"Guys. It was made in a different world. So it will say Earth and Air, or Fire and Water... in some different world's language. You know, like, maybe Latin." Bridger winks, trying to talk in a circle around the answer, without saying it directly.

 Jordi continues to be mystified.

Peter is confused. The other humans seem to be talking about events prior to his arrival. “Do you need someone to read Latin? I haven’t used it since high school, but I could try.”

OoC:  You have gotten yourself into a bit of intra-party role-playing...

"I don't know, I don't know. Magnus knows better than I do, anyway. I just remember the conversation since it was so strange something would have been written in Latin." Bridger says while shifting about, looking a little uncomfortable speaking about this. Looking back at the druid "But that is what you mean? If we can get a peice of it, the librarians can locate more somehow?"

Magnus speaks in Druidic.

To Bridger:  "Though it is not my area of expertise, items which have long been together, especially of great power have a binding between them that is never really broken.  Much as a mother for a child.  Though separation and distance would weaken the bond. The wooden pieces of the Staff were together the longest and associated themselves before the other pieces, yet the Heart was the most powerful of the pieces.  Let us say, you were to try and find a flower taken in the spring from this tulip popular behind me using this tree as a focus.  You would not find the flower, the connection to brief and the item of no power.  But were you to find a dropped scale from a Great Wyrm, you would be able to get a feeling of direction to the Wyrm's location, the scale acting as a lodestone."

To Magnus

The timeline has been updated, though today's entry isn't complete (yet).

Magnus says, "Thank you so much.  I'll see you the morning after next."

He stares at the moon lost in an unknown voice of the wild.

"Magnus, buddy. You're speaking gibberish. Do you not remember the staff?" Bridger asks having watched the two druids speaking nonsense to one another.

"What staff?"

Deception 19 minus 5 (for the obvious one eye wink).

Magnus pats Bridger on the back while strolling off back toward the Inn at the end of the Road.  Every so often he glances back at the moon.

Peter looks at Jordi, "Do you understand what is going on?"

Does everyone follow Magnus?  Or do you have more for the Druidess?

Turning back to the druid Bridger says "Thank you for your insight into our problem. We'd be aimless if not for your guidance." Bridger nods deeply in a way to show respect, before turning to follow Magnus.

The hike down the hill is as uneventful as the hike up the hill.  In the distance, the sun is getting close to setting.  The supposed "Tavern" at the bottom of the hill seems to be a bit more lively as a couple of more ponies have joined and lights can be seen through the windows.

At the tavern, Jordi says to Peter, "I do vaguely remember them going on about some staff a gnomish priest had.  Something to do about Latin.  I think I was really tired at the time and it just went over my head."

"Yeah" Bridger joins in, "I didn't mean to be so vague earlier I just wasn't so sure about revealing the location of the staff to anyone besides us." He hesitates like he feels bad for what he is saying "I know she was very helpful but the less people who know about it the better, right? Anyway. The gnome elder, Kriskrin has the piece that holds the inscriptions of Water and Earth... I think. I was only half paying attention. Magnus and Chris were talking to him about it. I just remember thinking how odd it was." Bridger trails off and then continues in a more hushed conspiratorial tone "So if it is a piece of the staff we need... how do we get it?"

Belly full and lazy, Magnus looks around to see if anyone is listening and quietly says, "I don't think we do get it from him.  We convince him to come.  We have already planted the seed in his mind that there might be another equally powerful staff and we would like his help finding it.  It would only require a "lodestone" ritual to have it lead us to the other part.  I say "only" because we really don't know what is needed to make it lead us to the other part... or parts it seems.

One thing is for certain, he and his clan will not part with it willingly, nor would we even know what to do with it if we got ahold of his "Water - Earth" staff.  He would have the best chance at utilizing its abilities.

Besides, his clan has extended us hospitality, friendship, and protection.  We need all the allies we can get, especially as we are dependent on so many strangers in this strange land."

Magnus continues, "We must be careful in the coming days.  The Arch-Druid warned me that many of the other Druids would not welcome our quest to return such a disruptive power to this land.  Even our origin as aliens from another world will draw unwanted attention and scrutiny.  I think it is best we simply say we are here for the Winter Solstice festival, and leave it at that.  There is minimal deception in holding to the truth and omitting unnecessary details.  Other than that, I say we make friends, have a bit of fun, and learn a bit more about our surroundings.

I bet they'll have really good food... at least the non-vegetarian tree hugging type."

How am I still hungry?  I can't eat anything else?

Entering the main door, you are convinced it is a tavern, but not the same as Hollywood portrays.  The interior is bright, with white plastered walls, with globes of light hanging from the wall.  The furniture is not thick, heavy and dark, but rather just simple, sturdy furniture of stained cherry with simple curved lines and spindles, looking almost like colonial style.  The fireplace at the far end of the room is lined with darkened oak.  The tables are of varying heights and there are a number of customers.  

One table of four golden haired Elves sits in their white linens with glasses of wine, while another of leather and linen clad silver haired Elves drinks.  But more surprising are the 2 tables of people who are a bit taller than the gnomes who have met, but with broad cheeked faces and slightly stout builds.  They are dressed in simple linen shirt, coats and pants. Noticable, they have broad bars feet and are smoking intricately carved pipes and the drink from tankards and joke loudly.  

Two others of the same build are moving about and filling drinks 

The room to the left is closed with two doors, while the room on the left is open.  There is a group of five people there at long tables, sitting on benches.  From here, they appear short and broad.

Magnus goes to locate the Inn Keeper to negotiate rooms for the night and settle his tab.