The Grand Game



The Game, also known as The Grand Game, is a quintessentially Orlesian game of intrigue, seduction and ambition. It is commonly played amongst the nobles of Orlais, where political and familial infighting is as common as donning masks in public: indeed, this habit is also an intrinsic part of the Game in its most obvious form.

The Game's purpose is one-upmanship of rival aristocrats, often accomplished through elite proxies called bards. In order to rise in decadent Orlesian society and amongst the bloated upper class, much is permitted. Indeed, the rule of the Game is simply this: all is accepted as long as the player is not caught, up to and including murder. Paradoxically, however, though direct culpability is undesirable, credit and recognition are demanded. Indeed, an individual known as a skilled player is granted discreet respect amongst his or her peers. Due to this tension, the Game is a losing proposition for the uninitiated.

The lower classes are believed by the nations beyond Orlais to resent the Game that ostensibly keeps them demeaned. However, most peasants desire to ascend as well, and the vain hope of accruing a generous patron or sufficient funds to gain a title in the Council of Heralds makes them surprisingly accepting of the Game's excesses. Orlais is much less of a meritocracy than it appears, however, and the Game frequently sorts the wheat of Orlesian society from the chaff.

Also surprising is the presence of the Chantry in the Game. Though normally considered above the Game, the templars and priesthood of Orlais frequently participate in the Game. The current Divine, Justinia V, is reputed to be one of its best players.

The Role of Bards in the Game

 * ''"We let nobles decide who to blame. We are just the enablers of the game."
 * --Leliana, a bard

Bards tend to be proxies of wealthy patrons in the Game, inacting their will through spying, bribes, seduction and sometimes even assassinations. These men and women are elite players of the Game, serving as minstrels or actors, serving under learned bardmasters and frequently using others as pawns in their work. Indeed, this attitude infects the lives of the bards themselves, and they may sometimes become victims of fellow professionals if they are seen as losing their edge.

Bards may serve anyone and at any time: mage or noble, king or priest. Indeed, their presence is expected in the presence of power players and at pivotal moments, whomever and wherever they are. Their presence, rather than a source of anxiety for their targets, is welcomed as dangerously exciting.