Patrice Furbac

> That's right: even when I'm not conducting postal business, I'm thinking postal thoughts!
>
> Patrice Furbac

**Patrice Furbac** is the fourth bear the player meets after arriving on Cozy Grove Island. He is the resident Postal Bear, responsible for any letters and packages delivered to the island. He often asks for help locating missing packages, and the player can go to him to check for mail sent from Scoutmaster Blake or from any of the shops on the island. Patrice is a Town Spirit, referred to as the Postal Bear.

Patrice's area is located to the northwest of Kit's Canteen.

## Appearance

Patrice looks like a package wrapped in brown paper and tied with a string. He wears a black cap with a white envelope on the front. His cap is patched with tape.

The following landmarks are located in Patrice's area: a large memorial statue, mailboxes, a post office, a postal conveyor, postal scooters, phone booths, revolving stands for postcards, potted plants, chairs, tables, and benches.

## Biography

Patrice Furbac was a postal worker in life as well as in death. He often talks about how much he enjoys his job, though occasionally he does admit to feeling a bit of burn out after so long at the job. He refers to his family (Anja, Leroy, and Ophie) on several occasions, and one of his memories is of his family at a baseball game.

Patrice uses several nicknames for the player, including "Mail Helper" and "Stamp Champ".

## List of quests

Every day, Patrice Furbac has a chance to give the player a quest, provided he has no quest active. The quest can be started by speaking to Patrice Furbac.

If Patrice Furbac is ghostly blue and his area is not colored, he will give the player a story quest. If Patrice Furbac is colored but his area is not, he will give the player a daily quest. If both Patrice Furbac and his area are colored, he will not give any quests, but the player can still converse with him to listen to some gossip or occasionally advance his story.

Story quests are untimed and advance Patrice Furbac's story, allowing the player to learn more about him, fill his heart meter, and restore his memories. Some story quests require the player to collect a lot of resources or help other bears to get quest items. The story quests often give spirit logs as rewards.

Non-story quests have a time limit, do not provide any story development, and give random rewards. There are no penalties for letting a timed quest expire.

Some quests require the player to find items hidden on the island. The hidden objects spawn after the player accepts the quest, with hints on their location provided in the quest menu. If the player has trouble locating the item, they can get a hint from Charlotte Pine for 100.

### Daily quests

Every daily quest has a chance to give the player a spirit wood or a crafting recipe for a random decoration in addition to regular reward.

## Chat

Every day, when Patrice Furbac has no quest active, the player can chat with him for some random gossip. Patrice Furbac can give the player advice or tell a little about himself or other bears.

Chatting with Patrice Furbac does not advance his story.

After the player chats with Patrice Furbac once, they can ask him for a hug.

