<The ancient stone senses your presence. Very slowly, it begins to emit a beautiful luminescence which fasts for a fleeting moment before fading.
Perhaps it is waiting for something.>
In Patch 10.1, the Ancient Stones finally received development! Each new stone now has a title and text reminiscent of the area they’re located at, and there are achievements for reading the Ancient Stones of each zone! Collecting all achievements for the four main Dragon Isles zones grants the meta achievement Ancient Stones of the Dragon Isles, and there are also Ancient Stones that grant their own achievement in Zaralek Cavern.
Below, we have locations for the Ancient Stones, as well as the text for each one. Happy learning!
Location for all Ancient Stones in the Waking Shores:
| So Close, So FarOne Small PartNeltharus StandsWelcoming the FirstLearn and Grow |
/way #2127 74.13 57.14 So Close, So Far |
Located by overgrown debris in the Skytop Observatory.
Shall I tell you why I watch the stars? They are distant, but they keep me company, like memories of loved ones. The lives below cry with persistent noise and clamor, a sharp contrast to the silence of absent friends.
When I meditate beneath the heavens, I imagine lines drawn between these distant points of light, familiar faces all. Each new discovery I make is named for a loved one I have lost.
These bright sparks lessen my grief. Atop the spires of my observatory, it may be quiet, I may be unattended, but I am never truly alone.
Inside the cave where Shas’ith spawns in the Obsidian Throne. On the right end, to the right of where Penumbrus spawns.
I only aksed aloud about father once.
“If the Obsidian Throne is his, why is he not here to rule from it?”
Had it been anyone else, I would have been cuffed for my impertinent. Instead, she only narrowed her eyes.
“One does not rule by sitting on a rock.”
“But I have not seen him in months”, I protested.
“You do not matter,” she hissed. “The flight is what matters. You are merely a small part of a greater whole. One that,” she noted with another glare, “–is testing my patience.”
I no longer question. I do not wish to displease him. One small part…
Perhaps in due time, I can be more.
To the right of the Neltharus dungeon entrance, in the Obsidian Citadel.
Behold, the bulwark of the Dragon Isles, Neltharus.
Any who would threaten the land of dragons will first have to content with its finest defenses. Our numbers are great, our weapons are greater still. Whether it be by claw, breath, or blade, our enemies will fall.
Let this place serve as warning and grave to any who would be mad enough to test our prowess.
For this is our oath: To protect the deep places of the world. To protect the world itself. To protect our kin.
We will see dragonkind prosper under our watchful eyes and warding wings.
Located by the overgrown remains of a dragon below the Ruby Lifeshrine.
The first whelp arrived in a joyous display of ceremony. A parade of dragons gathered among the ivy-clad trellises to greet the young one.
The egg belonged to a humble red dragon who supervised the temperature of the life pools. Who better to determine the right amount of heat than a mother? She gently breathed fire until the ambiance was just right.
When the blessed moment came, she lovingly awaited her child, as did the gathered assembly. Silence surrounded her until the shell finally cracked. The tiny, triumphant sound elicited a cheer from the gathered throng. Even now, the joyous display echoes in my heart.
I remember the Dragon Queen bowing her head, tears in her eyes. Not a sadness, or sorrow, but the joy of a purpose at last fulfilled.
By a tree covered in debris in the lower level of the Life-Binder Observatory.
I am no longer a student, but I find myself returning here regardless. My days are spent guiding our young from shell to hatchling, safeguarding the precious generations to come.
But my evenings are spent here. The sunsets is particularly beautiful from here. The stories we have captured, enthralling. The art, inspiring. Truly, this is a place in which we learn to nurture our young… but it is also a place where we can nurture our own interests as well.
Perhaps the Dragon Queen intended this all along? A sanctuary where we can continue to learn and grow, no matter our age.
Location for all Ancient Stones in the Ohn’ahran Plains:
| The Gnoll WarsYour DreamerDreams in EmeraldThe First KurnalWind, Wood, Water |
/way #2129 43.35 57.24 The Gnoll Wars (Cave) |
Inside a cave, just east of Teerakai, across the river.
When we first arrived on the Ohn’ahran Plains, we were not alone. Gnolls lurked in the shadows, grinning with malice as they set their snares.
Our ohuna, soaring overheard, watched their migration. Ohn’ahran’s winds carried mocking laughter to us. When the children of Maruuk and Teera first faced these foes, the gnolls tested their patience. They fought with fury and hatred, as if they had nothing to lose.
Inevitably, we pushed them from the plains. We lost many, but they lost more.
But if you see a single gnoll, be wary. Where there is one, there are always many more. Do not let them surround you. Drive them out. Show them there is no land, no prey, no room for their kind here.
By a clearing in Lilac Ramble, south of the Shady Sanctuary.
Theramus,
I had hoped to leave word with you directly, but this will have to do. The Aspects and I are needed elsewhere. For how long, I cannot say. Something threatens this world–not even Malygos seems to know exactly what are we facing. It seems, in this, we fly blind.
Watch over this place, dear one. Keep it safe, both for the Dream… and for me. I will return soon enough, hopefully in time for the new bloom. We shall plant even more. Together.
