These stones are small, egg shaped, grey and speckled, a little like Night Raven eggs, though they can be found here and there from the Ice Hills to the Dryland slopes. A Stonetalker who coaxes the spirit of the stone awake can use it to lay a blessing on another person (or themselves). A blessed person gains +1 on Physical, Spirit and Intelligence rolls to resist hostile effects for one month. When found such a stone has between 10 and 20 energy. Each blessing uses up one energy. When the last is used the stone crumbles into dust.
Corrupted Stonetalkers may use the Egg to inflict a curse instead. The person cursed suffers a -2 penalty on similar rolls for 1 month, and takes 1 weakening damage that will not heal till the curse is lifted. Each time the Stonetalker uses the curse they take 1 corruption. Once a person is cursed the Stonetalker may renew the curse (for another corruption) without seeing the target again.
Only a Stonetalker can identify such a stone. They must succeed in an identification roll resisted by a 25 (see Stonetalker rules).