Touchstone

The "Touchstones" are large, magical artefacts that act as focal points in the Djinn-operated teleportation network (also known as "The Nightingale's Eye").

Each Touchstone is a roughly 8 feet tall misshapen lump of dark grey rock which floats approximately 10 inches off the ground. The type of rock is not native to Oberon - it is native to the Elemental Plane of Earth.

A single Touchstone, when operated by a trained Djinn, can teleport up to seven medium sized individuals (including whatever gear they are carrying) to the site of any other Touchstone within the network. The cost of such travel varies but is typically a few Centari per person.

Although Touchstones all 'float', a single mortal cannot move a Touchstone. The artefact has a 'weight' which is close to that of an equivalent sized piece of sandstone and it would require a couple of strong carthorses to 'pull' it, albeit slowly, to a new location. Only the Djinn of Alea'Zhim know how to operate these artefacts - even the Cerulean Chancery haven't been able to replicate them.

Unlike teleportation circles, transport via the Touchstones is not instantaneous. Instead travellers arrive at their destination a variable amount of time (a few minutes to about 4 hours) after having left the time difference appears to be proportional to the distance covered.

Currently, two such stones can be found in every capital city of the kingdoms of the Merebian Empire, linking to the Imperial capital of Dominus (one “sending” and one “receiving”). Prior to last war there were many Touchstones linking most major towns and cities. However the Djinn were worried that, should the invasion of the Empire become inevitable, the network might be used for military purposes. As the Djinn are vehemently against the network being used for such purposes they decided to dismantle a large proportion of it. A limited number of Touchstones are still present in some important towns and cities and the Chancery are keen to see this important service reinstated.