Runestone

Runestones are large blocks of rock carved with powerful runes of elven magic.

History
The runestones were placed by high elven druids or magi to mark the boundaries of their new kingdom, Quel'Thalas, when the high elves had just found it.

These enchanted monuments created a magic barrier that prevented the savage trolls from penetrating the elven lands and to create a magical barrier that stopped the use of arcane magic from being sensed by the Burning Legion. The barrier were not used for millennia, but the runestones, untouched by fire and blade, remained until the Second War.

During the Second War the great Runestone at Caer Darrow was captured by the orc warlock Gul'dan who used its potent magics to create the Altars of Storms, which in turn created the first ogre-magi. Gul'dan speculated that the high elves had used enslaved trolls to physically move the stones into place, similarly to how he used ogre slaves to destroy them and build the Altar, though this is unconfirmed.

Following Thrall's reformation of the Horde, many Altars were retooled by troll masons into structures capable of channeling shamanistic energies with the intent of reviving fallen heroes.

Runewarden Deryan re-energizes and maintains the remaining runestones in Quel'Thalas.

Quel'Thalas

 * Runestone Falithas, Eversong Woods (functional)
 * Runestone Shan'dor, Eversong Woods (offline, but able to be reactivated)
 * Runestone in the Scorched Grove, Eversong Woods (destroyed)
 * Mentioned fourth Runestone.

Other

 * Runestone at Caer Darrow (destroyed, used to create Altars of Storms)

In World of Warcraft
These items appear to have no relation to the elven runestones above.


 * Quest items
 * Amethyst Runestone from the Pillar of Amethyst in Badlands
 * Diamond Runestone from the Pillar of Diamond in Badlands
 * Opal Runestone from the Pillar of Opal in Badlands

In Wrath of the Lich King

 * Junk
 * Glowing Runestone


 * Trinket
 * Mjolnir Runestone