Johann Bartholomaeus Adam Beringer's Lying Stones

Origin
Beringer's Lying Stones are piece of limestone carved into the shape of various animals, discovered in 1725 by Professor Johann Bartholomaeus Adam Beringer. Beringer, who was the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Wurzburg, Germany, believed them to be fossils. Since some of them bore the name of God in Hebrew he suggested they might be of divine origin. He was in fact the victim of a hoax, perpetrated on him by his colleagues, Jesuit J. Ignatz Roderick and Johann Georg von Eckhart, Professor of Geography and Mathematics and university librarian respectfully. When the friends realized how into the hoax Beringer was getting they attempted to confess to him the truth and even though the stones were getting more extravagant in design and obviously fake Beringer refused to believe them stating that they were just trying to destroy the book he was working on about them. Taking the men to court was the only way that the truth came out and the scandal ruined all three men's careers. When asked why he wouldn't let go of the possibility that they were faked Beringer refused to answer. Over the years, Beringer's work remained unfinished and a few of the stones were left to his family.

Effects
Makes the holder more likely to believe in lies and hoaxes