Hello everyone reading this. I wanted to thank you for taking the time to do so, I usually don't post on the forum but I feel like it needed to be done. Effective immediately, I am putting an old friend on the shelf for an indeterminate amount of time. Zalata's story is done for now, but not for good.
With her emancipation from Andunor, the dwindling family on the isle and simply too much going on up on the surface of the island, I feel a break from her is warranted for me. Safe, quiet, a place where she can practice her medicine just doesn't exist right now with everything going on and really, I don't foresee that changing any time soon. It's more or less fatigue on my end.
Now I don't want this post to be all doom and gloom, in the five in-game years she has been present on the Island, I have done so many great and wondrous things with her. Made friends and allies I never thought I would with her, found family I never thought she would have. She has loved, experienced, healed and changed the course of so many characters' paths. If she has done good for one of your characters in the past, thank you for letting her be a part of your story and a force of good upon Arelith. That is all I wanted with her when I transplanted her from my previous game I played her on... To simply be a force of good wherever she went.
To those she sees as family, thank you for accepting her into your characters lives. To those who see her as an enemy, hopefully in the future amends can be made. To those that did not know her, perhaps one day she will do some good for you too. I have been playing her for about four "real people" years in total and perhaps it's time to let her concept rest for a while.
She is, and will always be my first character on Arelith. Thank you so much for the influence one of your characters may have had on her.
Juniper Oakley: You were the first, the influence, the one who taught her how to stand up for herself.
Jarl Grymmiirn: The Jarl was a mentor to her in her early days, her time with him honed her into an edge of tolerance.
Brumdir Kagain: Her first love, her Dwarven man. She still has the ring ya dingus.
Minto and Griffy Cloudpaw: The chipper Hins that she still thinks of to this day and misses dearly.
The Goldenbeards: Her lads, her clan, her Dwarven brothers and sisters. She will see them soon in the Great Rift.
Naly Vintergard: From one of her staunchest critics to a sister. She knew she made it in Brog when Naly accepted her.
Mocla Goldenaxe: The sister that was the inverse, boisterous, wonderful and wide. Loved our interactions.
The Fuzzypaws: The wholesome Hinnish family that she had proven herself to as well. Need more time in the future if they're still around.
Rikus and Ashari Vahl: The Long Distance friends in Guldorand, I do wish we had more time spent together as well. Perhaps in the future when she returns.
Thomas Castemont: The man she knew little about the first few years on the Isle but eventually their circles aligned.
Iliquen Y'nalo and his family: From a grizzled war veteran to an adopted Uncle. Honestly didn't see that coming.
Aberran Oakley: The Mothman from below that had a long journey ahead of him. Glad you're part of the family now!
The people of the House of Vigilance: Your Archspeaker, confidant, big sister, harsh critic and emotional wreck at times. Was fun while it lasted. Just sorry it didn't go anywhere.
There are many, many others that had an influence on her over her time. Urshak, Aera, Fenrik, Desmond, Derristan, Daak, Drogon, Ziggy, Viri, Adelaide, Ellianara, Osric, Alaina and so many others. The list is too long to put into one post.
To close out, this isn't goodbye, just a 'see you soon'. As she would say to everyone, "Go carefully, with measured steps.". The meaning behind it, "Watch where you are going out in the swamps, mind how they feel. I would like to see you alive again, so we may experience life together further."
I wish I had played more with Zalata! She did help Sil when she got hit by the weird plague from the slimes in Cordor! She invited Sil to come over and have a chat. But sadly with Sil being so active in Guldorand she is not often for long in Cordor. But she was a great character!
Guess Zalata can now come visit the twins in Silverymoon while her and Rav have that tea they always talked about getting around to. Here is to seeing you on the other side someday should Rav decide to return to the isle and Zalata is there.