> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ashenmarch.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Welcome to Ashenmarch

> A GPS territory game — run or walk in the real world to claim and defend land, build your noble house, and raise your rank.

**Ashenmarch** is a GPS territory game. You run or walk in the real world; your routes claim and defend land on a shared map, build your noble house, and raise your rank. There's no way to lose your account or be eliminated — only ground can change hands.

Every activity is a **campaign** (we use feudal words — a "campaign" or "march" instead of a "run"). One campaign can claim new land, reinforce land you hold, build walls, contest a rival's territory, earn rank points, and — if it's a personal best — earn you an item. The core promise: **everything is measured against your own baseline**, so a beginner's personal best counts exactly as much as an elite's.

## Your first campaign

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign up and forge your house">
    Log in with Apple, Google, or email. Name your noble house and design your coat of arms — it marks everything you conquer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run a loop">
    Go run or walk a route that **closes a loop** — at least 500 m around, enclosing at least 5,000 m². Record it in the Ashenmarch app with live GPS, or let it import from Strava.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Claim your first Outpost">
    On sync, the enclosed area becomes your territory at **Outpost** tier, painted in your colours with your crest at its heart. Your Herald announces the claim.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Build from there">
    Run the same ground to fortify it toward **Citadel**. Run out-and-backs to raise **Walls**. Overlap a rival to start a **siege**. Every kilometre works for your house.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Two ways to play

1. **Record in the Ashenmarch app** with live GPS — the full experience, with the live war map, auto-pause, and route guidance.
2. **Connect Strava** — your activities import automatically and run the same game logic. Strava is a *data connection*, not a sign-in; disconnect any time.

<Tip>
  Both paths are equal citizens — a Strava-imported loop claims exactly like a live-recorded one. Many players record in the app they already love and let Ashenmarch turn it into conquest.
</Tip>

## Can I lose?

There's no defeat state and you can't be eliminated. Your rank history and total-ever-claimed milestones are **permanent** — only *current* territory can change hands, and lost ground can always be retaken. The design principle is: never create helplessness.

## Explore the guide

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Conquering Land" icon="flag" href="/en/conquering-land">
    Claims, tiers, fortification, effort, decay, walls, and districts.
  </Card>

  <Card title="War" icon="shield" href="/en/war">
    Sieges step by step, defending, sellswords, and the War Council.
  </Card>

  <Card title="House & Court" icon="crown" href="/en/house-and-court">
    Rank, your coat of arms, items, courts, and Kingdom Regions.
  </Card>

  <Card title="The Treasury" icon="coins" href="/en/treasury">
    Gold, tribute, looting, and what your holdings earn.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Game Reference" icon="table" href="/en/reference">
    Every number in one place — minimums, timers, thresholds, and costs.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Your Account" icon="user" href="/en/account">
    The Herald, Strava, membership, privacy, and your data.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Membership

Every new player gets a **30-day free trial** with full access. After the trial, membership is **$7.99/month** or **$59.99/year**, purchased and managed through the App Store or Google Play. See [Your Account](/en/account) for what happens if it lapses (short version: your history is permanent; only current ground is at stake).

## Join the community

The realm gathers on **Discord** — find rivals and court-mates, get help from other players and the team, hear about updates first, and shape the game with your feedback during the beta.

<Card title="Join the Ashenmarch Discord" icon="discord" href="https://discord.gg/FUSCymEVjT">
  The fastest way to get an answer, find a court, or report something odd.
</Card>

***

*Question not answered in this guide? Ask on [Discord](https://discord.gg/FUSCymEVjT) or email **[support@ashenmarch.com](mailto:support@ashenmarch.com)**.*

*Game values in this guide (distances, timers, costs) reflect current live settings and may be tuned over time — the [Game Reference](/en/reference) is refreshed when they change.*