Enter the Blood Ring (WIP)

Somewhere among the vast sandstone sprawl of Vymrrys, by moon and candle-light, the always-moving Blood Ring is constructed from wooden boards and packed sand. A crowd gathers around the edges, awaiting the first fight of the night. As word of the event spreads through the slum, more spectators gather on nearby roofs, balconies, and bridges, looking down through the clotheslines to see the ring. Stars glimmer in the night above, the crowd grows restless, and some minor drug-fueled scuffles break out. Finally, the first two combatants are led to the circular fighting pit by their trainers, already grunting and sweating in the nighttime heat. A hush falls over the assembled audience as the two half-orcs enter, staring intensely at each other. Each bends down and scatters a fist-full of sand into the hot breeze – a sign of respect before the bout. The elven referee paces the ring, reminding the fighters of the rules that must be observed: no weapons, no eye pokes, no strikes below the belt. When both men agree, he rings the bell and the fighters charge towards each other. The crowd roars as the combatants rain blows upon each other, and dark orcish blood splatters the earth. As the night goes on, many fighters enter the ring, and some even manage to leave relatively unscathed. By first sunlight, the ring is destroyed, and the audience disperses, the location for next weeks’ bouts having been decided. The Blood Ring never stays in one district for long, but the records of its fighters are kept and tallied by many, and its great champions are known far and wide.

If the party stumbles upon the Blood Ring, or seeks it out using gathered information, here are some things that might happen:

Roll 1d20 on the following random table

1. The party encounters a fighter preparing in a nearby alleyway, but he looks weak and weary. He thinks he’s been poisoned by his opponent ahead of the fight!
2. A brawl breaks out between 2d4 attendees. 
3. A bookie approaches the party and offers them inside information for betting on the next fight, in exchange for a favor the following day: she needs them to collect payment from someone who’s overdue.
4. 3d4 city guards approach the crowd and attempt to arrest anyone who doesn’t run!
5. A coach approaches the party, recognizing their potential, and offers to train them to fight in the Blood Ring, for a price. 
6. A fighter challenges the weakest party member to a match in the ring, and the crowd nearby erupts into applause! 
7. 1d4 shady aristocrats sit on private palanquins near the ring, surrounded by their bodyguards. The party overhears them discussing sending hitmen after a fighter who wasn’t supposed to win…
8. The party finds a dejected fighter under a nearby building canopy. He tells them that he needs to fight to feed his family, but can’t handle another loss in the ring.
9. A former adversary of the party is also at the Blood Ring! He/she calls them out for a group brawl to settle their beef once and for all. 
10. The party hears screaming as one of the combatants pulls a knife and charges his opponent!
11. Final fight of the night! A party member accidentally spills their drink as a challenger walks up to the Blood Ring through the crowd. He slips and knocks himself out on a misplaced stone. The promoter coerces him/her to enter in his laid out fighter’s stead against the reigning champ Dooran of the Stone.
12. As the party observes the fights, a group of cloaked thieves are stealing money from distracted audience members.