#atero

           Unsurprisingly, the perimeter has multiple guards of mechanical and living origin, as well as a couple of Exo-Toa. There are six main entrances, one pointed in the direction of each district; Certavus’ statue is located in front of the Zakaz entrance. Lines to go inside of the Coliseum Atero can be incredibly long, with most nobles ordering privileged seats in advance while regular Xians have to buy tickets up-front. Ticket prices are usually high, but if the Powers That Be intend for an event to be seen by many, they will be lowered.

           There are also additional entrances, for fighters, workers, performers, and other staff to enter the Coliseum Atero through. Once inside the walls, there are many rooms to filter out and send audience members to the stands. Multiple shops selling food and souvenirs can be found, acting as a small mall. The backstage areas are of course cut off, and the clean, dark hallways of the Coliseum are regularly cleaned and kept polish. The Coliseum Atero is meant for the elite and the champions, and so its appearance must reflect this.

           Multiple events are held within the Coliseum Atero. There are gladiator matches, with Glatorian fighters prepped backstage before entering to the cheers of thousands. Some fights are battle royales, others are duels; And others can include beasts and bioweapons, to liven things up as a hazard. There are control panels that workers can operate to direct the formation of pillars; They can rise up to form a wall, provide places to climb up, hinder fighters, and so forth. Pillars can be lowered to reveal pitfalls, or else serve as entrances for other fighters and beasts to be lifted into the arena through.

           These protodermis pillars can also perform a ‘Sea of Protodermis’ formation, where rows rise up and retract, one after the other to create a brutal ‘wave’ in the arena floor. Again, this is all for the sake of creating challenges as fighters compete for victory, while athletes show off their physical prowess in tournaments. Akilini competitions are held amongst raised-pillars, high above the ground. The flexibility of the protodermis pillars allows for just about any event, and they can form walls around fighters and beasts to keep them contained should an event end.

           Beneath the arena and its walls, hordes of equipment, as well as barracks and stations for guards and Vahki units, are held. Here, pipes hold hazards such as poisonous gases or water to flood the arena, and Trydahk Pods contain any manner of surprises. Cages hold beasts of combat, as well as the occasional bioweapon designed by the Nynrah Ghosts.

           Only the most esteemed Glatorian are allowed to compete in the Coliseum Atero, in front of Xia’s most prestigious upper-class, and even the Powers That Be. They will go through a wide variety of challenges, both for entertainment and to show just how skilled they truly are. Tournaments and gauntlets are held for gladiatorial matches, as well as for sports events involving athletes. Island Cups are almost always held in the Coliseum Atero, and it continues to be a popular tourist site of attraction. Famous celebrities and characters have regularly posed in front of the Coliseum Atero, or even performed in it, such as Kratakal himself! Performances and shows are also common here, with the pillars helping to enhance the experience.

           For particularly chaotic matches, a dome-shaped, clear force-field will be generated to protect the audience from any rogue dangers. Otherwise, they are totally safe as they cheer on contestants or performers, or even boo and jeer at them, sometimes throwing food and trash at ‘losers’. If a loser is not slain, the area they are on will be lowered symbolically, while victors are raised high above all others in glory.

           Accessible from beneath the arena is the Coliseum Atero’s central tower, a massive spire that is visible and prominent amongst Xia’s skyline alongside the stadium itself. The tallest structure in all of Xia, in terms of height this tower is rivalled only by The Mountain itself. Here, only the Powers That Be, alongside select esteemed guests, can visit and access the rooms in this tower. Some contain control-panels and security rooms, while many other chambers are for partying and include pools, bars, massage-areas, and so forth. Luxurious bedrooms are available for invited guests, while only the most loyal and proven of servants are allowed to work here.

           Within the tower, beautiful parties of the highest degree are held, reserved only for the elite of the elite. Here, it is said that one can see the most powerful and mysterious of the Powers That Be, and even interact with them; But from a distance, of course. Very few know what is exactly at the top of the Coliseum’s tower, but supposedly it contains the personal living quarters for the highest Powers That Be, who regularly hold and attend meetings here, discuss stocks, and make other plans as they survey all of Xia from one-way windows. Rumors and outlandish stories of what goes up there are inevitable, and some describe the tower’s peak as the closest point in Xia to heaven itself. To be invited to perform services in the tower is one of the greatest honors in all of life.

           On the outside of the tower is an elevator-platform, from which the Powers That Be can personally watch events, make announcements, and hold the occasional party. This massive platform can climb all the way up to the very top of the tower, and each ‘stop’ connects it to one of the floors on the tower. This platform is also granted an invisible force-field to protect those inside, and supposedly, the Powers That Be will hold some of the finest celebrations in Xian history on this platform, as it is raised to the highest possible setting near the skies. They say at the top of the tower, one can pass their fingers and almost grace the sky itself…