"The next closest camp belongs to the goblins or nomads?" Abraxas asks. "I'm feeling pretty good." He looks at the sky assessing the amount of light left in the day. "Do we need to rest before beginning our conversation and investigation?"

Abraxas looks slightly wary of the four they have just met, but asks, "Will you be joining us as we visit your neighbors?"

"I am always willing to speak of Hnaska to those who do not know him. Hnaska's following can be described as 'knowledge at all costs'; especially when magic is involved. Magic flows through all of our veins, even those of us who never learn how to tap into it. There is no temple to Hnaska within Ruskivek. That is why we make our pilgrimage to Lisanbre-Nehrad, where he is more celebrated. As for his portrait, you can see it in every spell cast, or every arcane creature of the world; in the portals that take us above the world, and in fantastical creations like the Ice Basilisk," Garland answers at length. "It would probably be best that you approach the other camps alone, if that is your intent. Seeing you with us would likely come across as a threat to them. They refuse to let us near the statue."

OOC: It is late afternoon, and the camps are about the same distance away, though to reach the goblins' camp in the swamp you would have to walk past the Ice Basilisk, if that affects your decision.

Since Jove is distracted by talking to Garland and his companions, Iz has already started walking toward the next nearest camp, eyeing the Ice Basilisk, but wanting to talk to the other camps before approaching.

Harmony was surprised that they didn't have any food to share since they didn't expect to be held up for so long, but still welcome to stay with their camp as long as they have a tent or bedroll to sleep in. "It's alright. Yeah, we would like to. Thank you." she said back to them with a nod and a smile. She has never really camped before, but figured that this might be fun to do. But then she heard Jove in her head, shocked to hear that they failed his test and questioning why they don't have weapons on them and where they get their food from. He wondered why they won't share their food with them, confused as he thought that they might be the food for the pilgrims, how this is a different world and there are different rules here so they need to be cautious. 'Really? Maybe they just use magic mainly or there are different kinds and means of getting food here compared to back home. They don't seem like people eaters to me, but I guess we should be careful.' Harmony telepathically said back to Jove, giving her thoughts. She hoped that these pilgrims aren't evil and that there was reasonable reasons for all these strange things. Then she listened as they talked about Hnaska following as knowledge at all costs especially with magic as it flows in everyone including those not tapping into it. They were heading to Lisanbre-Nehrad since Hnaska is more celebrated there and how he can be seen in everything like in spells, arcane creatures, portals, and creations like the Ice Basilisk as she was a bit amazed. "Oh wow, that sounds cool." she said back before they also said that they should approach the camps alone since being seen with them could be seen as a threat since the rest refuse to let them near the statue. "Ah, okay. I was hoping to calm them down so that they listen to all of us and let both of us check out the statue hopefully. That would be alright though." Harmony told them as she nodded back. She was really hoping that they can work together and be able to figure out what is going on with the Ice Basilisk and if it may have something to do with all of them being here.

Olive goes after Isabella. "Hey now! We're all wanting to see the Ice Basilisk, but you can't go running off ahead by yourself. Harmony's taken a liking to them and it looks like we might stay the night with them."

"Yes," Abraxas says, "isn't the plan to rest tonight and then Harmony can charm either group after we walk to their camp in the morning?" He assumes Olive and Isabella can still hear him. "Do we want to visit the nomads or the goblins first? I vote for the nomads."

Iz pouts a little, returning to the group. "All right, rest first it is."

OOC: Sounds like the plan is to spend the rest of the day with the pilgrims, then rest and head to the nomad's camp in the mountains.

That will make 18 days of rations needed for the journey to get here. Abraxas, Harmony and Olive were in the middle of the formation and have the option of foraging along the way. Would any of you like to have done that?

Yes

Olive will attempt to find something edible so that the party isn't just going through rations.

Survival: 14

Isabella perks up again as she conducts her own search for food, using her knowledge of this type of land as a reference point to search for edible foods and animals.

survival : 21

[ooc : using the wanderer background feature if appropriate]

As they walked here, Abraxas had been pondering all the books he has ever read about foraging and survival, though it is not something he has actually done before: 11

OOC: Thanks to Isabella's knowledge of hunting and foraging, you ate well along the way, only having to use 3 days worth of rations during the travel through barren desert and today. These have been removed from your sheets.

How and where do you all want to rest for the night? Are you setting a watch order? Once determined, we'll use this order as the 'default' going forward unless otherwise specified.

OOC: So if Barty is okay with this. I know Roxy is an owl. i.e. nocturnal. My familiar is not an owl. But he has been in my jacket this whole time. I like to think he was resting. Maybe our familiars could keep watch?

OOC: As long as you can tell me how they're keeping watch for you (your instructions to them, since you obviously won't be able to see through their eyes while sleeping), I'm absolutely okay with it. 

Isabella is also happy to keep watch with Roxy as long as she doesn't have expended spells to replenish like for this evening's watch. Isabella and Roxy take the first watch. Iz watches the camps in the distance and the Ice Basilisk, if there's sufficient light to do so, instructing Roxy to keep her eyes on the surrounding area. If there are no campfires or other light, Iz will occasionally peer through Roxy's eyes to have a look around, otherwise quietly humming a pleasant melody learned from her adopted father.

Iz perception : 1
Roxy perception : 22

Harmony had heard Abraxas, agreeing with him and then thinking about who to visit first. "Either one would be fine to go to first." she said back to him. Harmony had certainly not been foraging for food along the way since she doesn't really know how. Harmony would make sure to sleep close to her friends in her bedroll. Since she doesn't need to worry about replenishing spell slots, she will take the second watch and keep an eye on everything while thinking of new songs.

Jove will keep third watch with his little buddy. Caiphon is invisible at the moment. He has a readied action to use his Scare action if any activity arises. After the scare activates, Jove is waking his allies.

Olive will take the fourth watch.

The party spends the next eight hours or so relaxing, sharing stories with the pilgrims, and then winding down for the night, laying out their bedrolls in the pilgrims' camp.

At night, the Ice Basilisk seems to glow. It does not give off any light itself, but the reflection of the light from the many moons circling overhead gives it an eerie glow of red, blue, and green colors. The night passes peacefully and uneventfully, and morning brings a return of the desert heat you have experienced for a few days now.

The pilgrims are awake, eating some dry rations, and activity is stirring in both of the other camps. Rain can be seen falling over the swampland behind the Ice Basilisk.

In the morning, Abraxas thanks his colleagues for watching over the party. He packs the pile of books he used as a pillow in his bags, then helps prepare, eat, and clean up breakfast. Finally, ready for the walk to the nomad's camp after quickly reviewing his spells, he looks to see how he can help the others.