Hagpearl

The weather woman's wall piece

Rain and snow, wind and sun, a hagpearl's work is never done...

— Old Wives Phrase

A Hagpearl is a hard, glistening object that resembles a pearl from an oyster. Most hagpearls appear to be round and smooth however have a sharp or spiky texture when pressed.
Hagpearls have long been considered a common household object since the Second Era, popularised by Human travelling merchants, presenting them in passing towns as a powerful trinket to be placed by a window or above the door frame. Since this time many Human households have acquired their own pearls to purpose and display - becoming an elephant in the room for most guests, as many affix the stereotype of an Old Maid to those who preach their usefulness.

Uses and Superstition

Hagpearls are named as such due to their shape and appearance, as well as the connotation to witches and seers during the 6th Century. This connection is made due to the pearls simple magical properties. Dramatically cheaper than any common magical trinkets, hagpearls origin is is not common knowledge despite their high distribution rates. Due to no recorded knowledge, the following is but a myth: A hag was believed to have settled by a river which a breed of oysters found habitable. Over the years of doing magic within range of the river, local fauna developed estranged properties including byproducts.

Properties

While the properties of a hagpearl are limited, they are alleged to be accurate and potent. Such properties are:

• Predicting the temperature; based off if the pearl is warm or cold - a warm pearl suggests warm weather, and vice versa.
• Predicting the weather; based off the texture of the pearl - a smoother surface indicates clear skins while a rough one indicates rain.
• Radiates good luck.
• When added to a cooking pot, keeps the food warm longer than usual.

Just be sure to keep a hagpearl clean or its bewitchment may reverse or wear off entirely. Most families will own their own hagpearl, as well as travellers, explorers, and farmers to keep track of the weather.

Superstition

With the connecting to witchcraft there has also been some superstition carried with hagpearls over the eras, especially while magic was more unruly during [the pearls] rise in popularity. Even today, with a deeper understanding of magic, the pearls carry an air of superstition - particularly with seamen and fishermen, citing the pearl to be "[...] an unnatural fruit of the sea!"
It is also considered unlucky to swallow a pearl (not just for fear of choking,) where supposedly it's magical essence will alter your internal workings, corrupting your mood, luck, and outlooks.

Item type

Magical

Rarity

Common

Weight

3-5 gram

Dimensions

5-7 millimeter

Base Price

1gp