Speaking stones are magic items carved from Siberys dragonshards that allow long-distance communication. They are the means by which House Sivis operates their network of message stations, enabling nigh-instantaneous communication across Khorvaire.[2][1]
Powers[]
A given Sivis message station has one or more of these stones, and they are each carved with a unique sequence of arcane symbols to tell them apart. To send a message, a dragonmarked gnome of House Sivis touches their own speaking stone and uses their Mark of Scribing to cast[2][3][1] the whispering wind[2] or the sending[1] spell. The message is directed to another speaking stone of which the user knows either the location or the unique sequence of symbols.[2][1] The message travels at a speed of 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) per minute and has no limit on range.[2] However, with a limited word count of only 25 words, messages are necessarily short.[1][4][5][6][7]
At any given time, a gnome is on duty at each speaking stone, listening for and writing down messages emanating from said stone. They will then be delivered to the desired recipient.[2][1] However, anyone within roughly 5 feet (1.5 meters) of the device can overhear the message.[1]
Usage[]
The speaking stones are maintained and operated by the Speakers Guild.[8][9] Operators are known as 'stonespeakers',[10] with senior operators having titles like First Stonespeaker[11] to Third Stonespeaker.[12] They learn the artificial language Stonespeech, which allows them to compress a message to carry up to three times as much information as normal.[4]
A major message station typically has more than one speaking stone and big cities like Sharn can have multiple message stations,[2] with one in Barmin Tower.[13] They are located in every major city in the Five Nations and most of the cities and towns in Khorvaire,[14][4] with the network reaching as far as Q'barra[4][15] and Graywall in Droaam (installed in the Kundarak Vault there)[16] and beyond. In Stormreach in Xen'drik, the Sivis-operated message station is based in the House Kundarak enclave and has two speaking stones.[11] In Dar Jin in Riedra, Sarlona, three speaking stones are maintained in the Sivis enclave, though messages to and from Khorvaire can take up to three days to transmit.[17] The island prison of Dreadhold has no less than three speaking stones for internal communications and contacting the outside world: one inside the front gate, one in the watch tower, and one in the Gaolgate settlement.[10] Speaking stones may also be mobile—the airship Chains of Gold of the fabulously wealthy Antus ir’Soldorak has one.[18]
The arcane spell of the same name replicates the function of speaking stones on a temporary basis.[19]
Costs[]
A one-page message costs 5 gp to transmit. Typically, the recipient is expected to visit the message station to collect any messages for them, but in large cities, a sender may pay an extra 15 gp to have the message delivered to the recipient's address.[14]
History[]
Speaking stones were invented in 783 YK by Tasker Torralyn d'Sivis, a member of the Twelve; Tasker conceived them and the Twelve put them into development.[15][12][4] The first message stations were established in the capital cities of each of the Five Nations in 789 YK.[15] Their invention was a major milestone for House Sivis as it allowed instantaneous communication across great distances on an industrial scale.[4] It supplanted House Orien's postal system[20] and helped put House Sivis at the center of Khorvairian development.[21]
During the Last War, House Sivis's services, including speaking stones, allowed civilians and soldiers to stay in touch and to receive news, which enhanced the house's reputation.[22]
The Tasker's Dream think tank of House Sivis is currently working to enhance speaking stones further.[12][9] Prototype augmented speaking stones have already been developed, and Sivis and Orien representatives have secretly set some up in the Flats outside Stillwater Station in the Mournland as part of an effort to establish a message station.[23]
Notable Users[]
- The Korranberg Chronicle: the main office and field offices communicate via speaking stone or sending services provided by Sivis.[24]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Bound by Iron • The City of Towers • The Darkwood Mask • Legacy of Wolves • The Orb of Xoriat • The Shard Axe • Voyage of the Mourning Dawn • Word of Traitors
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 10, 47, 279. ISBN 0786966890.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 263. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 209. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 228. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 301. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, and James Wyatt (2008). Player's Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 312. ISBN 0-7869-4867-1.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook (5th edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 274. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 73. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 229. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Keith Baker and Jason Bulmahn (June 2006). “Dreadhold: Eberron's Inescapable Island Prison”. Dragon #344 (Paizo Publishing), pp. 73, 74, 77.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 68. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 75. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ Keith Baker (2004). Shadows of the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 3. ISBN 0-7869-3276-7.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Keith Baker & James Wyatt (2004). Sharn: City of Towers. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 12–13. ISBN 0-7869-3434-4.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 71. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ Keith Baker (October 2008). “Dragonmarks: Backdrop: Graywall” (PDF). In Chris Youngs ed. Dragon #368 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 5–18.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Secrets of Sarlona. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 74. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.
- ↑ Keith Baker (July 2011). “The Aurum: Binding with Chains of Gold” (PDF). Dragon #415 (Wizards of the Coast).
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Stephen Schubert, and Chris Thomasson (2005). Magic of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 93, 102. ISBN 0-7869-3696-7.
- ↑ James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 224. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 8. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Wolfgang Baur, Ari Marmell (2007). The Forge of War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 62. ISBN 0-7869-4153-7.
- ↑ Glenn McDonald (October 2008). “Expeditionary Dispatches: Refuge in the Mournland: Stillwater Station” (PDF). In Chris Youngs ed. Dragon #368 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 88.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 92. ISBN 0786966890.