Wayfinder's bells

Ornate silver bells which are sewn onto a hood or woven into braided hair, a Wayfinder's bells are earned upon completion of the Hidden Path - the series of trials that qualifies an individual as a Wayfinder.

Description

The bells vary in size, from the size of a dried pea to the size of a walnut, and each set is unique to the Wayfinder that earned them. A Wayfinder can be recognised from the unique sound of their bells and the way their gait makes them chime.
The precise decoration on, and placement of, the bells is regional, with each silversmith having their own trademark to futher differentiate the set from its fellows. In the absence of any other evidence, a body could - and has been - identified by the marking and placement of the bells alone.

by Hans

Purpose

Originating in North-West Helia, where travel between settlements is long and difficult, and long predating the establishment of "Hideaway" inns, the bells are not entirely decorative - the presence of the silver and the charms written into the individual bells wards off ghosts and wisps, and the sound of them breaks the spell of anything that would cause the Wayfinder to deviate from their path. They are the symbol and the tool of a qualified Wayfinder

Manufacturing process

Each set of bells is custom made for the Wayfarer upon their completion of the Path.
Expert silversmiths craft the bells during the period of a full moon, with a set of ritual tools that do not contain iron. Associated with the moon and with intuition, the bells are not permitted to see daylight until they are first worn.
The raw silver of the bells contains the smallest of the Wayfinder's tutor, allowing knowledge to be passed from teachere to student.

Item type

Clothing / Accessory

Raw materials & Components

Pure silver