Tad, Nico, Zanna, and Lamruil arrive at the compound as the moon starts to rise above the far trees.

"Marena, I'm going to go get the letter Samphire left me in his Wagon," says Tad.

Marena looks at him, "We can't open his wagon, Tad. The door is sealed. "

Tad looks over at the wagon sitting just outside the light of the campfire Beothorn has started in the center of the wagons. "Jack said he left it for me. I'll go try it. I can't imagine Samphire would leave me something that I can't reach. "

Tad walks over to the wagon as his companions watch. The wagon is made of heavy oak lumber like the rest of the wagons in the Carnival and is enchanted to make the inside larger than what would appear on the outside. He looks at the door with his magic sight and doesn't see anything special about the door or latch. Tad extends his soulmancy towards the wagon and senses nothing alive inside. He decides to try the latch. He feels a tingling, and the door opens.

"How did you do that?" askes Marena.

Tad looks back at his adoptive mother, who is still sitting at the table, "I just opened it, I felt a bit of magic on the latch. Perhaps it only lets me open it."

"That's possible. Get the letter and come out of there. I do not like you being in Samphires wagon when he isn't here," says Marena with a bit of worry in her voice.

Tad goes into the wagon. It looked much like the last time he had been there. There are six softly glowing magical orbs lighting the wagon. In the corners of the wagon are four workstations. To the right is a tinkers workbench with metal tools of all types hung above it, and across from it is a chemistry station with vials, bottles, and stands. On the left is a well-polished oak desk with many drawers above the writing surface, and across from the desk is an enchanters table like the one found in the jewel smiths guild house.

In the drawer of the writing desk that Jack had said contained the letter was a scroll with Thaddius written on the outside tied with a yellow ribbon. Next to it is a pulsing blue gem. Tad picked them both up out of the drawer and went back outside to where the group had gathered around the table and benches.

Tad sat down across from Marena and untied the ribbon holding the scroll. The scroll started to shimmer, so Tad placed it on the table to see what it would do. The scroll lay flat on the table, and from its surface, a small projection of Samphire speaking appeared above the table.

Thaddius,

If you are reading this letter, then we are all in great danger. I sent you to retrieve Beothorn as I went to discover the source of the powers that could break through the main warding. If I am not back, then you must take those who remain and find refuge. Fortify your position and gather strength. You can not linger. Build strong, build to last, and await the call. I have left you a portal relic in my wagon. You should not linger. As others realize I'm no longer with the Carnival, the danger increases.

I have set the portal device to take everything and everyone in a large circle to the Forest of Mirth in the high Fey planes. It should be safe there, and no hostile creatures will be in that location. Good luck.

Tad thought about Samphire's comments. Why is he asking Tad to do this and not Beothorn? What is going on here? Build a home. He knew next to nothing about building a town unless that town was on wheels. Who exactly is he supposed to take? Is there some danger to them? He has so many questions.

Tad looked around at the group. Marina spoke first.

"Samphire's not coming back, it appears. He also thinks the members of the Carnival are at risk if they stay here. Or if they try to leave to somewhere else. Something bigger is going on that he isn't telling us. He doesn't believe the Grand Bazaar is safe. Tad, you should get Jack and that Monkey who has taken residence in the Magic Monkey wagon, " she said.

Tad looked at Marina, "He hasn't left yet?" he frowned

"Yea, I know he is still in there, and he seems quite happy to stay with them," said Marina.

Zanna is looking at the wagons, "What monkeys? " she asks.

"There are three Magic Monkeys, and there is a God of Monkeys that moved into the wagon. His name is Scekan. I thought he would have left by now. I'll go get them. " said Tad.

"The wagons are unlocked, Tad. The Monkeys wagon has changed, so be careful," said Marena.

Lamruil had taken a seat at one of the taller table benches and was busy sorting through his bag of gear.

Nico was over poking the fire with a stick throwing some wood from the stack nearby onto it.

Zanna stood up to follow Tad.

