Ishagrian Chess

[Anonymoose]

While English is the only language to take it beyond "pieces for map tables" to imply "pieces (usually for chess but now) for map tables", it's not a weird leap to make. We have 5 pieces and there are 5 non-pawn pieces in chess. Maybe it has an anchor in world lore, maybe they threw the word out whimsically - who can say?

However, does it strike you as weird that the pieces represent both the Holy See and the Horde? Surely they wouldn't stand for them being on the same side even in a board game. Even if these were the five "true" pieces used in the days of the Landlords, the Holy See would have tossed that sh[kupo]t right out and installed some new, non-heretical rules. If we're talking about traditional chess, here, I posit that we're not seeing the 5 non-pawn pieces, but a few pieces from each side; a few "white" pieces, a couple "black" pieces. The only trouble there is that you double the number of pieces someone needs to remember.

Just for fun, here's what I'm imagining is what the pieces are when used for chess rather than map table pieces.
Though, who knows if a dev. will drop some lore bombs and canonize Ishgardian Chess pieces, eh?

The Holy See of Ishgard
♚ Archbishop/King Thordan (Ruler)
♛ Very Reverend Archimandrite (Advisor; Heavens' Ward)
♜ Vigil (Stronghold)
♝ Temple Knight (Elite Knight Path A)
♞ Dragoon (Elite Knight Path B)
♟ Soldier (Fang & Claw Fodder)

The Dravanian Horde
♚ Nidhogg (Ruler)
♛ Tioman (Ruler's Mate; Brood Guardian)
♜ "Vishap-class" (Stronghold Destroyer)
♝ Dragon (Common Evolutionary Branch A)
♞ Wyvern (Common Evolutionary Branch B)
♟ Heretic (Cannon Fodder)