The day was a very boring day. The human just received a package of an old game but finely crafted made out of materials that are rare in their home-world, each piece have a Jewel that crowns the top. Excitingly they be called over a haven worlder that is a close friend of the human urging them to play. “You known I shouldn’t be surprised that many games contain some form of war or conflict” the haven worlder sighed. It been a good half hour since they started, slowly but meticulously moving the different pieces around the board. The human chuckled “True, there are many forms of conflict in every game, but every games need a strategy in one form or another. Check.” Their companion looked at the board irritated not noticing their flaw in their defences. “How did you- never mind, as you were saying, I agree strategies are essential in any game, but are conflicts in them are really necessary?” As they dejectedly moved a piece. The human began to laugh. “You may have a point but if you live in a death world you realize you can’t escape conflict no matter where you go. Might as well have some fun with it. In the other hand times like these need to be cherish. Checkmate.” -- Anon Guest
It was a Deathworlder game, so of course it involved some variety of combat. Judging by the names of the pieces, it had been codified in the feudal era when they had monarchs. There was some mystery over why the piece shaped like a castle keep was called a 'rook'. The Humans probably had some obscure history about that[1].
Each piece had its own rule set about how they moved on the grid. The goal was to defeat the opposite force by capturing both royals. The 'king' because they were the most vulnerable, and the 'queen' because it was the most powerful piece on the board. Whatever the Human's history behind that had to have an interesting wrinkle, given the gender-specific architecture of power in Terran history[2]. The rules were relatively simple, but the combinations were practically infinite.
It was a game in which most strategies had been mapped out and named after famous players, and yet an experienced master had good reason to fear a raw initiate. Mostly because a newbie had no idea what the formal responses to established moves were and would do things that experts had grown to not expect.
It was still a game of war. Combat reduced to its most symbolic state. No blood, no massacres, no war crimes... and all the pieces of the game were capable of fighting in another symbolic battle. Under the same commanders. Games could be as short as minutes or as long as months. They could be carried out across the span of Alliance space and had been between participants on different continents.
Many games ended in stand-offs. The most frequent clear victories were on the side of the traditional first move - the paler pieces. Of the darker side's victories, those were legendary. It was also a game that was safe for Havenworlders. The pieces were merely objects, and the violence of the conflict could be re-phrased to friendlier terms.
And, most importantly, it helped keep both Deathworlder and Companion occupied during the monotony of transit between points A and B. Companion Kiri played 'white' - in this case, the silver metal known as platinum. Once rare and valued, now almost as common as carbon. The opposing side was carved out of a gemstone known as Jet. Each monarch's crown was set with sparkling, smaller gemstones. Someone in Human Juun's ancestral past had wished to 'flex' at one of their contemporaries. What it was now was heirloom. A prize handed down to successive family members. The history, now, was more valuable than the materials of its making.
The memories, Human Juun insisted, were more valuable even than that.
Companion Kiri moved a piece. A pawn. The lesser piece had crossed the board and could now become any other piece it wanted. Promotion via merit. Promotion via the simple survival tactic of being ignored.
"You little sneak," said Human Juun appreciatively. "Queen, rook, bishop or knight?"
Everything was strategy. Power and the ability to move. Kiri came to a realisation that Juun had no doubt already arrived at. "I do believe that becomes a Queen, and I have you in checkmate."
Even beating a Deathworlder in simulated combat was a magnificent win for a Havenworlder.
[1] Which I will shortly acquire, and welcome, from all the chess nerds out there. Hi! Yes, your contribution to me learning things is very welcome. Don't be shy.
[2] This one I know. Queen Elizabeth the First was reportedly offended by the power of the king piece and the weakness of the queen. Therefore the roles of power were flipped.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / focalpoint]
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