Oysters are two-shelled mollusks that mostly live off the coast of Southern Sarvonia. They may be found as far northward as the Bay of Sky, but are most common in the Yanthian Gulf and the Gulf of Maraya. They prefer temperate salt water, and attach themselves to underwater coastal rocks where food is brought to them by the constant motion of the waves.

Image description. A rich Avennorian merchant wearing a combined pearl/shell necklace, also simply called "Pearshell". Image by Faugar.

Appearance. Oysters have a blackish ovoid pebble-shape, slightly narrower on one end of the oval, and flattened in a smooth curve at the other. The two hard shells that form each side of the oval are fringed with a greenish-black substance which helps to protect the sensitive pale flesh of the interior. Usually the shells are about a nailsbreadth open, so that water and dissolved food particles can filter through the digestive membrane.

These finger-long mollusks are also known as "sisters" - a clever double pun, from the Styrásh "sýs" (sýs), meaning "two", referring to their bivalve shells, and also a reference to the fact that they are always found in groups together. They are also often referred to as "Two-Shells" or "Pearl-Houses".

The two shells are held together by a strong muscle, and edged by a membranous mantle, which contains primitive sensory organs and helps the oyster respire. The interior is coated with nacre, or "pearl-father", a shining iridescent substance, which protects the tender animal inside. Any grit that makes its way past the delicate fringe that edges the shell openings is also coated with pearl-father and eventually turns into a pearl itself. The oyster also secretes a powerful mucus which allows it to "glue" itself to rocks, coral, packed seabed, or other mollusks.

Special Abilities. The Oyster's most famous ability is of course the secretion of nacre, which it uses to create pearls around any small bits of irritation that make their way inside the Oyster. Various sorts of Oysters prefer various depth and currents of water, and the Avennorian pearl harvesters have become experts on the best location for the most likely formation of large pearls.

Though the Oyster has no other abilities that strike any as utterly fascinating, many are amazed that this creature still exists even though it has no eyes, ears, or nose, hindering it from the senses of sight, sound, and smell. It survives solely by using its two rows of feelers that help it to sense and respond to changes in its environment.

Territory. Oysters prefer warm, saltwater environments in temperate climates. They thrive on the coast of Southern Sarvonia where the Avennorian people feast upon them. They are collected in enormous quantities on the Yanthian Gulf and the Gulf of Maraya. However, even those living near the Herrings Bay and the Aetryam Sea have also collected them, though not the vast amounts the Avennorians record. There have been accounts of these shellfish being found further northwards, but they are usually only found there during hot years. There have been a few attempts to cultivate Oysters, for the purpose of introducing irritants into their shells and thus creating more pearls, but these are so far only in the experimental stage and are not yet commercially viable.

Habitat/Behaviour. Oysters are rather timid creatures but, though independent, will live near each other on the same rocks or coral. They spend the majority of their lives tucked away within their rough shells. The average lifespan of an Oyster is about 6 years, though some may live as long as 20 years.

Pic description. An Erpheronian noblewoman wearing a pearl earring. Picture drawn by Bard Judith.

Diet. The Oyster is a filter feeder, depending on the constant motion of the oceans to bring it tiny pieces of algae and other substances it needs. The Oyster feeds by opening its shell as each new wave rushes over it, and taking some of this nutritious seawater into itself. From there it filters the nutrients out of the water before spitting it out into the ocean again. The inevitable bits of sand and other indigestible irritants which the Oyster fails to filter eventually develop a coating of pearl-father and become the lovely nacreous jewels of the sea with which we are familiar.

Mating. In early to mid spring, mating begins. Mating, for Oysters, is a rather haphazard process. The males simply eject a greenish fluid which spreads out around them with the movement of the water, and any female Oysters in the area will receive it as they have their shells open to feed. This fluid seems to have a surprisingly long period of viability, retaining potency for up to a week, during which time it can be spread widely by the currents and waves.

The female, after having been fertilized, will produce anywhere from five hundred to one million eggs within the year. These eggs are yellow in color and are so small that, when bunched together, resemble thick yellow cream. These eggs hatch after about 10 hours and, within a day of their hatching, will have begun to grow a shell.

The first weeks of the Oyster’s life is spent swimming or floating in the dangerous sea waters where many young Oysters fall prey to fish, crabs, and other such creatures. The young Oysters grow a “foot” to help them avoid attack by predators that can still break through the undeveloped shell. Once the Oyster has found a place to settle, it attaches itself firmly to that place with its strong mucus, and its shell begins to harden rapidly. These shellfish tend to collect together in groups called "beds", and will rarely move from a bed after having settled.

Young Oysters grow at an alarming pace. Though they are hardly more than three or four grains across after the first month, they will grow to be two and a half nailsbreadths in diameter within the years, and from there will grow about two nailsbreadths a year for three or four years. Even after these first few years of growing, though, they will still continually grow and may expand to become little less than a fore! Such Oysters are extremely rare, though.

Usages. Oysters are mostly desired for the pearls that they produce, and the Avennorians have made a virtue out of harvesting the sea-gems. However, they have also discovered that the tender flesh of the Oyster is edible, and not wanting to waste food, have made it a part of their diet.

Oysters can be roasted in their shells, fast-fried, deep-fried, or smoked. A couple of inventive mages have experimented with sealing the beasts' shells in an attempt to preserve the meat for transport, but there is no current market for Oysters. As yet Oyster meat is not regarded as a delicacy inland, and the fisher folk eat it too often to consider it out of the ordinary. The shells do not go to waste either; they are used to decorate house exteriors, line garden edges, serve as "gravel" walkways when crushed, and even cut and polished into buttons and sequins to adorn gowns.