Legend has it that long ago, Gah'dir the supreme mage forged a weapon known as the Scarlet Sword in order to form an alliance with Bashok the great orc king. By wielding the sword together, they created the most powerful alliance ever built among enemies and gained a power like no other. Since then, the sword has disappeared and reappeared many times over the years and it has determined the destiny of all nations time and time again. Recently, the legendary Scarlet Sword was rediscovered, causing the most powerful leaders in all the land to seek out an ally and once again prepare for war. In Allies, you will create and control a fantasy army by uniting two different factions of your choice. You can either use your cards to command your troops or deploy them onto the battlefield. The unique abilities of each faction can be combined to create many different synergies, so choose wisely. Allies is a competitive two-player card game in which every move matters. It includes tactical and strategic components. Prepare your strategies well and don’t get distracted! Remember that your plans need to change constantly to anticipate your enemies’ movements as well as to disrupt them. In the end, the army that gains control of the battlefield first claims victory! —description from the designer