The Five Gateway Animals

The Frog

The stereotypical conservative player who focuses on defence above all else. The frog almost never bluffs or sacrifices its pieces towards greater strategems, only attacking when it greatly favors them immediately. A frog victory is always a methodical affair, a long bout of manuvering and attrition until their opponent is forced into concession. This makes frogs the most predictable on every Gateway circuit, the best ranking consistantly above jackals and elephants even as they earn stodgy reputations. The frog playstyle is common among patricians who see Gateway tournaments as a chance to impress their Dynastic betters.

The Jackal

Jackals are the direct opposite of frogs, preparing for assault before their pieces are deployed. Some jackals utilize complex bluffs and strategies, others decisive strikes in hope of ending matches early; what unites them is unpredictability and willingness to sacrifice with abandon. Jackals often speak of themselves as mighty hunters, but true eagles and lions see them as the scavengers they are, preying on the weakest players of the circuit.

The Elephant

Popularity in the Dynasty means Gateway circuits are as much social events as competitive tournaments, always drawing the local herd of elephants. The best elephants often focus on the intangibles of the game, reading the intentions of their opponent through seemingly idle chatter or provoking emotions to influence play. Unfortunately many elephants are less devoted to Gateway's traditions, seeing only what playing can do for status and connections.

The Eagle

Eagles are a rare breed of Gateway player. When a board calls for defense, they can hold with the patience of the frog, but an eagle understands the moment to seize initiative and strike as well. Where jackals love flashy feints and clever entrapment, the eagle sparingly employ such strategems; every opponent must respect an eagle's movements. Eagles are the greatest players most ever face, regularly winning circuits wherever they play with their adaptive style. The original eagles were the Sesii champions in the first offical Gateway circuits, giving rise to the other three common archetypes from the imaginative poems honoring their early victories.

The Lion

Most Gateway players will never face a lion in their lifetime. Where eagles shift upon the winds of their opponenet's movements, a lion makes no movement at all. The pinnacle of the Gateway world are said to lack any style whatsoever; they favor no ploys or strategies, for only without bias can the perfect choice be found. Only a handful of Gateway players in all Creation are recognized as lions in the present era, the dominance of the Realm's circuits required calling for extensive travel across the Blessed Isle. The rivalries between lions are the stuff of circuit legend, though sometimes enduring friendships form instead. The most famous pair of lions are Ragara Szaya and her husband Ledaal Kes, two childhood Gateway prodigies who petitioned their families for marriage.