The Sun?
(The moon is often visible when the sun is out (i.e. one above all), and during dawn and dusk other stars are typically seen in the sky.)
No.
What next people? Is it time to finish this one out? Finalize the rewards and do the experience?
I think wrap this one up, dole out XP and let the next three months go past.
Agreed.
Sounds good to me.
Nothing from Detect Magic?
If so I agree with CatInASuit. 
Yes.
/scrupulously commenting in out-of-character font colour.
Please remember I have a little something for my arrival at the Old Forest. It could go here, in the set-up thread, or in a thread all of its ownsome titled “Interlude in Middle-Earth” or something of the sort.
Give me just a little time and we’ll play out the three months as needed here. I need to do the characters first and some housekeeping.
I think we’re done here. Time to move on?
Oh, all right. I was thinking of the Moon. I can see that either answer works about as well.
Just found this… the Professor himself reads an excerpt from the riddle contest of The Hobbit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VOdv2RE4jg
Sir Thoroncir, Princess Gilraen, Mulligan Took and her cousin Faramir, Elfstan Fairbarns, Gil-Gandel and dozens of Hobbits and Men ride west to Bree. The ride is pleasant and filled with song. From the deep and ancient to the Road Goes Ever On that Elfstan teaches one and all.
Many of the Hobbits have of surprisingly good voices. Gil-Gandel had rarely heard Hobbit voices raised in song and never before in cadence. Gilraen has a voice worthy of Rivendell and should only grow greater with time. Gil-Gandel though impresses all by matching all in any song, tune or pitch. He is a fair master of his chosen art.
A joyful day is passed in Bree and in the Prancing Pony the Beer, Ale and Mead is flowing freely. Most of the town turns out to celebrate the return heroes. Many of the men and 2 of the Hobbits are of Bree. In the end Gilraen and Thoroncir choose to go with Gil-Gandel, Mulligan, Elfstan and Faramir to visit Tom Bombadil and Goldberry.
Faramir knows the way to the house from the road and not over the downs of course. He warns all that the Barrow Downs are still not safe and it is best to avoid them, even with the help of the Fairfolk and the Princess. He leads them fairly sure to the house until a distant singing is just heard by the most sharpest eared. (Gil-Gandel and Mulligan.)
Ghân heads south along the Anduin with some Elves of East Lórien and some woodmen. Travel is swift on the wood-men’s rafts. They are delighted to have his as a travel companion and they deliver him safely to Rhosgobel. He takes the sow careful secret way through the maze of trees and the very thick hedge that surrounds Radagast in his home.
Radagast has no servants but rather hundreds of animals that come and go, especially birds of all sort. Rhosgobel is a large compound that is over 400’ across. The hedge is about 100’ at its thinnest and it is actually a hedge maze.
Ghân does not remember the way but remembers the trick instead. He is led through by talking to a series of a dozen different animals that lead him safely through and not to any of the potentially deadly pits or traps.
Radagast the Brown spends the next several months training him to be as a Golden Eagle, Pine Marten and a Gecko. He teaches him new spells and congratulates him for being the first to make it to this point.
Thoroncir greatly enjoys his visit to Bree, and happily partakes of a pint or three at the Prancing Pony. He wonders if the King will someday order the clearance of that ancient evil from the Barrow Downs, with the Elves perhaps taking the lead due to their immunity to the terrors of the undead of Men; he resolves to think on this further. He will write another letter to his parents in Linhir and send it from Bree by the King’s Post.
Although he is on his best behavior during their visit to Tom Bombadil and Goldberry, and savors the woodland charm of the area, he confesses privately to Gilraen that he cannot help but find the frivolity and obscurantism of these eminent beings… just a little annoying. Still, time spent with Gilraen is never wasted!
Sorry, just not a fan of hi ho Tom Bombadillo &c &c. :rolleyes: 
Gil-Gandel is unusually quiet and thoughtful as the party skirts the Barrow-Downs.
My friends, this is as strange and perilous a teacher that I go to see as ever walked in Middle-Earth. Not that Bombadil wishes ill to any, but that history teaches us the unwisdom of seeking to learn from that which we do not understand, and there is none who can claim to understand Bombadil except himself. The Wizards themselves, Radagast and Mithrandir and their kin, are an open book next to him.
Few are the tales in which he appears, Iarwain Ben-Adar, oldest and fatherless as we name him. Fewer still are those in which he does anything, for good or for ill; but even in the oldest of tales, from the time when Doriath was a-founding, from when Elwe Singollo himself began to lead my folk towards the Sea, nay, even from the rumours of the far-off days when we first blinked at the starlight in a maze of wonder, Bombadil is spoken of as one who was already there since years beyond count.
None knows of what kind he is; it may be that he has no kind - he is the only one there is. None knows his purpose; it may be that the One put him in Arda simply to see it, and nothing more: simply to be, from the beginning until the end. And none has ever made old Tom do aught that he would not do, or go where he would not go. The Enemy, perhaps, could unmake the Earth stone by stone under Tom’s feet, until he had no place any longer to stand - but until all else was destroyed, he had no power over Tom. Nor had his Ring, though all the Wise dreaded and shunned it. Gandalf and Galadriel alike feared it would make them into a worse tyrant than the Dark Lord himself; to Tom it was a curiosity, a trifle, and a rather silly one at that, if I read the Halfling’s Book aright.
