Jewel: A Linked-series of Games

Jewel: (aka Keys in Time) is a series of games, some of which can be described as Convergence games. The games are structured as “Facets” which are basically levels and consist of: 1. Facet 1: Duel in the Castle – a Beginner’s game 2. Facet 2: Ambush in the Forest – a Mini game 3. Facet 3: Northern Light – a Treasure Hunt 4. Facet 4: Crystal of Doom 5. Facet 5: Star-Lords Also there is the series Tie-break game called Race © Copyright G. Nicholls 2015/16 Notes: Games can be played in three ways as follows: 1. As Stand-alone games. 2. As a Linked-series of games. 3. As a Tie-break game(s). The mechanics of playing the games are described as for Stand-alone games and then the changes or adjustments for a Linked-series of games or a Tie-break game are explained separately. Northern Light is the Tie-break game(s) for The Dragon Trilogy (See Games by Groupings). The Boards for each consecutive Facet are called as follows: Jewel: Key-board 1 Jewel: Key-board 2 Jewel: Key-board 3 and so on, but they may also have a descriptive name as stated below under the individual game. For times see the Chronology in Games by Groupings. Piece moves: The King's Lancer can move or capture one or two squares vertically or horizontally and he can jump. The Queen's Lancer can move or capture one or two squares diagonally and he can jump. A Cloaked Prince moves and captures with the combined powers of a Queen's Lancer and a Western Chess Knight. All other pieces move as their Western Chess equivalents as stated in the individual games. Keys in Time preface - Deadlock: The time is shortly after Stones of Fortune (If) The varied Conflicts and Battles of The Dragon Trilogy (see Games by Groupings) have, perhaps surprisingly, produced no clear victory or resolution and now various Conflicts involving many others will, it seems, repeat themselves yet again with another series of Conflicts collectively known as Jewel. This time however, there must be a victory for one side or the other..... And there is only a short time before Jewel will commence..... The Players (Sides): The Green TimeLord who plays the various Green Characters of the Facets. And The Red TimeLord who plays the various Red Characters of the Facets. There may be alternate names given to games, players, boards, settings or characters or choosing of sides, as stated below under the individual games depending on whether the game is played as a Stand-alone, a Linked-series or a Tie-break game(s). When Jewel or part thereof is played as a Linked-series or a Tie-break game(s) then Players (Individual or member of a Team) roll a standard dice or coin to see which TimeLord they will be and they stay as that same TimeLord throughout all Facets. Keys in Time prologue – The Turning of the Key: .....During the Battle in the Dark Realm, as within the Middle Kingdoms previously (see Games by Groupings - The Dragon Trilogy), there were set against each other talismanic objects of unique and rare power and the Stones of Fortune (which some call the TigerStones) were, for the first time, set against each other - Light versus Dark; and in addition the Sword Excalibur was set directly against the Golden Axe. This unprecedented Clash of Talismans of such power has led to a series of upheavals that are now beginning to make themselves known. Had The Dragon Trilogy been resolved then matters would possibly have quickly settled back to their quiet and mostly forgotten state; but the unresolved Battles have led to a permanent wrench (which will shortly come to be named The Great Rift but is currently and will as well also be called The Corridor through Time) in what was the relatively peaceful balance of age-long myths and legends, and that means ancient Conflicts will inevitably now arise.....yet again..... Playing the Games: Jewel Facet 1: Duel in the Castle – A Beginner’s game. Keys in Time 1 – The Forest awakes: The time of Duel in the Castle is early in The Era of Constraint. It was said that the Forest and nearly all its Inhabitants and Animals had slept for a hundred years or more, for nothing else could save the Princess from the Witch’s spell and the Princess was still asleep upstairs in a Castle in the Forest, and nothing that was still awake had entered the Forest during this time as there was an overwhelming feeling of decay and hopelessness. The legend grew that only if the Princess awoke again would the former life and vitality of the Forest return, but she could not, it was said, awaken of her own accord but would need the help of the Prince of the Forest to break the spell of the Witch and then she would awaken. The Prince however had himself fallen into a deep sleep and showed no sign of awakening. But eventually there were stirrings of new growth and with this came a feeling of spring and the expectancy perhaps of better things to come and so finally some of the Animals of the Forest began to become active followed by some of the