[OOC] Return to the Rusty Rat

[Lugar]

This might seem like a strange question but... Druids can call upon a new animal at any time.  It just takes 24 hours and tada you get whatever new companion you want.  This is usually done to get a stronger companion but I could see reasons why a Druid might want to downgrade especially when trying to squeeze huge companion into small tunnels.  My question has to do with keeping your beloved companion's personality.  I've been role playing Toot and Boo as being very close.  But if Toot summoned a Brown Bear then he would lose all that history with Boo and have to start over from scratch.  But why does it have to be like that?  It doesn't affect game balance for Boo to go through some Druid ceremony where he gets bigger.  In game it could be mind transfer or polymorphs.  Sure his stats would change but they would anyways if Toot summoned a brown bear to replace him.  Toot can't be the first Druid who has gone through wanting to keep his companion but wants to also make him more capable of defending himself against greater threats.

Reincarnation for animals?

One of my favorite characters I played was an Elf Ranger/Barbarian/Beastmaster, so having different animal companions I totally get.  I stopped at 3, because it was a lot to track.  Why not let Boo go, to be happy, adventuring is dangerous after all and perhaps there's a dryad or nymph that would love to care for such a strong animal?  In game it may make sense for Toot to take a journey to the wild, especially if we may be crafting items which takes time.  As far as personality goes, the common thread for all of Toot's companions is Toot himself.  Maybe Toot attracts animals with a certain personality?  I see no reason why he can't attract a python with the same disposition as Boo.