**Patrice:** Oh hi there, **Stamp Champ**. You caught me on break. Was just reminiscing about some of my favorite *postal moments*.
That's right: even when I'm not conducting postal business, I'm thinking postal thoughts!
Today's postal moment: that moment when a couple of neighbors are having a chat, and I interrupt them with my delivery...
*... and then we all chat for a bit before I move along.* I get goosebumps just thinking about it!
**Patrice:** Why if it isn't my **Little Letter Getter** who's come to chat.
To take my mind off things, I'm re-reading my favorite postal decree, *Publication 59: Abbreviations for Use with ZIP Code*.
Not only does this document establish the zip code system, but it *also* introduces the two-letter state abbreviations we know and love today.
Some say the postmaster general nailed it to the door of the Postal Service Headquarters, but I think that's an urban myth.
**Patrice:** Greetings **Parcel Pusher**! You know, you've got be careful handling some of these more...lively packages.
I've had fur singed. I've had my ears deafened. And I've gotten the willies more times than I can count.
I don't mind it though. I mean, if it doesn't happen to me, it would happen to someone else, right?
And that would be much worse.
**Patrice:** You would think that delivering a postcard would be the easiest postal task.
But in the afterlife, postcards can be some of the heaviest burdens. Final goodbyes. Bittersweet missives. <shudder>
Sometimes it makes me wish for a good old-fashioned, non-possessed piano or set of encyclopedias to carry.
**Patrice:** Doo do do doo do do do Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane...
Ain't got time to take a fast train. Dooo do do do doo. Do—
—Oh! Didn't see you there, **Postal Buddy**. I guess my mind was somewhere else!
**Patrice:** Most folks think dogs are the natural enemy of the postal worker. Not true!
It's the *cats*.
They mess with your *mind*.
**Patrice:** The thing about the mail, **Delivery Dynamo**? It. Never. Stops.
You can pull a double shift, you can do your routes in a flat sprint. Doesn't matter. There's always more work.
They say it drives some postal workers crazy, but for me, it's what I love about the job.
If it didn't keep me occupied, I don't know *what* I'd do.
**Patrice:** It's important to stop and appreciate the beautiful things in the world, **Stamp Champ**.
For example, take this verse I've memorized. <ahem>
*Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.*
<sigh> You see what I mean? Aren't you just completely recharged now?
**Patrice:** If you're stuck tracking down a hidden object, remember to talk to Charlotte. She knows this island like the back of her paw.
**Patrice:** Hey there, **Letter Legend**. Have you checked your mailbox yet today? You never know what might be in there!
**Patrice:** You know, I think it's high time we reclaimed the term 'going postal.'
Just because somebody's surrounded by letters all day doesn't make them violent! Suppressed wages do that.
'Going postal' ought to mean something *positive!* From here on, I'm saying 'time to go postal!' every time I start my rounds!
Er... or maybe I should workshop that first.
## Daily quest lines

### Annoyed

Start:

**Patrice:** Those darn imps stole my letters again!
Could you get them back for me?
**Patrice:** I've had it, Mail Friend! Don't these imps know that stealing mail is a crime?!
Not that there's any Police Bear around here to do anything about it. Hmph.
There are still some missing letters out there. Think you can help me out again?
End:

**Patrice:** There they are! The Service thanks you.
**Patrice:** That's all of them! You're a first-class mail collector, Postal Peep.
Get it? 'First class'? Ah, never mind.
### Happy

Start:

**Patrice:** It's a beautiful day, isn't it, Postal Assistant?
And wouldn't you know it... I've been **chained to my post** again!
I guess my ghostly punishment is... enjoying this great weather?!
The chains do make it hard to collect packages, though.
Think you could help me out?
**Patrice:** Aw, stamps! I've got pick-up requests across the island today, but my paws are full.
Would you mind collecting a few packages for me, Deputy Assistant Postal Scout?
End:

**Patrice:** A job well done, kid!
You're well on your way to a career in the mail service!
**Patrice:** You're a natural at this, kid!
Why, when I'm gone, they should make *you* the Postmaster!
### Sad

Start:

**Patrice:** Every day it's the same.
Letters and packages, spread across the island.
I can't do it anymore, kid.
Let the mail collect itself, that's what I say...
**Patrice:** Chasing around mail every day, trying to find missing packages...
It wears on you, believe me.
Maybe this is that *'burnout'* thing I've been hearing about.
Guess folks won't be getting their deliveries for a while...
End:

**Patrice:** You gathered all of it? All the mail?
This goes above and beyond the call of duty!
Here... take this. I insist.
**Patrice:** Whoa! You gathered up all the mail for me?!
I... I don't know what to say. Thank you!
Your work ethic is truly inspiring. Take this. I mean it!
### Tired

Start:

**Patrice:** Something went wrong at central afterlife processing last night.
Ghost-mail has been spread all across the island!
I searched everywhere, but fear I've missed a few pieces.
**Patrice:** *Somebody* at afterlife processing put eldritch envelopes in the automatic mail sorter again.
It jammed up the machine and now there's loose mail all over the place!
End:

