Nicknamed the "Kendari District," Champion’s District towers over Sasserine’s western skyline, a district of soldiers, gladiators, mercenaries, and warriors who follow in the footsteps of the city’s first ruler: Arch-Duke Viktor Teraknian. Champion’s District has a not so-friendly relationship with the Noble District, and its citizens see themselves as the true and rightful leaders of the city. Most people who live in this district worship at the temple of Etahr.
Champion’s District’s representative on the Dawn Council is the noble House of Lorchester, an ancient family who have been established in Sasserine nearly from its foundation. The family’s patriarch, Neldrak Lorchester, is generally thought to be a bit too scheming for his own good. The Lorchesters have recently clashed with Cudgel District’s Taskerhill family over ownership of Thunder River Lumber. Closer to home, they’ve been at odds with another Champion’s District noble family, the Toregsons. Rumor holds that the source of the conflict between the Lorchesters and the Toregsons has something to do with the Smith’s Guild.
Also of note in Champion’s District is the Kendar Embassy. This relatively new structure is the home of one Valmont Alresian, an ambassador to, what some would say, is an untrustworthy Republic. Alresian’s presence in the city, and in Champion’s District, has been nothing but positive on the surface; he’s donated a fair amount of resources to public works, and the Embassy has an open door policy for visitors. Still, memories of the Uprising are still fresh, and rumors abound that the Embassy is nothing more than a front used by the Kendari to lull Sasserine into a false sense of security for an upcoming assault from the sea, that will land the city back in chains for another century.
Gladiatorial Challenges:
The Sasserine Arena is one of the more popular entertainment venues in Sasserine. Fights are scheduled at minimum once per week by an organization of mercenaries, hunters, and explorers known as Zelkarune’s Horns. Fights in the Sasserine Arena are generally not to the death, but are often deadly. The Sasserine Arena is one of the more popular entertainment venues in Sasserine. Fights are scheduled at minimum once per week by an organization of mercenaries, hunters, and explorers known as Zelkarune’s Horns.
Fights in the Sasserine Arena are generally not to the death, but are often used to settle debts or conflicts between people or organizations. At other times, Zelkarune’s Horns sponsor what are known as “Dragon Challenges,” in which local heroes and mercenaries fight against dangerous creatures. The Horns are said to be preparing a yearly event that pits numerous teams of gladiators against each other, modeled after the world-famous “Champion’s Games” held yearly in the Free City of Redmark far to the north, although they have yet to announce a date for the first competition.
Citizens
If you’re from Champion’s District, you may belong to a minor noble family, and have probably been to the Sasserine Arena several times. You might know someone who has fought in the arena, and may have desires to test your mettle there yourself someday. Alternately, you may be interested in exploring the Sanjaara Jungle to try to gather trophies (living or dead) for Zelkarune’s Horns. If you’re of a less martial bent but still hail from this district, perhaps you have some ties to the Kendar Embassy. Although it’s unlikely you’re a Kendari spy, the Embassy has been rumored to recruit locals as agents from time to time. You likely worship Etahr, or possibly Berevrom. If you worship Nerydia, you keep your faith personal and close to your chest.
Notable NPCs:
Valmont D'Alessandro, Neldrak Lorchester, Tormeghal Greskin, Zasker Ironfist
CHAMPIONS'S DISTRICT BONUS FEATS (choose one)
Arena Blood [General] The blood of an arena champion flows in your veins, giving you a thirst for glory and a drive to succeed.
Benefit: You get a +2 bonus on Intimidate skill checks. In addition, whenever you successfully demoralize an opponent using the Intimidate skill during combat you are immediately healed of 1d4 points of nonlethal damage. You also gain a +2 morale bonus on grapple checks, sunder attempts, trip attempts, bull rush attempts, and disarm attempts if you are aware of any noncombatants observing a fight you are participating in.
Steadfast Loyalty [General]
Self control and discipline are the birthright of many who grow up in Champion’s District, and you strive to uphold these ideals.
Benefit: You get a +2 bonus on Will saving throws against charm, compulsion, and fear effects. In addition, if you have the Leadership feat, your leadership score increases by +1
