This issue’s lesson concentrates on the game playing field.
Every player has two decks and one stronghold. The decks come with black and red backs. Set your stronghold above your black deck (the dynasty deck). Set down four face down dynasty cards to the side of your dynasty deck. The four face down cards represent what is in your provinces, they are unflipped during the events phase and brought into play during the dynasty phase. The Stronghold represents the faction you are playing. Place your red deck (fate deck) where your last province ends.
In the above example the player only has three provinces left as one has been destroyed. The left most province shows the personality “Sid” and the other two have not been unflipped yet. The stronghold is "The Hall of Loyalty" as this player is playing a Loyalist themed deck.
In the player’s Home are the personalities “Lia L”, “Isk”, and “Porthos”
The card behind Isk is the Helm of Evil. Isk is placed on top of it so that the title can be read signifying that he has attached it to himself. All attachments be they followers, spells or items are always placed under the personality they attach to. Porthos is turned to his side because he is Bowed. Cards can bow for various reasons such as after making an attack or lobbying for the Regent’s favour. All personalities not involved in battle are considered to be in your home.
The three bowed cards above Porthos are gold producing holdings. A gold producing holding bows when it pays for either a card from your provinces or a fate card from your hand. It is always good to keep all your holdings to one side of the table so that you always know how much you have to spend.