the ones that point in different directions.

What do they do? I used the code from the temple (North West North East South) both left to right and right to left. Nothing.
The guidbook only says they are used to spy on towns. But it seems I just can't get them to work...

I got the power orbs and sequence card already...

The in game clue should be written on a wall...somewhere.
But according to the eminent Andrew Schultz the correct sequence from west to east is N-E-N-W-S

I don't remember what they actually do, though.

The in game clue is in the temple of Moo and it's "North West North East South"...

I tried the one you gave me and it did nothing as well...

EDIT:
And I finally did figure out what it does. Had start a new game to test it out...
Quite simply: without setting the altars, the head will not ask you for the code to release the orbs. It will keep saying "set the key, solve the lock, drink the cup... etc"
I really wish the game did something to let the player know the altars are set correctly... Looks like the "spying on the 5 towns" mentioned in the cluebook was another red herring.