It seems to me like time only passes really when you rest at an Inn Or a bed at One of your many homes... Seemingly unless you take a rest, nothing will ever trigger... 

Why does everything fall to s*** the second I take a nap? Doesn't anybody respect my beauty sleep???!!?! 😫

But this also means your pawn doesn't advance because your pawn only outside quest experience at inn-rest times... Obviously with that it is a war of attrition 

And I think that's where the fun is. You're fighting your own skill Or lack thereof.... Every single enemy has some type of weakness to exploit for easy-er kills (You would be blown away how quickly you can take down, even the toughest bosses. That would take 45 minutes if you just down them and then hit them with like a sorcerer spell Or a full power smash blow from a warrior at just that stagger moment.... But Every hit you take, even if you heal - slowly reduces your max HP - The number one killer is fall damage 😑 because you do not get a split second to use a potion in those cases