Program for the Great Games of Nothus
Three Days of Blood, Glory, and Opulence
Day One: Clamor Bestiarum (The Call of Beasts)
- Morning: Grand Opening Ceremony
- A parade of champions and war-beasts, showcasing the splendor of those who shall fight for glory.
- Trumpets blare and pyrotechnics light the skies over Nothus Arena.
- Midday: The Battle of Beasts
- Feral animals and monstrous creatures clash in primal fury. Expect thunderous roars and the crack of bones.
- Notable highlights: genetically modified predators, creatures from death worlds, and colossal warbeasts bred for destruction.
- Afternoon: Duelists’ Arena Opens
- Guests may take to the sands to challenge one another. Any wager can be made; the stakes are limited only by the imagination (and audacity) of the challenger.
- Evening: Planetary Contest – Stage One
- Champions representing wagered worlds enter the fray for the first time.
- Only champions from lower-value planets fight at this early stage. Their battles are fierce, with many falling by the wayside. The survivors advance to the next stage.
- Night: Opening Banquet
- Exotic dishes prepared by renowned chefs from across the Segmentum. The delicacies include rare grox cuts, smoked ambull, and liquors said to be brewed from the tears of defeated rivals.
- Accompanied by musical performances and holographic light displays.
Day Two: Descensus Alienorum (The Descent of Aliens)
- Morning: The Xenos Display
- A parade of captured alien specimens, some trained, others feral, showcasing the diversity of conquered and contrived xenos species.
- Midday: Xenos vs. Men Battles
- Thrilling matches pit alien monstrosities against human fighters.
- Highlights include savage Ork gladiator.
- Afternoon: Duelists’ Arena
- Members of the audience step forward to challenge other guests or fight available gladiators. This day, duels are often grudge matches formed over insults during the banquet.
- Evening: Planetary Contest – Stage Two
- Champions from mid-value planets take to the sand. These warriors are often gene-enhanced, elite veterans, or armed with advanced weaponry.
- The stakes rise as they battle to secure their patrons’ worlds. Surviving champions from Day One join the fray, but casualties mount rapidly.
- Night: Exotic Banquet
- Dishes crafted from alien fauna, presented with theatrical flair. Wines from forbidden vintages and narcotics rumored to enhance perception are served discreetly to those with refined palates.
- Entertainers display acrobatics and illusions, adding a surreal touch to the evening.
Day Three: Ultima Vindicta (The Final Reckoning)
- Morning: The Parade of Champions
- Survivors of the Planetary Contest and notable duelists are showcased in a final procession. Their victories and glories are celebrated, their failures mocked.
- Midday: Human vs. Human Fights
- Blood flows freely as prisoners, mercenaries, and even aspiring nobles enter the arena. The focus is on skill, savagery, and spectacle.
- Special feature: “Chains of Judgment,” where shackled prisoners fight for a mock “freedom.”
- Afternoon: Duelists’ Grand Challenge
- In the final dueling session, only the most daring and prideful step forward.
- High stakes, often involving houses pledging ships, relics, or even feudal titles.
- Evening: Planetary Contest – Final Stage
- The champions representing the most valuable worlds now enter the arena for the climactic battles.
- Night: The Grand Banquet of Final Victory
- The last evening’s feast surpasses all others, with every delicacy and indulgence imaginable provided to guests.
- Surviving champions from earlier three stages also compete, but the elites dominate the battlefield. The final champion wins not only glory but ownership of all wagered worlds, a prize unmatched in its magnitude.
- Winners bask in their triumphs; losers drown their shame.
Ongoing Entertainment
Throughout the games, between main events:
- Performances by exotic dancers, acrobats, and fire-breathers.
- Interactive holographic displays of the battles, including slow-motion replays of kills.
- Betting stalls and private lounges for high-stakes wagers.
The Great Games of Nothus are not merely a display of brutality but a celebration of audacity and ambition. Each battle pushes champions closer to the ultimate prize: the fate of entire worlds. The sands of the arena shall bear witness to legends forged, wealth won and lost, and alliances shattered. Let the games begin!
