When you have 2 of a non-player house’s tokens in your Ally Pool, you may potentially gain that house’s alliance (see below).

After all players have taken a turn as active player in a round (and chosen whether to perform the additional dice in a 2-3 player game), then it is time to check alliances. Starting with the player who has the Hand of the King Token and going clockwise, award alliances to the players who have at least 2 Power Tokens of a nonplayer house AND more of its Power Tokens in your Ally Pool than anyone else.

If more than one player have an equal number of Power Tokens for a non-player house and one of those players are already allied with that house, they retain the alliance. If none of the tied players are already allied with that house, the player who comes first in player order gains the alliance. The Shield from that house’s mat is placed in their play area (you must have at least 2 Power Tokens of a nonplayer house to have an alliance with them).

Having an alliance immediately grants you these benefits:

• All of that house’s Power Tokens on the map are now under your control, along with the domain(s) they occupy and any Castle(s) they control. Move any Castles gained to your Gold Track.

• You may occupy domains with those units, as long as they are the only nonplayer house in a given domain.

• You have the option with future Recruit actions to recruit their Power Tokens or Hero to domains you control (see Action: Recruit). When you recruit a nonplayer house’s Hero, you also gain that Hero’s Card. (It does not count against your hand limit.)