Cardgames

The Banished (Children’s Game)

Card Deck:

28 cards

• 3 colors: Red, Blue, Yellow
  
• 9 number cards per color (1–9)
  
• 1 special card: The Banished

Game Setup:

• Cards are evenly distributed among players. If the numbers don’t divide perfectly, some players receive one extra card. These players may discard one card before the game begins (except for “The Banished”).
• The player holding “The Banished” starts the game and must reveal the card.

Gameplay:
The Banished may discard cards if possible. Valid combinations:

• Three identical numbers
  
• At least three sequential numbers of the same color

If the Banished manages to discard all cards except the special card “The Banished” in the first round, they win. If not, the next player clockwise takes their turn. They draw one card from the hand of the player to their right and attempt to discard as well. If they draw “The Banished,” they must keep it secret. Cards may be added to sets discarded by other players. The game continues clockwise. The first player to discard all their cards wins the game.  

Mage or Warrior (Adult Game)

In Thaldris, the card game “Mage or Warrior” is popular across all social groups – among mages, warriors, and the so-called “ordinary people” who belong to neither faction. Trump determination often reflects the composition of the player group. The game is played with 3–5 players.
  If only mages are playing, they typically prefer blue cards and the character Elkin as the highest trump. Warriors, on the other hand, favor red cards and the character Raskab as the top trump. These preferences are not strictly enforced but are expressions of cultural identity – usually accepted without discussion and contributing to a familiar playstyle within each faction.
  In mixed rounds, where mages, warriors, and/or neutral individuals play together, trump is not automatically assigned. In such cases, players decide before the game begins which card color (and corresponding character) will serve as trump. This agreement may be reached through discussion, voting, or random selection. If the proposal is accepted by the others, the game begins under the agreed conditions. It is also possible to redefine the trump color at the start of each new game.
  This flexible trump rule makes the game not only tactically engaging but also a social mirror of Thaldris: Who plays with whom, who takes the lead, and which faction dominates – all of this often becomes apparent at the game table.
  The game is played with a special deck of 39 cards:

Colors: Red, Blue, Yellow

Number cards: 1 to 9 per color

Face cards:

• Cities (Value 10): Virkin, Galdra, Föndir
• Items (Value 11): Shield, Quill, Boat (occasionally replaced by the Icebreath Flask)
• Weapons (Value 12): Spear, Staff, Dagger
• Characters (Value 13):
  • Raskab (Red) – Symbol of the Warriors
  • Elkin (Blue) – Symbol of the Mages
  • Föndir (Yellow) – Mysterious figure with a special role

 

Game Setup

Each player receives 5 cards. Who starts depends on the composition of the group:
  If only warriors are playing, the player with the Raskab card begins (by revealing it).   If only mages are playing, the player with Elkin begins (by revealing it).   If the group is mixed or no one holds one of these cards, the starting player is determined by the so-called Leader Bid.  

Objective

The game is played in two factions: Mages and Warriors. The goal is for your faction to win the most tricks (out of 5 total). Exception: A player holding the Föndir character card may (but doesn’t have to) pursue a unique goal: They win the game if they lose all tricks and play the Föndir card as their final card.
 

The Leader Bid (1st Bid)

If a player reveals the highest trump, they automatically become the leader of their faction and set an opening bid. All others confirm the amount if they wish to participate. At least 3 players must play.
If the character card of the trump color is not in play, players bid for the leader position. Those who wish to become leader – whether for tactical reasons or deception – may bid higher. Multiple bidding rounds are allowed. The highest bidder starts the game and becomes leader of the trump faction.  

Card Exchange

Before the first round, players may exchange any number of cards – from none to all. The trump leader begins, followed by clockwise order. If the draw pile is exhausted, discarded cards are reshuffled and drawn again. The player with the Föndir character card (not the city card) may now secretly decide whether to play as Föndir. They may discard the card.  

The Second Bid (2nd Bid)

With the second bid, players reveal the strength of their hands. A minimum bid signals a weak hand (rarely used). Higher bids indicate strong cards – or bluff. A Föndir player remains hidden. They may not reveal their role and act covertly. The second bid primarily serves to assess hand strength and determine the leader of the opposition. It’s often assumed that the highest bidder is either the holder of the second faction’s character card or has very strong cards of that faction.  

Game Rules

  Follow suit: The color of the first card played must be followed.   Trick rules: Higher cards beat lower ones of the same color.   Trump: If no trump is led, a trump can only win if the player cannot follow suit.  

Round Progression

Round 1 – Loyalty The player with the highest faction card (Raskab or Elkin) begins and plays it – or the highest bidder from the first bid plays their strongest card. This card is a call for loyalty. In this round, players are not required to follow suit. Anyone who plays the leader’s color declares themselves part of their team. The trump team is now revealed – with the disadvantage of having used some trumps, but the advantage of open cooperation. All others belong to the opposition. Their leader is the highest bidder from the second bid. The opposition does not know if a Föndir player is among them. If the first card played is the trump character card, the trick automatically goes to the trump leader. If they don’t hold it, another player may win the trick – but by doing so, they declare loyalty, so the trick remains within the team.   Rounds 2–5 – Tactics and Deception The remaining 4 cards are now played. The trump team may briefly strategize. The winner (team) of the last trick begins. From now on, players must follow suit. If a player cannot follow suit, they may play a different card. Föndir cards must also follow suit if possible. The opposition may only communicate through eye contact or subtle gestures – speaking is not allowed.   Optional Round 5 – For the Föndir Player In the final round, if a Föndir player is present, they must play their Föndir character card and lose. They must not have won any tricks – otherwise, their tricks count toward the opposition.  

Scoring

After five rounds, both factions count their tricks. The faction with the most tricks wins. Exception: The player with the Föndir card wins if they have not won any tricks and played their card last. If they won a trick, they count as part of the opposition.