Pearl

Pearls were not mined, they were the product of oysters or other mollusks, but they were treated like gemstones.

Description
Pearls were formed of layers of tchazar (aragonite) around a bit of grit or other irritant, growing inside a mollusk over the span of a few years. This slow process gave pearls a smooth surface with a deep, rich luster. Pearls were predominantly white but did occur in other colors such as gold, pink, or silver; rainbow and black being the most rare and valuable. The unique brilliant green pearls of the emerald oyster were valued at 500 gold pieces and above.

Over-sized pearls were frequently flawed in some way and not as valuable. One exception to this was a perfect head-sized pearl that was enchanted to become a crystal ball. A typical pearl has a base value of 100 gp to 500 gp, depending on market value.

Currency
Certain underwater races used pearls as currency rather than coins. The value of this currency changed according to several factors: the size of the pearl, measured from a standard of ; its rarity; and quality. In the Sea of Fallen Stars, the value of a pearl was determined primarily by its color:


 * white pearl, or "seyar": 1 cp undersea and 2 sp ashore;
 * yellow pearl, or "hayar": 1 sp undersea and 2 gp ashore;
 * green pearl, or "tayar": 1 gp undersea and 20 gp on land;
 * blue pearl, or "nuyar": 5 gp undersea and 100 gp on land;
 * olive pearl, or "olmar", long,  wide, and diamond-shaped: 500 gp undersea and over 2,000 gp ashore.

Magic

 * Pearls were used as a material component in many spells, particularly those that reduced acids to plain water, and neutralize poison. Crushed to a powder, pearls were used in creating all types of magic mirrors. Well-known magical items included the pearl of power, the pearl of the sirines and the pearl of wisdom.
 * Pearls were used to create periapts of wisdom, common magical amulets often found in possession of high-ranking clergy.

Races & Sentient Creatures

 * Pearl was a common stone among the drow, a gem worn by drow of average station, albeit they used only those of black, red, or deep mauve colors.
 * The shalarin of Serôs were known to craft pearl armor by transforming entire pieces of clothing into pearl using giant clams.

Religions

 * Pearls were considered sacred by followers of Deep Sashelas and Dugmaren Brightmantle&mdash;appropriate for sacrifice, or to be consecrated for use, or recognized as boons or omens when found.
 * White pearls were sacred to followers of Savras.
 * Black pearls were sacred to followers of Shargaas and Vhaeraun. With the latter being known to occasionally send them to show his favor or disfavor to his followers.
 * The temple complexes of Blibdoolpoolp typically had large black pearls in them. Changes in their coloration were seen as favorable omens.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * The Council of Blades &bull; Tymora's Luck
 * Video Games
 * Warriors of Waterdeep
 * Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir
 * Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir