After half an hour by the road with Zeke, her wildshape time up, Tarja heads back to the campsite, where the discussion of magic is still going on.

I draw strength from the land itself. she comments. Nature makes no bargains and strikes no deals. I protect the mountains , and they protect me.

It's good that we all practice magic in different ways, and yet we can work together. It is as it should be. Should we find the forge of spells, I think this bodes well.

"Practice. Yeah."

Ethan nods silently at Arvel's warning, swallowing a lump in his throat.

-----

As Tarja comes back and comments, Ethan nods,

"Yeah I forgot, nature is one of the other primary sources of magic. Arcane, divine, and nature, or primal I've heard it called before. They seem to be the three most common sources of magic."

Elra hasn't said anything since Ethan started talking. She just wrote a couple of things down before bundling up her blanket like a pillow and laying down. "Arvel, how long have you been stuck in your deal?

 Tarja's expert knowledge and experience with nature in this region immediately clues her in to what the smell is when she meets up with Zeke.  She has smelled it before when hiding in the forest as patrols passed her by; goblin, probably atop a worg.  A filthy combination of unwashed creatures, rotted teeth, and probably long since dead prey for the worg to snack on.  She knows the smell could carry at several hundred feet or more, and that goblins are stealthy.  Moments later the wind has changed amidst the rain storm and the smell is gone.

As the group of brainiacs, or fey-bound casters as the case may be, chatter on Finnan and Farnin groan from under the tarp in the wagon.  "If they keep going on like this the chatty one with the gauntlet is going to get to see someone's insides; mine, when I take this dagger to my own throat.  He might be disappointed in the lack of magic that spills out though" says Finnan.  "Don't be selfish Finnan, we know quite a few people who would gladly do that for you, if you're ready for the long nap."  "I could make a pretty penny for the pleasure" replies his brother.  "I don't know what you're talking about.  I am loved by all.  What's not to love?"

"Oh are we bugging you?" Elra sits back up. "I'm sorry I forgot what time it is."

"Don't listen to him.  He's a grumpy S.O.B. past his bedtime, huh Sparkles?  Seems like you've all got a lot going for you.  Survive all of these bugbears riding spiders and werewolves riding owlbears and other nonsense we keep hearing these days and I'm sure you'll do quite well.  I'll stick with ya to collect my coin, double if my brother here is true to his word and does us all a favor with that dagger there!"

"Oh... alright," Elra doesn't know what else to say, and lays back down to try and go to sleep. After a few moments she say, "Um... if you need someone to cover a watch I'll do it. Just wake me up."

Quote from DirePilgrim >>

Quote from Hexblade37 >>

After reaching the road and observing for a few minutes a slight breeze from the east carries a pungent, foul stench, such as one of garbage or dirty, wet farm animals.

 OOC: I'm assuming this is Zeke at the road

Zeke smells the horrid stench as he closes in on the road and quickly looks up and down the road for the source.  As he waits by the side of the road, a large wolf sidles up next to him - fotunately, Zeke took the trouble to commit each of his companions to memory and senses Tarja's lifesign in the beast.  Watching her alert on the smell, and not being able to see anything in the gloom and the rain even wiht his darkvision , he turns and heads back to the camp, following Wolf/Tarja at a trot.

'Something on the road, couldn't see in it in the dark - but it smelled horrible.  Ethan do you have that Alarm spell up? I think we've got trouble inbound'

With that, Zeke draws his blade and settles his shield in a series of gestures the group has already become accustomed to and walks 60 feet back away from the camp towards the road and stands in the rain waiting for whatever comes their way. 

Back  as a dwarf, Tarja starts settling in for the rest.

Trouble, yes. Goblins nearby. I smelled ‘em on the  wind.There’ve been some patrols of them in the woods recently, and now there’s one around here somewhere.

Don’t think we can do much  to it out there in the dark tonight. Best sleep light with weapons nearby, keep a good watch, and move on as soon as we can tomorrow. 

Zeke and Tarja wait at camp, senses sharp, but no trouble comes.  Eventually regular watches are set and all is quiet until Ethan's alarm sounds about thirty minutes after most have gone to sleep.  There is quite the commotion as various party members ready for trouble but in the end they are met with only the stares of the pair of raccoons again, sitting right about where Ethan had dropped his 'pegs' looking confused but curious, and holding a bit of food scraps dropped by one of the halflings.

Eventually the heavy rain dies down and the party awakes to a drizzly, wet morning.  Finnan and Farnin are tending to the animals and checking the condition of all of the supplies in the wagons.  Bacon and eggs are crackling over a tiny frying pan nearby.  For the first time since reaching their 'camp' the party can see back to the road and beyond to what is mostly open fields and elsewhere barren, scrub brush covered lands.

Arvel gathers his effects and rises to sit by the fire. He warms his hands and massages his temples, wincing occasionally.

As everyone realise what caused the alarm, Ethan looks a bit sheepish,

"Oh right, I keep forgetting small animals. Sorry everyone, I will try to remember to exclude animals smaller then a house cat from the perimeter alarm next time."

Ethan goes back to sleep.

-----

Ethan wakes and stretches his arms up into the air.

"Oh what smells so good? hhmmmmm, is that bacon?"

Ethan notices Arvel massaging his temples,

"Didn't sleep well? Sorry about the alarm, I should write down things to remember, when setting it up, so I don't forget."

Ethan turns to Finnan and Farnin,

"Is the bacon to share with everyone or is it yours?"

Farnin and Finnan look at each other and then Farnin nods towards the wagon.  As Finnan reluctantly gets up to go fetch something Farnin says “ah, of course.”  “We only got a few eggs Finnan wrapped in a pelt but there’s plenty of bacon.”  Finnan returns with the extra helpings and adds “remember, when you wizards are all rich soon, we accept tips!”

Quote from Paradox42 >>

 

Ethan notices Arvel massaging his temples,

"Didn't sleep well? Sorry about the alarm, I should write down things to remember, when setting it up, so I don't forget."

 

 "Eh, it's nothing. Just a bit of a hangover from the 'conversation' last night. Sometimes what I can do is a bit like wearing an invisible leash of indeterminate length. I don't know what I can't do until it gets...until She yanks it. Nothing a bacon sandwich won't fix."

Ethan opens his gauntlet and rummages around inside for a few seconds, finally pulling his hand out with a silver coin in his fingers.

"Will a silver do? I don't have much right now, but I'm good for materials, so I can afford to let a little go."

Ethan hands the silver coin to Finnan.

Ethan looks sad again as Arvel explains,

"Right, so try to avoid talking about "her" then? I will do my best."

Ethan looks back at the bacon,

"Yeah, bacon is great, it smells so wonderful."

"She?" Fae tilts her head in curiosity to Arvel. Seems like I missed out on some conversation last night going to give Zeke his stone. Zeke was rather silent too. Oh well, plenty of time to socialize another time. And with a shrug to herself, she'd help herself to her portion of breakfast before returning to her 'nest' in the cart. Fae would take out her arcane crystal heirloom from the front of her cloak and clasp it in her scarred hand. She'd nibble on a piece of bacon hanging out of her mouth in silence while she'd review and prepare her spells for the day. 

"Gotta push limits in order to break free of them."

Quote from ixi >>

"She?" Fae tilts her head in curiosity to Arvel.

 "Archfey. Source of my abilities. Enigmatic. Inscrutable. Touchy about being talked about."