Inhabitants and then by the Prince and finally by others. But many could not awake, including the Princess who could not break the Witch’s spell. The Prince learned of the whereabouts of the Princess and resolved to break the spell cast on her by the Witch and so bring the Princess and the Forest back to their full life and vitality. After overcoming many obstacles and expelling the Witch from the Forest the Prince finally entered the Castle where the Princess was being kept but who was still in a near coma-like sleep. Unexpectedly though, the Prince came across a Guard (a servant of the Witch) at the foot of the stairs leading up to the Princess’s room and the Guard was armed with a Sword and determined not to let anyone see the Princess. And so there was a Duel fought between the Prince (also armed with a Sword) and the armed Guard (see game below), but the Guard was it seems himself somewhat sleepy and soon made a beginner’s error in the Duel by rushing onto the stairs which allowed the Prince to disarm him and so to gain access to the stairs and to reach and help the Princess. And so it was that the Forest and all its Inhabitants and Animals came back to their full life and vitality and the Forest would grow and thrive and one day become known as The Forest Kingdom (see Dragon) and which would eventually extend all the way to the Ocean. Object: For Duel in the Castle the object is to “Hold the Key” (B2) and this wins the Duel (game). The Game is usually called just Duel and can be described as a Convergence game. Settings: For Duel in the Castle, there is a Castle which is in a Forest and the centre of the Castle is the Key Position (B2), which are stairs. The board can be called the “Castle board”. The Board & Characters: The Play: Of the two Characters, who move alternately, Red moves first, and both move as a King’s Lancer does (see various games e.g. TigerChess) and so they can jump across the B2 square (position) whereas this position would block (see Facet 3: Northern Light) the move of a sliding piece such as a Rook or Bishop of Western Chess. The object of the game is to “Hold the Key position” or simply to “Hold the Key” and this requires two objectives to be met: 1. A Character needs to have reached and occupied the Key Position which is the B2 position. 2. This Character must Hold the Key position for the next turn of his opponent. This means that his opponent must capture him immediately or lose the game. If he does capture him then he would then himself have reached and occupied the Key Position and would himself win the game - there being no opposing Character left to then capture him. An example of a win would be: 1. Red C1 to B1 Green A3 to C3 2. Red B1 to B2 and wins Red has reached and occupied the Key Position and Green cannot capture Red on his next turn and so Red Holds the Key Position whatever move Green were to make. Red then has won the game. Another example (see “The Forest awakes” above) of a win would be: 1. Red C1 to B1 Green A3 to A2 2. Red B1 to B2 Red has reached and occupied the Key Position but Green can now capture him Green on A2 captures (disarms) Red on B2 and wins Green has reached and occupied the Key Position and Red having been captured cannot of course capture Green. Green has then won the game by Holding the Key position. If a Character has captured his opposing Character but is not occupying the Key position then he may carry on moving until he does occupy the Key Position - otherwise Characters must move alternately. It is not possible to force anything more than a draw as follows: 1. Red has four possible starting moves but two lose quickly i.e. to move to A1 or C3. He would be captured here and if captured on A1 for example Green would then move to e.g. A2 and then to B2 and so win. 2. The other two possible moves come to similar outcomes – if e.g. Red moves to C2 then Green must move to B3 or lose the game and Red must now jump to A2 or he will lose the game. Green must now jump to B1 or he loses the game and now both Characters must jump backwards and forwards to the same two positions or they would lose. The game ends by threefold repetition of moves/position. Scores: For Duel in the Castle the score is one Game Point for a win and a half Game Point each for a draw – but only for the first time of a player’s playing; thereafter no Points, Chords or marks are awarded to the player when Duel is played as a Stand-alone game (but see Scores section in Ambush in the Forest). Clocks: For Duel in the Castle each player has five or ten minutes on a single countdown clock. Each move is time-lagged by five seconds. Notes: 1. Draws include threefold repetition of moves/position. 