Dalia Walker

Dalia was raised by humans. She never knew her own kind, having likely stumbled through a rift by herself and become separated from them. The Daniels family owned a ranch outside of <area> and transported cattle across the wilderness each year; they took Dalia in, and raised her as one of their own. The rest of the settlement accepted Dalia, but only in that the Daniels's did first.

A rifts-infused lightning storm laid waste to the Daniels' ranch during the night, when Dalia was still relatively young (late teens/early 20s for a Fennod). The storm struck hard and fast, setting the buildings alight and trapped everyone inside. Dalia, despite her love of the family and desire to help them, accidentally 'ghostwalked' -- a natural ability of the Fennodi, but one that took them out of phase with the rest of reality. She found she could not touch, nor speak to her beloved adoptive siblings and parents... and was forced to watch them die.

Her family had been useful to the town and highly regarded. Dalia on her own was considered an ill omen, a strange and cowardly alien, and run out of town. She was saved by a Preacher, traveling through and hearing the fate of the farm and the alien girl that had been adopted by the slain ranchers. The Preacher taught her of Justice, of Vengeance, and the difference between the two. He taught Dalia that while there was darkness aplenty in the world, there was also light and many were those who traveled the lands seeking to bring that light to the places and people who needed it most. For a year and six months the Fennod traveled with the Preacher as he sought justice for her others, and brought comfort, judgement, and guidance to those in need. Risking his life time and time again for people he'd never known.
She was with him still when they returned to her former home to see the town under siege and a third of it already laid to waste by a group of bandits and their magic. Dalia was there as he fought side by side with the townsfolk who turned their back on her when she needed them most, what's more, she fought with him. Fought as she she had never fought in her life for it wasn't just play, a lesson in self defense or an attempt to protect herself. No, their lives and the Preacher's depended on it and she still respected and held sacred the lives of others. Even and perhaps especially those who treated her cruelly. Dalia found within herself that day a strength and courage she had not believed herself capable of.

To those watching the teenager appeared to fight as if possessed. None there had ever seen a Fennodi do anything but walk away from a fight or if they absolutely couldn't, do anything but attempt to disarm their foe and then walk away. It was clear that Dalia didn't even consider such a thing, from the moment they entered the town and the Preacher charged into battle, she was there, amidst it all. She killed three of the murdering bandits on her own in defense of the townsfolk and the Preacher, she saved the lives of two more when an angry mob would have torn them apart after they surrendered and while she took no joy at all in the battle, and grieved horribly at being the instrument of another's demise, Dalia discovered that it was something she could do, and sometimes, sometimes a single death can prevent the loss of many lives. She stayed with the Preacher in the weeks that followed, tending to the wounded and watching quietly as the surviving bandits were given trials and sentenced. She walked among the townsfolk who now regarded her with respect and welcome and listened to the thoughts and opinions on what should be done to the bandits, and what shouldn't. Long discussions and debates and arguments. Funerals and memorials for the dead, mourning and remembrance. Hopelessness and despair from those who'd lost the most, suffered the worst.

Dalia was there through it all, always happy to listen, to encourage, to lend a hand with the cooking, the rebuilding, tending to the wounded, and never once did she say a word about how she'd lost more than all of them and they'd turned their backs on her completely. Not once did she show any sign of even thinking it, but the town remembered, they knew, and they were left in awe of Dalia's gentle spirit and kind nature. The Preacher watched it all with a secret delight. This strange, alien girl with the frightening appearance who'd learned so much from these people about what it is to be human, both the good and the bad, now reminded the townspeople of the very same things.
Maybe it was beneath him to engage in such a thing but here he saw a chance to effect a real change, to make a difference for the better in not just these people's lives, but the lives of the aliens and D-Bees who lived nearby and often traveled through. No one in that town, ever realized he was the one that started the whispers, quietly, carefully nudged them along to the realization and belief.. This was no strange and alien girl, this was their savior. Their Saint. Who else but a Saint could be so sweet and gentle, so full of humility and grace, seemingly incapable of holding a grudge or saying an unkind word about anyone, yet able to fight with relentless determination in defense of their lives when it went against everything in her nature, against everything they'd ever seen from her race before?

So it was they came to not only respect Dalia and listen to her advice but seek her out specifically even when she began traveling West, looking to meet others of her kind. Word spread, facts became stories and stories became legend and other towns began to call on her for judgement over crimes, or for help to settle their disputes in tracking down those fleeing from justice, their need drawing her back each time she left until finally, she began to move about the towns and settlements as needed. Everywhere she goes Dalia spreads a message of tolerance, friendship and hope for all. She never has a bad word for or about anyone, and is likely one of the kindest gentlest souls you'll ever meet.. Even when she's driven by the strength of her convictions and the belief that sometimes one or a few must be sacrificed for the good of all, and thus sentences someone to death or imprisonment for life, or is forced to kill in defense or protection of another, Dalia is gentle about it, regretful over the need for such things and full or sorrow for her part in them, yet still aware that sometimes it's necessary.

She never imagined taking on the role of a Preacher as a child, indeed never imagined doing anything but ranching with her family and perhaps one day wandering the West like her people usually do. That path will never be hers, nor is she ever likely to find welcome among other Fennodi who abhor violence. She does as well but she also understands that it has a time and place in the world like everything else. She helps more than she hurts, heals more than she kills, and always, always treats others with the fairness and respect she believes all life deserves.