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Pearl

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Pearls were not mined, they were the product of oysters or other mollusks, but they were treated like gemstones.[6][7]

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.[6][7] Pearls were predominantly white but did occur in other colors such as gold, pink, or silver;[3] rainbow and black[3] being the most rare and valuable.[6][7] The unique brilliant green pearls of the emerald oyster were valued at 500 gold pieces and above.[8]

Over-sized pearls 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) 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.[6][7] A typical pearl has a base value of 100 gp[3] to 500 gp,[1][2] 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 0.25 inches (6.4 millimeters); its rarity; and quality. In the Sea of Fallen Stars, the value of a pearl was determined primarily by its color:[9][10]

  • white pearl, or "seyar": 1 cp undersea and 2 sp ashore;[9][10]
  • yellow pearl, or "hayar": 1 sp undersea and 2 gp ashore;[9][10]
  • green pearl, or "tayar": 1 gp undersea and 20 gp on land;[9][10]
  • blue pearl, or "nuyar": 5 gp undersea and 100 gp on land;[9][10]
  • olive pearl, or "olmar", 7 inches (18 centimeters) long, 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) wide, and diamond-shaped: 500 gp undersea and over 2,000 gp ashore.[9][10]

Notable Users of Pearls[]

Jumlat's pearl divers

Pearl divers from Jumlat on the Golden Gulf.

Magic[]

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.[12]
  • The shalarin of Serôs were known to craft pearl armor by transforming entire pieces of clothing into pearl using giant clams.[13]

Religions[]

  • Pearls were considered sacred by followers of Deep Sashelas and Dugmaren Brightmantle—appropriate for sacrifice, or to be consecrated for use, or recognized as boons or omens when found.[14]
  • White pearls were sacred to followers of Savras.[15]
  • Black pearls were sacred to followers of Shargaas[16] and Vhaeraun.[17] With the latter being known to occasionally send them to show his favor or disfavor to his followers.[18][17]
  • The temple complexes of Blibdoolpoolp typically had large black pearls in them. Changes in their coloration were seen as favorable omens.[19]
  • Clerics of Tymora in Amn used pearls, mainly black ones, as symbols of their goddess; this practice was considered nearly heretical by Tymoran clerics from other regions.[20]

Appendix[]

See Also[]

Appearances[]

Novels
The Council of Blades • Tymora's Luck
Gamebooks
Secret of the Djinn
Video Games
Baldur's Gate series • Icewind Dale series • Warriors of Waterdeep
Referenced only
Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir

Gallery[]

External Links[]

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 137. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 127. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 300. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  4. ↑ James Wyatt (June 2008). Dungeon Master's Guide 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 124. ISBN 978-0-7869-4880-2.
  5. ↑ Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (December 2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 134. ISBN 978-0-7869-6562-5.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 137–138. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 47. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  8. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader (July 2004). Serpent Kingdoms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 101. ISBN 0-7869-3277-5.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 91. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 55. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
  11. ↑ BioWare (June 2002). Designed by Brent Knowles, James Ohlen. Neverwinter Nights. Atari.
  12. ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1991). The Drow of the Underdark. (TSR, Inc), p. 93. ISBN 1-56076-132-6.
  13. ↑ Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 129. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
  14. ↑ Sean K. Reynolds (2002-05-04). Deity Do's and Don'ts (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Faiths and Pantheons. Wizards of the Coast. p. 11. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-08.
  15. ↑ Sean K. Reynolds (2002-05-04). Deity Do's and Don'ts (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Faiths and Pantheons. Wizards of the Coast. p. 13. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-08.
  16. ↑ Sean K. Reynolds (2002-05-04). Deity Do's and Don'ts (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Faiths and Pantheons. Wizards of the Coast. p. 14. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-08.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Sean K. Reynolds (2002-05-04). Deity Do's and Don'ts (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Faiths and Pantheons. Wizards of the Coast. p. 15. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-08.
  18. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 37. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
  19. ↑ Carl Sargent (May 1992). Monster Mythology. (TSR, Inc), p. 00. ISBN 1-5607-6362-0.
  20. ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). Lands of Intrigue. Edited by Roger E. Moore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 102. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
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