2. Players may simply be called the Green Player or the Red Player. Jewel Facet 2: Ambush in the Forest – A Mini game. Keys in Time 2 – A Tax too far: The time of Ambush in the Forest is many centuries before The Great Change. The one-time Noble, but now turned outlaw, prepared to loose the arrow of his longbow, but the target was not a person but a tree in the path of a hurrying armed troop of a King’s Sheriff and the rules of chivalry demanded that the Longbowman give fair warning of the intended attack he was about to begin. The shot, though distant, was an easy one for the Longbowman who was considered possibly the finest archer in the entire (Disputed) Realm and he had indeed won the inaugural all-Realm Archery Tournament held just a short time earlier. The causes of the attack about to take place had their origin some years previously when the most powerful King amongst the disputing Kings and Nobles of the Realm took up a cause in far distant lands but found the cost of his venture way beyond even his means to pay. This King, convinced of the necessity of his cause, decided to partly finance his coming expedition (which some are convinced led to the discovery of the Light and Dark Stones – see Overview in TigerQuest in Chess from Draughts etc.) by means of taxing those Inhabitants who were under his rule. This heavy tax was forced into being with little support from others of the Nobility and was hugely unpopular amongst those who had to pay for it as they found the tax a great burden and could scarcely raise the amounts needed to pay for it. The tax was levied and eventually collected but there were many who resented what they saw as an unjustified tax and some, including the Longbowman, decided they would rebel and take action to redress matters. Thus it was that when the collected taxes (of great value and now exchanged into gold coins) were being transferred to the King’s treasury, the Longbowman (who had received information of this transfer) and his supporters prepared to capture the chest of gold coins for re-distribution back to those who it had been (in the eyes of many) taken from unfairly. Object: For Ambush in the Forest the object is also to “Hold the Key” (C3) and this wins the Battle (game). The Game is usually called just Ambush and can be described as a Convergence game. Settings: For Ambush in the Forest there is a Clearing in a Forest and the centre of the Clearing is the Key Position (C3), which is a chest of gold coins derived from taxes. The board can be called the “Forest Clearing board”. The Board & Characters: The Play: Of the two sets of Characters, who move alternately, Green moves first, and the Longbowman and the King’s Sheriff (who can be called simply the Sheriff) both move and capture as the King’s Lancer of TigerChess and so they can jump across or onto the C3 square (the Key position) whereas this position blocks (see Facet 3: Northern Light) the move of a sliding piece such as a Rook or Bishop of Western Chess. The Sword-hands and the Guardsmen both move and capture as the Queen’s Lancer of TigerChess and so they could (this does not happen) also jump across the C3 position. The Staffmen and Tax Collectors both move and capture as the Knight of Western Chess and so are not impeded by the C3 position. The object of the game is to “Hold the Key position” or simply to “Hold the Key” and this requires two objectives to be met: 1. A Character needs to have reached and occupied the Key Position which is the C3 position. 2. The Character must Hold the Key position for the next turn of his opponent. This means that his opponent must capture him immediately or lose the game. If he does capture him then he would then himself have reached and occupied the Key Position and would himself win the game unless he is then likewise immediately captured and this condition continues until no capture is made. If a Character has captured his last opposing Character but is not occupying the Key Position then he (or any fellow Characters) may carry on moving until the Key Position is occupied (if possible- if not possible then the game is a draw), otherwise Characters must move alternatively. Scores: For Ambush in the Forest the score is two Game Points for a win and one Game Point each for a draw – but only for the first time of a player’s playing; thereafter no Points, Chords or marks are awarded to the player when Ambush is played as a Stand-alone game; but the game can, as can Duel, of course be played without scoring and it should be noted that all Tiger’s-Eye Games etc. can be awarded “Merit-prizes” which are awarded for outstanding Games etc. whether or not they have been awarded T-Eye Points, Chords or any marks. Merit-prizes can sometimes be very valuable. Clocks: For Ambush in the Forest each player has thirty minutes on a single countdown clock. Each move is time-lagged by five seconds. Notes: 1. Draws include threefold repetition of moves/position and also draws by insufficient material. 