A strange ally

exhausted but determined pippa travels trough the forest, leaving the accursed song behind her. she stumbles on for a while until she can rest at a clear little brook, when she spots something shiny wedged between rocks nearby.

taking the opportunity for a rest, Pippa gets closer to the rocks to look at the shiny

She can see the skeletal remains of a person wearing what appears to be armor. most of the pieces, the helmet, the legs, the arms are rotted away but the chestpiece is in pristine condition, glimmering with magic.

As it would be not practical to wear that piece of armor, Pippa decides to try to put it in her bag, may be she could barter it, if needed.

as pippa's hand touches the plate it seemingly comes to life and like q dark liquid flows up her hand and arm in an instant before it snuggly sets itself around her shoulders, torso, hip and crotch. there are no clasps or other mechanisms to remove it as far as pippa can tell, but it feels like solid metal again and the magical glow is still on it

"Eck... What is that?"

now that it has solidified again it seems like a formfitting armor

Pippa analyse the new armor, tries to move around with it...

pippa can easily move, even being full metal it weighs almost nothing. but a few moments later She can feel a telepathic presence as the spirit inhabiting the armor makes itself known

"I am Regis"

"well, hello Regis, voice in my head. i'm Pippa"

"Pippa.... you awakend me after i slept. I am not a voice in your head, i am the soul of the armor you carry!"

"oh.... Well, sorry"

"Do not be sorry. I will protect you and you will help me. I am incomplete, shattered across this land. You might help me gather the pieces that lay hidden and restore me."

"we can try, for sure. I don't know what to do for that. Do you know where to go ?"

"If we get close i can feel the parts missing. But they are not close to us now. I hope we shall come upon them on our journey."

"is there some thing i need to know about you? Some maintenance to do ?"

"There is not. As i have layen here for a long time i have not rusted nor weakened. Merely wearing me will imbue my protective properties onto you. If you wish to doff me just think of it and i'll retreat."

pippa gathers her belongings and wanders forth for w little while until she hears the voice of the armor again

"This is the place of our last battle. I remember it. A horde of creatures of darkness ambushed us and even his skilled swordsplay was not enough to survive. He succumbed to his wounds and their vile poison where you found me. Maybe if you are thorough you can find some of his belongings somewhere"

"i think it was a long time ago. You were the only thing that didn't crumbled. But i can look again."

Pippa digs around in the undergrowth a bit and find the remains of a tent with a rotten box inside but as she guessed, nothing useful that survived the passage of time

Pippa talks with Regis to check if (it/he/she??) knows ant clue on how to get away

"By chance, do you know theses lands? I'm finding very strange how they work... Magic sure, but ..."

"I am afraid i can't help you in that manner."

with this new armor, Pippa is now more optimist on the journey ahead. Pippa goes again on her way

"To new adventure!"