Should I Give the Stones to the Emperor?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You want the cleanest, fastest resolution and the quest text suggests turning the stones over to the Emperor is the intended path.
• Good fit: Keeping or using the stones yourself carries immediate danger, corruption, or hostility from a faction you wish to remain friendly with.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You are role-playing a character who distrusts authority, values freedom, or has sworn loyalty to a rival faction or companion.
• Warning sign: Another NPC or questline clearly wants the stones for a cause you prefer, and handing them to the Emperor would lock you out of that content.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Usually resolves the quest quickly and may grant reputation, gold, items, or protection from the Emperor’s faction.
• Removes the burden of guarding or carrying a valuable object that might attract enemies or penalties.

Cons

• Can remove your leverage, preventing later bargains or alternative outcomes that depend on retaining the stones.
• May upset companions, close off side quests, or push the story toward an ending you do not want.

Decision Checklist

• Have I saved recently so I can reload if the outcome is not what I expected?
• Does my character’s alignment, faction loyalty, or companion relationships support giving the Emperor this power?
• Have I checked the quest journal or a reliable game-specific source for consequences tied to keeping, using, or giving away the stones?

Alternatives to Consider

Before handing the stones over, consider keeping them for a different quest giver, using them yourself if the game allows, selling or dismantling them for resources, or simply delaying the turn-in until you have explored all relevant dialogue and faction opportunities. In many games, the item can be returned later, but some decisions are permanent, so verify whether the choice can be reversed.

Final Recommendation

If you prefer a safe, faction-friendly resolution and the Emperor’s reward is valuable to your build, giving the stones is usually the pragmatic choice. If you care more about role-playing independence, alternative endings, or maximizing content, hold onto them or find another recipient. Because exact consequences vary by title, save beforehand and consult a game-specific wiki or official guide before making a high-stakes quest decision.