He cannot be compelled or charmed, but he may listen to a plea that is worded courteously; and for this purpose I am come. Glorfindel says that I have much work still to do, and something put it into the heart of the old Brandybuck himself to mention Bombadil’s name to me. I hear his song now, the oldest song East of the Sea or West of it; and now let me make a new one.
Gil-Gandel dismounts and stands apart from his horse. He unpins his travelling cloak and sets it aside, to be revealed in blazing white. Even at the feast in Minas Tirith he was not so well dressed (but he is richer now, and has lately been in Rivendell). Over Tom’s distant and ancient song he begins to sing unaccompanied a counter-melody with words of his own devising.
which will have to wait until I am on the right computer to upload it…
Ghân is overjoyed by all this. 
He started as a short, ugly woodman in a single forest. His tribe had a history of persecution from just about everyone else.
He learnt a few things and then had the opportunity to travel outside the Druadan Forest. So few Woses ever do that.
He didn’t automatically kill Goblins and Orcs - even fewer Woses have ever done that.
He met Radagast. Radagast - one of only five Istari! Radagast taught him the arts of the Druid. Now Ghân has learnt to shapechange into several of his beloved animal forms. 
Ghân is pleased that he has exchanged some of his Magic items.
He does not like to use a weapon (apart from Flame Blade if he has to), and he hopes his Shapechange will be of great use to the party.
His Cloak and Bracers will hopefully (even in animal form) keep him alive!
He thinks of his companions - hopefully they are all enjoying themselves as much as he is. Some thoughts:
- Deor (the brave? the foolhardy? a talented caster, either way!) … may his trading in the big city go well
- Gil-Gandel (the silver-tongued) … may he cope with the enigma that is Tom Bombadil
- Thoroncir (the smitten) … may his relationship prosper
He offers his companion Brownie the Owl release from Animal Friendship.
Ghân and his party have faced terrible horrors on their last adventure. Ghân does not want Brownie to be slaughtered - and where better than Rhosgobel for any animal to live?
When Brownie accepts, Ghân consults with Fang and Anca. Would they accept a new companion?
Ghân thinks that a bigger bird than Brownie would be able to survive and prosper.
Would a Giant Eagle consider an adventuring life?
Ghân makes enquiries…
Mulligan (the crafty, whose secret Ghân kept) … may she continue to find things (including profit!)
Gwaelur (the protector) … may he defeat many many more foes
Deor spends a few more days at goblin Gate helping out and looking over the packing out of the alchemy lab. He realizes the Dwarves know more about packing than he ever will and leaves them to it once he narrows down what should go south. He spends about 2 weeks in Rivendell and does not have much chance for study. Though Lorliana helps him out a bit with scrolls and books of knowledge at least. She is thriving here and not yet ready to head south.
The Dwarves are ready to head south. They are pleased to have a Mage to escort them and are 80 in number with 22 wagons. They head slowly for Bree, eager for the day more roads are added. On the way to Bree they are joined by 2 dozen Hobbits and about a dozen men. At Bree, these traveler drop out and about 10 Dwarves but they wait two days and are joined by another 30 Dwarves with 7 more wagons and 23 men heading south. The large caravan makes it way down the Greenway to Tharbad and on to Rohan. They have no problem and arrive in October.
Deor has gotten word from traveler that the Grand Old King Éomer has passed away and King Elfwine the Fair now rules. In talking King Elfwine is happy to provide Deor a large stone building part way up the mountain. He suggest plans for adding a Wizard’s Tower to it.
Edoras is thriving and the transition from King Éomer to King Elfwine appears to have gone as smooth as any transition could. The King mentions that he plans to campaign with King Elessar next spring and could use a Wizard as an adviser on the campaign. Perhaps Deor could persuade his friends to join us.
Although many leagues now separate them, Thoroncir already has reason to know of Ghan’s kind wishes, and of course thanks him most warmly.
The knight-errant unreservedly accepts all that Gil-Gandel has said of Tom Bombadil, but riddles without answers only serve to vex him. Tom is just such a riddle. The earnest young Man of Gondor finds that he is discomfited by that which is vastly powerful and timeless, while purposefully playing no role in the ancient struggle of the Free Peoples against the manifest and still potent forces of Evil. He is humbly aware of his own youth and inexperience, and knows that his life in its entirety will be but an eyeblink, or even less, to old Tom. He does not for a moment presume to judge Bombadil or his consort, but is nevertheless, if he is true to himself, bothered by Tom’s failure to do little more than frolic in the forest for uncounted eons.
Sir Thoroncir will tell no one but Gilraen and, if asked, Gil-Gandel, these views, however, and as noted earlier will be on his best behavior, giving no cause for offense to their supernatural host and hostess. And of course he hopes his gallant Elf-captain will learn much from Tom.