Domains of the Chosen 02 Bloodlust: Will to Power
Page 46
The Pale apparently survived The Reckoning by binding any creatures that would have destroyed them.
Path of the Colossus: [School] This school teaches larger Gladiators how to use their size and weight to greater defensive advantage. Part of the training is additional conditioning and a special diet that increases the Gladiator's size and muscle mass. This school was once taught only to students of Chosen Moltar, before School reforms.
Path of the Brutal Executioner: [School] A favoured school for those who use heavy two handed weapons. The school teaches Gladiators how to channel all of their power, both physical and magical into blows of terrific force. The School also teaches a few special ways to execute opponents in Deathmatches.
Path of the Juggernaut: [School] This school teaches the Gladiator how to use their size and weight to overpower lesser foes. Part of the training is additional conditioning and a special diet that increases the Gladiator's size and muscle mass.
Pattern: [Spell-Weave, Spell-Pattern] The pattern is best thought of as the "set of instructions" that translates channelled power into a spell. Most objects have a natural pattern of some sort or other as well, which allows objects to be directly manipulated by magic. The patterns of an object can be altered in a number of permanent, interesting ways.
Pyromancy: [exploder magic, School] A school of Elementalism dealing with powerful fire and concussive spells. Very popular in the South, and with crowds who love more destructive magic.
Quickling: A small race that resembles little elves. Quicklings are extremely fast with incredible reflexes and movement speed. They also tend to talk very quickly, which leads to communications problems and prejudice.
Rank: Rank is a measure of how experienced a Gladiator is. Every five matches the Gladiator qualifies for a Ranking Match. The Ranking Match is supervised by The Deliberative and often seems to involve unusual elements. Failure requires that the Gladiator repeat the test before moving on in Rank. It is possible to win the match and yet still fail to earn the Rank since the test often involves a hidden objective that the Gladiator is not aware of. One can also lose the match and still pass the test, such as when Gavin fights Sadira for his first Ranking Match. There is a great deal of mystique surrounding Ranking Matches. Some Chosen want to see them done away with.
Racism: [Commentary] Racism is alive and well in the Domains, but takes a different form than in traditional fantasies where each race tends to have its own separate cultures and space. In most Domains, the races live together in a fairly cosmopolitan arrangement. They are forced to tolerate each other by law and many enjoy interacting with each other; others still cling to prejudices old and new, and I try to make this apparent in the book. The races in Bloodlust are not conscious allegories for any particular real world groups.
Reckoning, the: The Reckoning is the pivotal event in the history of the Domains, and the world. It started as an apocalyptic series of battles, wars, and duels between various Gifted of tremendous power. As more and more magic was released into the world, including spells of mass-destruction and experimental magics of last resort, unpredictable wild magic and tainted magic began to wreak havoc. This culminated in a massive storm of uncontrollable magic that swept even the Gifted away. Only Krass is known to have survived intact; those caught without shelter were destroyed or tainted. The effects of The Reckoning were so dire that they still linger and occasionally flare up over a thousand years later.
Sandborn: The Pale refer to Gifted from the Domains as Sandborn, a reference to the Gladiatorial training that most of the Warbound they face have received.
Seeking Spear School: [School] A school of spear fighting that emphasizes the versatility of the weapon. The special grip techniques are particularly impressive, allowing the Gladiator to take full advantage of the weapon's reach with only one hand.
Shadow-Elf: Shadow-Elves are aggressive and lusty by nature, traits that are greatly encouraged in Gladiators. They are shorter and more full-bodied than Light Elves, and tend to have dark eyes that shine in the light. Shadow-Elves have either white skin with black hair or black skin with white hair (many dye their hair with Glamour, however). Shadow-Elves have an innate ability to conjure shadows. (Because Bloodlust started out as an RPG I allowed all types of Elven ears styles from the slight points to the full on anime elf ears. Breeding does not change skin colour on Shadow-Elves; it is not an inherited trait for them but rather seems to be caused by something else).
Spell-casting: [Spell-weaving] Combining power and pattern and aiming it at the target.
Spell-weaving: See spell-casting
School: [Discipline, Path] Gladiators spend much of their time learning new ways of fighting and new magical theories as they train and advance in rank. The most complex of these are akin to martial arts with complete underlying philosophies and multiple ranks of advancement, but even the simplest teach an entirely new set of moves or spells and represents a major undertaking for a Gladiator. Schools are presided over by Master Gladiators, usually retired.
Skirmisher: [clown, sub of Training Class] Skirmishers are the class clowns and socialites of basic training. They are not as straightforwardly aggressive or defensive as their peers, and rely on their ability to uncover and exploit their opponent's weaknesses to win. Skirmishers often come out of basic training with a better understanding of how to play to the crowd and basic tactics.
