Lore:The Stone

A Stone Atronach

The stone is an object of worship in some cultures of Tamriel. Stone is also an element associated with one of the kinds of the Elemental Daedra, and a branch of magic known as the Stone Magic.

Worship

Bretons

A Stonelore Circle Shrine

"At the Dais of Stonesight, the Spirit of Stone sits in patient contemplation. Through its eyes, you will see as far as the Earth Bones which rest beneath the ground you sit on. Time spent with the Spirit of Stone is time cherished as each moment is slowly marked and held dearly instead of flitting away."
—Message of Welcome by Archdruid Wyn

Unlike the Iron Orcs, the Breton Druids did not worship the stone itself. Instead, they maintained deep bonds with Y'ffre and the nature spirits. At the Dais of Stonesight, the Spirit of Stone sat in silent contemplation. To gaze through its eyes was believed to see as far as the Earth Bones buried deep beneath the soil. Time spent in the Spirit's presence was treasured—each moment unfolding slowly, savored rather than lost. Among the three major druidic circles, the Stonelore devoted themselves to mastering the ways of stone. The Stonelore Druids were known for raising stone monoliths called storystones—sacred markers etched with meaning. These pillars often depicted prominent members of their ruling council, the Draoife, commemorated significant events, and in some cases, were aligned with the stars to function as tools for celestial observation.

Orcs

An Iron Orc nirncrux mine

"The stones speak to us. They grant us strength, they give us power. The stones provide life. We are the children of the stones. We are the people of the rock. We are the Osh Ornim! May we listen to the rocks. May we hear the shifting of the stone. Let the mountains shelter us. Let the land feed us. Let the crows be forever at our backs. We are the Osh Ornim! Crun granosh! Blood for our enemies! Steel for our clan!"
—Blood for Our Enemies

The Iron Orcs of Craglorn were once a peaceful, shamanistic people who held stone in deep reverence. Originally cave-dwellers, they maintained a rich cultural relationship with the ancient Nedes of the Deathlands during the Merethic Era. However, by the late Merethic period, the Nedes had developed rudimentary metallurgical skills. Following a long separation between the two peoples, conflict erupted. Armed with their new weapons, the Nedes launched an assault on their Orcish neighbors to conquer them.

In a desperate bid to survive, the Orcs were forced to violate their sacred stones to extract iron. Many scholars believe this act of desecration marked a turning point in Iron Orc society. From then on, they transformed into a culture centered around mining, blacksmithing, and warfare—driven by a seething hatred of outsiders and a deep-rooted self-loathing.

They swore by the "Ten Iron Oaths." One of their harshest forms of execution, known as the Death of Sun and Feathers, was reserved for those who betrayed these sacred vows. The condemned would be nailed to the stone, cut once for each broken oath, and left beneath the blazing sun until the crows came to feast. It was regarded as a fitting end for liars and traitors.

See Also

• Elements
• Stone Atronach