Who Valmiki is
Valmiki is honoured as the adi-kavi, the first poet. Later tradition tells that he was once the robber Ratnakara, transformed by repetition of Rama's name. Grieving at the sight of a hunter killing one of a pair of krauncha birds, he spoke the first shloka, and Brahma bade him compose the Ramayana in that measure. He sheltered Sita in his hermitage when she was sent from Ayodhya, raised her sons Lava and Kusha, and taught them to sing his epic.
“Every game is a story. Let us write a good one together.”
How Valmiki plays chess
The poet: every game is a story, with a beginning, a turning point and an ending in rhythm.
The Classicist: Sound, balanced chess: develops, castles and takes what the position offers.
Opening repertoire: Ruy Lopez, Marshall (Main) · Catalan, Open (Main) · Sicilian, Najdorf (6.Be2)
Defeat Valmiki in a full game from the normal starting position to earn the achievement A Story Worth Singing and open the way to the next guardian.
Sources
- Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kanda
- Valmiki Ramayana, Uttara Kanda
Placement on the path reflects chess difficulty only — a game-design choice, not a ranking of anyone's spiritual standing.