The King of Blackthorn rose to power on the strength of his sword gaining the devotion of the people as he forged a nation & purged the ravages of war Once a much needed beacon of strength for a foundling kingdom he has now grown old & is no longer a vital part of a now robust & powerful country Others have risen to prominence & power within his council Adept in their machinations & plots the councilors have their own self serving ambitions In a shadowy battle of subterfuge they ruthlessly vie against one another for true control of Blackthorn In this dance of treachery each must seize as much power as able without drawing suspicion for whispers of treason echo through the halls of the King of Blackthorn Whispers from fellow councilors designed to implicate & see the competition shortened by a head The King will call for the axe for any he deems a traitor & there is always the risk that he is not as ignorant of the schemes as he seems As a member of the Council of Blackthorn you must build influence with the kingdom’s factions to expand your political influence Rumors bribes spies & poison are the tools of your trade Council of Blackthorn is about secretly gaining power while convincing your rival council members that you are not a threat Deflect all eyes onto your most powerful enemy & take the keys to the kingdom as well as a great seat at his or her execution Attract too much attention to yourself & the King’s axe will find you! Gain influence accuse your rivals keep your head! Game Overview & Objective Council of Blackthorn is a board game for 2 to 6 players Each player assumes the role of a member of the Council of Blackthorn There are several different council member characters to play Each player must build influence with the kingdom’s political factions by playing ally & building cards Custom dice change the game conditions for each round As players gain influence & power they also gain hidden treason points The players that appear to have the most power will typically gain more treason points The player with the most treason points at the end of the game is beheaded for treason & is removed from the game The remaining player with the most total influence points wins the game Players 2-6 Playing time 45-90 Ages 13