2. Players may simply be called the Green Player or the Red Player. Jewel Facet 3: Northern Light- a Treasure Hunt. There are three distinct sections making up this game and their full names are: 1. Northern Light – a Treasure Hunt – 1st Hunt: DiamondQi 2. Northern Light – a Treasure Hunt – 2nd Hunt: DiamondQuest or Diamaranga 3. Northern Light – a Treasure Hunt – 3rd Hunt: DiamondChess The three sections are usually called DiamondQi, DiamondQuest and DiamondChess. Notes: Qi is pronounced as in the English word key. Each game section is dealt with in turn and DiamondQuest is only played if DiamondQi is a draw and DiamondChess is only played if DiamondQuest is a draw. Northern Light is the Tie-break game for The Dragon Trilogy. The same Player (TimeLord) plays the same Side (same colour Characters) for all three sections if they are played. Keys in Time 3 – A Jewel unearthed: The time of Northern Light is many centuries before The Dragon Trilogy. The Inhabitants of The Woodland Kingdom are at a crossroads and possibly in a crisis, for a Diamond Earthstone of great size and potency has been discovered in a remote northern part of the Kingdom. This stone has been named as “The Northern Light” and such stones are so rare as to be almost unknown and have attained near mythical status. The discovery of the stone has coincided with a time of a succession dispute within the Kingdom as the King, who has not named an heir, is very old and in failing health and there are two young Princesses who have succession claims to the Woodland throne and whoever succeeds with their claim will take possession of the Northern Light which in the meantime has been given over to the safekeeping of the Nobles of the Kingdom. After much debate it has been agreed that the succession dispute and possession of the Northern Light will be decided by means of one or more “Treasure Hunts” where the rules of the Hunts must be followed and it is forbidden to intentionally inflict injuries on opponents in the normal course of events. The Princesses and their supporters have been designated for the purposes of the Hunt(s) as Green (north) and Red (south) and are considerably different in temperament for whereas the Green Princess is fairly calm and careful in her actions, the Red Princess is (and is sometimes called) stormy and is impulsive and sometimes hasty in her actions. It is expected that the losing Princess will go into exile. DiamondQi: Object: For DiamondQi the Object is to “Win the Key” or “Win the Key position” (D4) which is the same as to “Hold the Key” but only a Princess can do so here whereas any Character can Hold the Key in Facet 2: Ambush for example. This wins the game. Settings: Northern Light (all three sections) takes place in (part of) the Woodland Kingdom (see Fortress of the Witch). The Key position (square) of D4 is the Northern Light itself (which also appears in Fortress of the Witch and Dragon). The board can be called the “Northern Light board” in all three sections. The Board & Characters: The Play: Of the two sets of Characters, who move alternately, who moves first is decided by the roll of a standard dice or coin. The Princesses move the same as the Western Chess Kings but the Princesses are not “Royal” as are the Kings of Western Chess and they are not vulnerable to Check or Checkmate and may occupy adjacent squares, but if they are captured then their side cannot win the game, but may still draw the game (see below). The Towers move like the Rooks of Western Chess, The Knights move like the Knights of Western Chess, the Nobles move like the Bishops of Western Chess and the Pikemen like the Pawns of Western Chess. All these pieces also capture in the same way as their Western Chess counterparts. The Pikemen can only move one square on their first move. The object of the game is to “Win the Key” or to “Win the Key position” and this requires two objectives to be met: 1. A Princess needs to have reached and occupied the Key position which is the D4 position and is the Diamond Earthstone known as the Northern Light. 2. The Princess must Hold the Key position for the immediate next turn of her opponent. This means that her opponent must capture her immediately or lose the game. If he does then capture her with a piece other than his own Princess he saves the game but does not win the game, but if he does then capture her with his own Princess then he will have won the game unless she is also then immediately captured. Notes: 1. If a Princess is captured the player does not lose the game and may still draw. 2. If both Princesses are captured then the game is a draw. 3. The D4 position acts as a block to pieces that slide - the Towers and Nobles. This means that such pieces cannot move past (directly over) the position, but they can move onto or capture onto the D4 position. Knights are unimpeded by the D4 position. 4. Occupying the Key Position with a piece other than a Princess has no special effect or significance. 5. Pikemen do not promote on their end rank but must stay on their end rank until and unless captured. 6. There is no castling type move. 7. Characters move alternatively (but see below). 