Sun and Moon School: [School] A simple school that teaches a variety of two weapon fighting techniques, with a balance of offence and defence. The school is noted for its flowing, circular style.
Sudra: A continent south of the Domains of The Chosen. Sudra has a harsh climate and has resisted settlement.
Sundering, the: [Gelding] The Sundering is a magical ritual that prevents the Gifted from using his or her magic in certain ways. It is thought to be irreversible (Maybe true, maybe not) It blocks the use of magic that is deemed too dangerous. Vassals are all sundered.
Tabyria: The Continent on which Krass and the Domains of The Chosen are situated.
Tainted: Magic that has been altered in an uncontrollable and undesirable fashion is called tainted. Tainted is also applied to lands or creatures that were altered by such magic in The Reckoning.
Tap out: When a Gladiator is killed or incapacitated in a regular match it is called tapping out.
Tauran: see minotaur
Time Limits: most matches have time limits, which are set before the match is drawn up. Time limits are intended to prevent a match from stagnating and boring the crowd. The winner of a match that reaches the time limit is determined by appeal to the crowd if need be. If a match is especially exciting the time limit can be increased. If a Deathmatch reaches the time limit the Gladiators still appeal to the crowd for victory, but the loser is not killed. Interestingly, since the introduction of time limits, there have been almost no fatalities in Deathmatch duels between The Chosen.
Transportation: Horses and sea vessels remain the main method of transportation in the Domains. Magical roads remain free of obstacles even during winter months and some can even enhance the speed of living creatures that use them. Specially bred and enchanted horses provide those who can afford with mobility that would rival a modern sports car. Steam-wagons are becoming more common, especially for mass-transport of heavy goods and in areas where climate makes horses less effective. Airships and rail transportation do exist, but Gladiators are rarely allowed to use them due to their role in past rebellions. Exotic mounts exist as well, but mostly in the hands of The Chosen and the Legions. It is known that prior to The Reckoning, gate travel, teleportation between two huge magical devices, was possible.
Trolls: Trolls flourished during The Reckoning. They can survive nearly any injury, regenerating much like a Gladiator. They are also highly resistant to magic. The common variety of troll is a big, bulky humanoid with thick, craggy skin. Trolls are the only known intelligent race that does not have the Gift.
Twisting: Most spell-casting involves weaving
a spell-pattern. Some, like the magic of the Wirn involves twisting an existing pattern instead of weaving a new one. Unlike disruption, which simply breaks a weave and dispels the spell, twisting is able to twist spell to new purposes. It is not especially predictable and although it originates with tainted magic, several Gladiators in “Will to Power” figure out how to use it.
Ungifted: The Ungifted are those who do not have the ability to sense magic.
Ut Nex: When one Gladiator challenges another to a Deathmatch in the Arena it is called Ut Nex. Most Deathmatches are arranged and approved beforehand, but Ut Nex allows a Gladiator to change the match to a Deathmatch on the spot. This is often used to intimidate a lesser opponent into backing down and forfeiting.
Very few leagues allow Ut Nex in regular matches, but it is still common in tournaments.
Gladiators must unbind from The Keystone as part of invoking Ut Nex.
Vampire: [Bloodthirster School] Vampires do exist in the Domains and some Gladiators seek out their power, taught to them in a school like any other. Vampires of all sorts are also supervised by The Deliberative. I included this note partly to demonstrate some of the more unusual "schools" that Gladiators have access to. As a side note this means that there are likely a couple of Vampire Chosen and that Gifted Vampires are strong enough to survive the sun.
Vassal: A Vassal is a Gifted who undergoes the sundering instead of becoming a Gladiator. Vassals are far more common.
Victory Coins: [VC] Victory Coins are a special form of currency used by Gladiators. They were created to prevent a Gladiator with wealthy backers from buying their way to a Championship by purchasing magical weapons and enchantments that would give them a tremendous advantage. Gladiators gain a certain amount of VC every match and can gain bonuses based on performance and crowd reaction as well. Gladiators can only use items purchased with VC from Deliberative approved shops in the arena. Gladiators can also receive cash bonuses for popular matches and gifts from fans, but these cannot be used in the same way as VC. The VC system does favour popular Gladiators, like Sadira or Valaran, and is held up as a sign of democracy in action in the arena. After writing the first book, it was suggested to me that a few hundred years of common use would wear this term down to something other than victory coins, which just sounds too technical.
Warbound: Warbound are veteran level or higher Gladiators who leave the arena to serve in the Legions. Warbound are bound by oath to the command structure of the Legions. They provide the armies of the Domains with magical support than can handle itself in a fight.
Soldiers fight differently than Gladiators, and so new Warbound are extensively trained.
Defenders are the preferred Warbound type, since they lean towards teamwork already.
