1. Give each player a set of two vote tokens, one approve and one reject.

2. Randomly select a player and give that player the leader token. This player will be the leader at the start of the game.

(If you are using the Lady of the Lake variant, give the Lady of the Lake token to the player on the leader's right.)

3. Shuffle a number of character cards. The number and identity of cards depends on the number of players, as follows:

• 5 players: 1 Merlin, 2 Loyal Servant; 1 Assassin, 1 Minion of Mordred

• 6 players: 1 Merlin, 3 Loyal Servants; 1 Assassin, 1 Minion of Mordred

• 7 players: 1 Merlin, 3 Loyal Servants; 1 Assassin, 2 Minions of Mordred

• 8 players: 1 Merlin, 4 Loyal Servants; 1 Assassin, 2 Minions of Mordred

• 9 players: 1 Merlin, 5 Loyal Servants; 1 Assassin, 2 Minions of Mordred

• 10 players: 1 Merlin, 5 Loyal Servants; 1 Assassin, 3 Minions of Mordred

(Depending on which variants of the game you choose to use, you may swap one or more Loyal Servants or Minions of Mordred for special characters.)

4. Deal one character card face-down to each player. Players look at their own cards, but keep them secret.