I tried to stay away . . .

I tried to stay away, and nearly succeeded. I managed to leave FFXI inactive for sixteen months, not having the heart to log on to a different server than the one I started on. I rationalized it away, telling myself half my LS was gone, I did not want to be on another server, the new content was uninteresting, and I kept away because of that.

Then, a gentle pull began on me. I wanted to finish off my missions. I never finished San D'Oria's (my second home) missions. I never killed Eald'narche and finished off the Zilart story. I never fought Bahamut's second form because of Eald'narche. I never figured out what Cait Sith was up to. I never finished my climb up Nyzul Isle. Most importantly, I never did achieve the Captain's rank I always had my eyes set on.

So I reinstalled. I had to fight with S-E for a few days to let me log into my account again, but as the login music played over the character select screen, I knew I had had the right thing. There is tons to learn now, I have already taken WHM to 83 and BLU to 76, and brand new areas to explore and puzzle over, I still do not grasp all of what Abyssea has to offer yet, but I joined an LS of old Garudians and was warmed to see many familiar faces. Lakshmi is not so bad, afterall.