Alba & Ater (アルバ＆アーテル Aruba & Āteru) (Latin for "White" and "Black", respectively) is a chess-like board game seen in Kingdom Hearts III and Kingdom Hearts Dark Road.[1] Xehanort and Eraqus would often play this game in their youth.
Story
Kingdom Hearts Dark Road
Between Kingdom Hearts Dark Road and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
One day in Scala ad Caelum, Xehanort questions Eraqus about his knowledge of the Keyblade War and the "Lost Masters" during a game of Alba & Ater. After the game, the two offer each other their support and begin a new game with Xehanort's new seven dark pieces and Eraqus placing a white piece on the board.
Pieces
The main board that Xehanort and Eraqus play on has 32 pieces: 16 silver and white pieces, and 16 gold and black pieces. Each piece is adorned with a symbol on top and named after a character in the Kingdom Hearts series or a Keyblade. Eraqus introduces a variant of the game with seven new black and gold pieces against one of the existing silver and white pieces.
Gallery
Silver and white pieces.
Gold and black pieces.
Artwork of Sora's game piece.
Artwork of Riku's game piece.
Artwork of Kairi's game piece.
Artwork of Mickey's game piece.
Artwork of Terra's game piece.
Artwork of Aqua's game piece.
Artwork of Ventus's game piece.
Artwork of Xehanort's game piece.
Artwork of Ansem's game piece.
Artwork of Xemnas's game piece.
Artwork of Xigbar's game piece.
Artwork of Saïx's game piece.
Artwork of Young Xehanort's game piece.
Artwork of Marluxia's game piece.
Artwork of Vanitas's game piece.
Artwork of Larxene's game piece.
Artwork of Demyx's game piece.
Artwork of Vexen's game piece.
Artwork of Luxord's game piece.
Artwork of Xaldin's game piece.
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Trivia
- Despite not being a member of the real Organization XIII, Xaldin has a dark Alba & Ater game piece, both in the concept art of the board game and in the actual replica set for sale.[2]
Notes and references
- ^ Kingdom Hearts Dark Road, Episode 4, Quest 75, Eraqus: "I want to know how to beat Xehanort in chess! / It's a game with black and white pieces called Alba and Ater and—"
- ^ KINGDOM HEARTS III ALBA & ATER SET (Additional Information)