Death Beads (3.5e Equipment)

Death Beads
Natalupes have a warrior culture which prides the hunt, but some hunts are special. Beyond hunts for food, there are hunts for glory, where a natalupe single-handedly faces an opponent well recognized to be stronger than they, or they perform some great act of service and bravery in battle. For their efforts they are awarded a death bead, a symbolize essence of the opponents soul to be kept as a treasure. They are formed of pearls grown from a form of carnivorous clam, polished and worn in the hair or on strings attached to necklaces. The more death beads a warrior has, the braver, stronger, and more recognized he is. Those with many beads often purposefully arrange their treasures to jostle each other when they walk, a "death rattle" which a warrior can have pride in. The pearls are well made with a Cost::25g value each, but any warrior would let you know their true value is priceless.

While not inherently magical, it is possible to use death beads as the focus for soul bind, and they do not shatter if enough beads are not used. Yet curiously this property only is present with soul beads earned legitimately, and so the wizards of the world cannot use the far cheaper beads to cast their spell.