Astrazalian
The traveler wandered through the city, absorbing all the sights that it had to offer. Nobody paid any attention to the eladrin in robes, but he paid attention to everything and everyone. He listened to the latest news, visited the market places and taverns, and looked in at the temples. Even though the city was under siege, the eladrin did not let that interfere with their daily lives; they continued as if nothing was the matter.
Most of his time was spent talking to the guards, learning their routines and which places were the most heavily guarded. In time, he found the information that he was looking for. About a year ago, an expedition had been led by an eladrin named Erevan to the city of Cendriane, and ever since then, the High Wizard's quarters had been heavily guarded. He smiled to himself, and slipped off to pay a visit to the High Wizard of Astrazalian, Soveljinn.
Soveljinn was an ancient eladrin wizard, well into his third century of life. He had seen many fomorian sieges, and as such had learned to ignore them when not required to attend to the magical defenses of Astrazalian. Life held no surprises for him, and he was alert as ever. Stealing the staff from him would require a good deal of cunning.
When he arrived at Soveljinn's quarters, the traveler found that he had gone to make his daily inspection of Astrazalian's defenses. Knowing that he might not have a better chance, he decided to steal the staff that very instant. Putting the guards under a deep sleep (coupled with a blind spell) was the matter of seconds, and the locks on the old wizard's doors were no match for an archfey wizard.
The traveler quickly entered Soveljinn's quarters, drawing a shroud of invisibility about himself as he entered. He sent his mind abroad, searching for the hiding place of the Staff of the Heart. Finding the staff was ridiculously easy, and disabling the spells placed around it was even easier. The traveler paused a moment to examine the staff. It appeared to be made from the heartwood of an ancient oak, and had a reddish tinge to the wood. As he examined the staff, he realized that the reddish tinge was actually a glow from the inside of the staff. He smiled, for this was indeed the Staff of the Heart. The staff now in his possession, the traveler exited Soveljinn's quarters and made his way to the city walls, still shrouded in invisibility.