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This item can be created by nature clerics and druids for travelers without a water source. Divine magic creates a freshwater pearl in a river mussel. (The river must be among the most pure and fast flowing.) The pearl contains within its magic sheen up to 4 gallons of fresh clean water.
To release this water a character must contemplate their gratitude to the earth and caress the outside of the pearl with some liquid. As this liquid flows over the pearl it releases twice its volume in water. The pearls may be safely held in the mouth and sucked upon until one has quenched their thirst or it may be transferred to a pot where it will produce water more quickly. After releasing a total of 4 gallons the pearl is dry.
A swallowed pearl will not harm a respectful character but a despoiling character must make a save against terrible pain and damage. A swallowed pearl disappears.
Soaking the pearl in very pure water and ardent prayer may revive a pearl for repeated use. Holy figures with sanctified fonts to refill in may get years from a single pearl. Laity typically will get no more than 7 uses. Each time a pearl is revived it soaks up as much as 4 gallons of water.
A spent pearl remains a valuable and venerated item to the clerics who created it. Callous disposal of these items is resented by the clergy.
Backstory:
The great confluence of people gathered at the last river on the desert edge. They were peasants, refugees how could they survive in the heat? How could they survive without water?
Ahead the holy one raised his hands and a cool mist rose from the river bringing a tranquil calm.
“Kneel before the waters, as I have taught you. Promise the land your sweat as you receive its bounty. You shall not corrupt it with sickness nor abandon it in its age - its future shall be tied with yours.”
The holy one walked among the kneeling supplicants gathering the most fervent, lifting them up and placing a pearl in their empty left hand.
“With your left hand hold the land’s riches. With your right hand you pledge to defend her.”
This was the first ceremony of the Giving Pearl.
October 27, 2005, 22:24
This is a cool item. Since I'm a rather low-magic sort (in some ways), I think I'd probably use it as a tool of nature priests and messianic cult leaders and such to awe people. I can see some Jesus-like holy man sending his devotees into the desert to contemplate their gods or whatever, and giving them this miraculous pearl.
This is a good enough idea that I can almost overlook the lack of a backstory... But you ought to have one, even if it's as basic as "the Lord of the Mountain gave 100 of these to his wisest priest as a gift of devotion" or something like that.
Better and better, Sigurd.
4/5.
October 28, 2005, 11:05
October 29, 2005, 9:58
I like it. Would you mind if I would use this effect for my nature priests? Religions would thrive on such effects.
October 29, 2005, 10:42
October 29, 2005, 15:20
I kinda like the fact that it stops giving water after about three days worth of water. It is a welcome refreshment from al the cups of unending water.
One question, would one be able to tell this apart from a normal pearl, and if not then wouldn't all pearl be, if not venerated, at least respected by the clergy?
October 30, 2005, 14:23
Pearls will have significance for the religion, and this pearl should be different from a common one... if only in a special sheen visible to a priest, or a devout worshipper. It could also seem slightly bigger.
On an unrelevant note, a US gallon is about 3.8 liters, the UK gallon ~4.5 liters. Checking http://www.aircav.com/survival/asch13/asch13p02.html (link supplied by all-knowing MoonHunter), on a hot desert could a pearl keep you perfectly healthy and active for some two days, more if only survival is asked for. So it is more an insurance than a life-saver, be sure to bring that water along.
October 30, 2005, 20:13
February 2, 2006, 0:34
June 19, 2006, 9:02
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January 25, 2009, 12:18
August 20, 2010, 23:40