“A giant snail believed to have been bred for consumption during the reign of the Great Allagan Empire.” - Level 5 Botanist Nodes - Jadeite Thicket, Central Shroud

Bright blessings, wanderer! Come, step into the circle!

Every culinarian worth her salt knows the importance of Allagan Snails, be it for boiling tree toad legs or lava toad legs. Like many seemingly mundane ingredients, however, these tasty morsels have purposes in the arcane as well.

Perhaps not as commonplace now as in days of old, the practical uses for snails in witchworks is bountiful. Snails serve as important symbols and also can be used in practical spellcraft. In particular, their shells act most meaningfully. Carrying a shell or placing it in one’s home can act as a protection ward.

The shells also aid in connecting oneself with nature and may even be a key in opening portals to the spirit world. This shape often symbolically represents growth, as we see it becomes larger the more it wraps around itself. It is no wonder that a skilled diviner can glean much from the spiral shape.

There is more than just the shell that one can use, though. In addition to the shell’s shape, a diviner may also chart the trail a live snail leaves to peer into the future. Unlike certain other divination rituals involving animals, this is one that allows the assisting life to continue and is a personal favorite of mine.

The trail of a snail has additional uses as well. While perhaps not the best choice for a queasy witch, the slime can be used for medicinal purposes. From treating skin conditions to even healing minor wounds, snail slime is vital to any good surgeon spellcaster.

More than that, though, snails are nice to have around! Live snails may provide even better spiritual protection than shells and fit right in with a picturesque garden. They even have a role in decomposition and fertilization for healthier plant life.

However, snails can be voracious eaters! While they favor decaying plant life, in a pinch they will eat more fresh offerings as well as other potentially beneficial insects. It is crucial that you would-be witches out there maintain a healthy balance should you wish to keep our tiny-shelled friends around.