Daes Dae'mar

Daes Dae'mar is a semi-political concept that plays a prevalent role in universe of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, in the Old Tongue it means the Great Game. It is sometimes known as the Game of Houses. The Great Game is the political and social maneuvering of the Nobles Houses in a hope to gain an advantage over their rivals. The Game is particularly prevalent in Cairhien, where any action by any individual is read as being political maneuvering. The Game is dangerous in Cairhien due to their willingness to kill for it such as the murder of Thom's lover Dena by agents of House Riatin posing as agents from House Damodred. The other countries south of the Borderlands play the Game to some extent. The Borderlanders seldom play the Game because they are too focused on the Blight.

Many say the original creators of the Game are the Aes Sedai, who are masters of it. Thom Merrilin is also a master of the Game, he used it when he was a court bard in Caemlyn for the benefit of his lover Queen Morgase. He later used the Game for the advantage of Rand by keeping the nobles of Tear from plotting against him. Rand, like the Borderlanders, has little patience for those who play the Game.

The Game has been the main cause behind some of the most important events in the Wheel of Time. Laman's Pride, and the subsequent Aiel War; and the more recent civil war in Cairhien, following the King's Death can all be at least partially blamed on Daes Dae'mar.