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.
==Notable Users of Pearls==
===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—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.
==Appendix==
===See Also===
* Tchazar
* Neutralize poison
* Pearl of power
* Pearl of Power
* Pearl of the sirines
* Pearl of wisdom
* Saintsblood pearl
* Traveler's pearl
===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
::
::Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir
===Gallery===
Pearl deep waters WoW.png|A simple deep water pearl necklace from the 15 century DR.
Pearl-variety.jpg|A variety of pearlsBy Hannes Grobe/AWI (Own work) CC-BY-3.0
Pearl-black1.jpg|A rare black pearlBy Mila Zinkova (Own work) GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0
Pearl-necklace.jpg|A necklace made of pearlsBy Anna reg (Own work) GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0
Northern pearl.png|A pearl from northwest Faerûn.
===External Links===
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===References===
Category:Gems
Category:Precious stones
Category:500-599 gold pieces
Category:100-149 gold pieces
Category:Fancy stones