When the class arrived today, they'd find the desks missing. Instead, there were cushions on the floor surrounding a large low table, with a game on it.

"I'm going to assume that most of you are completely unable to focus on anything remotely academic today," Ghanima stated.  If she looked faintly amused, well, what was going on didn't affect her unless she let it do so. "So today we're going to do a practical application."

"There is always a cost to removing a corrupt monarch from power," she continued. "People. Resources. There's not even a guarantee that you'll win."

"Each of you is a revolutionary trying to save their people. The person opposite you is a corrupt or insane ruler, that must be deposed." Ghanima held up one pawn, smiling. "It's up to each of you to decide where to draw the line for acceptable loss. Each army you lose is a point off your grade, unless you win it all."

"Have fun."