Long ago, in the days of the first duke of London, there lived
a clever crafter of wood, a gnome from the north, named Gnimus.
It's been said that Gnimus has reteated to the place of his birth,
far beyond the northern moors, but in his younger days, he was
often seen roaming about the town and country side with a long
oak walking staff, more suited for human hands than gnomish ones.
Gnimus was a notorious dabbler in many ancient magics, and was
known to grant the power of speech to stone, especially in
places known to witness the higher enchantments in the land.
It's said that these stones still speak today, but only rarely
at best, and usually only when Gnimus is around.
Several lunaths ago, beset by senility, Gnimus lost his carefully crafted walking stick. It's been seen from time to time, but seldom for long, and it seems to like the privacy found in dark places. It's said that he who finds the staff and returns it to Gnimus shall be blessed by the ancient wanderer and given some form of thanks from the old gnome, if he still lives.