Law of Root

If a card conflicts with the Law, follow the card. If the Learning to Play guide conflicts with the Law, follow the Law. If you can follow both a general rule and a faction or hireling rule, follow both; if you cannot, follow the faction or hireling rule.

The term CANNOT is absolute. It cannot be overridden unless explicitly instructed.

Whenever it is unclear what order simultaneous effects should resolve in, or which player should make a decision, the player taking their turn chooses.

Players may only show or reveal cards in their hands if explicitly instructed, but the number of cards in their hand is public information.

Face-up piles, such as the discard pile, can be searched and inspected at any time.

Players may discuss the game and make agreements, but they are non-binding.

Players may only give cards to each other if explicitly instructed.

Actions never require consent.

Each player's turn has three phases: Birdsong, Daylight and Evening. Anything that says "at start of" a phase happens before everything else in the phase, and anything that says "at end of" happens after everything else in the phase but before the start of the next phase, if any. After a player ends Evening, the next clockwise player begins their turn. Play continues until one player has won the game. (3.1 - How to Win)

You cannot interrupt an action (including a compound action such as the Marquise's March), ability (such as the Corvid's Exposure), or persistent effect (such as the Eyrie Emigre card) with another effect unless it explicitly allows it. (For example, the Armorers card says it is used "In battle...").

Once a player begins the last step of their turn, they cannot take actions except those that specify “end of Evening” or “end of turn,” such as hirelings (Appendix H). (H - Hirelings)

Pieces are limited by the contents of the game. Do not use proxy pieces if you run out.

Each player owns the faction they choose in setup and the pieces listed on the back of its faction board except for items. Generically, these are called FACTION PIECES or similar. Specifically, these are called [FACTION NAME] PIECES. (For example, "your faction warriors" and "warriors of your faction" and "Marquise warriors" all refer to the orange wooden cat-shaped warriors.) (5 - Setup)

The ownership of faction pieces cannot change. (For example, the Marquise cannot use Field Hospitals on Riverfolk mercenaries or hirelings, since these are not Marquise warriors.)

Pieces are placed and removed as defined in the Glossary. If you are prompted to place, take, or remove pieces but you cannot do so fully, you must place, take, or remove the maximum number possible. (This does not allow you to avoid costs or prerequisites. You just cannot do less than the most you can.) If multiple pieces are removed simultaneously and that would trigger effects, remove all pieces before triggering effects. (G.1.20 - Place.) (G.1.24 - Remove.)

Some effects let you FORCE a player or their pieces to act. Resolve this exactly as if that player were choosing to do this, as limited by the effect. (For example, if you force the Eyrie to move warriors, they benefit from Lords of the Forest.)