Hello,
It's hard to know where to begin with saying goodbye. But, I think, really, I've been saying goodbye for years now.

Five hundred years is a long time to wander the world. Much of that time has been spent in Forests and Jungles. I am a Druid deep in my heart and the trees have always called me.

When I woke up in this world, everything was glitter and gold. Everything gleamed with wonder. The possibilities seemed endless and the world, eternal. I would spend days on end exploring and hunting and battling enemies. But, as I grew, both in age and power, the world changed. The mystery began to fade, and jaded became my spirit. I became entangled in my vanity. I wanted greatness, I wanted power. I wanted to be feared and respected and admired and loved.

Well, five hundred years have brought many changes. The world that I know now is different from the world that I was born into. My powers have changed, the organizations I've been in have changed, even the Gods that have sent me back from death have changed in my years of being.

I believe now that change IS a condition of being.

Not all changes are welcomed, not all changes are loved. But, changes will happen regardless of our willingness to accept them.

In these five hundred years, I have also changed.

I have always been prone to long periods of slumber, but with time, these rests have become deeper and harder to awaken from. When I do wake, I look for old friends. Sometimes, I put the effort into re-clothing myself and resupplying, but, of late, I wake for only moments, I sit, and I wait.

And, what am I waiting for?

I've wondered this many of the last times I've awakened from a sleep. Sometimes, I aimlessly wander around, trying to find something that I do not even know I'm looking for. Sometimes, I just sit and then pray myself back into safe-keeping.

But, the answer has finally come to me

I'm ready for a change. I'm ready to say goodbye.

I'm ready for the next chapterand, this one needs a new setting.

Being a Druid comes with a community. My friends are like the trees that I call home. And, indeed, my friends have been as much a home to me as anything.
I've made many friends along the way. I've shared laughs, stories, adventures, duels... the list goes on. And, many of you remain dear to me. Some of you I've learned more about than I've expected, and some of you remain a mystery, though our exchanges are pleasant.

When I wake now, you are the reasons why. None of the power, the riches, or glory matter to me anymore and haven't for a long time. I've come back time and time again for the people and for the trees. I've come back because I've grown up and grown old with many of you.

I come back because my home has been my grove and my friends.

This goodbye does not come easily. I have invested years into this world, but even if I never find what I'm looking for, I have gotten better at recognizing where I'm not finding it.

The time is here for me to start a new chapter and this one will take place in my soul. Maybe we'll even meet someday in my dreams.

I won't say that I'll never be back, but I wanted to write this in case that ends up being true.

Either way, I hope you keep well...

Nature's blessings to you all,
Jhulavdra, the Black Forest Shepherd

Penned by my hand on the 7th of Aeguary, in the year 903 AF.