Blackfield Pearl Harvester

CW: Claustrophobia, cramped spaces

Harvesting the pearls of a goliath blackfield mussel is incredibly difficult task without proper equipment. Correction; it is incredibly difficult, even with the proper equipment.

Goliath Blackfield Mussels by Mochi

Traversing a sixty-metre tall mussel is not for the faintest of hearts, and requires a person with skill and precision, and no regard for their safety. To obtain a pearl, one must climb within the mussel's shell and extract the pearl using a large knife.

This is not a simple task, as at any moment the mussel can clamp shut. At this point, the mussel becomes impenetrable, and chance of survival is relied completely on whether or not the mussel opens up in time.

There are very few qualified pearl harvesters in the Blackfields. These pearls are very rarely collected, as their existence is to be kept a secret from outsiders of the region, to avoid any potential mass-farming of the precious items.


 
Necessary Equipment
  • Some pearl harvesters ascend the mussels using a large lasso that hooks onto the very top of the bivalve's shell.
  • A small knife is used to cut the muscle and retrieve the pearl. It is done with care and precision, to not kill the mussel.
  • A funnel is often used to safely deliver the pearl to the ground. The funnel is carried up to the mussel's entrance, and the pearl is rolled down.
  • Protective clothing is worn, as the mussels secrete toxins extremely harmful to norrabian skin.
  • Your first mission is to climb into that small mussel. It's got enough room for you to comfortably manouvre inside. Climb up the ladder and hop in. Be careful. If it starts to close, climb out as soon as possible.
     
    ...Are you sure this is safe?
     
    The fuck it isn't! That's why I'm telling you these instructions so many times. You can, and you might, die. You may get trapped in there, with no way of escaping, and there is nothing we can do about it.
    ...
    — Amateur pearl harvester on his first day of the job
    Blackfield Pearl by Mochi

    Related Locations
    Related Materials
    Related Species
    Goliath Blackfield Mussel
    Norrabian
    Related Materials
    Blackfield Pearl

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    Goliath Blackfield Mussel
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    Cover image: by Mochi

    Comments

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    Jul 22, 2024 08:49 by CoolG

    Sounds like a fun job :D

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    Jul 22, 2024 22:31 by Mochi

    It sure isn't! :D

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    Jul 22, 2024 23:30 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

    Another job in the Yonderverse I'm adding to my list of 'do not apply'. This is really cool, I like it. :D I bet they are stinky when they come out.

    Emy x
    Explore Etrea
    Jul 26, 2024 19:43 by Mochi

    Thank youu! I need to write some nice jobs xD

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    Jul 24, 2024 16:18 by jyliet of the house

    Better be careful! I wonder if a very long snorkel would survive the mussel closing and help keep someone alive.

    Jul 26, 2024 19:44 by Mochi

    Possibly! I feel like it'd be too risky, either not working well or possibly harming the mussel, and that is a big no-no for how precious these pearls are xD

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    Jul 25, 2024 19:22 by Aster Blackwell

    Why can't you use something to keep the mussel's shell open? Like a big rod of metal or something hahaha

    Jul 26, 2024 19:46 by Mochi

    The biggest reason is that the harvesters don't want to possibly risk harming, or even killing, the mussel. As big and strong as they are, they're easy to kill from the inside, and a big metal rod could possibly do more harm than good D: (i didn't think about this before-hand so i am pulling an excuse out of nowhere but i think it works)

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