The warrior societies for which Lirith Kai is well known are in practice concerned more with political, social, ethical, or quasi-religious issues than with fighting styles per se, and many of them have codes of behavior that would seriously cramp the lifestyle of the average arena gladiator. Does this mean that gladiators are effectively barred from society membership and the undoubtedly valuable combat training they offer? Not exactly.

It is true that most gladiators--at least, those of the old, or Alastarian school--would be ill at ease in one of the great warrior societies, or would be cast out shortly after being admitted, for unacceptable behavior (there's no space to go into the details of "acceptable behavior" here today, but drunkenness is a big no-no). However, there are societies of a different sort, teva societies they're called (teva is the Adantri word we might translate as dojo or gym), which are concerned solely with fighting style and have no tendency to sit in moral judgment over their members. Each teva society teaches one or another style of fighting to the exclusion of other interests (we might liken them to the different schools or styles of martial arts here on Earth). A teva society will admit anyone who is willing to pay the fees and maintain a reasonably respectful attitude toward the instructors. A person may belong to several teva societies at one time, joining or leaving them freely, which is another advantage over the warrior societies (warrior societies usually demand exclusive membership).

Some of the commoner teva societies, and the arena-equivalent fighting style they teach, are listed here:

The Black Bear teva society teaches slashing techniques and is said to be related in some fashion to the Caged Bear warrior society. It shares the ferocity of attack which marks the Caged Bear warriors.

The Cobra school of strikers teaches its students to seek out the one critical blow that will give victory; they are more willing to kill than their striking-style brothers in the Flying Fish society.

The Dancing Bull society teaches a parry-lunging type of style, with an emphasis on confusing one's opponent (such as by using a slashing or other unlikely tactic from time to time) and then striking quickly. Because of their willingness to strike in other fashions than the simple lunge, Dancing Bull fighters often favor a sword over the more traditional spear.

The Dragon's Horn society masters are lungers and parry-lungers, the most respected masters of this deadly style.

The Elephant society teaches its students to endure blows and wait with patience, then devastate their opponents unexpectedly; it is classed as a bashing style.

The Falling Rocks teva society teaches a bashing style; the masters emphasize overcoming opponents by the reasonably accurate placement of blows of overwhelming force.

The Flying Fish teva masters advise multiple strikes, an unending rain of steel; some masters of this society also teach a wall of steel type of style. Strikers and parry-strikers may learn much from these teachers.

The teva society called Flying Hands champions the precision use of the unarmed hand; it is basically an aimed-blow style.

The teachers of the Gliding Stream society teach a style that is seemingly passive, subtle and difficult. Students learn to allow the attacks of their opponents to pass by them, leading those hapless attackers into pitfalls made by their own efforts; it might be likened to earthly jujitsu or akido...or perhaps not. Arena commentators differ on the question of whether this is an aimed blow style or a total parry style.

The instructors of the Hill Wind society of slashers advise, in contrast to the Black Bear mentioned above, a cool head, a waiting game, and a sudden devastating effect. The great curved swords favored by many of the mountain dwellers work well in this style.

Total parries may study with the House of Stone, which emphasizes endurance and a steady pressure on the opponent. Although students of this school frequently wear heavy armor, they do not fight a stationary battle.

The masters of the Long Arm teva society teach the use of pole arms such as the longspear and halberd--it is their claim that an opponent should not be allowed to come close but should rather be dealt with from a distance.

The Nightfall stylists, who are classed as lungers, are one of the most feared of the teva societies, for they teach that the most satisfactory ending to a duel is a fatal one.

The One-Eyed Crab is as yet a small group and mostly found in Dal Shang; they classed with the parry-lungers and viewed with some suspicion, as the founder of the school had a reputation for (unproven) treachery.

The society of the Red Hammer teaches a style of fast bashing which uses speed and repeated strikes of normal power to overcome an opponent.

The teva society called Rose was considered to be the best place to learn the parry-riposter's style. It is said that ten years ago the two highest masters of this school fell out over a question of ethics (the details have never been revealed) and split the society between them, forming two new ones: the White Rose and the Black.

The Silver Web school teaches the difficult wall-of-steel style; the name of the society is taken from the appearance of the rapidly moving blade of the master of this style.

The Star-Masters teach a style of the aimed blow type and specialize in the extremely accurate use of weapons. Since the Clawmoon and the Thieves' Guild both make use of shurikins, once a favored weapon of this society, the Starmasters have experienced a decline in popularity.

The Tooth of Time society teaches patience, advising warriors to armor themselves as heavily as might be needed and wait, allowing their opponents to wear themselves out. Followers of the Tooth of Time masters are sometimes scorned by those who study a more vigorous and active style, yet the Tooth of Time remains popular.

The Weaver's Needle school teaches the parry-striking style and is small at the present time. It is said to have been named by a Flying Fish master who watched his wife at work at her loom and was inspired to start a new teva style.

So, next time someone asks you if your liquor-loving fighter is a member of the abstemious Unicorn society (usually in a "you gotta be kidding" tone of voice) you can answer them by saying (in a lofty tone), "Not at all. He is, of course, a Dragon's Horn adept!"