Oath, Chapter One

 Oath is a board game made by Leder games. It is a game about history and how power changes hands as time passes. The game changes overtime by decisions made by the winning player, who will be a ruler that the players must try to overthrow during the next game. I have been playing it with friends. I will be keeping a dramatized version of the events of each game.

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In the beginning, there was the winter empire. It had existed from the beginning of time. The ruler of this empire swore an oath that she would always rule as chancellor as long as she held dominion in the land.

However, a time of unrest arose. Many people sought to take the throne, and became exiled for their greed. Among these exiles were Ash of the Cloud, Cedric the fox, and Ad the cloaked.

The period of civil war started with the empire undergoing a military crackdown. The forces of the empire grew in power and ruthlessness. The world was scoured and explored by all to find any advantage one might gain. 

During this time of exploration, Ash of the cloud gained dominion on the edges of the world, the vast untamed hinterlands. He raised an army and built great fortresses in this empty land.

Shortly after, Cedric the Fox set up a place for outcasts and the poor; this town remained on the edges of society as well. However, he ruled it with a corrupt and ruthless hand.

Scouring the land, Ad the cloaked had a dream, a vision of what this world could be. He realized that If he kept this vision a secret until the right time, he could break the rule of the winter empire. 

The cloud began to whisper in Cedric’s ear, promising him that he too would rule the land side by side if he would only co-operate in helping overthrow the empress.

Feeling the power slipping out of her hands, the empress began using any means necessary to maintain her power. She used press gangs to force people into the army against their will.

Taken aback by this, Ash of the cloud began waging war on the empire, and soon made the empress break her oath, coming close to being able to create a new empire.

Ad realized that this was the time to reveal his vision to the world. He would hold dominion of this world much like the empress once did. He embraced discord and used the vast swaths of nomads in the world to fight against Ash. If he could conquer some of Ash’s lands, he would surely prevail.

Ash, realizing his precarious position, began to use the very press gangs that the empress once used, and attempted to manipulate Cedric the Fox much further. Instead, the Fox began to aid Ad the cloaked, realizing that Ash would rule no differently than the empress.

Ad, using the help of a bandit king, was able to conquer what used to be the seat of the empire. He had now successfully become the ruler of this new world. He banished Ash of the cloud and completely wiped the world of all the press gangs that still existed, outlawing the practice completely. He then helped the thieves who aided him grow in power and granted the nomads grazing pastures exclusive for them.

And thus ended the first age.