The Talismans of Power

Here is a little box with a lot of power: containing two old wooden talismans and a sigil written on parchment. Using the old pair of wooden dice that come in the box with these tools, you can demonstrate clairvoyance, intuition, and unfailing control over chance. 

You first have your assistant (spectator) examine the dice to see they are fairly marked (same as modern dice but with 'claw marks'), and roll them to make sure they behave as they should. They can freely choose either die for the experiments.  You take the other die.

This is a three phase routine:

1) Using the first talisman, you can ‘see’ every time what number on your die you need to set down to win against the die that your assistant has already rolled in secret.

2) Using the second talisman, you can both throw your dice at the same time, and you will always win the toss.

3) Finally, you give the parchment sigil to your assistant (the talismans are ‘tuned’ only to you of course), and with its help (and before you roll) they use their intuition to place the die on the table unseen, yet when you roll your die your assistant will win every time.

This can be played as a demonstration of artifacts you have inherited (this ‘Artifact’ routine is scripted in the manual), or it can be played on a spookier side – consider what you could be dicing for with your assistant……. Here is a bit of psychodrama which can end with your assistant escaping an undesirable fate. This alternate routine is also discussed in the manual.

You receive the aged box with twine/eyelet tie down, the wooden 'demon claw' dice, two wooden talismans, a hand-written sigil on parchment, special gimmick, and a jump drive with a PDF manual with full handling, including the full 'artifact' routine, alternate 'dark' presentations, as well as some performance soundscapes.  

You show an old box of Calaveras cards which depict the soul's journey to the underworld.  The spectator freely selects one of the Calaveras cards that makes her the most uncomfortable.  It is placed face up on the stack, and the Guardian placed at the very bottom of the cards.  The cards are set into the box, and the lid returned.  There are no funny moves of the cards or box.  Your spectator could return them to the box herself if desired.  The museum display card is then shown, and the story of the Guardian told. The audience member is asked to visualize the Guardian rising through the other cards to protect her from the card which most disturbs her.  When the box is opened (slowly and with no odd moves), the Guardian is found to have risen to the top, and the cards are slowly spread to show it has indeed done so.  The box is too small for the Guardian to have done anything but rise through the other cards. There are no other Guardian cards in the box. 

 The Guardian comes in an old cardboard box, with an aged museum display card in a pouch affixed to the front.  Inside are the nine original Calaveras cards, but now printed on E27 Eco cardstock.  You can also do the original Calaveras handling with these cards if you want (that manual is also included), plus there is one additional effect -  a quick walkaround routine where the Guardian turns over in a face down stack.  

You receive the aged box, museum card, Calaveras cards, and a jump drive with the 2 manuals, video instructions, graphics, and soundscapes in .wav and mp3 form.