**Patrice:** I knew there was more mail out there!
You've got a natural gift for mail collection, kid! Thanks.
**Patrice:** You've come through for me again, Postal Protector!
Here. You earned this.
## Mementos

Spoiler alertThis article or section contains **spoilers**. Proceed with caution!
1. *Patrice Furbac, the Postal Bear, sure is enthusiastic about being a postal worker! What's with the demonic-sounding package, though?*
2. *Patrice has taught you all about the care and feeding of imps. Apparently they're not so bad -- or at least, they repay kindness.*
3. *Patrice discovers a photo of his wife and children, whom he'd almost forgotten about.*
4. *Something about that package seemed to crack Patrice's professional composure. What's so disturbing about a soccer ball?*
5. *In telling the story that ended his military career, Patrice is suddenly overcome with self-loathing. There's more to the story here.*
6. *Patrice recalls his squadmates, who were killed in action while he was laid up with a minor injury. The survivor’s guilt haunts him to this day.*
7. *After his discharge, Patrice joined the Cozy Grove postal service. But he died a sudden and premature death - which he feels he deserved.*
8. *The demonic packages that tormented Patrice seems to have ceased. Instead, Patrice receives a message from his departed squadmates:* This is not your fault*.*
9. *Thanks to you, Patrice is finally able to let go of some of the guilt he has held onto so long. His dark memories now behind him, Patrice can fully embrace the work he so enjoys.*

The comic attached to the first memento.The comic attached to the third memento.The comic attached to the fourth memento.

## Story quests expanded

### The first package

Patrice introduces himself and tells the player about his job.

**Patrice:** Patrice Furbac, the **Postal Bear**, at your disposal.
You know, when I joined the **Service**, I figured I'd be in it for life. And I was.
But I never suspected the job would keep going *after*.
Let me tell you, delivering mail to ghosts? That's a whole new bag.
**Scout:** A whole new mail bag?
**Patrice:** Ooooh, busting out the *postal humor* from the jump?
You and I will get along just fine.
**Scout:** What's different about it?
**Patrice:** Before I went boots-up, my work had a certain routine.
Deliveries for local residents arrived at the **Town Post Office** at oh-eight-hundred sharp.
I relayed those deliveries to the listed residences.
*Ghost deliveries*, though? They're processed through the *psychic plane*.
They just **show up** wherever and whenever they want to.
I ran patrol this morning, looking for new arrivals.
But I'd bet a **Spirit Log** there are more packages out there, waiting to be tracked down...
The package Patrice is looking for can be found hidden on the island. After the player delivers it to Patrice, he gives them a spirit log and offers them to be his postal helper.

**Patrice:** Did you feel it? The rush of finding a package? The thrill of checking for a well-formatted address?
Let me be straight with you. **I love this job**.
But I could use a **Postal Helper** to help me with the USD's...
**Scout:** A Postal Helper!? How exciting!
**Patrice:** Oh yes. The **Thrill of the Post**.
**Scout:** Depends on what the job pays.
**Patrice:** Looks like the Spirit Scouts sent me a straight shooter! I like that.
For major operations, you will receive one (1) **Spirit Log**.
For minor operations, reimbursements will vary.
**Scout:** What's a USD?
**Patrice:** Sorry. That's postal slang.
*Unidentified Supernatural Deliverables, a.k.a. USD's*, will be our primary assignment.
**Patrice:** Most of them are pretty tame. They might rattle or whisper, but that's it.
But if you come across a **troublesome package**? One that's screaming in Aramaic, or spewing demon-fire?
Well! You just send that puppy my way.
**Patrice:** Because one way or another, that thing's bound to be *addressed to me*.
Ooh... and it seems I've already received a letter addressed to **you** as well!
**Scout:** Wait, I have a mailbox here? / Gimme that letter!
**Patrice:** Yes! Here it is.
After completing the quest the player can access their mailbox anytime by speaking with Patrice. The first letter they receive is from Patrice and contains ten parsnips.