________________________________
Occupants of upper alcoves
1. High-Judge Gregory Koslow
- General Appearance: A tall figure in dark judicial robes, adorned with silver embroidery.
- Retinue: A cadre of aides in matching attire, standing in disciplined formation.
- Heraldic Symbol of Retinue: A silver gavel crossed with a quill on a black field.
- Wagered World: Luminis Tertia.
- Heraldic Symbol of Wagered World: A radiant star eclipsed by a crescent moon.
2. Cardinal Aurelius Thorne
- General Appearance: An imposing figure in ornate ecclesiastical vestments, glinting with gold.
- Retinue: Clerics and attendants in red and gold robes, bearing ceremonial staffs.
- Heraldic Symbol of Retinue: A golden sunburst behind a crimson chalice.
- Wagered World: Sol Invictus.
- Heraldic Symbol of Wagered World: A blazing sun with an open eye at its center.
3. Captain Eryx Vane
- General Appearance: A stern man in a dark naval uniform, decorated with medals.
- Retinue: Officers in crisp attire, standing at attention with disciplined poise.
- Heraldic Symbol of Retinue: A black ship’s prow cutting through silver waves.
- Wagered World: Helion Primaris.
- Heraldic Symbol of Wagered World: A fortress tower set against a stormy sky.
4. Headmistress Serina Malstrade
- General Appearance: A dignified woman in scholarly robes, with a high collar and flowing sleeves.
- Retinue: Scholars and scribes, carrying data-slates and parchments.
- Heraldic Symbol of Retinue: An open book beneath a silver torch.
- Wagered World: Lexicania Ultima.
- Heraldic Symbol of Wagered World: A quill pen crossed over a scroll, set on a starry background.
5. Lord Evander Skathe
- General Appearance: A robust man in rich, earth-toned garments, with a fur-lined cloak.
- Retinue: Advisors in practical attire, some holding agricultural implements as symbols.
- Heraldic Symbol of Retinue: A golden sheaf of wheat over a green field.
- Wagered World: Destraxis Prime.
- Heraldic Symbol of Wagered World: A plow crossed with a sickle, encircled by a sun.
6. Magos Tiberian Vrax
- General Appearance: A figure shrouded in red Mechanicus robes, with metallic limbs and a glowing optic.
- Retinue: Tech-priests and servitors, adorned with various mechanical augmentations.
- Heraldic Symbol of Retinue: A cogwheel emblazoned with a skull.
- Wagered World: Solon Tertius.
- Heraldic Symbol of Wagered World: A pickaxe and hammer crossed over a mineral-rich mountain.
7. Lord Vance Caledor
- General Appearance: A nobleman in elaborate attire, with a high-collared cape and jeweled accessories.
- Retinue: Attendants in livery matching his heraldry, some carrying ornate weapons.
- Heraldic Symbol of Retinue: A silver hawk in flight over a blue field.
- Wagered World: Arcaeon IV.
- Heraldic Symbol of Wagered World: An ancient vault door partially open, with a faint light emanating.
8. Guildmaster Karvos Eldrain
- General Appearance: A portly man in opulent robes, adorned with numerous rings and a lavish chain of office.
- Retinue: Merchants and bodyguards, dressed in fine garments, some displaying ledgers and others bearing arms.
- Heraldic Symbol of Retinue: A golden coin embossed with a merchant’s scale.
- Wagered World: Sanctus Eterna.
- Heraldic Symbol of Wagered World: A radiant cathedral spire reaching towards the heavens.
9. Lady Aveline Serra
- General Appearance: A graceful figure in flowing garments, shimmering in soft light.
- Retinue: Guards and attendants in muted blue and silver attire.
- Heraldic Symbol of Retinue: A silver crescent moon entwined with a thorned rose.
- Wagered World: Crucis Mortem.
- Heraldic Symbol of Wagered World: A broken chain surrounding a blazing star.
Ignis Aeternus WH 40K campaign notes 