The Acorn Cloak-Clasp

Now... you must always remember. The meaning of this token - signifying that you are a Friend of the Feywood must never be known to those not of the Friendship. Most in your world will think it crude... simple... and will not crave to duplicate it. This is what we want. For to us, it is a mark of one to be trusted and aided. Now take care, and may Berdea guide your steps.

— Dryad Amalthea presenting the Human Ranger Branwyne Pinnman with an acorn cloak-clasp.

The Acorn Cloak-Clasp

Two acorns joined together with a cord, no more than an inch apart. The cord appears to be made of fine, strong silk. The acorns are small enough to be passed through the buttonholes on a common cloak. As jewelry goes, it is certainly crude and poor looking - and that is what is intended. But to those who understand its significance, it represents an honor that has only rarely been bestowed within the The Feywood since the The Great Strife - indeed no more than a handful of times.

This crude, simple cloak closure is in fact a badge of high honor in the Feywood, for it is the mark of one who has been affirmed as a Friend of the Feywood. This honor is earnable only by non-Elves that have demonstrated more than just a regard for the nature of the Feywood. To the Fey - Greater and Lesser - of the forest, it is the mark of one who can be trusted to have the best interests of the Forest in mind. It is also the mark of one who is to be aided - warned of dangers ahead perhaps, or assisted when in distress.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

The clasp is used to secure a common cloak around the neck; the acorns passed through the buttonholes on each side of the cloak collar. There is nothing special or magical about how the clasp performs its obvious function. But there is something special about the clasp - the Fey can immediately discern between one that was properly bestowed upon a worthy recipient, and one that was crafted by other than the Fey - either out of ignorance or in order to deceive. What it is that the Fey can sense about the real item is completely unknown. And since the learned sages who would research such a thing do not even know of their existence, it is likely to remain unknown for some time.

Item type

Clothing / Accessory

Rarity

The Acorn Clasp is exceedingly rare. In fact, at the moment, there are only three known to have been presented in the past hundred years by the Greater Fey of the Feywood.

Weight

2 ounces (50 grams)

Dimensions

3 x 1 inches (8 x 3 cm)

Base Price

Appears to be worth at most a copper or two, but is in fact essentially priceless.

Raw materials & Components

The clasp consists of two natural acorns joined by a short length of slender, but incredibly strong, woven spider silk.

"Pardon me, milord... but that's a unique cloak-clasp ya got there. I've sold plenty of designs, and seen plenty more, but I don't recall seein' one quite like that? Are they real acorns?"
"Aye, but it's nothing... just something I had to fashion in the Forest when me old one broke. Now I've just come to like it."

— Merchant and a Friend of the Feywood conversing in a shop.

Original Acorn Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
Alterations for finished image by Bob O'Brien (me!).