Openers & Closers

by Narrator

There are two teams: Indigo and Violet. You can be on either team.

Oftentimes it is difficult to distinguish which squares are Indigo and which are Violet. Players frequently confuse the two. This is an important aspect of gameplay.



Inside the sculptured curve of your belly, there is a key of indeterminate material. It may appear metallic, but may in fact be a composite of various plastics and alloys. It is not necessary for you to know the composition of your key. In fact, it is better if you do not know.

Your key is unique in all existence because it unlocks doors other keys can not unlock. On the opposite team, players have keys that lock doors you can not lock. The object of the game is to find all the doors you can, and try to unlock them. Or, if you are on the opposite team, to find doors and lock them.

You can never know if you are locking or unlocking, opening or closing. You may find yourself believing that you are unlocking and opening a door when, in fact, you are closing and locking one.

Recent research indicates that there may be more than two teams. There is evidence of teams designated as Ultraviolet and Ultraindigo. These two are even more difficult to discern than their more prevalent counterparts. (We can not see them with the naked eye.)

It is perfectly legal to change teams at any time. You may not realize when you have changed teams.

If you go out of bounds, your piece will be moved to the bottom and you will start again from the top.

The text on the box reads: "This is the game, old as Time Itself. You have been playing since before you were born and you will never stop, even after you pass from this earth."

In older versions of the game, there is an illustration of a rabbit wearing a purple tophat on the cover of the box. Newer editions have omitted this design, opting instead for a nondescript flourish of dubious origin. Players have reported experiencing nausea and feelings of dread after concentrating on the flourish for more than a few seconds at a time.

These are your only clues.

Thank you, good luck, good night and godspeed.