After the Deitic War ended, the mortal races found themselves at a loss, with no real way to coordinate or govern themselves. Many of the mortal races were still angry and aggressive, fuelled by their hatred of the Deitics, and this needed to be guided elsewhere before war broke out. In year 2 PDW, the Cassids, Vreka, Vohra and Retha grouped together and founded the Dessaron Battle Arena, a battle system designed to drain away excess war-like feelings, and as an alternative to full out war. It was based on the old Warrior Wars System that the Deitics used to host fights and slaughters in, but with heavily altered rules, a 100% voluntary only policy and completely non-lethal fights.
The arena, which was originally named Arena of the Four Warriors and was dedicated to the Dessaron who had enabled the mortal races to win the war, is still in use today. It is located on planet Portalia and a city, called Palaestra, has sprung up around it.
Palaestra generates a lot of money for the beings that settle there, mostly from selling arena-related products, as well as looking after the constant tourism in the area.
The land is owned by a Thanatian named Phovos Tromou (often referred to as the Raptor), who is the former head member of the Dekaexi and has close ties to the Order of Two. She has been running the Dessaron Arena for the last two hundred years and has brought much prosperity for the city. She has implemented a small 10% tax on all trade that goes on within Palaestra, which is used to keep both the Dessaron Arena and Palaestra itself well maintained. 10% of all money made from broadcasts also goes to maintenance, and a further 5% goes into the Raptor’s pocket. All money from ticket sales and 15% of broadcasting fees goes to the governments of each race with a Dessaron battle team.
Each Maza race can have a maximum of 4 teams. Wealthy individuals can run a team as well, but their teams cannot compete in battles that have been arranged to settle inter-species conflict.
Matches are organized by the Management, which consists of Phovos Tromou and one being from each Maza race. These beings are Queen Polemok of the Vohra, Prince Hestar Lonntid of the Vreka, General Ryse Stelian of the Retha, Admiral Marcus Sigilis of the Cassids, Lellian of the Bayvak, Kr’Delis of the Banikans.
Because of the rebuilding and tensions in Thanatian society, the Management now only has a very minor role in maintaining the Dessaron Battle System, it is mostly maintained by the Raptor herself, alongside a small number of close allies. The Management now only organize Dessaron team matches.
The Arena itself is split into nine different sections – eight different battle arenas and a large stadium known as the Viewing Grounds. The Viewing Grounds is rectangular and can seat 5,000 beings of any race. In the middle of the stadium are four huge screens, which broadcast what is going on in current matches going on in the battle arenas. A tenth area, known as the Gladiator Arenas, was added during rebuilding after the Feralheart Plague and consists of a collection of smaller, simpler arenas.
Dessaron battle teams consist of 4 members of a species, and are funded either by their race’s government or privately via rich individuals. There is a maximum amount of money one can spend training and arming a team – up to 4 million Evra, to ensure fairness among teams. Each team has its own living quarters in the countryside beyond Palestra, and only relatives, friends and trainers are allowed to visit.
Each team has 4 members, with the following limits:
- All members must be of the same whole species – Subspecies members are allowed (e.g. Retha and Thanatian teams are allowed to use Threan-types and Thraki, as they are classed as subspecies). Mixed-race teams are only allowed for special events.
- Beings with external powers (elemental powers for Banikans and Vohra, telekinisis for Threan-types, voice-attacks for Thraki, mayia for other Thanatians and Bayvak) must have their abilities tested by the Raptor before being allowed to participate.
- Teams must arm themselves. Ranged weaponry (guns, bows, arrows) must use ND (non-damaging) ammunition provided by Management.
- Telepathic beings are forbidden to use mind-reading on enemy teams.
- All members must wear their PHAM (Protective Health Assistance Monitor) while within an arena.
- All members must be able to understand and speak basic Panglish.
- Any Thropes or other external races that wish to enter must first speak to the Raptor. Otherwise they are not allowed to participate in Dessaron battles.
- Teams may borrow members from other teams, but only with their prior consent. Substitutes not currently in teams may be used, but only if they are examined by the Raptor first.
Every team member is equipped with a Protective Health Assistance Monitor (PHAM for short). The PHAM enables all beings to quickly regenerate from injuries. If a member is critically injured, the PHAM will teleport them to their team’s Medical Bay, where they will be healed and teleported back to the battlefield after a minimum of 15 seconds, increasing the longer a match goes on for. PHAMs also carry Artificial Health Meters (AHMs) which gives each team member an estimated amount of health as a percentage value for easier tracking of health and injuries, as well as statistical analysis and miniature cameras which transmit to broadcasting displays.
As well as Dessaron Teams, there are also Challengers and House Fighters. Both Challengers and House Fighters are also equipped with PHAMs and AHMs, although House Fighters are generally given higher amounts of estimated health.
Challengers are members of the public, who are allowed to fight either against Dessaron teams or House Fighters. Like Dessaron teams, Challengers must bring their own equipment, armour and weaponry. They often compete in contests to win large prizes. Contests are held on a regular basis, generally between Dessaron team matches, and during the off-season while teams retrain.
