They are actually called glyphs, and are basically enchanted papers that modify something on aa certain skill, not the looks nither the element of it tho.
Usually add higher amount of charges on skills, faster casting time, more targets on a bouncing attack, reduce the amount of mana (or even hp if they use it) an skill costs, etc.
They could be compared to the rune system more than with the talisman, however, you can only put 3 large + 3 lesser glyphs, so this might be what he is referring to when he compares it to the talisman
