olulikku

Olulikku is a fictional bioluminescent bead described in speculative fiction and role-playing game lore. In common depictions, olulikku beads form when mineral-rich river gravels interact with subterranean heat, producing glassy nodules that artisans cut into beads about 5–12 mm in diameter. The material is translucent and ranges in color from pale blue to green, and it glows softly in darkness due to trace bioluminescent inclusions. The glow often strengthens under moonlight and fades in bright daylight, giving olulikku objects a variable appearance.

The name olulikku is said to derive from the Odari language in the imagined world, where ol- means light and -likku denotes a small sphere; this origin, however, varies by source.

Beads are valued for aesthetic and metaphysical reasons. They are commonly used in jewelry, ceremonial garlands, and certain spellwork in some settings. They are traded along river routes and in coastal markets, and larger specimens may be cut into smaller gems or used as focal components in ritual devices.

In lore, olulikku is believed to carry memories of the maker or to serve as a focus for concentration in rituals. Some narratives treat it as a symbol of continuity, with families passing beads down through generations. While visually similar to ordinary glass or crystal, olulikku’s distinctive glow is a hallmark of its fictional lore.

See also: Bead, Bioluminescence, Fantasy world-building.