Sky Empire

Sky Empire is one of the four empires from Glorantha: The Gods War board game. It focusses on coordination and diplomacy.

Components

Empire

Setup
Shrine on the Spike, with Sun God placed in Inner Hell. Start with 6 Power and the First Player marker.
Unique Ability
Nightfall (Ongoing): If the Sun God is eliminated or killed, he is instead routed to any Hell area. If he is already in Hell, he must rout to another Hell area.
Unique Weakness
Optimist (Ongoing): You may not Declare Battle in Hell.
Heroquests
First Fragment
Sun God exits Hell. Gain 2 Runes. If another player gave permission for Sun God to leave Hell, he also earns 1 Rune.		Place Your Ziggurat.
Second Fragment
Conquer or Destroy a Shrine or Chaos Nest in battle.		Conquer or Destroy an enemy building in Battle (other than a Shrine or Chaos Nest).
Third Fragment
Great Decree: As an Action, spend 1 Power and select another player to gain 2 Power (You may not do this during the first Action Phase of the game).		Great Decree: As an Action, spend 1 Power and select another player to gain 1 Rune (You may not do this during the first Action Phase of the game).
Gifts
File:Gift - Sky (Arrogance).png	Arrogance (Pre-Battle): If your Emperor is involved in a battle, you may select any unit involved in the battle. That unit takes no part in the rest of the battle: it does not provide combat dice, cannot use abilities, does not receive battle results, and does not protect a building from conquest or destruction. You cannot target a greater god with Arrogance.
File:Gift - Sky (Call to Justice).png	Call to Justice (Council Phase): Select any unit on the map belonging to any empire. Relocate that unit to the Sun God's area; if that unit is in Hell, it does not need permission to leave.
File:Gift - Sky (Noblesse Oblige).png	Noblesse Oblige (Power Phase): You may remove both Gifts on your Great Decree Heroquests from your empire sheet. Earn 1 VP and 1 Rune. You may achieve those Heroquests again, earning Gifts as normal. (The Gifts taken do not have to be the same as the ones originally chosen.)
File:Gift - Sky (Shanasse).png	Shanasse (Battle): When you are in battle, your Archers in adjacent areas may add their combat value to your total. They do not suffer any adverse effects of the battle, such as kills or routs. Shanasse does not apply to battles against lone Sky buildings.
File:Gift - Sky (Solar Energy).png	Solar Energy (Power Phase): The Sun God produces 3 Power if he is on the Surface World.
File:Gift - Sky (Sunspear).png	Sunspear (Action: Cost 2): If you have a Phoenix in your Pool, select an enemy unit and roll 1 die. If the roll exceeds the target unit's Power Cost, eliminate that unit and place your Phoenix in the area previously occupied by the eliminated unit. You cannot target a greater god with Sunspear.

Units

Mortal Minions
Image	Unit	Quantity	Cost	Combat	Gifts
File:Archer (Painted).png	Archer	4	1	1	Shanasse
		Availability: Glorantha: The Gods War - Core Game (x4)
Mortal Heros
Image	Unit	Quantity	Cost	Combat	Gifts
File:The Emperor (Painted).png	The Emperor	1	2	1 in Hell 2 Elsewhere	Arrogance
		Availability: Glorantha: The Gods War - Core Game (x1)
Lesser Gods
Image	Unit	Quantity	Cost	Combat	Gifts
File:Phoenix (Painted).png	Phoenix	3	2	1	Sunspear
		Availability: Glorantha: The Gods War - Core Game (x3)
Greater Gods
Image	Unit	Quantity	Cost	Combat	Gifts
File:Sun God, Yelm (Painted).png	Sun God, Yelm	1	4	1 in Hell 3 Elsewhere
		Dawn (Ongoing): When Sun God moves, all of your units in all areas can move. However, you cannot use Dawn if the Sun God is moving to an area in Hell. Kylerela may not be moved in this manner.
		Availability: Glorantha: The Gods War - Core Game (x1)

