Plutocracy: The Lords of Wealth and Death

Considering Rifkin's natural charm and skill set, it doesn't take him long to discover that Valdez, magnificent city as it is, has recently experienced a failed coup. The city's leadership are the wealthiest members of society but also the most decadent and the most hated. It's only their iron-fisted control of the city guard that maintains their elevated position.

Less than a month ago though, a popular and virtuous Captain of the city guard; Najam, tried to incite a rebellion against the corrupt council. Over a period of months, he'd covertly recruited a large portion of the city's soldiers to his cause but was ultimately betrayed by one of the very men he'd trusted the most. He was arrested in the dead of night, while lying unarmed and naked with his young, pregnant wife.  

The head of the leading family; High Lord Thariun, ordered that all of the surviving rebels be interred into the pits of the gladiatorial arena. To fight and die for his personal entertainment. Most were killed quickly but some of them have not just survived, but thrived, actively winning over swarths of the population in the process.

Enraged, Thariun has ordered the arena Odds-master to weight each progressive battle further and further against the surviving soldiers by supplying rare and dangerous creatures. Huge, ferocious beasts that no amount of human skill or daring could possibly overcome.

From his room in one of the cheaper boarding houses, Rifkin considers the situation. Using this information, won't be easy but perhaps it could be useful...