Test. Test. Test. Test mail from Postal Bear.
Hi it's me, Postal Bear.
I sent this letter to you via myself, so you could see how it works. I've also included a little thank you gift for your help.

- Postal Bear

### Sealed letters

Patrice asks the player to collect some letters.

**Patrice:** Heads up, **Postal Helper**! Looks like another *pastmarked* delivery incoming.
When you're alive? Letters arrive at the post office a few days after they're sent.
But ghost-letters? They don't run on regular time...
And they're likely to show up at **non-standard addresses**. Like in leaf piles, or behind rocks.
So if you find any **letters** out there? Please bring them by the Office.
Three sealed letters can be found hidden on the island. After the player delivers them to Patrice, he gives them a scout book page in return.

**Patrice:** Hey, you found some loose letters!
A thank-you card for Jeremy, lawsuit notice for Clyde, bills for my wife Anja...
And here's one for me! Ah. Threat of disembowelment by a hundred skeletal claws.
Standard stuff.
I'll make sure the rest of these get to the right place.
And hey, check in with me once in a while in case I've got *anything for you*.
### The earmuffs

Patrice asks the player to find his lost earmuffs.

**Patrice:** Hey there, **Postal Pal**. Beautiful day as always!
Got a little bit of a non-standard mission for you today.
My girl Ophie took my earmuffs on her walk yesterday. She didn't bring them back.
Think you could track them down for me?
The earmuffs are hidden on the island. After the player delivers them to Patrice, he gives the player a spirit wood as a reward.

**Patrice:** Hey, you found them!
I just love my lucky earmuffs.
What better way to block out the screams coming from unopened mail...
### Hungry imps

Patrice asks the player to fetch a letter taken by a hungry imp. He teaches the player how to feed the imps.

**Patrice:** Hey there, **Stamp Champ**. I'm glad you stopped by.
Have you noticed any imps running around with a **bubble over their head?**
**Scout:** Yes, I've seen them!
**Patrice:** I applaud your keen observation.
**Scout:** No, I haven't.
**Patrice:** They are rather skittish, so they may have run off when you came near.
**Patrice:** Those are **hungry imps**! They are crying out for something to eat. But imps are very picky...
They'll only eat a specific item they are craving. If you feed it to them, they'll happily give you something in return.
I mention this because one of those hungry imps made off with a **letter** of mine. I was hoping you could get it back for me.
One of the hungry imps on the island has Patrice's letter. If the player throws the imp the food they want, the imp will give the letter back. After the letter is returned, Patrice gives the player a spirit wood as a reward.

**Patrice:** Hey, you found my letter!
I bet that hungry imp was pleased you fed them. Did it give you anything else in return?
**Scout:** An... imp essence?
**Patrice:** Ah! You must have made them very happy if they dropped an **essence**.
**Scout:** A bunch of coins.
**Patrice:** That should fetch something nice from Mr. Kit's store!
**Scout:** Nothing
**Patrice:** Hmm, I think you're pulling my leg. I've never heard of a hungry imp being ungrateful when you feed them.
**Patrice:** Hungry imps often drop **essence** in appreciation. It's handy for crafting food and other useful things.
Well, I hope that was helpful! Talk to you later.
This also unlocks Patrice's second memory.

### A heavy package

Patrice wants the player to track a particularly heavy package.

**Patrice:** Well well! My favorite **Assistant Postmaster** is back.
I got a package notification earlier today. A 23 lb box.
A package that size must be a **dang whopper** of a psychic object.
Could you track it down for me?
The package is hidden somewhere on the island. After the player delivers it, Patrice is shaken.

