"Somehow, I think I would have more immediate problems than flashbacks if the floor trying to eat me reminded me of the time the floor tried to eat me."  Matt, we can't all have that wishy washy mix of jaded and naive you seem to have been progressing through when it comes to stress related to unworldly horrors.

  "Besides, it's more comfortable to sleep in fuzzy hide armor than even the nicest magic scale mail." At least it only took a standard action to put on an entire suit of armor (or a tiny shield).

"As powerful as we've become, I'll bet monsters also sleep uneasy for fear of the likes of us," Mittens says with a proud grin, "Though I can't say a cautious attitude is a bad thing."

To Matt she suggests, "I've heard of magic armor you can easily dismiss or return to combat readiness.  If they don't have a set in the armory already I'm sure they have the means to have one made."

It's OK. Some day, Matt will think the floor is trying to eat him only to realize the sound of floor-mouths sound exactly like the washing board the cleaning lady outside uses. In the meantime, though...

Angel says, "Actually, that reminds me. We should do some shopping around to see if we find anything better than what we actually have."

Angel heads for the bed and says, "Though if we *do* get attacked in the night, don't we have something for that by now?"

Carla holds up a note to Angel who reads it and says, "Carla's thinking the same thing, apparently. She plans to search for protection rituals."

  "I think I'd prefer the insurance against lingering death by giant spiders than I would some slight convenience."  He shrugs in regards to the latest questions.  "I'm not exactly an expert there, but I think the most we can hope for is something that wakes us up for the inevitable fight, as opposed to actually protecting us."

Moving right along.  The following day the group finds out that the best way they can help out is to investigate the disappearance of a paladin of Pelor.  They are given a map of the border lands, horses and gear, any training they need, and access to a teleportation circle.

Speaking of training...  "A piece of Mittens' shattered mind has returned," Mittens announces, "What this means is I'm not a prophesying bard who shoots arrows any more."

Angel looks over at Mittens. "....say what? I remember you were a bard *before* you lost your memories that one time. How are you not a bard now?"

And now, the story of the century: Maverick and Carla say nothing.

  If one went by the cast listings, it meant that Mittens has gone from a level 5 prophetic bard to... Either a level 2 Wizard, Level 3 Bard, or level 3 Paladin.  Kind of a step down even without the lack of finicky fortune telling.

  "I suppose at the very least we could safely say you are still a Mittens?"   Maybe with an actual paladin around (once they find the missing one), Matt would look less like one by comparison.

"I am still a Mittens as far as I can tell," Mits answers, "My theory is that I was divided into several Mittens, each with different abilities, before you met my bardic self.  Now that I've been fused with my Mrs. Singsalot, I remember all her adventures with you, but no longer have access to musical magic.  Allow me to demonstrate."

"La la la, song of rest."

Sure enough, the familiar healing feeling from the song is no longer there.

Angel stares for a moment. "....OK. So tell us about you. I know your name, but WHO are you? What have you been doing here in this world? How is it you replaced my friend?" that last part sounds like she's containing rage.

Maverick looks up at Mittens with a "huh?" look. "Is this the ol' mind-control scenario like what happened to Gydd?"

Carla watches the conversation.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:22, Wed 13 Mar 2013.

 <nerd>Of course song of rest doesn't do anything, it only works during a short rest silly.</neeeeeeeerd>

  "Your wording leaves a lot to be desired.  You started off with implying you were remembering what you couldn't before, then went straight into 'Not me at all anymore, so sorry complete strangers' territory." Unless it was something more lame philosophically, like Mittens bard not mattering compared to... Whoever the hell Mittens decided she was now.

OOC: Not like I haven't character or class swapped before.  But your being spectacularly vague and IC only about all this is only confusing matters waaaaaay beyond 'well of course she cant prophesize as well without modules to read out of'.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:14, Thu 14 Mar 2013.

Mittens sighs and blows up on her hair.  "I don't mean to frighten you.  Maybe I should have said, 'I remember all my adventures with you.'  I'm still me, but now that I'm no longer just a fraction of me, I'm probably going to act at least a little different.  Have you ever heard those stories about a person being split into their good side and their mean side?  Well a person has lots of sides, not just two, but I've no idea how many pieces I was broken into or how.  The reason I said 'theory' instead of bragging about all kinds of certainty is because there are still plenty of gaps in my memory.  I remember having a brother and sister for example, but the memories are about as clear as mud.  I referred to myself in third person because that is a quirk of mine.  This isn't the first time I've done that around you all.

"As for what's different about the other slice of me, that's hard to say.  Mittens remembers searching for answers about her past, but failing most times when it came to asking folks for help.  Trying to find out why she had so many gaps in her memory, but failing to figure out any of the books she could find on the topic.  Looking for clues on her family and wondering why she even cared.  I guess you could call her other self a lonely seeker 'cause she certainly wasn't doing any finding.  In fact she would have had no idea my bardic self was anywhere nearby if she hadn't suddenly turned insubstantial and been absorbed into me."

Angel calms a bit. "Broken pieces? ...sounds like a quest to me. But we already agreed to look for this paladin. I guess it'll remain to be seen how much this other piece of you will change you. So without your healing music, how will we keep from dying when one of us drops?"

Maverick says, "We kept Mittens alive once. Without magic."

Carla hands a note to Angel. Angel reads it aloud, "According to Carla, she has been granted some healing power from Pelor to balance the fact Mittens can not heal now..."

