"I've never heard of that class!"

But that sounds like the kind of advice that's supposed to sound cryptic when he first hears it so that later on he can learn vital information and suddenly realize that it made perfect sense, so he sure hopes he remembers it later.

"So, did you find out about me somehow before today? Or was it a fun surprise?"

"It's a funny story, actually. I pursued rumors of the Talisman of Dorukan to the Northern Continent, and when I arrived in this general area, some assorted goons, stooges and roughjacks tried to beat me senseless, saying that I 'would pay for bringing that paladin down on [their] heads'. Once thrashed, they remained adamant that they had been harassed by someone who looked exactly like me, sans goatee. I investigated further, and ended up here."

"Weird, I never harassed goons or stooges or roughjacks! Maybe we really do have an identical tripl…"

Dots connect themselves.

"Wait, 'that paladin' was probably Sir Francois! I was his herald for a while and we definitely ran into a lot of goons and stooges and roughjacks. And monsters, like troglodytes and trolls. I guess it makes sense that they'd be mad at me…"

He goes quiet.

"I don't think I ever got much information on the paladin himself. While investigating, I mean. Were you working with him long?"

"Ever since I graduated from Bard Camp. There was a program to match graduates up with parties and stuff. It was super exciting and dangerous! And then last month we were in Greysky City and the nice Commoner/Rogue at the inn stole all of his valuables, so we played hide and seek and while I was counting he rode away."

That... sounds high-context. And like something that should be funny, but mysteriously isn't. He polls his mind for amusement, and instead he gets a mental image of Elan, looking more confused than wronged, the way he looked after the Cliffport swap. Upset, but not even really aware of the tragedy of it.

"I'm sorry," he says, the words an unfamiliar shape in his mouth.

"It's okay! Because if I still was working with Sir Francois I wouldn't have gotten to meet Roy or Haley or Durkon or Vaarsuvius or Belkar! And now I got to meet you, and that's even better."