Daes Dae'mar

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Daes Dae'mar is the Old Tongue for the Great Game. It is sometimes known as the Game of Houses. The Great Game is the political and social maneuvering of the Nobles Houses in a hope to gain an advantage over their rivals. The Game is particularly prevalent in Cairhien, where every action by an individual is read as being political maneuvering. The Game is dangerous in Cairhien due to their willingness to kill for it such as the murder of Thom's lover Dena by agents of House Riatin posing as agents from House Damodred. The other countries of south of the Borderlands play the Game to some extent. The Borderlanders seldom play the Game due to their need to guard the Blight against Shadowspawn.

Many say the original creators of the Game are the Aes Sedai, who are masters of it. Thom Merrilin is a master of the Game, using it when he was a court bard in Caemlyn for the benefit of Queen Morgase. He later uses the Game for the advantage of Rand by keeping the nobles of Tear from plotting against Rand. Rand, like the Borderlanders, has little patience for those who play the Game.

The Game has been the main cause behind some of the most important events in the Wheel of Time. Laman's Pride and the subsequent Aiel War, and the more recent civil war in Cairhien, following the King's Death.