Skyrim:The Guardian Stones

Standing Stone: The Guardian Stones (view on map)
Respawn Time	10 days
Level	Min: 6
Console Location Code(s)
GuardianStones
Region
Falkreath Hold
Location
East of Lake Ilinalta, along the road between Helgen and Riverwood.
Special Features
# of Clay DepositsHF	1

The Three Guardian Stones

The Guardian Stones is a location which marks three Standing Stones located directly outside of Helgen and Riverwood.

They are likely the first standing stones you will encounter, since they are on the path taken while being escorted by Ralof or Hadvar to Riverwood. The stones are The Mage Stone, The Thief Stone, and The Warrior Stone. If selected, they allow you to specialize in magic, stealth or combat skills respectively, by gaining 20% more experience in those skills. Archery is considered a stealth skill in this context.

The Mage Stone: Those under the sign of The Mage will learn all magic skills 20% faster. The Thief Stone: Those under the sign of The Thief will learn all stealth skills 20% faster. The Warrior Stone: Those under the sign of The Warrior will learn all combat skills 20% faster.

Achievements

Achievements related to the Standing Stones are:

• Blessed (10 points/Bronze) — Select a Standing Stone blessing
• Standing Stones (30 points/Silver) — Find 13 Standing Stones

Notes

• If you activate one of the Stones while Ralof or Hadvar are present during Before the Storm, they will comment on the Stone you activated.
• Using the Aetherial Crown^DG makes it possible to maximize the benefits of The Guardian Stones by using it with The Lover Stone.
  • If you use the Aetherial Crown in conjunction with The Lover Stone, you'll benefit from its blessing, and the blessing of the Guardian Stone you combine it with. You'll only be able to maximize the benefits of one Stone, though.
  • If you use it without The Lover Stone, you can maximize the benefits of two Standing Stones, but not all three.
• There is an unmarked shrine of Talos to the southwest, surrounded by four dead worshippers and a dead Thalmor soldier, with a note regarding his motives. His body can be found sometimes below the shrine. Further below to the west is an iron ore vein. Offerings to the shrine include a one-handed weapon and some gold.
• Further west is an unmarked necromancer's site close to road that runs along south shore of Lake Ilinalta, connected to the road by short track going south. The site is occupied by a leveled necromancer. Between eight pillars is an altar with lootable skeleton, conjuration skill book 2920, Hearth Fire, v9, one-handed sword, two gold coins and embalming tool. Next to the altar is a burial urn, some skeletal remains and very close is a patch of nightshade.
• Not far from unmarked necromancer's site due to southwest are three trunks and two logs. south from the farthest log is the unique axe The Woodsman's Friend.
• Three leveled bandits have established a camp directly south of the Guardian Stones, just south of the road that runs along the south shore of Lake Ilinalta (map). Their belongings include a satchel containing random alchemical ingredients, a black mage robe, a treasure map and a copy of the one-handed skill book Night Falls on Sentinel.
• Following the road to the west and heading down reveals an iron ore vein followed by unmarked fisherman's camp. The camp contains a novice-locked chest and some other owned items.
• One clay deposit^HF can be found just west of here, on the opposite side of the lake.
• A Thief Stone also appears in the playroom for Skyrim VR.

Bugs

• Archery benefits from the Thief Stone's bonus, though it is otherwise considered a combat skill (in internal game data, for the Oghma Infinium, and for the Bards College sidequests.)
  • The Unofficial Skyrim Patch, version 1.2, addresses this issue. It now benefits from the Warrior Stone's bonus.
• Returning to the Guardian Stones after waiting for the location to respawn (by waiting 10 in game days) will cause the number of discovered Standing Stones to increase by 3, allowing you to earn the "Standing Stones" achievement faster. ^?

Gallery

• 

  The Mage Stone

• 

  The Mage Stone, when activated

• 

  The Thief Stone

• 

  The Thief Stone, when activated

• 

  The Warrior Stone

• 

  The Warrior Stone, when activated

• 

  The Thief Stone in the Playroom (Skyrim VR)