Hey everyone!

Looks like everyone had the same thought on what was the most important information to collect before facing the memory thief!

As you travel the fey realm, you keep a close ear out for rumors about the memory thief - in particular how to defend against them. Arriving at a small town constructed among the roots of an impossibly large tree, you sit down to discuss your quest with an elderly gnome. Though it was long ago, the elderly mage tells you of an encounter they once had with a memory thief - and what helped them make it through alive:

"There are three primary things you must keep in mind as you face this creature. Firstly, it thrives on your misery. Keep something on your person that gives you a powerful positive memory, and if all else fails that will serve to keep you safe and weaken the memory thief against your spells. Secondly, and in a similar vein, stand strong against the feelings of fear and distress it will attempt to inflict on you. While it may be easier said than done, these feelings are not real and serve only to weaken you as you fight it.

Finally, and this is the vitally important part, do not be concerned if you find yourself alone or in smaller numbers than you need. The memory thief is a tricky creature, and has a way of causing us to forget about those we fight alongside. If you push through and don't flee even if you feel you are too few to complete the task before you, your bravery will be rewarded."

Taking this advice to heart, you wander the fey realm for some time, searching for where the creature might reside. One evening, as you searched for a place to camp amid the trees of a murky forest, you found yourselves wondering why you'd taken on such a quest with so few people. As sudden realization came to the remaining party members, you spotted a large, dirty, ill-kept cat-like creature with large, webbed hands ending in sharp claws, and a vaguely human-looking face lurking just outside of the light of your fire.

Remembering the words of the gnome elder, you pressed on, fighting the creature despite a nagging feeling that you really ought to have had more party members to hunt such a dangerous creature. At times nearly becoming overwhelmed by fear, some party members drew reminders of family or friends, brandishing them against the creature and forcing it to draw back temporarily, hissing in discomfort. You recall strange occurrences during the fight, including stumbling over roots only to look back and see nothing you could have tripped on, but with the chaos and darkness it's hard to say what was real.

With the fight ended, you realized that you'd been mistaken all along. Your full party was with you for the fight, just as planned. You must simply have lost track of them in the darkness.

Making the return journey as swiftly as you could, you delivered the creature's corpse to your client, who expressed delight at having finally had a successful adventuring party. It seems five or six groups had previously attempted the mission and never returned.

As a reward for your excellent work, the client offers you any component of your choice (and the ritual recipes to use it in) - just as soon as they're done studying the corpse.

Which component would you like?