War-Dance: [Battle-dance, School] A complex school that teaches Gladiators a series of moves that flow together like a dance. Tribal battle-dance features movements that mimic animals while Formal battle-dance follows traditional dancing. Both are difficult to master and only appeal to agile Gladiators with a strong sense of showmanship. Crowds love War-dancers.
Wirn: The Wirn are a tainted race that once made war on the Domains. Wirn feed off magical power and can taint spell patterns. When a Wirn feeds it sends some of the power to an external source.
Weerde: The Weerde is a source of tainted magic that is grown and sustained when the Wirn feed. It is stronger in Wirn territory. Gavin makes brief contact with it and senses that it feels hunger and may be more than just a source. The Wirn appear to worship and care for the Weerde, going mad when cut off from it.
Character list
The Band
Gavin Orphanus (Lionfang)
Sadira Lacivia (Red Scorpion)
Karmal Kolat (Crimson Dragon)
Omodo diYava (Hammerhorn)
Ravius Vergerus (Ravishing Rude Ravius, triple R)
Vintia Legarda (Brightshield)
Cleothera Orphania, a friendly Grey-Robe
Lina diVolcanus, Sadira's assistant, a “gift” from Valaran
Master Sax, a Blademaster who takes an interest in Gavin
Delph, Omodo's assistant
The Chosen
Chosen Brightloch, the newest Chosen, leading an expedition to lost Ithal'duin
Chosen Giselle, Sadira's Patron
Chosen Eudora, an Elder Chosen
Chosen Marius, an Elder Chosen
Chosen Mordhawk, a border Chosen
Chosen Moltar, an Elder Chosen with a villainous reputation, Valaran's Patron
The Gladiators
Valaran diVolcanus, deadliest Gladiator of the day, desires Sadira, hates Gavin
Blue Calamity, a Gladiator who tried to assassinate Sadira
Cat and Bella, two Gladiatrices that fought Gavin and Sadira in a Dreadwood Death-Match
Hummingblade, a Gladiatrix who has an on and off relationship with Ravius
Minerva Dewasis (Azure Dream) a friend and rival of Sadira's
Shield-Splitter, a Gladiator who handed Gavin a humiliating defeat
The Arena Masters
Baron Bones, master of the Supplicant's Arena of the Volcanus Death-league
Druth, arena master at camp Valorous, famed trainer
Madame Chloe, mistress of the Killer's Circle of the Volcanus Death-league
Meady Mox, arena master at Dreadwood, killed by Karmal
Quintus diKrass, announcer at the Grand Arena in Krass
Regina diCouture, Former Faction Promoter at Scorpion's Oasis
Sulius ul-Cyrus, Faction Promoter at Scorpion's Oasis
The Deliberative
Baurtrum, a shady Grey-Robe first encountered by Gavin in Scorpion's Oasis
Erbly Norax, an unfortunate acquaintance of Baurtrum
Katryn diAuran, Captain of a Deliberative Strike Team
Ordo Grevex, inner council
Map
Links
My Blog, Domains of The Chosen. http://domainsofthechosen.wordpress.com/
My Facebook Fan Page. https://www.facebook.com/CPDHarrisWriter
My Amazon Author Page.
http://www.amazon.com/C.-P.-D.-Harris/e/B008MNRCDK/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Table of Contents
Copyright
Synopsis
Interlude One: Entrances
Chapter Thirty-Two: Blood, Mud, and Sweat
Chapter Thirty-Three: Baiting Bulls
Chapter Thirty-Four: Stonebreaker
Chapter Thirty-Five: Fortitude
Chapter Thirty-Six: The Maze
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Hammerhorn
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Something Fishy
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Gold and Grey
Chapter Forty: Control
Chapter Forty-One: Heroes
Chapter Forty-Two: The Veteran's Masquerade
Chapter Forty-Three: The Iron Axe
Chapter Forty-Four: Ambicogitous
Chapter Forty-Five: Storm Rider
Chapter Forty-Six: Clash with a Titan
Chapter Forty-Seven: Performances
Chapter Forty-Eight: The Tournament
Chapter Forty-Nine: Fighting Time
Chapter Fifty: Back to Back
Chapter Fifty-One: Breaker
Chapter Fifty-Two: Gladiator's Wake
Chapter Fifty-Three: Moonlight Garden
Chapter Fifty-Four: The Victor's Mercy
Chapter Fifty-Five: Rabble
Chapter Fifty-Six: Purity
Chapter Fifty-Seven: Standoff
Chapter Fifty-Eight: Ancient History
Chapter Fifty-Nine: Nemesis
Chapter Sixty: Reforged
Chapter Sixty-One: Champions
Chapter Sixty-Two: Apotheosis (Unfamiliar Ground)
Epilogue: Vintia's Letter
Glossary (with Author Comments)
Character list