Buildings

Buildings
Image	Unit	Quantity	Cost	Combat	Gifts
File:Shrine Figure - Sky (Painted).png	Shrine	6	1	0
		Availability: [Token] Glorantha: The Gods War - Core Game (x6) [Figure] The Buildings {TGW-4} (x6)
		The Shrine figure replaces the Shrine token.
File:Temple Figure - Sky (Painted).png	Temple	3	2+Shrine	+2 Routs
		Firelance (Battle): Your Temples are twice as effective in combat as those of other empires.
		Availability: [Token] Glorantha: The Gods War - Core Game (x3) [Figure] The Buildings {TGW-4} (x3)
		The Temple figure replaces the Temple token.
File:Ziggurat Figure - Sky (Painted).png	Ziggurat	1	3+Temple	+2 Kills
		Firelance (Battle): Your Temples are twice as effective in combat as those of other empires.
		Availability: [Token] Glorantha: The Gods War - Core Game (x1) [Figure] The Buildings {TGW-4} (x1)
		The Ziggurat figure replaces the Ziggurat token.

Expansion Units

Lesser Gods
Image	Unit	Quantity	Cost	Combat	Gifts
File:Earth Queen - Sky (Painted).png	Earth Queen	1	2	1, OR 0 vs. Earth Empire
			How to Obtain the Earth Queen Loyalty Card: Give to a new Spouse. The Earth Queen is now married to you for the rest of the game. She is your unit to control, and if she is killed or eliminated she returns to your unit pool rather than Earth’s unit pool. You may summon her in the same manner as any of your other units. Earth may also re-summon her from your pool when placing a Temple or Ziggurat. When this happens you do not decide the area to which she is summoned, but you still control her after she is placed. During the Council Phase, earn 1 Power if this Queen is in play. Be aware that the Earth has the Injunction gift, which may eliminate an Earth Queen during the Council Phase in order to gain a rune. Injunction occurs in the council Phase before you would gain 1 power for this unit.
		Availability: The Empires {TGW-1} (x1)
Greater Gods
Image	Unit	Quantity	Cost	Combat	Gifts
File:The Murderer, Shargash.png File:The Murderer, Shargash (Painted).png	The Murderer, Shargash	1	0/3	1 in Hell 2 Elsewhere
		To Summon: When the Spike shatters, immediately place Shargash at any of your buildings. You may also summon him by paying 3 Power.
		Terror (Ongoing): If Shargash is in play, no enemy units may be routed into areas containing Sky units (except in Hell). A routed unit completely surrounded by Sky-inhabited areas is instead killed (except in Hell).
		File:Gift - The Murderer, Shargash.png	Heroquest: Shargash is in play, and you kill an enemy god in battle. Genocide (Post-Battle): If an enemy minion, hero or lesser god is killed in a battle with Shargash, all enemy empires (including the one just battled) lose 1 equivalent unit, if possible, chosen by their owner regardless of location.
		Availability: War Gods {TGW-5} (x1)
		Tough times demand tough gods. Shargash the Murderer emerged to wreak havoc upon the enemies of Sky.
File:Healer, Chalana Arroy.png File:Healer, Chalana Arroy (Painted).png	Healer, Chalana Arroy	1	*	0
		To Summon: A Sky greater god must be in the Sky Dome; place Chalana Arroy at the Gates of Dawn.
		Sacrifice (Post-Battle): If Chalana Arroy is in play, when one of your buildings is conquered or destroyed, gain 1 Power.
		File:Gift - Healer, Chalana Arroy.png	Heroquest: Chalana Arroy is in play and a Sky god is killed (possibly including Chalana Arroy). Healing (Post-Battle): If Chalana Arroy is in play, and an enemy inflicted any kills on you in battle, you may pay 1 Power per kill to transform them into routs.
		Availability: Magic Gods {TGW-6} (x1)
		She chose a middle path to react to the war. She interacts with the world to cleanse disease, heal wounds, and raise the dead. But she does not fight or kill, so retains her inner sanctity.
File:Beyond the Sky, Dayzatar.png File:Beyond the Sky, Dayzatar (Painted).png	Beyond the Sky, Dayzatar	1	0/3	2
		To Summon: When you earn your 3rd empire gift, immediately place Dayzatar at any of your buildings. You may also summon him by paying 3 Power.
		Ineffable (Ongoing): From the moment Dayzatar is first placed on the map, until the end of the game, enemy units may only enter the Sky Dome if they are accompanied by a Greater God. This applies to movement-like effects, as well as the Move Units action. This remains in effect even if Dayzatar is no longer in play.
		File:Gift - Beyond the Sky, Dayzatar.png	Heroquest: While Dayzatar is in play, as your action for a turn, select another player. Both of you lose 1 Power and 1 VP. Meditation (Council Phase): If Dayzatar is in play, select another player. Both of you gain a Rune.
		Availability: Secret Gods {TGW-7} (x1)
		In strict contrast to Shargash’s bloody rituals, Dayzatar chose to rise above the disorder of the war and remove himself from the world. He is still sought by those who value purity above power.

