The Sin'talah


 * Class: Warrior
 * Electissimus: Position Available
 * Uniform: [Warden/Bulwark][Tempest;Highlord/High Brigadier]

In the Beginning
The clash of steel against armour produces a rather haunting, lingering note that fills the air; shortly after, it is replaced by a cry which triumphs over all other ambience.

“The victor, Tacitus D’lanastion!”

His stance has been perfected; each piece of armour that is clasped firmly against his lower-body sliding along the sun-kissed skin beneath due to the ample amount of sweat that has formed. The sun flares within his eyes; body marred with conflict’s remnants, his sabaton is pressed at the centre of the opponent’s chest, feeling the cache rise and fall.

It’s almost sickening.

Almost.

But it is within that brief moment of doubt that he remembers: This is what you have been trained for. This is why we fight; to preserve honour and glory to our name. To let those who would oppose us revel within their own blood as it courses angrily from the wounds we hath inflicted.

His metal-coated digits grasp to the stern pommel of his weaponry, holding each short-sword in a vice. The prominent edge of one blade is pressed at the centre of the man’s throat as he remains defiant to the inevitable. A coliseum of blood; the dawn brings forth only new challenges each day as more and more Gladiators come forth.

The regal platform high above the specters holds a lone figure. The sun is hot and brutal; it beats down on the countenance of Tacitus D’lanastion as he looks to his father, sweat stinging at his cerulean eyes as they flare from the heat of combat and the atmosphere itself. Blonde bangs are rather course and chalky from abuse; a well-muscled torso twists and turns in anxiety as he rests above his pinned prey.

The crowd goes silent.

He comes forth with a rather fragile frame, face a map of wrinkles, each with their personal story of trial, sorrow and burden; as the Dominus approaches, the gentleman beneath the boot can only writhe further as he cries out silently for life. It is then that each hand of the Dominus is held to the sky.

Tacitus’ eyes narrow into slits, barely able to observe the motion that came next. Thumbs down.

His body thrust immediately forward – feeling the arm press through the supple flesh and toned muscle, ripping it apart as a horrid gurgling sound came forth from his opponent’s raw, cut throat as the hot, sanguine liquid began to spew forth and splatter upon the tanned sand.

The Dominus’ head tilts back somewhat: striking similar to that of the Gladiator’s (he who delivered the final death blow), each of their countenances scrunched before the elder’s softened, offering the most subtle hints of a smile in appreciation for his son’s willingness to fight – to fight to live.

Tacitus glanced to the man which lay beneath his sandaled foot, his shin-guards gleaming against the wondrous dawn.

This was what it was to be of pure descent; to fight for honour and glory, righteousness and the fight itself. To be crowned victor; to be recognized in the name of your kin and your family was that which the most prodigious form of winning was.

For it was within this that we find truth. It is within the arena that we are deemed pure in strength and heart, indefatigable in confidence; we are found honourable warriors of the kingdom itself.

This is what it is to be a child of divinity.

Tacitus narrowed his eyes once more, removing his blade from where it had been lodged for such brief seizure of time.

This was the will of the Sin’talah.

The Regiment
Founded originally by Tacitus D’lanastion the second, the Dominus which took official stand over the unformed monarchy when it remained a simple family, the Sin’talah – or “Blood Party” in Thalassian – intended for each of its members to be trained within the art of warfare, militant tactic and gladiatorial endeavors. During the prime of his life, when taking note to the honour brought before a line during infamous sprawls concerning warriors and other melee combatants, Tacitus the second – under the watchful eye of a father that had begun to fall to illness and the end of his life – immediately set forth upon building a structure for each son of his own line to take official hold of when such time would come forth. Considering his reign was far more considerable than any other Dominus – with note taken that it was he who originally formed the monarchy and joined each house, Tacitus had the motive to create a division that would be later implemented as the most eloquent and lethal of The Bloodsworn during its formation. Honour, vice, virtue and overall, strength, fury and hatred were the prime examples of what should be embodied into the mind of a Warden.

Considering that the Sin’talah was first formed as a vessel for combat concerning the arena itself, there is no lapse within training each of its wardens for both battle and the initial entertainment of the kingdom itself. Information on gladiators are entailed below.

-High Brigadier
Requires level 85; Requires highest level of PVP or PVE armour: The High Brigadier of the Sin’talah is the natural born or adopted son of the monarchy. Serving beneath the House of Tacitus, he is well-versed within the art of combat to an extreme; militant tactic and formations, alongside drills and other various practices. He is revere through the organisation itself; the champion of all previous Gladiatorial games, he has achieved ten or more wins within his lifetime. He is the trainer to the Tempest and Highlords. There is no greater Warden than the High Brigadier. Uniform: Onslaught Battlegear; specifically chosen armour. Mount: White Hawkstrider or Black Warstrider.

