Hail all those who are able,

any mouse can,

any mouse will,
but the Guard prevail.
—Mouse Proverb

his chapter details the history and role of the Mouse Guard in the Territories. As you read
through, you’ll find a history of the Guard; a description of their home base, Lockhaven;
the Guard’s Oath; and a description of the Guard’s various duties.
After that, we break down a Mouse Guard character, describing the elements used in play and
giving the basic game mechanics for each bit. This chapter is a primer for play. Many of the rules are
described in detail later, but all of the basics of play are provided in the following section. You don’t
need to read ahead if there’s something you don’t understand. The rules are introduced bit by bit.

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 A Brief History of
the Mouse Guard
In the distant past, mice lived in tree hollows,
under logs, in stone cracks and other wayward,
forgotten places. They lived scattered across
the wild without community or support. They
were hunted by predators and subject to harsh
weather. They had few supplies to sustain them
in the face of calamity. In fact, these mice were
far more likely to perish from depredation,
exposure, illness or starvation than live a long,
prosperous life.
Against the overwhelming forces of nature, a few
disparate groups made a stand. They staked a
claim on a handful of safe patches of wilderness.
As word of these safe havens traveled, other mice
flocked to them. The most famous settlement
grew quickly from a hiding place to an outpost
to a fortification and finally to a citadel—fortified
walls surrounding a prosperous town, defended
by a dedicated guard. This place is now called
Lockhaven, and it is the center of what is known
as the Mouse Territories.
As Lockhaven became more and more secure,
its guardians reached out to other settlements.
At first, the Lockhavenites tried to bring
everyone they found back to the safety of their
city. Many came, but many also would not.
Other communities, perhaps less safe but still
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prosperous, had formed in the wild. They were
reluctant to leave what they had begun, despite
their precarious positions.
There was a debate within the ranks of
Lockhaven’s guardians. What should be done
about these other settlements? Should they be
forcibly moved? Should they be abandoned?
In the end, the guardians decided there was
only one true answer: Lockhaven must use
her strength to defend and support these
communities. All mice must prosper, or all mice
will fail.
Therefore, these guardians struck out to the
distant settlements, marking paths and noting
which approaches gave them more cover, better
viewpoints and quicker routes.
These brave, selfless mice quickly became
known as the Mouse Guard. As their numbers
grew and their protection was extended, the far-
flung settlements did indeed prosper.
Lockhaven itself changed as well. It became less
of a bustling city and more of a central hub for
the Guard. Eventually, the Guard took over the
administration of the citadel completely.
The first mouse to organize the defense of
Lockhaven was female. Thereafter, it has
remained tradition that the Guard be commanded
by a female mouse given the rank of Matriarch.
The Matriarch is in charge of internal affairs,