Your Dreamer
By a clearing just north of the Shady Sanctuary, across the river.
The gardens first called to me in my dreams. In pleasant moments of light slumber, my mind wandered, envisioning the vast forests of the Emerald Dream.
Ysera sensed my fascination. “Somnikus,” she said, “You will be the first caretaker of the garden.”
In ritual, I contemplated Ysera’s portal between that languid realm and our own. I am no sage, no mage. Yet my mind showed me the way, revealing my path to the Emerald Dream.
In the waking world, the seeds of a great forest sprouted and thrived and soon towered all over the place where I dreamed. The trail I blazed has always been sacred to me. In the depths of my dreaming, the gardens await.
By a tree just east of Maruukai.
Teera was the first Khanam Matra. Over her lifetime, the division of our people became more pronounced, threatening the tentative pact we made with the green ones. To prevent more division. she called the first Kurnal. In this, she did more than unite families. She united the clans.
Those at the first Kurnal were wary. The words they spoke to honor and celebrate were new. They had no ritual to follow. Like newborn foals, they teetered into the silence and filled it with ceremony.
Each year, that ceremony was renewed. Leaders repeated old rituals and speeches, building tradition. The first Kurnal now serves as a lesson for us all. Trust must begin somewhere, often with a single act. From one grandmother’s trust and love, our union was made.
On the islet by the lake just south of Teerakai.
Long ago, a grieving mother lost her only child. She followed his funeral procession to the Eternal Kurgans. Distraught, she cried all day and all night beside his burial mound until she collapsed in mourning. When she awoke, it was with surprise with shock.
For she was lying in the shade of a massive tree that had grown overnight, its boughs outstretched to Ohn’ahra’s skies. Beside her, clear water had gathered in a small pond. The winds had carried her grief to the ancestors and touched them to respond with gifts to soothe her aching heart.
This place endures here still. The shade and water offer comfort and solace to those that come to the Kurgans to grieve. Even in our deepest sorrow, we are never truly alone.
Location for all Ancient Stones in the Azure Span:
| Im’bunata’s BlessingA Solid FoundationAttention: Immediate EvacuationThe VowVakthros Maintenance |
/way #2128 56.74 70.29 Im’bunata’s Blessing |
By a tree on the southern end of Imbu.
After we made camp in our new home, Kutiq put his pole and bait to good use.
Instead of our evening meal, the river brought… an ancient one.
“What are you doing to my waters?” she said.
Kutiq stood tall and strong. “Your waters are overrun with fish. Unless we feed on them, they will soon choke the river.”
“You seek balance,” the ancient one observed.
“Always,” he replied.
“They say. Settle. Keep my waters in balance, and I will protect you.”
In this, Imbu was born, named for her–Im’bunata. We protect the waters, and she provides for us. It is our way.
By some rocks overlooking the ocean at Whaler’s Nook.
After years of searching for a suitable location, I am proud to mark the founding of Whaler’s Nook. May Gral bless our nets and spears with plenty. Together, we will build the finest fishing hold this side of the Azure Span… and soon enough, Iskaara herself will be green with envy at our prosperity. Ha!
<A note has been scrawled beneath the text.>
Turns out the only green thing around here are the gorlocs. Well done, brother.
<A note has been scrawled beneath the note.>
If your spear were half as sharp as your mouth, perhaps they wouldn’t be a problem.
<The spirited exchange continues for several paragraphs.>
To the right of the bridge leading to the top level of the Ruins of Karnthar.
By order of the Spell-Keeper, all work herein will immediately cease, and all dragons must evacuate the area.
As you know, our efforts here–while well intentioned–have attracted the ire of the nearby furbolg camp. Despite our attempts to reassure the tribe of the necessity of this facility, as well as our offers of protection, the furbolg insist on being left alone… in the most violent of fashions.
I did my best to present our case to our Lady, but her word is final. Our work here will remain unfinished. However, it will not be wasted. I have been assured that the new location is free of any potential disturbances.
Gather your research and assemble there.
By the cave where Stoneheart resides in Rustpine Den, to the left of Stoneheart.
The blue one apologized for the actions of her kind. She has promised us that they will abandon their camp and leave our land.
She has also offered the aid of her people, should we have need. I have turned her away. Why should we trust so readily, when our words were ignored until our spears joined the speaking?
Let it be known: Her word has been given. We have been told that this vow is unbreakable. Should any of her kind encroach on our land again, her word is nothing, and we will take action.
At the top level of the tower in Vakthros.
A note to all guards and attendants–although perhaps my finest work to date, Vakthros is also the most delicate. Due to the nature of the enchantments provided to reinforce the nearby Vault, the tower has been keyed to every major ley line in the Azure Span. While ingenious, this does pose a considerable amount of risk.
If there are any signs of structural or arcane damage to the tower, report to me immediately. Should you fail to do so… well, I suppose you would not survive long enough to regret that decision.
