The Games have been a tradition since time out of mind. No one really remembers how it began, but many historians point to the widespread acceptance after the reforms of earlier governments for its current popularity.

The rules are simple. All participants in the Games are volunteers. Forcing someone to participate in the games will result in the seizure of all property and, if the game was a deathmatch, execution of the coercer. Property so seized goes to the victim or his family.

Arenas are maintained by the city in which they stand.

There are many different types of games, and surprisingly, no shortage of volunteers. The winnings are good in many cases, and very few fights actually result in death. Healers are always kept on hands, and those with healing magic are aggressively sought after.

Challenging is also a common practice. A formal challenge taken to an arena removes the matter from the hands of the local officials. However, refusing a challenge is perfectly legal, and after a challenge is refused, any attempt to attack or harm each other carries double the legal penalty. Typically, the challenged chooses the time and the place, with the challenger choosing the type of contest. Backing out of an accepted challenge is also legal, though neither party is protected in this case. No challenge by any individual under 14 is to be considered serious, and a challenge made against a person younger than 14 is punishable by public whipping. This is an adult sport. That said, with little way to prove age, the laws and their enforcement only go so far.

Every year, each arena holds a qualifying event. This can be any type of match, but is most often a duel-to-yield. The winner is issued a token; that token can be redeemed at any other arena for a secondary qualifier. When a third-qualify token is gained (anyone who loses, loses their token and must of course start again), that fighter has earned a spot in the Champion's Trials held at the Wine Run arena, a month-long event that takes place at the end of the year. The third-qualifiers are narrowed down as much as possible, with the last two in a duel-to-yield. The winner of the Trials is given a gold token, and is not required to requalify for entry into next year's Trials. They also recieve the chance to make a single request of the High King; while the king is not required to grant it, history records no reasonable request that was not granted without good reason. Stories hold that it was a Champion's request that changed the nature of the Games in the first place, from a simple bloodsport into the vehicle it is today for entertainment, economics, and civic and regional pride.