Other components

Other components
Image	Component	Quantity	Notes
	Empire Sheet	1
		Availability: Glorantha: The Gods War - Core Game (x1)
File:Victory-Power Marker - Sky (Painted).png	Victory/Power Marker	2
		Availability: Glorantha: The Gods War - Core Game (x2)
	Chaos Rift Die	1
		Notes: Used for the Chaos Rift Struggle.
		Availability: Chaos Rift Dice {TGW-DICE-3} (x1)

Strategy

Faction Strategy

Your most important early concern is getting Sun God out of Hell. Fortunately, you have no fewer than three different bribes to offer the other players - two Heroquest requirements which directly benefit them, plus a Rune reward if they free you. If your chosen ally betrays you, use Noblesse Oblige to replay those requirements. You can use Call to Justice to coerce obedience.

Your empire is about coordination, forethought, diplomacy, and aristocracy. You have both carrots and sticks with which to reward or punish unruly enemy empires. Your buildings are particularly difficult to destroy, and Shanesse with a few supporting Archers can create an almost insurmountable obstacle for your enemies. Unfortunately, your attacks are not as powerful as those of your opponents, but with a little planning you can use Dawn to pull off an unstoppable surprise conquest!

Remember that every time you use Sunspear against an enemy it not only kills one of their units but also places one of your own. Use Dawn to set up your network of defenders and then start laying your buildings down. Your path to victory is simple - keep as many buildings in play as possible and boost your weakest rivals with your Great Decrees. to aid them in pulling your stronger enemies down.

Gift Strategies

• Arrogance
  • Excellent both for defense and attack - with Arrogance, your Emperor is one of the best combat units in the game.
• Call to Justice
  • Can be used to force other players' compliance, to move your own units, or to inconvenience others' battle plans.
  • If Sun God is in Hell, pull key enemies to you on every single turn. Even Darkness is discomfited by needing to drag a Shade or The Mistress out of Hell. Again.
• Noblesse Oblige
  • Unless you are very short on Power, use this every turn. For 2 Power you earn a Rune and influence other players. If you can, make them vie for your favor.
• Shanasse
  • A great station for your Archers is Sky Dome, where they can blanket much of the world with their arrows.
• Solar Energy
  • A never-ending font of joy once Sun God exits Hell, and it more than offsets the cost of Noblesse Oblige.
• Sunspear
  • Never summon Phoenixes; always place them via Sunspear.
  • This gift is just as much about breaking up an enemy's attack as it is about preparing your own.

Story

Epilogue

"Slowly, the Dead God lifted his face. A ghost stepped forward and shouted, "Has one come at last to free the Lord of All?" Our champion lifted up the Keys of Hell and walked toward the great stone lock. As the doors began to shift, the entire hall suddenly blazed with light. The Dead God was catching fire, literally. The air was filled with glowing birds and showers of joyous arrows, and a hymn rose to the Dawn—the first Dawn."
—Sandy Petersen