As the wizard and warrior converse, the tiny bear yawns and wakes up. Its still nighttime and the occasional shift and falling of snow can be heard. When it sees the wizard, it tries to hide within Ty's clothing seeming afraid. The firelight illuminates the area. Near it its warm.

Nulgaz laughed lightly. ”Aww, I seem to have frightened the bear. Aww poor dear one no one is going to hurt you while I am here if I can help it. I know my fangs are big but I’m not that scary am I?” She looked to Ty for an answer.

The bear trying to hide within her clothing startled Tyrael.  She gave a yipe and almost jumped up and out of her seat.  "Hey!  Easy there, fuzzy."  she said, trying to be be and sound gentle.  The little bear was only a young bear so she didn't want to scare it but she wasn't used to animals trying to hide inside her clothes.

"Nuls, you are positively beautiful." the Half-Elf said.  She was distracted with sitting back down while trying to calm the bear cub.  Unused to handling animals, other than horses, it took Tyrael several minutes to try and calm down the cub.  "Easy, fuzzy.  It's okay.  Nuls tries anything with you and we'll toss her into the snow outside.  But I'm sure that she's friendly so let's give her a chance, 'kay?"

She looked over at Nulgaz. "Sorry, it's a cub.  Not used to people."

Nulgaz fussed over the bear from a careful distance. She wasn’t very familiar with how to deal with animals. Sure she studied all about their habits and anatomy and mating habits but that doesn’t stop them from suddenly biting. She looked around taking a quick survey of the animals present. She was glad the other seemed to have a way with them. Not that she wanted them harm but animals misunderstand even more easily than humans.

”Aww how did it get out here all alone in this snow? It is lucky to not have gotten attacked by something. At least it is warmed tucked up against you than outside unprotected. I could put up some protective spells but I like to wait until someone is sleeping. Speaking of which, how long have you been up at this point?” she asked.

She tried to think of other solutions to the cold, mentally paging through her grimoire, while thumbing the ring. She looked at the state of the church. Too much for Mending but maybe Make Whole.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:39, Sun 01 Oct 2023.

Tyrael started to stroke the bear cubs fur, trying to calm it down.  "Fuzzy here is not mine.  He belongs to a friend and I'm not sure where she found him.  I'm just sort of bear watching, in addition to horse and wagon watching."  She said to Nulgaz before turning her attention back to the cub.  The Half-Elf lowered her voice and spoke to the animal in a soothing tone.  "It's okay, fuzzy.  Yes, you are a good bear.  very perceptive.  Always keeping an eye out for me.  Such a good bear."

Tyrael kept on petting and soothing the bear cub but it was to Nulgaz when she spoke.  "I don't have anything against any protective spells.  It's just been my sword and shield, and these thin walls, keeping the bad things out and the warmth in.  So what do you like to do for fun?"

OOC:
Tyrael Mournstrider rolled 19 for Handle Animal.

Nulgaz smirked noting the avoidance of the question. To her this meant the answer must have been uncomfortable, a long time was likely. ”Don’t think I didn’t notice you avoiding the question,” she quipped. She adjusted herself into a much more comfortable position, one where her pack wasn’t jammed against her kidneys. Her upper lip played with her fangs as she thought of a suitable answer to the question posed to her. ”My answers are boring. I like a quiet night with a book reading fascinating facts or trying to understand a puzzle. I also like the solitude of the forge with that echoing ring of the hammer. And lastly I like telling stories while drinking with friends.”

She paused for a moment and pondered if she should put up the protective wards yet. She decided against it; better to save for when they weren’t as aware. She turned to Ty and asked, ”What about you? What do you do for fun when not holed away in churches in the snow?”