  "I'm still kind of hazy how getting more memories of yourselves and past actions, would mean you're capable of doing less.  You 'absorbed' a bard, but now can't do bardy things?"   Would Matt forget how to use a forge or hit things with a hammer if a royal accountant's education suddenly added itself to his mind?

  He sighs, "So, aside from still being worth caring about because we're not a bunch of jerks, what do you do now?  Saving a paladin is still a good idea either way, but I want to know how much more or less I have to watch out for you compared to before when things get violent."

  Matt is surprised at how well Maverick is taking this.  Sure, the kid has always been the quiet type.  But there's some serious potential for 'where's my cat mommy!?' flip outs here.
This message was last updated by the player at 02:36, Fri 15 Mar 2013.

"Handy!" Mittens comments of Carla.  "Also, healing potions."

She wiggles a few vials betwixt her fingers.  She shrugs at Matt's question.

"Mittens is kinda hazy on that too.  But until I can find the magical flying mouse that can switch me back to being a bard, I'll just have to settle for being a druid."

She describes her abilities in detail.  If Mav lets it show he's upset, she'll mommy-cat him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw4KVoEVcr0

Maverick continues to take it in stride. Why is anyone's guess.

Angel ponders. "A druid? Never met one before. I've heard rumors, though. I heard they are so in tune with nature that nature itself grants them the ability to change into animals. Was I told right?"

  "Well, hopefully this means the wildlife will stop dropping everything to try and kill us all then?"  Aahahahahahaa.  Oh Matt, we thought you were picking up some proper pattern recognition by now.

Mits nods to Angel.  "That you were!"

She turns into an owlbear!

"Tada!"

To Matt she headshakes.

"Having a nature expert who can resemble animals won't stop predators from harassing us any more than having an elf necromancer on our team would have prevented Demise from trying to kill us.  But I'm sure we'll find ways to put my abilities to good use none the less."

She switches back to being humanoid.

Angel and Maverick are startled at Mittens' sudden transformation and Angel gasps. "A warning would have been nice... but now that I've seen you do it, I guess I'll be more mentally prepared for it..."

When Mittens turns back, Angel continues Mittens' thoughts, "Or for a similar comparison to what actually happens in nature, a wolf pack, if hungry enough, will still attack a bear." she shrugs. "Anyway, let's start our search at the local church of Pelor. Maybe they can tell us where he was last or what his last mission was."

Maverick keeps quiet and just walks with the group, keeping himself in the center with Carla and giving Mittens a lot of sideways glances. He misses riding Lucky already.

  "Well, at the very least maybe you can translate to any more giant spiders that I really freaking hate them and their stupid spider faces?"  such stunning priorities you have there Matt.

  He nods to Angel, "That would help.  So far we don't know what the paladin looks like, or even their name.  It's probably not a good sign for the paladin if they send us to rescue them without caring about the specifics beyond his job description."

A smirk crossed Mittens' beak at Angel and Maverick's surprise but added no comment.  To Matt she translates, "'Hiss, hiss, chitter, skuttle, bite,' would be the rough translation.  Though I'm sure smashing them with your hammer will communicate your sentiments well enough."

She reaches to pick up Maverick and put him on her shoulders then will transform into a panther.  The quest giver said that the frontier Church of Pelor would have better details, but asking around at the local Cathedral yields the following:  For the past five years, a cult of Bane named the Hand of Naarash has been pillaging frontier villages.  The frontier is beyond the borders of Adam's kingdom, and any official military aid sent there would be viewed as an invasion and could spark a war.  Adventurers and church paladins are of course exempt from such complications.  A militant sect of Pelor named "The Light of the Sun" have been the only ones opposing the cult.  About a year ago their leader, a paladin by the name of Jaryn, led the strongest of his allies into the Moonsfall Mountains in order to find and crush the cult once and for all, but they never returned.  The cathedral doesn't have a description of his appearance but expects that the Light of the Sun will.

"A year ago? Definitely dead." Angel concludes. "But that doesn't mean we can't go stop this Hand of Naarash."

Maverick is easily picked up and shoulder-mounted. He looks down at Mittens as he rides her. "...poor Adam. Paperwork. I'd only wish that on my enemies."

Angel says, "Lucky sure seemed happy."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:31, Fri 22 Mar 2013.

  "Maybe Lucky is the world's largest housecat?  I'd like to hope the Paladin and his allies are still okay, but my optimism about that sort of thing isn't what it used to be."  Oh don't worry Matt, they'll turn up.  As zombies and deathknights or something.

"Same here," Mittens agrees with Maverick, "Though there's lots of folks who would only wish the life we have on their enemies.  'May you spend your days fighting aberrations and undead.'"

She nods to Matt.  "Though after all we've been through it wouldn't be surprising if we end up having to fight their animated corpses even though 'cult of Bane' would suggest we find their skulls mounted on pikes.  So we ready to head out?"

Carla is already at the door and looks over at the team expectantly.

Angel says, "Looks like Carla, at least, is ready."

As Maverick rides Mittens out, he comments, "I wouldn't wish our adventures on anyone but our enemies either. But I wouldn't trade them for anything either. We've done too much good to want to take any of it back."

  Matt of course goes along for the trip.  "Being a nice person doesn't mean a lot of convenience, but none of us want to be huge jerks either."  Well okay, he wasn't so upset over being incredibly rude to people trying to kill them or seriously hinder them.