House Fighters are elite warriors hired and trained by the Raptor and her House Leader. They represent the Dessaron Battle System itself and provide spectators with their spectacular, often superior combat skills. House Fighters are best known for their rather flashy moves, and many will use miniature fireworks and special effects to dazzle crowds, challengers and Dessaron teams alike.
Unlike challengers and teams, House Fighters are armed and armoured by the Raptor, and are given a large supply of weapons to use. They are typically also paid a salary out of the Raptor’s own pocket, to ensure that only the best may serve the House Fighters’ ranks.
The Dessaron battles themselves are incredibly simple – Teams of fighters worth together to defeat enemies either in standard Deathmatch, Control Points or Payload Delivery.
Deathmatch is a standard 1v1, 2v2 or 4v4 battle. The first team to fully deplete their enemies’ AHMs wins. Teleportation from medical bays back into battle is disabled. Occasionally, fights will be to the best of three, and team members will have two teleports available to them.
Control Points requires team mates to capture particular areas of an arena (known as CPs) and stop their enemy from doing the same. To capture a CP, a team must stand on it and defend it for 20 seconds. The team that captures all control points wins the match.
Payload Delivery involves delivering a bomb to destroy the enemy’s base. Teams must work together to destroy the two sets of turrets that defend each base by placing a bomb at the bottom of each one, before finally planting a larger bomb in the enemy base, all while protecting their own.
Capture the Flag is your standard grab-the-enemy-flag-and-bring-it-back-to-your-base game mode.
There are eight different arenas. Each one has different terrain and some run different game modes.
The Foj Arena is only used for Payload Delivery. It features two open lanes with two turrets for each team per lane, and a large, jungle-like terrain in the middle which players can sneak through. Each team’s base is defended by a laser that instantly teleports players back to their base if they haven’t destroyed the turrets first. There is a stream which runs though the middle of the map.
Mecha Arena and Sandlands Arena are designed for Control Points only. Mecha Arena is built to have an urban terrain, with plenty of cover for players and short trips between CP’s. Badlands is set in a rocky desert terrain, with the last CP’s set inside small buildings. Sandlands also has a wide open area to the side, which is used for Deathmatch.
Two Forts and Cave Sys Arena are Capture the Flag arenas. Two Forts is a smaller arena with two bases separated by three bridges spanning two rivers, and each team’s flag is located deep within their base. Cave Sys Arena is set underground and uses an intricate tunnel system between each base, with several underwater areas. Cave Sys matches are recorded using special night vision cameras and small, wall-scaling drones.
Towertop Arena and Waterfall Arena are Deathmatch maps. Towertop is set on top of a large tower with nets down each side to catch people who fall and teleport them to medical bays. Waterfall is set in a basin with waterfalls around each edge and platforms suspended in water.
Jungle Arena is made for all game modes, having the equipment for each one. It is a much larger arena, filled with trees, vines, rope bridges, water hazards and shallow quicksand.
After the Feralheart Plague caused a huge amount of damage to Palaestra and the Dessaron Battle Arena, many parts of it were rebuilt, including better facilities for House Fighters, a multitude of smaller, simpler Gladiator arenas with space for live crowds. These Gladiator Arenas generally sport standard Deathmatch battles, but can also be set up with fully destructible wooden bases for Capture the Flag. The Gladiator Arenas have proven to be incredibly popular, especially since they allow for faster, shorter, more intense battles and better views compared to other arenas.
Current teams:
Thanatian Teams
The Blades
Bania
Elevtheros
Ksifos
Dilios
Night’s Scythe
Tura
Kindyna
Arksiek
Lokmahro
Banikan Teams
The Fearbringers
C’Ttack
T’Nado
R’Zor
K’os
The Shadowdancers
Hi’Pnos
Styn’Ya
V’Sar
C’Sion
Retha Teams
Retha Squad One
Gath Tsoriou
Kohgra Maouron
Kayess-en Avrianos
Vel Konztantin
Retha Squad Two
Abius Halsou
Teegeear Kielnon
Esel Vliamvis
Tethis Thanataion
The (Original) Dessaron
Retvik Rethianos
Tenuk
Arkay Theanon
Elksia Ksiou
Cassid Teams
The Red Army
Tullus Tettius
Vopiscus Caelius
Quintis Betucius
Nasennia Cyprias
The Beige Brigade
Kyle Camerius
Sam Sorex
Klaus Faustus
Alexandros Paullus
Vohra Teams
Kallon
Kalsa Warrior Layvak
Kalsa Warrior Nuvak
Kalsa Warrior Pavak
Kalsa Warrior Talok
Kalkon
Kalsa Warrior Ledok
Kalsa Warrior Kolik
Kalsa Warrior Onvik
Kalsa Warrior Ganok
Kalgion
Kalsa Warrior Galok
Kalsa Warrior Levok
Kalsa Warrior Parok
Kalsa Warrior Korok
Vreka Teams
The Ohmwrecks
Rektan Jelkarn
Prokvars Sedix
Frenraz Lyponit
Dethsis Dethsionthon
The Blades of Justice
Garena Vasilstev
Litlun Vasilstev
Zonaz Musikik
Vilailin Hoggak
Bayvak Teams
The Stingers
Stevios
Ohemel
Reksan
Malz
The Wisps
Telis
Wetafik
Saira
Liza