Jalla's Game
Jalla was a human warrior-priest who lived sometime around the year 3000 AGW. He was fierce in both hand-to-hand combat and skilled in the use of curate magics. It is said that one morning the gods themselves delivered to him the gift now called Jalla’s Game. Since Jalla’s ascension to serve the gods, the Game has appeared where and when it wishes, to those with great destinies. It cannot be taken by force or stolen; it must be given or found. Often when it has served its purpose it disappears, to reappear at whatever place and time that it may.
Jalla's Game consists of a leather bag containing 40 tiles (of perhaps bone?) and a shallow wooden dish. The possessor of the game enters a brief trance, grabs some tiles from the bag, and places them in the bowl. The resultant tiles give an indication of the future.
The following 30 tiles are known, followed by some of their possible meanings-
- Arrow - 1) Message. 2) Hit by an arrow.
- Boots - A long journey
- Castle - Fortification or durable.
- Chaos - 1) Future highly uncertain. 2) Forces of chaos at work.
- Circle, six interlinked - 1) Magic. 2) A spell.
- Circle, half black, half white - Fate or destiny.
- Coin - Monetary.
- Cross and the Eye - Spiritual evil, menacing not only the body but the soul itself.
- Crown - Royalty.
- Die face (six pips) - Luck.
- Fish - 1) Any kind of water. 2) Boats, docks, nets, lines, salt, and other watery concerns. 3) Male virility.
- Fishhook - 1) Concealed danger. 2) Concealed meaning or a puzzle.
- Gauntlet, clenched - Force or might.
- Hand, open - Friendship.
- Hands, clasped - An old friend will appear, or a new one you can trust.
- House - 1) Danger indoors. 2) Get under cover. 3) An enemy building or structure is nearby.
- Horn - 1) Warning. 2) Summons.
- Leaf inter-pierced with sword - War or peace, a decision point or close balance.
- Lightning - 1) A storm approaches. 2) You will become angry, or beware of anger. 3) You will be hit by lightning.
- Lyre - Music.
- Peacock feathers - 1) Love. 2) Vanity.
- Potion bottle - Poison.
- Scales - Justice or being judged.
- Scroll - Knowledge.
- Shield - Protection.
- Spear - War, or any kind of fighting, including a dangerous hunt.
- Sword and shield - Personal combat for the caster.
- Sun with red gauntleted fist - The gods.
- Torch - Underground.
- Wheat sheaf - 1) Bountiful food. 2) Famine.
