Talis

Talis was a card game popular in Faerûn, being considered "one of the four universal games" along with draughts, chess, and dice.

Description
It involved a deck of 70 or 78 cards,  including four regular ("planar") suits (flames, stones, waves, and winds) and one trump suit of 22 cards, called the major arcana. Major arcana cards included the Sun, Moon, Star, Comet, Throne, Key, and Night cards, among others.

Many games could be played with a Talis deck. Common examples included:
 * whist,
 * poker,
 * talison,
 * elemental empires, and
 * old wizard.

Decks
Most decks were made of lacquered parchment or paper and stored in a wooden case. A typical set might be purchased for 2 gold pieces, although bargain sets made in Candlekeep could be purchased for as little as three silver pieces from Aurora's Emporium.

Other Uses
Some inhabitants of Faerûn used Talis decks for non-magical divination purposes.

History
Circa 1368 DR, the ambitious halfling from Waterdeep, Joshuan Havabuck, ran multiple schemes and business in the Dock Ward. One such prosperous enterprise was selling pornographic Talis card decks.

Notable Talis Users

 * Hebertal the Hunched, a fortune teller in Loudwater circa 1372 DR.

Inspiration
A deck of Talis cards is described as similar to a deck of tarot cards.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * Azure Bonds &bull; The Wyvern's Spur &bull; Tymora's Luck &bull; The Yellow Silk
 * Video Games
 * Baldur's Gate III
 * Baldur's Gate III