Stranger's Introduction
Gharib: Finally, we come to the once noble Discipline of Conflict.
Gharib: A curious game, played on the sides of hills, the Way of Zhadu is remembered by just a few people who see my wisdom. No University in our land knows The Way of Zhadu...
Gharib: If you wish to learn the Way, there may be a price.
The Quest for the Way of Zhadu
When trying to start the test at a University of Conflict, the following message is produced:
We know nothing of the Way of Zhadu. Find another willing to share.
You cannot learn the Way of Zhadu at a University. You must learn it from somebody who already knows it. It can be taught like any other skill, and takes four lessons.
Playing Zhadu
Zhadu is played on a unique board made of triangles. Each triangle has four playable points within it: one in the center, and one in each corner.
| Empty Board |  |
Each player starts with 5 pieces. These are the 1 piece, the 2 piece, the 3 piece, the 4 piece, and the 123 piece.
| Initial Position |  Piece names, from top to bottom: 4, 3, 123, 2, 1 |
Setup
From the above initial position, the players take turns setting up the board. The board must begin with all pieces in the "starting spots" of the board. These spots consist of all four points in the end triangles, and the center point on each side. Which piece goes where does not matter, save for strategic considerations. The following picture shows an example starting setup:
| Start Position (example) |  |
In order to place a piece, first click on the piece you want to place. Then click on the point to which you wish to move it. Finally, click on the black spot in the middle of the board.
Movement
Once all 10 pieces are placed, the game begins. The game consists of two elements: moving pieces, and capturing pieces. Players take turns moving their pieces. Pieces can move: from a corner of a triangle to its center; from the center of a triangle to one of its corners; or from the corner of one triangle to the adjacent corner of another triangle. The following picture is a visual depiction of these moves. Each line segment is a valid move:
| Legal Moves |  Each line segment is a legal move of distance one. |
Pieces move a number of spaces determined by the value of a piece. The 1 piece can (and must) move one space. The 2 piece can (and must) move two space. Similarly with the 3 and 4 pieces. The 123 piece can move either 1, 2, or 3 spaces. Pieces may backtrack. Moving the 2 piece forward one, and then back where it started is a legal move. Pieces may not move through other pieces.
In order to move a piece, first click on the piece you wish to move. The click on each intermediary space through which it moves until you end up at the desired destination. To finish the move, click on the black spot in the center of the board. To cancel a move, click on the black spot before you have completed a legal move, after you have completed an illegal move, or click on another of your pieces.
Capturing and Winning
You can capture one of your opponent's pieces by landing on it as the last part of one of your moves. Winning is called "Joining in the sharing." In order to join in the sharing, the sum of the first and last pieces you capture must equal four. The following table describes this in detail:
| If you first capture... | you must capture this to win |
| 1 | 3 or 123 |
| 2 | 123 |
| 3 | 1 or 123 |
| 4 | You have already won |
| 123 | 1, 2, or 3 |
Matches and Rank
Like the Test of Telepathy, you must win one more game than your opponent to win a match. You need two more match wins than lossed to go up a rank. If you have two more match losses than wins and cannot spend a win to stay in the tournament, you will have to reset. You may reset once every seven days.
Original Directions
The original directions can be found in this PDF.
Notes
- When the game starts, you are in placement mode. You have to place all five of your stones in the five starting positions before the game begins. These placements ignore movement rules.
- You must click the black spot in the middle of the board to finalize a placement or a move.
- If you wish to cancel a move before you finalize it, just click on any other piece.
- No ante is required to play Zhadu.
- You can end up in a situation where both players agree that no one can force a win. If this occurs, it is good form for both players to declate a stalemate (from the board menu).
- If one player runs out of time, the opponent may end the game and claim a win, or they may agree to a stalemate.
Historical Information
Branco has been been approached by the stranger. The following is from the forums: The way of Zhadu.
Greetings fellow Egyptians,
As you may have heard Gharib has released a new challenge to the warriors of this great nation. It is called The way of Zhadu and as some of you know already know our great Universities of Conflict do not have the skills to teach us these new strategies.
Gharib said that this knowledge will come with a price and left us. He then spoke to me and his instructions were clear. I should find 7 warriors to help me in fullfilling one task in 24 hours. If we succeed, The way of Zhadu will be shared with the 8 of us... I do not want to think of what will happen if we fail, warriors do not fail.
I do not know what task it is, or how to fullfill it. But a warrior must fight with the weapons he his given. I am recruiting 7 of you to join me in this path.
Answer your call!
People who can teach the Way of Zhadu
These were the original people who learned from the Stranger. Anyone who knows Zhadu may teach it to another person (4 lessons).
- Al-Bilal
- Argonis
- Branco
- Decision
- Dors
- Styxx
- Zanna
- Zignotrop
About everyone have the skill now and can teach it.
- Lelani
- Michaelk
- Figrin
- Myn
