Coresachi

Coresachi is a board game, primarily played in the south of the Caseic Archipelago. It consists of a board with 89 sequential spaces, an eight-sided die, two coins, and a figurine for each player.

Rules

The game begins with all figurines at the 45th space on the board.

Each player begins their turn by rolling the eight-sided die. Upon rolling the die, they can move any number of figurines forward or backwards along the board such that the total number of spaces moved by all figurines moved is equal to the number on the die. A figurine cannot move past the end or the beginning: they cannot move backwards from the first space or move forward from the 89th space. After the figurines have been moved, that player's turn ends and the eight-sided die is passed to the next player.

After every player has had one turn, a coin is placed on the 1st and 89th places. In effect, the board shrinks: the 2nd space and 88th space form the new boundaries. On every player's turn after the coins are placed, the coins move towards the centre by one space. If a coin would land on the place that is occupied by a player's figurine, the figurine is removed from the board and the player has lost the game.

A player wins if they have the last figurine standing.

Variants

One variant of Coresachi changes the rules for how the coins move: instead of moving one space every turn, they move by the roll on the eight-sided die. This variant results in a faster game.

Symbolism

As Coresachi is most commonly played in the south of the Caseic Archipelago, links have been drawn between the game and Gastist theology.

Coresachi is commonly theorised to have originated in the Nacha Republic, which makes sense upon considering the parallels between the game's mechanics and Gastist theology. It is customary, though certainly not required, for the 89-space board to be slightly inclined or to be constructed with steps which simulate an incline. Symbolically, the coins narrowing in on the players are representative of humanity's struggle against Pechi from the sea (the low end of the incline) and Ajia from the mountains (the high end of the incline). ¶ Curiously, there is no mechanic of the players pushing back against the gods, or of the players banding together to push them back. Instead, death by either Pechi or Ajia is inevitable, and can only be delayed.

― Fujarec Chimbre, Ludology of Casea