What Are Hearthstones, Really?

Community General Discussion
1

Let’s talk about everyone’s favorite utility item, the hearthstone.
Supposedly, they’re rare and highly coveted–except that literally every adventurer is given one the moment they decide to take up the life of a murder hobo. Lose one, and any innkeeper can toss you a new one. And you can buy a dozen different variants for random trinkets whenever a new holiday rolls around.

But let’s also address their functionality.
They can teleport you to wherever they’re bound, on am adjustable cooldown. And they have no limits beyond that.

They work across continents.
They can transport you to and from other planets.
They can transport you to alternate realities such as Draenor.
They can transport you through TIME. (Like say, to Dalaran in the Northrend era…)
And now they can transport us in and out of the Maw, or in and out of the Shadowlands.

Now let’s address something else:
Mage portals can do all of the same.
And warlock cabinets with a little coordination.
And whatever mechanics govern LFG/Raid Finder (though there, the process is more limited and it returns you to your original destination…)
And technically class-specific magics like druid dreamwalking and that monk thing and DK portals to their floating party castle.

So… there has to be something which connects and unifies this magical ability to transcend time, space, and even death, which can be cast as a spell, or just turned into a shiny rock for the convenience of wandering adventurers.

I say they’re powered by the tears of gnome mages.
What say you?

2

Arcane magic is the path of many abilities, some would say are unnatural.

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3

Is it possible to learn this power?

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4

I like to think every hearthstone has a tiny little mage crammed uncomfortably inside it.

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5

“Soulbound”

6

It’s an annoying item that should be a toy or power ability that goes on your bars instead of taking a slot in your bags.

7

All they are to me is that thing I sometimes forget I don’t have in real life after I’ve gone for a long walk.

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8

The concept of hearthstones come from what the word implies. Hearth in this instance means ‘home; fireside:
the joys of family and hearth.’ and stone is just the noun for the rock.

Although there are many hearthstones nowadays (I hearth using my sinstone) the original is a pale white stone imbued with what appears to be a light blue enchant.

9

Laylines. All arcane magic across Azeroth is powered through the various laylines which traverse throughout it. By tapping in to that raw magical power you’re essentially creating a beacon for your magically enfused stone to “dial home” to when you’re ready.

In the mean time mages just tap those lines for raw power to turn you into sheep or blow you up for fun.

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