The new king was a tyrant and the people lived in fear. The king's first advisor, a magician of a new religion claimed that he would make the stones speak, and that that those who listened to the stones (any merchant, bard or lord) might unlock endless wealth.

The magician made an offering to all: for 100 barrels of pitch any man could own a speaking stone.

And so fleets of ships set sail heavy with pitch. Since the new king was a tyrant they were waylaid by pirates. They would never arrive.