Purple Pearl
Purple Pearl, also known as "kytha alkiir" in espruar, is a pearl formed by the freshwater Kythapiir Mussels. These unique, beautiful pearls are priced for their looks and several usages.
Properties
Material Characteristics
The purple pearls are iridescent and have a dark purple or wine red base colour, with bright violet sheen. Pearls are known to reflect all the colours of the rainbow with purple preference. The largest found pearls have been 2 cm in diameter, and ones cultured and farmed are usually oval or perfectly round. In nature, the shape of the pearls varies greatly.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Besides their beauty, purple pearls have been recognized as very potent magical components. The size of purple pearls needed to cast a spell compared to some of their white ocean counterparts is significantly smaller, making them easier to carry around.
Compounds
Like all pearls, purple pearls are formed with nacre of the mussels, that forms around a small object inside the mussel. When the farmer attempts to culture pearls, they place a small spherical bead in the mussel, and the pearl forms around the bead. This is a process that takes years to complete, depending on how large of a pearl the farmer is looking for, and how large the bead was.
Origin & Source
Northern Umeros is the most common place to find purple pearls inside the kythapiir mussels that live in fresh water, preferring large lakes. While it is quite rare for the pearls appear spontaneously in nature, they are cultured and farmed in several places. Most famous kythapiir mussel farms are found around lake Alkiirefel, in the city of Nesrum in the Empire of Islenor. Nesrum relies heavily on the pearl production, that helps further to drive the city's economy.
History & Usage
Everyday use
A significant portion of the pearls grown in Empire of Islenor are known to end up as magical components used by mages to power some of their magic and magical items.
Manufacturing & Products
Due to their unique luster, purple pearls are used in decor, jewellery and accessories. These items fetch a formidable price in the global market. They are also used in skincare and medicine with varying results.
Byproducts & Sideproducts
Purple Pearls are usually obtained by growing Kythapiir Mussels, which have several other usages. Mussels can be eaten or used to produce dyes, the shells and the nacre can be utilised as decor and in jewellery.
Distribution
Trade & Market
The price of a Purple Pearl varies heavily on how it came to be: natural pearls are the most pricy, but some of the pearls cultured by high elves of Empire of Islenor can fetch almost similar price to the natural ones; due to their significant lifespans, elven pearl farmers can wait much longer for their patch of beads, and as such, they are able to use much smaller beads to encourage the mussel to create the pearls. These pearls, with much more pearl, are extremely expensive compared to pears with larger beads inside them.
Rarity makes the beads particularly wanted in the global market, making them a wanted luxury item.
This is very beautiful piece. I like how the elves have time to wait for them to grow, therefore their pearls are much more valuable.
Adazuri: A shonen-inspired magitech fantasy world home-brewed for 5e.