Luminese Rummy

Luminese Rummy is a progressive rummy game played with 3+ people, using normal decks of cards for eight rounds. There should be one less deck versus the number of players (for 3 players, 2 decks, and so on).
The point progression is as follows: 2-9: 5 points M(13), C(12), K(11) & 10: 10 points B(can be used as either a 1 or 14): 15 points Solasigh (wildcards, 2 per deck): 20 points
Each round begins with the hand being dealt. Players may start their turn by either drawing from the deck or from the discard pile in the center of the table.
If a player wishes to draw from the discard pile, they do so by asking the person whose turn it is (the Head) if they can have the card (the Luminese phrase for this is “za ne?” which can be translated to “for me?”). The Head may deny a player the card, however this means that they will be drawing from the discard pile that turn. If more than one person wishes to take the top discard, but the Head doesn’t want it, the closest person to the Head’s left will be the one awarded the card.
A person drawing from the discards not on their turn may draw as many cards as they like, however, they must also draw the same amount of cards from the draw pile (ex, if a person draws 3 cards from the discard, they must also draw 3 cards from the draw pile).
The person playing the Head may put down their cards at any time during their turn.
To end their turn, the Head discards a card, and the person to their left becomes the new Head.
Solasigh cards are considered wild cards, and may be played in any bundle or procession, and replaced as the proper cards become available. During their turn as the Head, a player may replace a Solasigh card for the card it’s substituting, but they must be able to go down on that turn.
Once multiple people have put down their cards, the Head may play their own cards off those already put down, provided they’ve already put down and are following the rules of the hand (a person may play a Summer Gentry 10 card on another’s procession of Summer Gentry cards ranging from 6-9, making the new Gentry 6-10)
A round ends when the Head has no cards left in their hand, either because they’ve played off other cards that have been put down, or because they’re able to discard their last card. Most players will announce this as they get rid of their last card (“ye vyekozu” or “I’m out” is the most common), so that those with cards still in their hand (though not cards that have been put down) can begin counting their points.
The point of the game is to have as few points as possible, though some will jokingly declare themselves the winner if they lose by a particularly large amount.
Schetzye (Processions) are a group of four or more cards that are of the same Court and are in Numerical Order, including Solasigh cards (ex. Winter Court Cards: B, 1, 2, 3, S, 4 or Summer Court Cards: 7, 8, 9, 10, K, C, M, B). A Schetzye cannot be combined with another and is finished when it consists of 14 cards: B, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, K, C, M, B
Sevchki (Bundles) are a group of three or more cards, which are the same face value, including Solasigh cards (ex. Sevchki may contain Spring Court card 6, Autumn Court Card 6, and a Solasigh card and still be considered playable)
There are 7 rounds in a game of Luminese Rummy, and each hand is as follows:
Round 1 [7 Cards Dealt]: 2 Sevchki
Round 2[8 Cards Dealt]: 1 Sevchki & 1 Schetzye
Round 3 [9 Cards Dealt]: 2 Schetzye
Round 4 [10 Cards Dealt]: 3 Sevchki
Round 5 [11 Cards Dealt]: 2 Sevchki & 1 Schetzye
Round 6 [12 Cards Dealt]: 1 Sevchki & 2 Schetzye
Round 7 [13 Cards Dealt]: 3 Schetzye

Execution

Luminese Rummy is considered a family game and is played a lot during the winter, when the weather is unfavourable and it’s dark out for most of the day. At these times, it’s much safer to stay indoors once the sun sets, as the fey are said to get particularly vicious during this time. During games, adults will swap stories with each other, and there’s quite a lot of playful insulting that goes on between players as well as the occasional empty threat (“idvi lechya” (go to the forest) is a common demand, “fey vanyet teya,” (the fey would return you) is a widely used insult, while “baashek vovka” (sheep thief) is a common insult, usually traded between players that are saving the same cards).

Components and tools

Luminese Cards, unlike most cards available, are split into four courts, based on the season, with the court denoted by fey forest tree branches bordering along the long edges of the cards. Face Cards depict beautiful, carefully respectful illustrations of the fey royalty of each court: Monarchs, Consorts, and Knights Baashek Cards depict Luminese Sheep in various states of wool-growth, dependent on the court it belongs to. Cards depicting Solasigh Hedges are used as wild cards in most games. There are two in each deck.

Related Ethnicities

• Luminese