Stones That Built Paradise

The Stones That Built Paradise are a series of magical wardstones that line the coast of Emperor's Island. Located roughly every eight to ten miles apart, each of the twenty-foot-tall white stone megaliths is inscribed with ancient runes carved at some point in the distant past. Though the script bears some similarity to the modern Dwarven runic alphabet, it is distinct enough that the inscriptions remain untranslated and their meanings unknown - even magical means of comprehending languages do not seem to be able to interpret the writing. The Island King dwarves credit the Stones with providing them a safe place to grow their communities and culture, even if they currently bear no magical effects. Enough trace magic remains behind that it is clear that the Stones were once imbued with powerful abjuration spells, but the magic has long since dissipated, leaving behind only imposing rock monuments to some ancient past.

Island King monarchs often make pilgrimages to the Stones to pray and give offerings to their distant ancestors, who they believe erected the megaliths to protect future generations. Proper deference to the Stones and the continuation of the rituals around their cleaning is seen as an important responsibility of the rulers of Emperor's Island.