She was known by many names across the ruins of Malton - Zoey, Jelly Otter, Cubone, to list only a few - but to all who knew her, she was simply the best, brightest spirit they had encountered in their travels through our fair city. All who served with, under or against her knew Zoey to be their favourite ally or enemy. Countless people both living and dead regard her as one of the city’s finest citizens, and her mark is indelibly stamped on the RRF for all time.
Beginning her career in Malton and the Front’s DoHS in the waning months of 2007, she quickly grew to prominence as one of the two upstart babahz who founded the now-unstoppable Team America, a behemoth of a strike unit. She was still young enough then to need feeding, provided by the few veterans who were included in the team’s starting roster. The Siege of St. Ethelberts pitted her fledgling team against a group of harmanz known as the Upper Left Corner, who harboured her alter-ego, Jelly Otter; though the Otter was not present during the fighting for obvious reasons. Much fun was to be had on both sides regardless of the final outcome of the battle. This was to be one of Zoey’s trademark qualities, the ability to add fun and levity well above normal levels, and regardless of which side of the battle one was on. As time went by, Ridleys came to appreciate seeing Zoey in her other guises as much as they loved her at their side. The spirit of fun was there no matter if she was the predator or the prey.
As a Ridley, Zoey became nearly indispensable, as she understood tactics, strategy and management in equal measure to her sense of playfulness. A deep discussion of barricade methodology could be suddenly turned into a festival of taders, her main obsession and rumoured to be the true source of her powers. Under her leadership, Team America grew from a small strike team to a deadly juggernaut capable of eating malls by itself. The veterans of TA who served under her take a piece of Zoey wherever they may go, and speak of her with great reverence and love. The Papa and the War Council relied on her irrepressible spirit to keep critical events and trying times from becoming a herd of llamas or a humourless war-slog. Her crayon-based art brought innumerable smiles to all who saw it; indeed, many Ridleys still sport their custom tags courtesy of Mz Zarg. In every corner and aspect of our operations, Zoey added her own special touch, brought her own ray of sunshine to illuminate us.
We at the Front did not have a monopoly on our beloved Zoey. There were other hordes and even harmanz who also benefited from her presence, though she would appear to them in other forms. Rather than let jealousy cloud our vision of her, we rejoiced that she could spread her light to the furthest reaches of the city. It is an impossibility that those who encountered her could be worse off than before, and we would be doing her memory a disservice to claim her solely as ours. We can only be grateful that we were her special focus, that she expended most of her energy under our colours. She desired only that all who were inside Malton could have the best experience possible, and to a great extent she succeeded in her aims.
Alas, but RL can lay claim to even the strongest of us. Our dear Zoey was no exception. The Beast called out from its lair beyond the confines of Malton, and like a brave warrior should, she went out from us to do battle. Her journey is a long one, and she may not return to us even when she slays the Beast. She leaves behind a saddened city, mourning the loss of its favourite sister. We should temper our sadness with love, however; she left us not in abandonment, but to serve a higher purpose than the ones she served so well in our city. We salute her even as we shed our tears; we support her endeavors with our own spirits and goodwill as she did for us; we hope for her safe and successful travels even as they take her far from our sight. She takes with her our love and gratitude, and leaves us her own. Her memory shall live on in us. Taderhah, Zoey!