Tad looked at Zanna, "You can come but let me introduce you before you talk to them. Or don't talk to them, it might be simpler. That is up to you. Neither of these guys are going to be happy to see you." Then he started walking towards the Magic Monkeys of Mayhem's wagon. Tad tried the wagon door to see if it was unlocked. It was. He opened it and walked in. Tad thought he was back at Scekan's woods again. He looked behind him and saw Zanna standing outside. He definitely hadn't portaled, it's still the shrink enchanted wagon, but now it was also something else.

Around him were giant tree trunks that grew close together and stretched up, forming a huge canopy above that looked solid enough to keep the rain out. He wasn't certain but using his magic sight where he could see motes of mana floating around. It appeared that much of this was an illusion. The wagon walls were still there; just the area was much bigger than the old wagon. Where there used to be two pens to let the monkeys rest and display, there was just an open forest floor with the appearance and sound of the woods or jungle. Hoots could be heard as if off in the distance of a large forested area. But this was a large chamber with the appearance of trees melded to form Scekans old throne room. In the center, on a giant wooden table made from a log, were piles of fruits of different types and four large dark monkeys sitting in a semi-circle looking at him. Little light tricked in through the upper branches. Tad supposed this was all part of the illusion.

Tad motioned back to the large doorway where a much larger Zanna waited outside, looking at his smaller self inside. Tad figured she was getting a bit of an eye full, he grew up in these shrink enchanted wagons, and it still amazed him upon entering and exiting.

"Stay there a second, Zanna," he said towards the door and then turned back to the Monkeys.

Tad used his soulmancy and attempted to see which of the two male monkeys was Scekan. There were two males and two females. Tad knew that one of the males was the Monkey god. He spent years tending this wagon. He sensed something from one of them that was not familiar. He walked to that monkey.

"Scekan, Samphire isn't coming back. We need to talk outside if you have a moment," said Tad to the left male.

"Also, Zanna would like to meet you all. I've talked about you several times, don't do anything to her, please. This isn't the time for any antics from any of you," said Tad. Then he waited for the reply. He stood there for several minutes. The four monkeys just stared at him. Then the left one started speaking.

"Messenger of Samphire, Friend of Monkeys, how exactly did you know which one was I?" asked the monkey.

Tad looked at the monkey for a few seconds smiling, "Ahh wouldn't you like to know, " said Tad remembering the trials the God of Monkeys had put him through to get his earth domain power. "Let me introduce Zanna," Tad waved for Zanna to enter.

Scekan looked at her, Tad could sense the three other monkeys didn't seem to care that she was half-succubus, but Scekan wasn't happy.

"Why have you brought this creature of chaos among us, Thaddius?" asked Scekan as he started to transform into his elf form. Again as the image of a tall elf eerily beautiful, with brown skin, shoulder-length, flowing dark golden hair, and eyes the color of storm clouds. He is medium height and somewhat muscular, wearing a green cloth jacket and tight green hosen. He had on shoes made out of a thick fiber cloth of some type.

"She is a friend and will be with us for a while, and it's complicated. I have to visit Jack. We will be meeting out by the tables. " Tad looked around again at the inside of the wagon. "I like what you have done with the place. It's a bit dark, though, isn't it?" asked Tad.

"My friends here do not like the light, Thaddius. They prefer it like this, " responded Scekan.

Zanna had come inside and moved up next to Tad.

"Greetings, fair lady of hell, how fare ye?" said Scekan in infernal speech bowing towards Zanna.

Zanna nodded to the elf. She didn't respond other than that. Tad figured she must have taken his words of caution literally. It is probably best, he thought. She was looking at the trees and the room after that.

Zanna had always been able to speak with everyone she had met. She said she had learned many languages over the years and left it at that when Tad asked about it on their journey to the Bazaar. Tad wore a translation charm spell on his wrist that helped him till he became familiar with whatever language he ran across. Over time he would learn the language, though with the assistance of the magic spell.

"Marina is waiting outside," said Tad, and he left with Zanna following him out to Jack's wagon.

***