WELCOME TO SOLARIS VII
The average citizen of the Successor States believes that all MechWarriors
are powerful figures with lands, titles, and great personal wealth. In
reality, that is the exception rather than the rule. For every renowned
mercenary regiment like Wolf's Dragoons or Hansen's Roughriders, there
are a score of struggling units, battalion-sized or smaller, who fight
day after day and year after year, half the time not knowing where their
next meal or load of spare parts will come from. Sooner or later, many
of these warriors become so desperate for cash that they travel to Solaris
VII to try their luck at the games.
A rowdy frontier world on the border between Marik and Steiner space,
Solaris has frequently changed hands over the past 200 years. Regardless
of which side controls the planet, however, the planetary government sponsors
games of gladiatorial combat, very like those of the Roman era some three
thousand years ago on Terra.
Any Mechwarrior willing to pay the entry fee of 5,000 C Bills can face
off against other warriors, alone or in pairs, in an arena jam packed with
spectators as bloodthirsty as their ancient counterparts. Contestants may
surrender and break off a fight at any time by setting off a signal flare,
but losers-by retirement must pay their vanquishers a ransom of 100,000
C Bills, as well as suffering a significant loss of reputation. Consequently,
most battles continue until one side is either killed or totally incapacitated.
Contestants receive salvage rights on all `Mechs they destroy in combat.
In addition, those who survive to the final day and place high in the overall
competition can earn themselves a hefty chunk of prize money (purses are
based on the total number of entrants, with a contestant needing to win
seven to nine total matches for a championshp). Those who feel truly confident
of their abilities can place bets with the arena bookmakers who impassively
view the individual wins and losses as mere tallies in their betting books.
The games are big business on Solaris, bringing in substantial revenues
to the planetary and House governments who operate them. Thus, whichever
House is in control of the Solaris system has a strong vested interest
in maintaining the integrity and reputation of the competition. Nonetheless,
rumors abound of bribes, purse money being skimmed off, betting scandals,
fixed draws, "ringers," and even covert team-up agreements made
to eliminate certain "undesirable” contestants from the competition.
Individual gamemasters can decide whether or not any of these tales are
true.
Novice MechWarriors may find the games a good way to accumulate an
initial capital stake or to earn a reputation that might attract gainful
employment. More experienced warriors who have suffered a run of bad luck
may also be drawn toward Solaris for the same purposes. Or, they may be
sent there on assignment by House Marik or Steiner to investigate reports
of illegal activities or a buildup of enemy forces using the games as a
front. In any event, players should find their visit both entertaining
and potentially dangerous.
Solaris
City
The
Great Ones
Solaris
VII History
The
Legends On Solaris
Solaris
Arena's and Stable's
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1997
Created by 
Wolf
Pack Inc, Friday, August 29, 1997
Most recent revision Thursday, September 25, 1997