Vlex
"Vlex flows like the river to the embrace of the sea." - Ancient Trusven Proverb
History
The only certainty about the origin of Vlex is that it is Trusven because the pieces, dice and board bear the same Skald names world wide. The oldest game pieces were unearthed when a two thousand year old oak uprooted during a hurricane in the Jarsk Forest of western Trusven.
From lowly potshops to royal courts, Vlex is played by every socioeconomic group. Annual tournaments to crown a champion are common being held in small villages to entire countries. Strong players attain celebrity status and often enjoy a place in the courts of nobles and wealthy merchants. Royalty include a stable of players in their entourage when traveling to participate in tournaments.
The first player considered to be Champion of Pangola was Bolivier the Bald. In the following five centuries a total of 29 players have claimed the title and the Bolivier Board in a Vlexmoot.
International conflicts have even been avoided over the Vlex board. Most notably the Culling was brought to an end by a series of games played at the border R'Do and Kingston.
Components and tools
Vlex consists of two sets of twenty-four game pieces, two pairs of six sided dice and a checkered board with 144 squares.
Participants
The players sit on opposite sides of the board with pieces arranged their chosen order on the first rank of squares. The light pieced player begins the contest with a toss of the dice. The result is executed upon their choice of piece. Each piece has it's own movement rules with the object being to exit all 24 of your pieces off the opponents side of the board before your opponent accomplishes the same feat.
Most often a second game is played with the opposite colored pieces upon completion of the first game. These pairs of games commonly can be played as a single contest, a set number of challenges or alternated even alternated until one player achieves a set number of victories regardless of an even number of color opportunities. Every tournament is different including Vlexmoots.
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