**Patrice:** I knew I could count on you!
And hey, there's a nice surprise. The package is **addressed to me**!
It's heavy as heck! I wonder what it is?
Hopefully something from my wife and kids. Maybe a huge homemade paperweight?
...Oh. It's a soccer ball.
No wonder it weighed so much.
**Scout:** Aren't soccer balls pretty lightweight? / Is there something else in there weighing the package down?
**Patrice:** Most soccer balls are a pound at most.
*Mine is a little different*.
You know, I get some pretty weird mail. Last week it was a box full of blood-soaked bear claws.
I usually don't let it bother me. But this...
Hey. Thanks for all your help. I think I'm going to need a moment alone now.
The player gets a spirit wood and one potted flower plant from Patrice as a reward.

The next day Patrice is not feeling well and has no energy to deal with the unclaimed packages, so he gives them to the player. The packages are a beautiful birdhouse and a grog mug quest items.

**Patrice:** I woke up in the middle of the night with that **soccer ball** on my chest.
It was heavy. So heavy it hurt.
But if I rolled it off, it would crash to the floor. Wake up my wife.
So I let it sit there.
Yep. It's going to be one of those days.
But I can't complain. I *deserve everything I'm going through*, after all.
Oh. A couple **unclaimed packages** showed up.
Usually I sort them and figure out where they should be headed.
Not today. Today I'm just going to give them to you.
### A missed package

Patrice asks the player to find another one of his packages.

**Patrice:** Greetings, fellow **Mail Afficionado**!
I got a "missed package" slip from the psychic plane this morning.
**Scout:** More missing packages? I'm on it!
**Patrice:** You sure you're in the right branch of service, Spirit Scout?
Because you have a real passion for the mail! Might want to explore that further.
**Scout:** Sounds ominous...
**Patrice:** It's true. I get some weird ones.
Not sure where those flame-spewing centipedes come from. Or why they show up every Tuesday.
**Scout:** Are you worried? That last personal package took a lot out of you...
**Patrice:** Oh, you mean the heavy one? I've moved on.
**Patrice:** Whenever I fall into a negative frame of mind like that, I remind myself...
*You're lucky. Be grateful.*
So anyway, if you see a USD out there addressed to yours truly, *Patrice Furbac*, send it my way!
The package is hidden somewhere on the island. After the player delivers the package, Patrice opens it.

**Patrice:** What could it be? Let me give it a little shake.
I know, I know... official postal protocol frowns on package shaking.
But those are civilian rules. I'm a professional.
*SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE*
Ah. I know what it is.
*Riiiiiiip*
**Brand new black socks**! Fantastic!
These will go perfectly with my shorts.
You thought it was going to be something awful, didn't you?
**Scout:** Yep. / Those socks are something awful.
**Patrice:** It can't all be blood and terror and nitrates, Postal Helper.
Sometimes, it's just socks.
Patrice gives the player a spirit wood, a potted flower plant, a beautiful birdhouse, and a grog mug as a reward.

### Another missed package

Patrice has missed another package addressed to him.

**Patrice:** Hey there. I've got another missed package slip.
*ATTN Patrice Furbac*
*You will get what you deserve...*
*A weight pinned over your heart.*
Well, no wonder it wasn't delivered to me! They forgot my zipcode!
Looks like this is going to require a personal pickup, and I'm swamped with paperwork.
Any chance you could help me out?
The item Patrice is looking for is a medal, it can be found hidden on the island. The player can deliver it to Patrice to proceed with the quest and get a spirit wood and a random common lamp.

**Patrice:** Oh...
*A weight pinned over your heart.*
I get it now.
This is a **Bronze Star** medal.
This may have been mine, once. But if there's one thing I know... it's that I don't *deserve it*.
A few days later Patrice wants to talk.

