Tali were six-sided knucklebones (the ankle bones of sheep or goats) that the Alvenians used as dice. Although they are six-sided, their short, rounded ends did not count (the die could not stand on them). The useable sides were numbered 1, 3, 4, and 6 (the 2 and 5 were the rounded ends). Because of the tali’s irregular and easily recognized shape, they sometimes weren’t physically numbered. If regular dice were substituted for tali, the 2 and 5 were either considered blank or thrown again.
When the tail was tossed, the face down number was the result. The exact reasons for this have been lost in time, however it is suspected that the tali’s irregular shapes could result in disputes about the “up” face.
Throw Tali with the Emperor
Goal: The first player to throw an Ishtar takes the pot.
Players alternate throwing four tali and the throwing player must place coppers into the pot for a Canis (3 coppers), Vulture (2), or Senio (1).