The Game

There is an intricate tapestry that everyone weaves about them. It is not visible, but is made up of threads of emotional investments, friendships, lies, deceptions, and goals. Recognizing individual threads and manipulating them, both on oneself and on others, is "the game."

The purpose of the game is simple: survival. Beyond this, it can be used to create strong bonds within a group or society, or to damage and destroy the bonds of others. If performed poorly, it can ostracize and endanger. It is not always malicious, in fact before recent events I would have claimed that it is normally amiable, and bound by rules of socialization. But it is possible to reveal and tug at those threads to accomplish one’s ends, or to annihilate others. There are three sorts of participants. Victims, grudging competitors, and able players.

Those that are not aware of the game or refuse to play become victims to it. As an example, I spoke with Nemeiah at Tyr’s Hand some weeks ago, and she was upset by the scene created by Knight’s rudeness toward her in Orgrimmar. She declared that she would avoid the city for a time after, in order to prevent further disruption. Thus she gave victory to those that did not accept her, and would drive her away. Too gentle to manipulate the threads, her own are left for others to grasp. As a note, she has since returned to the city.

The Bishop, by contrast, is aware of the game and plays it with competence. But he regrets the necessity of it. With him I chatted about the same incident and we traded information. He recognizes that I am the sort that requires fair exchange for offered services, and he told me what I wished to know, for details regarding Knight’s activities in Orgrimmar.

Then, there are those like the Regent who not only know the game exists, but embrace it and play with skill. And, not only mortals are involved at the highest levels. Unholy and unseen sorts manipulate and confine, judge and guide. There is nothing quite as perturbing as learning that while you were moving your pieces on the chess board, someone else, someone you were utterly unaware of, was moving theirs too.