**Patrice:** Last night, I couldn't sleep.
I could hear my floorboards creaking under that soccer ball. And that medal wouldn't stop humming.
I put them in a box, together. And I stuffed the box under my bed.
I've got a question for you. **What's the worst thing you ever did?**

**Scout:** I forgot to tie my boat to the dock. Now it's gone. / I used scotch tape to attach my sewing merit badge. / This is a family-friendly island. I'd rather not say.
**Patrice:** Ah, Postal Buddy... you're still so young.
The worst thing for me? It wasn't something I did. It was something I *didn't* do.
**Patrice:** I *wasn't there*. I *didn't help them*.
Sometimes I have good days. But I'll never live that bad one down.
### A family picture

Patrice is feeling down and needs something to help him remember he has something to be grateful for.

**Patrice:** I'm having a situation, Mail Friend.
Lately, I feel myself slipping away.
I know I'm supposed to feel grateful for... something?
But I can't remember what, or why.
I can't remember much of *anything* anymore. Except for my failures.
Furbac family photo can be received from Arjun Bhalla as a reward for completing one of his story quests. After the player delivers it to Patrice, he remembers how much he loves his family.

**Patrice:** Yes. **Yes!**
That's it. My family. My wife and kids.
Gosh, we had a good life, didn't we?
Money was tight, sometimes... but we laughed through it.
I have a good job, here in the **Service**.
Anja, Leroy and Ophie... I'm so grateful for them.
Thank you for reminding me, Mail Helper.
A few days later Patrice happily tells the player he mailed the soccer ball and the medal back.

**Patrice:** Hello again, fellow **Letter Getter**! Do you know what I did yesterday?
I mailed back that box with the soccer ball and the medal.
**Return to Sender**! Mission accomplished. I feel good!
Ready to enjoy my postal duties again.
I guess you could say it's... **A Red Letter Day**.
Oh yeah. Postal humor... timeless.
### Another package

Patrice wants the player to find yet another package.

**Patrice:** Hey, **Stamp Champ**! Got another assignment for you!
Package MIA. Recon operation.
Just another day in the **Service**! You should be able to do this in your sleep!
The package is hidden somewhere on the island. After the player delivers it, Patrice realizes it is the soccer ball again.

**Patrice:** Good work. We're an excellent postal team, aren't we?
Now let's see, what's this special stamp?
MANDATORY DELIVERY! RETURN DENIED.
Dang. Oh, DANG. The soccer ball again. And it's **heavier**.
Honestly? I'm a little relieved.
I knew this package was out there. I knew it would come back to me.
There's a beautiful simplicity to the mail, Postal Pal.
Under all those regulations, it all comes down to distance and weight.
I guess it's my time to carry a little more.
The player gets a spirit wood and one potted flower plant from Patrice as a reward. Completing the quest also unlocks Patrice's fourth memory and comic.

A few days later Patrice tells the player he started talking in his sleep.

**Patrice:** Ever since that **mandatory delivery** came back, I've apparently been talking in my sleep.
Yelling out to old friends... from my last deployment.
If I'm dreaming of *them*, I'd figure I'm dreaming about combat.
But apparently I keep yelling *I'm open!* and *Offsides!*...
That sounds like a game. Why would I dream about that?
### The medal

Patrice is worried the medal was not returned to him yet and asks the player to find it.

**Patrice:** Something's been bothering me, **Postal Pal**.
The soccer ball came back to me. But the **medal** didn't.
I **could** ignore it. Just wait til it shows up at the worst possible time.
But I'd rather take some initiative.
S.O.P... **Locate and secure the medal**.
I'll be on the mission whenever possible. But I need your help.
If that medal shows up? You know the drill.
The medal can once again be found hidden on the island. When the player returns it, Patrice tells them he does not deserve it.

**Patrice:** My **Bronze Star**.
For *heroic service* or *meritorious achievement.*
I'm not one to question the top brass, but they missed the mark when they awarded me that.
You know how I got discharged?
I was showing off with a soccer ball.
I tried to do a bicycle kick but I botched the landing.
Shattered my wrist, for nothing. Does that sound heroic to you?
And I was still recovering, in bed, my hand wrapped up tight, when... well...
Look, I just **wasn't where I was supposed to be**.
I don't deserve a medal. I deserve punishment.
So I pour my time into the Service. I get things where they need to go.
I deal with the occasional bubble-wrapped demonic horror, and I don't complain about it.
I just wish that medal, and these memories, would *go away*.
The player receives a spirit wood as a reward and unlocks Patrice's fifth memory.

