Stone of Tear

General

The seat of power for the High Lords of Tear, the Stone is a massive fortress that dominates the city like a small mountain. It is believed to be the oldest stronghold of mankind (TSR, Ch. 2,TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 30). The Stone dominates the city landscape and stretches from the heart of the city to the water's edge.

Built during or shortly after the Breaking, the Stone was made using the One Power. With Earth stone was was dug out of the ground, with Air it was transported from every corner of the world, and Earth and Fire was finally used to fuse it all into a single massive structure without seam, joint or mortar (TDR, Ch. 48, TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 30).

The Stone of Tear was attacked and besieged over a hundred times but never fell until taken by the Dragon Reborn and the Aiel (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 30, TSR, Ch. 2). It is said that whoever holds the Stone rules Tear, city and nation. (TSR, Ch. 2).

The inside of the Stone has also been planned as a defence in time of war. Entire hallways are covered with never used arrowslits and wherever corridors crossed, the ceiling is dotted by murderholes. The stairwells are all built into the walls, but some are inclused and dotted with more arrowslits looking that the corridors below. (TSR, Ch. 3)

Regardless of their fear of the One Power, the Tairens keep in the Stone several dusty storerooms filled with angreal and ter'angreal called 'The Great Holding'. The collection is second only to that of the White Tower (TSR, Ch. 6, TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 30). The collection is very old and the Tairens ceised collecting additional items more than three hundred years ago. (TSR, Ch. 6)

The Heart of the Stone

Deep within the center of the Stone is a great vaulted chamber known as the Heart of the Stone. It is decorated with polished redstone columns and golden lamps; Callandor hung there in mid-air for millennia until claimed by the Dragon Reborn (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 30).

Lords of the Land are raised to High Lord in the Heart of the Stone. No one entered the fortress without the permission of the High Lords and only High Lords could enter the Heart (TWoRJTWoT, Ch. 30).

Personnel

The majhere is the head of the servants within the Stone and they oversee the daytoday matters that let everything within the huge building function. (TSR, Ch. 2)

Servants in the Stone wear black and gold livery (TSR, Ch. 3).

Prophecy

The Stone of Tear is mentioned in many prophecies.

Karaethon Cycle: "One of the Prophecies says that the Stone of Tear will never fall until the People of the Dragon come to the Stone. Another says the Stone will never fall till the Sword That Cannot Be Touched is wielded by the Dragon's hand.” - Thom Merrilin (The Eye of the World, Chapter 13)

Aiel Prophecy: "Prophecy says when the Stone of Tear falls, we will leave the Threefold Land at last. (...) It says we will be changed, and find again what was ours, and was lost." - Gaul (TDR, Ch. 34)