Rafupangthai
Rafupangthai was a Legerian card game originally invented by Isutan traders and eventually recreated by Phovezilan businessmen after the Demon Wars. It has since rapidly spread across Hohm and is one of the most popular past times of Legerians of all ages and backgrounds.
In Isutan, rafu-pang-thai translated roughly into the phrase "tame and devour", referring to the creatures depicted on the game's cards.
History #
Ancient Origins #
Rafupangthai's roots were in the ancient past of the Eastern Kingdoms, serving as a form of gambling between farmers and other laborers. In its original form, the game consisted of 10 different playing pieces with unique attributes. The objective was to play the pieces and try to destroy each of your opponents' pieces through successful dice rolls. Eventually the game was streamlined into a card game with the "cards" being made of 2-3 mm thick pieces of carved wood; in this form, the game could be more easily transported, manufactured, and distributed.
Modern Game #
Rafupangthai spread like wildfire through the ranks of the United Legerian Forces during the Demon Wars, with soldiers playing the game extensively during downtime between deployments. Rafupangthai was considered to be one of the catalysts for the spread of Tradespeak amongst Legerian infantry, with many individuals willing to learn the shared language primarily for better communication around the card table.
After the Demon Wars ended, a pair of Phovezilan craftsmen began to manufacture high-quality rafupangthai cards out of arcane metal which projected the card's images and statistics dramatically over them. Very quickly, these Phovezilan brothers monopolized the game across Legere by not only creating high-quality game materials, but also by creating additions to the game that kept it fresh and exciting for those who held the game in high interest. While mundane, traditional copies of the game still circulate through Legere, most prefer to use the polished and more "official" Phovezilan-made cards and expanded rules.
Deck of Silk Corporation
The Deck of Silk Corp., founded by the Phovezilan brothers Erning and Genth Arringrip, controlled the monopoly over Rafupangthai for much of Legere's history. Originally, the two were renowned veterans of the Phovezilan High Mint. They leveraged the arcane technology used to produce Phovezilan marks to produce their new and improved versions of Rafupangthai cards.
Components #
Antiquity #
Rafupangthai was originally a game with playing pieces rather than cards. It was often obtuse to learn--rules were passed down through word of mouth and arguments over how different pieces behaved would frequently erupt.
There were 10 unique playing piece types, although in some regions of The Eastern Provinces one could find versions with up to 12.
Rafupangthai sets also included a handful of six-sided, cubic dice.
Traditional #
As the game spread, making the game more compact and easier to learn became a priority. Pieces switched to "cards" carved from thin wood, with artistic depictions and gameplay rules engraved onto their wooden faces.
Collections of the game commissioned and owned by the wealthy would often be inlaid with gold or other precious metals. One of the most exotic collector's versions of Rafupangthai had cards made of platwood inlaid with glowing accursed cactus resin.
Deck of Silk Edition #
The Deck of Silk Corp. opted to expand Rafupangthai past a simple gambling pasttime, adding dozens of additional cards and regularly releasing new cards into the official game's library of legal, playable cards. Each card is printed on a thin sheet of arcane metal, which used the same technology as Phovezilan marks to holographically display information without actually being printed or etched onto the card's surface. An official seal on the cards' backs denoted a card as officially manufactured (and therefore being legal to play in gambling halls or tournaments).
When the art on a card was tapped, it would project a three-dimensional shape in the form of the thing depicted in the art. Many collectors would obtain Rafupangthai cards exclusively to admire these arcane light sculptures, crafted by expert kethramancers employed by the Deck of Silk Corp.