8. If a side’s last Character has been captured then any opposing Character(s) may carry on moving until the Key Position is occupied by and won by their Princess (if possible, or the game is a draw) - otherwise Characters must move alternatively. 9. DiamondQi (but not DiamondQuest or DiamondChess) can be described as a Convergence game. 10. Draws include threefold repetition of moves/position and also insufficient material. Scores: For DiamondQi the score is one Game Point for a win and half a Game Point for each player for a draw. If DiamondQi has ended in a draw then the game moves to the 2nd Hunt of Northern Light which is DiamondQuest – If DiamondQi has ended in a win then the game of Northern Light has ended and the score is 1-0 to the winning Player: Clocks: For DiamondQi each player has sixty minutes on a single countdown clock. Note: If the game moves to DiamondQuest then a short interval is allowable of up to thirty minutes. DiamondQuest (aka Diamaranga): Object: For DiamondQuest the Object is to Encircle (Checkmate) the opposing Princess. This wins the Hunt (game). Princesses are now “Royal” and so are vulnerable to Check and Checkmate and therefore may not occupy adjacent squares. Settings: Northern Light (all three sections) takes place in (part of) the Woodland Kingdom. The Northern Light, having failed to be won, has been moved to safety by two Watchers, one from each side, and who now wins this prize will perhaps be determined by playing the 2nd Hunt of Northern light known as DiamondQuest. The Board & Characters: Notes: 1. The D4 position is now the same as any other and the board is now a straightforward 7x7 non-chequered Chessboard. 2. Ornamental Watchers and the Northern Light can be placed alongside the board. The Play: Of the two sets of Characters, who move alternately, who moves first is the opposite of who moved first in DiamondQi. The Princesses move the same as the Western Chess Kings and this time the Princesses are “Royal” as are the Kings of Western Chess and as already stated they are vulnerable to Check or Checkmate. The Towers move like the Rooks of Western Chess, The Knights move like the Knights of Western Chess, the Nobles move like the Bishops of Western Chess and the Pikemen like the Pawns of Western Chess. All these pieces also capture in the same way as their Western Chess counterparts. The Pikemen can only move one square on their first move. As already stated the object of the game is to Encircle (Checkmate) the opposing Princess. Notes: 1. Pikemen can and must promote on their end rank to either an Aristocrat (same powers as a Tower), a Noble or a Knight. 2. There is castling and this is called Towering and the normal rules of Western Chess castling apply – The Princess moves two squares laterally and the Tower moves two squares laterally the opposite way to stand next to her. 3. Characters move alternatively. 4. Draws include threefold repetition of moves/position and Stalemate. 5. DiamondQuest is also known as Diamaranga. Scores: For DiamondQuest the score is one Game Point for a win but there are no Points awarded for a draw. If DiamondQuest has ended in a draw then the game moves to the 3rd Hunt of Northern Light which is DiamondChess – If DiamondQuest has ended in a win then the game of Northern Light has ended and the score is 1 ½ - ½ to the winning Player as both Players keep their half point from DiamondQi. Clocks: For DiamondQuest each player has thirty minutes on a single countdown clock plus any unused time on his clock from DiamondQi. Unlike DiamondQi, DiamondQuest has a five second time-lagging for each move. DiamondChess: Object: For DiamondChess the Object is to Encircle (Checkmate) the opposing Princess. This wins the Hunt (game). Princesses are “Royal” as in DiamondQuest. Settings: Northern Light (all three sections) takes place in (part of) the Woodland Kingdom. The Northern Light, having failed to be won on either the first or second Hunt, remains in safety by the two Watchers, and who now wins this prize will perhaps be determined by playing the 3rd Hunt of Northern light known as DiamondChess. The Board & Characters: Notes: 1. The board is the same 7x7 Chessboard used for DiamondQuest. 2. Ornamental Watchers and the Northern Light can be placed alongside the board. The Play: Of the two sets of Characters, who move alternately, who moves first is decided by the roll of a standard dice or coin. All the rules of play are identical to DiamondQuest except that the Pikemen also have an optional initial two square (position) move the same as does the Pawn of Western Chess or the Pikeman of TigerChess etc. The en-passant capture rules now apply. As already stated the object of the game is to Encircle (Checkmate) the opposing Princess. Scores: For DiamondChess the score is one Game Point for a win but there are no Points awarded for a draw. If DiamondChess has ended in a win then the game of Northern Light has ended and the score is 1 ½ - ½ Game Points to the winning Player as both Players keep