### More packages

Patrice senses more packages coming.

**Patrice:** When my wrist starts aching...
That usually means more **USD's** are on their way.
And unfortunately for us... it hurts **bad** today.
**Scout:** I'm on it. / I'm busy, but I'll keep an eye out.
**Scout:** What's a USD again?
**Patrice:** Ah. I forget sometimes, not everyone's HOH for acronyms like me.
HOH. That's 'head over heels'.
Well, anyway, 'USD' means **Unidentified Supernatural Delivery**.
**Patrice:** Good luck out there, Parcel Patrol!
Four packages are hidden on the island. After the player brings them to Patrice, he remembers his fallen squad-mates.

**Patrice:** The names on these packages...
These were my squad-mates.
On the day I was laid up with a broken wrist, they were out on patrol...
And they were ambushed. It went bad, fast.
These three... they didn't make it.
If I'd been there... well, maybe I could have **earned** that medal.
But I wasn't there. So I don't know what they saw, or felt, in the end.
I can only imagine the muzzle flashes, eardrums crying, pain, and fire...
Nope. No good thinking about it. Got to keep that buried deep...
Got to keep carrying the packages along my picture-perfect route.
I know what's in these packages. Terrible stuff. I don't want to say it, but I know.
I have to carry them anyway. That's what I deserve.
The player is rewarded with a spirit wood and a common lamp and unlocks Patrice's sixth memory.

### Strange delivery

Patrice has received a strange delivery notice.

**Patrice:** It's been a while since the last USD dropoff.
But my wrist is aching again... and I got a strange notice yesterday.
IRREGULAR CONTAINER LOCATED AT DROPOFF SITE.
CONTAINER'S CONTENTS ARE U.P.F.
RETRIEVAL REQUESTED.
Never got an *irregular container* notice before.
And... *UPF*? I've never heard that abbreviation, either.
After all these years, this job still surprises me sometimes.
Let's find that container.
The package Patrice is looking for is a bear skull. Once the player finds it and brings it to Patrice, Patrice tells them how he died.

**Patrice:** *Irregular container.* Yeah, this fits the bill.
CONTAINER'S CONTENTS ARE **U, P.F.**
*Patrice Furbac.* Yeah... that's me, all right.
The soccer ball? The medal? Those were nasty surprises.
But honestly, I've been waiting for this delivery.
You know, I had a great life. Anja, Leroy, Ophie and I... we made it work, somehow.
Four bears on a small postal salary, with laughs and love to go around. Good stuff.
But some days my wrist would hurt and I'd remember... *when they needed me, I was somewhere else.*
Postal Buddy... do you want to know how my service ended?
**Scout:** Yes, I would.
**Patrice:** Honestly? So would I.
It happened so quickly. The hospital. The doctors, shouting orders.
I couldn't understand what they were saying. But I could read my Anja's face.
She looked terrified.
I was fifty-eight years old. They probably said I died young.
But I'd been waiting for that bill to come due for *decades*.
*Hey there, Patrice Furbac, you lucky bear. In the end, you got what you deserved*.
**Scout:** No, I don't want to know that.
**Patrice:** OK. Understood.
**Patrice:** Well. Enough reminscing. The service never sleeps.
And neither can I.
The player is rewarded with a spirit wood and a random potted flower plant and unlocks Patrice's seventh memory.

### Three red letters

Patrice asks the player to find three red letters for him.

