are warned not to disrupt tourism and to ensure that they personally know who they're beating senseless before they risk getting themselves arrested (the irony of this matter is not lost on the guards or the local riffraff but it is still enforced). Only the most brutal and sadistic crimes get someone enslaved in the arena, though the arena loves an excuse to take in more gladiators. They even accept prisoners from neighboring cities and countries offering to take the cost of feeding and housing them off their hands. The people of Colosseum City rarely pay more than menial taxes because the revenue from the arenas, training schools, free trade and confiscated possessions from slaves keeps the entire nation wealthy.
The Grand Colosseum
The colosseum may be the largest and most sophisticated arena ever seen, but not all gladiators here are criminals who've been enslaved for their crimes. Many have come to compete willingly to test their mettle, earn coin, prove their worth, train and study warfare, or just come to satisfy their own bloodlust...legally. Freely participating gladiators are often found hanging out in one of the taverns and inns that surround the area when not training or competing. One of the most infamous taverns is the Hungry Dragon, a tourist spot renowned for its bar fights, security team and the fact that it is the only tavern known to have hosted a barfight that the Gladiator King himself participated in.
The Grand Colosseum is not purely a place for competitive matches in the arena, but also serves as a military barracks and school for training in the many martial arts. Even mage academies and religious temples send their spellcasters and monks to train here for every purpose from medic to commander. Many areas of the colosseum are split up into various training schools, each with a different art of war to be taught. Some students enroll in multiple schools at a time and oddly enough this is encouraged by most instructors who are just as eager to learn new ways of war as they are to teach them. Many instructors were once gladiators in the arena, although most have retired their gladiatorial days in favor of teaching.