their half point from DiamondQi. If DiamondChess has ended in a draw then the game of Northern Light has ended in a draw and the score is ½ - ½ as only the half Game Point for DiamondQi will be awarded to the Players. If the game ends in a win then the winning Princess will gain her prize of the Northern Light and will succeed in her claim to the throne. If the game ends in a draw then the Northern Light will remain under the safe-keeping of the two Watchers and Nobles until such time as the succession dispute is resolved or possibly another Hunt is arranged. Draws include threefold repetition of moves/position and Stalemate. Clocks: For DiamondChess each player has thirty minutes on a single countdown clock plus any unused time on his clock from DiamondQuest. DiamondChess has a five second time-lagging for each move. Note: In order to distinguish between the Pikemen of each of the three Hunts they are described as follows: 1. 1st Hunt Pikemen are described as (initiate) Pikemen. 2. 2nd Hunt Pikemen are described as (trainee) Pikemen. 3. 3rd Hunt Pikemen are described as (inducted) Pikemen. When played as the Tie-break game for The Dragon Trilogy: Northern Light is the Tie-break game for The Dragon Trilogy. When played as this Tie-break game the points scored for the individual game(s) are as above but are Nominal Points. The winner of the game(s) scores the usual four Game Points as the overall win bonus for The Dragon Trilogy except if “The Deciding Hunt” is played (see below). The following apply: 1. The Players are called the Green TimeLord who plays the Green Characters and the Red TimeLord who plays the Red Characters. 2. The Players keep the same Sides/Characters if DiamondQuest and DiamondChess are played. 3. As with the stand-alone game, DiamondQuest and DiamondChess are only played if draws occur. 4. Who moves first for each game is as described above in the stand-alone game. 5. Choice of sides is decided by roll of standard dice or coin. However, either Player (whether an Individual or a member of a Team) may insist that he plays the same North or South Side that he or his Team played in Dragon and Stones of Fortune, e.g. The Forest OverLord/Light Stone Master would then be (if an Individual) The Green TimeLord playing The Green Characters. This rule would also apply were there a connected game of Fortress of the Witch. 6. Clock times and interval time are the same as stated above for the stand-alone game(s). 7. If a win occurs in any of the three games then the winning player is awarded the win bonus of four Game Points. 8. If there are draws in all the three games then a second game of DiamondChess is played with the Players keeping the same Sides and the same Player who moved first in the first game of DiamondChess also moves first in the second such game and also the time controls are the same as the first such game with any unused time added on from the first game of DiamondChess. The winner (if one) of this game wins the Trilogy and is awarded an extra one Nominal Point but is only awarded a win bonus of three Game Points however, and if this game ends in a draw then the Player who moved second is awarded an extra half a Nominal Point and wins the Trilogy but is only awarded one Game Point as a win bonus. This game is called “The Deciding Hunt”. 9. The winning Princess will gain her prize of the Northern Light and will succeed in her claim to the throne. Jewel: General Notes to Facets 1 to 3 1. There can be suitable video/visual/audio effects to the games. 2. All the participating Characters and background Characters of the games are of the male gender except for females as follows: a) The Princess and the Witch in Duel. b) The Princesses in Northern Light. c) The Watchers in Northern Light. The Towers in Northern Light are constructions. 3. If required there are the following abbreviations for the Characters of Jewel: The Prince in Duel: JLD -GNPR The Armed Guard in Duel: JLD-RDAR The Longbowman in Ambush: JLA-GNLO A Sword-hand in Ambush: JLA-GNSW A Staffman in Ambush: JLA-GNST The King’s Sheriff in Ambush: JLA-RDKI A Guardsman in Ambush: JLA-RDGU A Tax Collector in Ambush: JLA-RDTA The Green Princess in Northern Light: JLN-GNPS A Green Noble in Northern Light: JLN-GNNO A Green Knight in Northern Light: JLN-GNKN A Green Tower in Northern Light: JLN-GNTO A Green Aristocrat in Northern Light: JLN-GNAR A Green (initiate) Pikeman in Northern Light: JLN-GNIN A Green (trainee) Pikeman in Northern Light: JLN-GNTN A Green (inducted) Pikeman in Northern Light: JLN-GNID The Red Princess in Northern Light: JLN-RDPS A Red Noble in Northern Light: JLN-RDNO A Red Knight in Northern Light: JLN-RDKN A Red Tower in Northern Light: JLN-RDTO A Red Aristocrat in Northern Light: JLN-RDAR A Red (initiate) Pikeman in Northern Light: JLN-RDIN A Red (trainee) Pikeman in Northern Light: JLN-RDTN A Red (inducted) Pikeman in Northern Light: JLN-RDID

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