Talis was a card game popular in Faerûn,[2] being considered "one of the four universal games" along with draughts, chess, and dice.[4]
Description[]
It involved a deck of 70 or 78 cards,[2][3][4][note 1] 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.[1][3]
Many games could be played with a Talis deck. Common examples included:[1]
- whist,
- poker,
- talison,
- elemental empires, and
- old wizard.
Decks[]
Most decks were made of lacquered parchment or paper and stored in a wooden case.[2] A typical set might be purchased for 2 gold pieces,[2] although bargain sets made in Candlekeep could be purchased for as little as three silver pieces from Aurora's Emporium.[1]
Other Uses[]
Some inhabitants of Faerûn used Talis decks for non-magical divination purposes.[1]
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.[5]
Notable Talis Users[]
- Hebertal the Hunched, a fortune teller in Loudwater circa 1372 DR.[6]
Appendix[]
Inspiration[]
A deck of Talis cards is described as similar to a deck of tarot cards.
Notes[]
- ↑ Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition states there are 78 cards in a deck; however, Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue claims four twelve-card suits and a 22-card trump suit, which would be 70 cards. For reference, real-world Tarot decks have four fourteen-card suits and a 22-card trump suit for 78 cards.
Appearances[]
Reference[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 114. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 96. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 44. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 112. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Kate Novak, Jeff Grubb (December 1997). Tymora's Luck. (TSR, Inc.), p. 101. ISBN 0-7869-0726-6.
- ↑ Ving Domanski (2003). Legacy of the Green Regent: Key to Phantoms' Cloister. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 12.