Malygos
Location for all Ancient Stones in Thaldraszus:
| Mighty DucksA Timely MessageKeeper’s BlessingGuardian WingsTogether BoundCaretaker’s NotesValdrakken |
/way #2130 42.76 70.41 Mighty Ducks |
By an island in the lake at the end of the Bluefeather Cliffs, just overlooking Valdrakken.
I came here to nap as often do and found myself confronted by a very angry duck. Upon closer inspection, it appears that she (I believe she is the mother) is guarding a clutch of eggs.
After some soothing reassurances, she let me rest. But I found myself unable to doze off, instead observing the duck, the nest, and the eggs. She continued to watch me when she thought I was not looking, as if sizing me up. Despite her small stature, I believe she is more than capable of delivering a beating to anything that might threaten her offspring. How very like a dragon!
I suppose it matters little if an egg comes from a dragon or duck. Fragile those shells might be, but they hatch into mighty creatures, no matter their size.
On the ground, to the right of the entrance to the Temporal Conflux vault.
Choraldormi,
Oh ha ha, VERY funny. Look, I am certain you think it is a marvelous prank but if someone of an age not our own finds those pages, they may learn of events and incidents they should not know about. Think about the temporal repercussions! You could be opening the way to paradox, and you KNOW father wouldn’t be happy about that, would he?
Also it was MY DIARY. I don’t care when you took it, BRING IT BACK.
By the graveyard spawn point in Tyrhold.
To those who follow the titan’s path. Know focus. Know harmony.
To those who follow the titan’s teachings. Grant wisdom. Grant strength.
For those who fall from the titan’s grace, in the deep places we shall bind you.
For those who betray the titan’s gifts, will be broken and reforged anew.
By a small clearing northeast of Algeth’era.
I know you are out there, across the divide.
I see you scanning the skies at night. I wonder what it is you search for? I would ask you directly, but I have been told to not approach. Rumors suggest you prefer to live in solitude. I will respect that, and I hope that your search, whatever it might be, proves fruitful.
And… I will keep my eyes set in your direction, every now and again. Just to reassure myself of your safety. We must look after one another, after all. It is the way of dragonkind.
By a clearing near a decorated cliff, just south of Tyrhold.
Here we stand and here we gather, beneath both wind and sky,
Joined as one forever after, beheld by dragon eyes,
Should and serve to break the bond that binds them strong and true,
Both tooth and claw of dragonkind shall dole them out their due.
Soul to soul and heart to heart, they now live on as one,
Wing to wing they take the skies, their journey just begun.
By the middle portion of the cross-bridge that covers the Veiled Ossuary.
This place is downright melancholy. The skies are dark and gloomy no matter the time of the day. They said I was here to learn responsability, but I suspect they just put me here to damper my spirits and make me behave ‘like a proper dragon.’
Fine then. I will fulfill my tasks, dutifully even… but they cannot stop me from having a bit of fun whilst carrying them out. Our dead should not have their eternity wallowing in mournful tears. After all, they succeded in the onerous task of living, did they not?
I wonder if the wildlife here have the same magnetic attraction to my arcane sphere as the dead foliage that I gather has. I believe this is worth an experiment…
At the very least, I suspect any lingering ghosts will find the effort very amusing!
By some bushes near the southern entrance to Valdrakken.
My beloved kin,
It is here we have built a monument to our unity. Valdrakken stands not just as a home, but an example of what draconic ingenuity and cooperation can create. Every dragon has put their mark on this place through both the magic of their flight, and their dedication to each other.
From its heights, we can watch over the Isles and keep them under our care. We can gather and share what we have accomplished, ensuring that each new generation continues to grow and thrive.
Valdrakken is a place of harmony, of balance… and of the love that unites us. As you walk its paths and speak with your kin, let that love guide you. Together, we flourish.
Alexstrasza
Location for all Ancient Stones in Zaralek Cavern:
| Demanding PerfectionBinding OathsPrimal Power |
/way #2133 43.28 23.69 Demanding Perfection |
By the foot of a dragon statue in Brimstone Garrison.
The master detailed his specifications. As always, he expected perfection.
We labored ceaselessly. We slept little, but duty and fear kept us moving apace.
Overseer Ketheros was called before the master. One of the passageways had been carved smaller than designed, he was told.
There was fire, and screaming. Then, I was promoted to overseer.
I will measure each passageway myself. The master will have his laboratory as designed. And I will return home to my broodmate and our whelplings.
On the ground, by the entrance to the Nal Ks’kol area.
When at least we breached these hidden halls, the master was wroth.
He murmured angry words about Tyr’s many secrets. I judged it unwise to press him further.
But when we presented the artifact we’d found, his mood brightened.
“The ideal soldier never questions orders,” he told us.
The glove fit as though it had been made for him. Before long, the master returned to his experiments, heartened that he would soon succeed.
By the foot of the tower at the center of the Gaze of Neltharion area.
To witness the Earth-Warder shape the land and draw forth the potent magma that will power his laboratory was inspiring to us all!
The djaradin seek to drive us out. But the dragonslayers stand alone and have no hope of victory.
The master says a great war is coming, and that he alone can protect dragonkind. Until our queen can be convinced that he is right, we must labor here in secret.
By wing or by talon, we shall prevail!