Tyrael looked up at Nulgaz, a confused look on her face.  "What question did I avoid answering?" she asked.  "I am not that complicated a woman, Nuls.  My life is an open book.  I fight, I kill, nothing too sophisticated.  I suppose that I could hide some things from you, but that is only because we've just met and there's no telling if you plan on killing or robbing me while I sleep.  I really hope that you don't, of course.  I'd much rather have you as a friend and ally, and given the weird stuff that has been going on in this place the last day, the help would be appreciated."

"There's nothing boring about what you do for fun.  You live you.  When I'm not questing or campaigning, or training, I'm living life.  Carousing in taverns, drinking with friends and friends I haven't made yet, and enjoying the occasional tussle beneath the sheets.  Does that surprise you?"

Nulgaz shook her head. ”No it doesn’t surprise me that much. It’s not like you juggle goslings as a hobby or something.” She gave a snorting laugh.

She stifled a yawn and continued, ”I had asked about how long you had been up. I was going to offer to let you sleep for a few hours while I took watch. But, you are right, you don’t know me at all.” She wanted the sleep herself but had the feeling she was the fresher of the two of them. If it got too much later she would put up the wards just in case.

"There's a way to get around that."  Tyrael said with a grin.  "We just have to get to know each other, and hopefully not kill each other in the process.  In answer to your question, I've only been out her about a day, though it seems like its been months.  I guess I've gotten so used to being around people, and being able to talk to people, that being here by myself is....uncomfortable."

She settled down, stretching out her legs to the side of the small fire.  The Half-Elf held the bear cub close, petting its fur to calm it.  "Juggling goslings, hmm?  I've never tried that before.  I suppose that we could give it a try, when we find some goslings.  Might be worth it for a laugh."  she looked thoughtful for a moment.  "How long have you been on the road?"

”Either a few days or forever. It feels like both at the same time. If you have any questions for me I’d be happy to answer them, I don’t have any secrets I am aware of. Maybe for now you get some rest or at least relax,” she said.

Nulgaz stood up and gave a good stretch with her arms over her head then proceeded to stretch her legs. A couple quick squats and she figured she would feel more awake. She stood near the fire and made gestures as she invoked arcane words. A twenty food radius audible alarm would make a good first ward. Secondly she concentrated and made sure she could fit the both of them and the animals in the twenty foot radius of her next spell. The words and gestures were considerably more complex . The ring made her feel more confident as she articulated each element of the spell. It was called a tiny hut but really it was a hemisphere with temperature control that kept off the elements except in extreme circumstances. At least those on the outside would have no idea what was inside, well except for something creating smoke. She had no idea if that mattered to the purported  undead but it was an added bonus to the shelter.

”Ah. That is much better,” she said before sitting down again. The warmth of the fire was less necessary but something could be said for a nice dry heat. She stretched and got into a more comfortable position and regarded her companions. ”I am sure you dealt with the undead as you said, but it sure seems quiet. Do you think they will come back?” She left unsaid that it felt too quiet for her comfort. That was usually the quiet before the storm. She was also concerned for these others, Ty’s true companions. Nulgaz wanted to do something to help but she had no clue where they were. Being a wizard had its benefits but she was far from a diviner. She shifted uncomfortably at the thought of the others possibly being in danger. She looked around and contemplated their own safety. She drew her falchion and placed it across her lap.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:00, Wed 18 Oct 2023.

"I suppose that I can relax a little more, with you here now."  Tyrael said.  she continued to stroke the bears fur.  "It's funny but only a few hours ago there was a horde of undead pounding on the windows and doors of this place.  It sounds crazy, I know, but I watched them clamber up out of their graves and shamble over here.  I fought them off with a few well tossed bottles of flaming oil.  Well, fought them off is probably a bit strong.  Let's just say that I irritated the hell out of them."

the half-Elf glanced towards the door when Nulgaz wondered about when her companions would return.  "I hope that they get back here soon.  We've got places to be.  Hopefully before any more undead show up, or anything worse.  Speaking of which..."  Tyrael gestured to the Falchion in Nulgazs lap.  "You any good with that?"