**Patrice:** Hi there, **Mail Buddy**. Wait, did I use that one already?
**P.O. Boxer**? **Deliverator**?
Gotta be honest, I'm running out of original postal-themed nicknames here.
Anyway, we've gotten notice from the **front office**.
There's been a major, coordinated effort to send a clear message from the beyond!
...and today, that correspondence can finally be **delivered**.
No *terrifying boxed metaphors* this time. One lucky ghost is getting three actual written messages!
If you find those **three letters**, bring them my way.
Don't worry if it takes several days to find them all. Trans-planar postal work is an imprecise art.
The letters can be received from Valentina Oso-Fisher, Lee Berry Dennings, and Ursula Pine for completing their story quests. Once the player delivers them to Patrice, Patrice opens them.

**Patrice:** I'm guessing you recognize the recipient field on these letters?
**Scout:** Are they for me?
**Patrice:** Sorry. Not this time.
Once again, these letters are addressed to me.
**Scout:** They're for you, aren't they?
**Patrice:** Nailed it in one.
**Patrice:** Three letters, from the three lost members of my squad.
This is it. At last, they're going to tell me about that terrible day. Every detail.
This is going to be their revenge. Well... I'm ready.
Message one: *IT*
Huh. So brief. Next one...
*IS*
*NOT*
*YOUR*
*FAULT.*
...
...
The player is rewarded with a spirit wood and unlocks Patrice's eighth memory.

A few days later Patrice tells the player he have not received any demonic packages lately.

**Patrice:** You know what's funny?
The packages I've received lately... they've practically been *normal*.
No flames. No screams. No gruesome artifacts.
Sure, there's still the occasional whispering cassette tape for that loner, Tram...
But most of my packages are as boring as a flat-rate envelope.
Maybe after all those USDs, I... deserved a break.
### A letter campaign

Patrice asks the player to collect more letters.

**Patrice:** Hey **Post-meister General!** Good thing you're here.
There was a bit of a mail-storm overnight.
Letters everywhere!
And you know the rules of ghost post...
Once those letters touch the ground, I can't pick them up without the aid of living hands.
**Scout:** Wait, really?!?
**Patrice:** Well yeah! Did I forget to explain that protocol?
Why do you think I had you collecting letters and packages on my behalf, all this time?!
Did you just think I was terrible at my job?
**Scout:** Yes, I did. / You seemed very hard-working despite mostly standing still. / Honestly, I never thought about it much.
**Patrice:** If it wasn't for these ghost-paws, I'd be right there beside you picking up letters.
And my **Spirit Wood** collection would still be intact!
Fifteen sealed letters can be found scattered across the island. Once the player collects them and brings them back to Patrice, he gives them a spirit wood,

**Patrice:** You gathered all of them?!
You've officially gone above and beyond the call of Postal Duty.
I hereby award you the highest honor in the Service... one (1) Forever Stamp.
Now, let's see about these letters.
Ah, no surprise. They're addressed to me.
I've been getting a lot of mail recently from friends and family.
Just little memories. Good times.
Turned out I made quite a few good memories in this town.
Maybe I deserved to be here, after all.
The next day Patrice wants to give something to the player before moving on.

**Patrice:** Hey, **Spirit Scout**. For once, I have some mail I'd like **you** to send!
It's a standard IINYF letter.
**Scout:** IINFY. Got it.
**Scout:** I have no idea what IINYF is.
**Patrice:** Probably because it's an OA (original acronym) of mine!
IINYF. 'It Is Not Your Fault.'
**Patrice:** It doesn't have an address on it. You don't need to mail it today.
When the time is right for delivery, I think you'll know.
Thank you, **Postal Helper**.
Thank you so much for your service.
The player is rewarded with a spirit wood and a letter of forgiveness and unlocks Patrice's last memory. Patrice ascends and turns golden, his area will stay permanently lit and colored. Patrice will no longer give the player story quests; however, he will still occasionally give the player daily quests.

## Version history

* 3.1.0: Bears will now only have one piece of gossip per day.
* 2.0.0: Added the option to hug Patrice Furbac after chatting with him twice.