-Tempest / Highlord
Requires level 70: the Tempest or Highlord of the Sin’talah are those that are the prime example for all which the division itself stands for. Versed within the art of one-versus-one combat, militant strategy, lore and inexorable strength (pertaining to their capabilities), the Tempest and Highlord are those which serve as the epitome of a Gladiator. It is within this rank that they begin to be primed to be sent into the arena to combat for glory and gold, prizes, and chance to gain recognition amongst the monarchy itself. This rank requires first a Trial of Blood for admission, alongside a send-off to another world of brutality and violence. Uniform: Onslaught Battlegear; Destroyer Battlegear. Mount: Black Warstrider or White Hawkstrider.

-Sentinel
Requires level 40; the Sentinel of the Sin’talah is recognized as the second formal enlistment rank achievable within the division. These individuals are versed within the art of primary defensive and offensive abilities, and hath knowledge pertaining to the lore behind the organisation and division itself. This rank is tutored by the Tempest and Highlords above them; all men and women who achieve this rank begin to learn the art of militant tactics and formation, as well as drill. Uniform: - Mount: Black Hawkstrider.

-Bulwark
Requires level 20; the “Bulwark” of the Sin’talah is recognized as the first formal enlistment rank throughout the division itself. These individuals are beneath the command of all superiors to them, and are officer to none; trained within the arts of primary melee combat and armoursmithing, the Bulwark gains admission to the next level of authority through yet another Trial of Blood. Uniform: See “Warden”. Mount: Black Hawkstrider.

-Warden
Requires level 15; the rank of “Warden” is perhaps the most standard enlistment rank of all incoming members within the Sin’talah. Placed at this standing, such Sin’dorei is noted to be informally accepted until otherwise placed beneath a Trial of Blood, as per the request of the High Brigadier. Uniform: Red adept armour. Mount: None.

Ranks; Gladiator In-Depth
Wrath, anger, hatred, vengeance; each of these things are implied within the arena itself. With the will of Tacitus the first, his son was to first be trained to fight for entertainment. Following the years to come, the boy lusted for an even greater glory to bestow upon his family’s name; from that day forward, each son of the new-found Dominus would train minor combatants in the name of the monarchy so that one day they may battle to the death against other competitors for sport. With that, organized fights were implied every month so that those of pure blood and strength could be rewarded for their tenacity and willingness to live.

-Retiarius
The Retiarius is a warden that excels within melee combat; handling a lasso, whip or net to capture and snare their opponents, the Retiarius is armed with either a polearm or a trident, each connected to a shoulder/forearm guard by a pyrium weapon chain.

-Validus
The Validus has been trained for their entire life for the gladiatorial ring. Typically sons of the monarchy, they are those with an astounding capability concerning one-versus-one combat. They are heavy armed; these are wardens which have overcome and won more than three gladiatorial tournaments. They are armed with two-handed swords or axes so that they may completely damage their opponents.

-Tactus
Charging blindly into battle on chariot, horseback, or foot, the Tactus is trained solely for combat depending on the senses. Heavily armed; a helm with a visor is provided by the High Brigadier.

-Velitus
Trained to combat beasts and other various natural environments, the Velitus serves as the epitome of a hardened man or woman of the Sin’dorei. Intent on escaping with their lives when pitted against various other creatures, the Velitus is trained their entire time within the regiment for survival.

-Essedarius
Sat upon a horse-drawn chariot, or typically seen as the most imposing due to their abilities concerning the grand jousts of the arena, the Essedarius is trained from their acceptance to excel within the art of jousting and combat upon chariots.

-Oblivio
Wardens which excel within the arts of protection may be appointed to the gladiatorial school of the Oblivio. Well-learned within the arts of defense, considering that they are armed solely with a shield and short-sword for optimised capability in the sense of taking the least damage, the Oblivio undergo immediate training to counter the most offensive-heavy Gladiators.

-Celeriter
Wardens who are trained within the arts that are employed by the Celeriter become those that specialize in a quick, rapid pace of combat; using two words, the Celeriter strikes down his enemies with fervor as to quickly disarm and dissemble the combatant before them. Guarded by minimum amounts of armour, the Celeriter is quite possibly one of the swiftest of the Gladiator specialisations.