Whitson Stone

The **W****hitson Stone**, also known as the **Ruling Stone**, is, along with the Green Ember, one of two jewels that symbolizes the right to rule Natalia as King or Queen. In contrast to the Green Ember, however, the Whitson Stone indicates that the owner had the right to rule "now," whereas the Green Ember symbolizes the right to rule in the near future.

## History

### Origins

The exact origins of the Ruling Stone are unknown, though it - along with the Green Ember and the Crown of Flames - seems to have become associated with the royalty of Rabbits before or during the time they lived on Golden Coast.

It eventually came into the possession of King Gerard, who passed it on to King Whitson Mariner after naming Whitson as his successor. It became very prominently associated with the mariner king, thus earning the moniker of "Whitson Stone." From there it was presumably passed down to Lander and then to his descendants until it was bestowed upon King Walter Good.

### *The Black Star of Kingston*

King Whitson wore the stone on a chain around his neck, usually under his shirt. He later showed it to Fleck Blackstar as part of explaining the role of the Green Ember.

### *The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner*

King Whitson Mariner wore the Ruling Stone during a party with his captains and lords. It is unclear exactly what happened to the stone during the wreck of *Vanguard*, but it is likely that it traveled with the king up until around the time when Queen Lillie was kidnapped, at which point the stone was stolen and transferred to Captain Grimble.

In the aftermath of the wreckage, Whitson lamented the loss of the stone. When Whitson was reunited with Grimble and his followers in the midst of a battle, the king noticed that Grimble was wearing the Ruling Stone. After Grimble was defeated, Whitson took back the jewel.

### *Ember Falls*

The fate of the stone became somewhat ambiguous around the time of King Jupiter. Bleston claimed to have taken the Whitson Stone with him when he and his malcontents left First Warren, seeing it as his birthright. Heather Longtreader speculated as to whether it might have been lost by King Jupiter during his reign. Prior to Bleston's revelation that he possessed it she had believed it to be in safe hands.

While he feigned to support The Resistance under Smalden Joveson, Bleston claimed that he would grant Smalls the Whitson Stone. This was an act of deceit, however, as he sought to claim the throne for himself. His treachery was thwarted by the actions of Picket Longtreader, and he had the Whitson Stone on his person when he fell from Cloud Mountain and died.

### *Ember Rising*

The stone was later recovered by his son Kyle, who took to wearing it and asserting his own claim to the throne.

### *Ember's End*

Kylen wore the stone while meeting with Emma Joveson and Picket Longtreader in the Terralain camp, prior to the Siege of First Warren. Heather reported his possession of it to Smalls, who notes that the stone is meant to symbolize authority, not confer it. Later, during the Siege, Kylen, repenting of his former actions, gave the Whitson Stone to Emma willingly, and she wore it around her neck. She in turn apparently surrendered it to Smalls, who was seen wearing it at the first Feast of the Mending.

## Physical description

The Whitson Stone is a bright red diamond worn around the neck with a chain.

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