Oblivion:Magical Stones

Magical Stones  
Magical Stones are found scattered across the landscape in Cyrodiil.  If you are looking for information on smaller magical stones, see the pages on Sigil Stones, Varla Stones, and Welkynd Stones.

There are two types of ancient magical stones in Cyrodiil: Rune Stones (Runestones) and Doom Stones (Doomstones). Both appear as a rune-covered monolith in the center of a circle of stones. Rune stones have glowing green runes, and provide a bound weapon and bound piece of armor when used. Doom stones have glowing red runes and provide greater powers, similar to those of many birthsigns, that can be used once a day. Doom stones only work at night (6pm to 6am).

The Arcane University hosts a series of lectures on these magical stones, which can provide the player with additional background information on the nature of the stones.  However, the lectures do not necessarily provide accurate information.


thumb|The Tower Stone just after dawn
There are two different kinds of Doomstones; the Birthsign Stones, related to the constellations that mark the zodiac of Tamriel, and the Heaven Stones, related to other celestial bodies:

Birthsign Stones grant one of several Greater Powers specific to that stone. These powers can only be obtained one at a time. For example, if you acquire Arcane Well from the Atronach Stone and then use the Lady Stone, your Arcane Well power will be replaced by Lady's Warding; you cannot have both. However, you may switch between Birthsign Stone powers as often as you wish, and using a Birthsign Stone will not replace the birthsign and birthsign power chosen at the beginning of the game (e.g., if you chose The Shadow at the start of the game and then use the Atronach Birthsign Stone, your character page will still list The Shadow and you will retain the Moonshadow birth power in addition to Arcane Well).

Heaven Stones, like their Birthsign counterparts, grant one Greater Power each. Unlike Birthsign Stones, the powers do not replace each other when a new stone is used; one may obtain and keep all seven Heaven Stone powers by visiting each of the seven stones.

Due to their greater power, Heaven Stones also have a Renown requirement, which differs by stone; the   (not difference, as some sources state) of your Fame and Infamy must exceed the required number, or the Stone will, when used, display a message stating that "The Hero's fate is known when the Hero's fame has grown."  The renown requirement can be met by wearing the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal reward from the Thieves Guild, as it gives you 100 Infamy whenever worn.

Both types of Doomstone can only be used at night, between 6pm and 6am. Attempting to use them outside these hours will result in a message saying "No stars shine upon the doomstone."

The powers acquired from Doom Stones also add the relevant spell effects to the list of effects your character knows, and therefore can be used when creating custom spells or custom enchanted items.  In particular, Doom Stones provide one of the few ways to acquire the Fortify Skill and Resist Frost effects; they can also make Chameleon available to characters with low Illusion skill.

Birthsign Stones


Heaven Stones

 


thumb|A Sidri-Ashak Runestone
All the rune stones bind a weightless armor and weapon, which will disappear after the spell wears off. If the rune stone can bind either a Blade or Blunt weapon, you will receive whichever weapon type in which your skill is greater (a tie goes to the Blunt weapon).

There are three different kinds of rune stones: Reman, Sidri-Ashak, and Hestra. Each binds weapons and armor specific to its kind. Multiple instances of each are scattered throughout Cyrodiil.

For details of bound items, refer to the Bound Armor and Bound Weapon pages. (Like other bound items, the ones from rune stones can be kept permanently by exploiting certain glitches.)

Activating a rune stone counts as casting a conjuration spell, and therefore trains your Conjuration skill as well.

If you try to use the same type of rune stone twice in the same day, you will receive a message "Stones sleep.  Stones rest this day."  You will not be able to receive any armor or weapons.  You will also receive this message if you try to use the rune stone on the same day of the week as your previous use (e.g., if you last used a Reman Rune Stone on a Tirdas, you will not be able to use any Reman Rune Stones on a Tirdas).  Wait until after midnight and you will again be able to use the stone.

Whereas patches of multiple common plant types or a single uncommon or rare plant type are found all over Cyrodiil, Rune Stones are always surrounded by a patch of four or five uncommon or even rare plant types.  Rune Stone patches are a specifically good way to see plants and obtain their alchemy ingredients that players may have only seen in merchant inventories, all at one location.

Reman Rune Stones 
Rune Cuirass and Sword or Rune Cuirass and Axe'': Summons a Bound Cuirass (Heavy Armor), and a Bound Sword (claymore) or a Bound Axe, for five minutes.  The stone will determine which to use based on the higher of your Blunt and Blade skills. There are nine Reman Rune Stones in all (see the  ).
North-northwest of Skingrad. South of Bleak Flats Cave and Aetherius Stone.  
Northwest of Kvatch, at plateau's base.  
East of Kvatch. Southwest of Fort Istirus.  
East of Kvatch. Just north of  Fort Istirus, at top of hill.  
Across the lake from Bravil, and far east. On the road to Malada, halfway between Malada and the bridge at Fort Entius.  
Northeast of Leyawiin. West of Veyond, on the other side of The Yellow Road.  
Southeast of Bravil. On the Yellow Road, south of the Mouth of the Panther, and northwest of The Drunken Dragon Inn.  
Northeast of Kvatch. Northwest of Talwinque, southeast of Varondo.  
West of Imperial City. Southwest of Fort Nikel, northeast of Fort Wooden Hand, northwest of Fanacasecul.  

Sidri-Ashak Rune Stones
Rune Bow and Helm: Summons a Bound Bow and Bound Helmet (Light Armor) for two minutes.  There are five Sidri-Ashak Rune Stones in all (see the  ).
Northwest of Anvil. In the center of the letter A in Anvil on the map.  
North-northeast of Chorrol, West-southwest of Bruma. North of the main ruin at the Sancre Tor complex.  
North of Cheydinhal. Near Azura's Shrine (follow the path from the shrine and take the first right)  
South of the Arcane University, on the southern shore of Lake Rumare. North of  Sardavar Leed.  
Southwest of Bruma, on the Orange Road.  

Hestra Rune Stones
Rune Blade and Bracer or Rune Mace and Bracer: Summons Bound Gauntlets (Light Armor) and a Bound Dagger or Bound Mace, for five minutes. There are ten Hestra Rune Stones in all (see the  ).
Southeast of  Bruma. Between Namira's Shrine and  Anga ruins.  Right above the "h" in "The Silver Road."  
Directly east of Bruma East Gate, near the  Silver Road, southwest of  Plundered Mine.  
East of Bruma, Northwest of Cheydinhal. About 50 meters east of  Silver Tooth Cave, on the path.  
Northwest of Imperial City, West of Fort Caractacus, East of Fort Empire.  
East of Imperial City, South-southwest of Cheydinhal, East-northeast of Lake Poppad. Between Vaermina's Shrine and Vahtacen.  
On the Northwestern corner of the Imperial City Island, slightly west of Sinkhole Cave.  
South of Cheydinhal, East of Imperial City. Across the Red River from Drakelowe.  
Northwest of Bruma, southeast of Cloud Ruler Temple. This is where the spies will appear in Spies in the Main Quest  
Northwest of Cheydinhal. Just west of Lake Arrius.  
West of Cheydinhal. North-northeast of Imperial City. North of Fort Chalman on the Red Ring Road.