The House of Moonstar

[Roland Moonstar]

Nexus Prime has many fancy and illustrious buildings in it, ranging from City Hall to the Governor's mansion, to Pirvan's townhouse and the Halls of Justice.

House Moonstar, alas, is not in the above category. It is a quaint and cozy little cottage, set far off the beaten track and away from any structure of note. In fact, Roland himself occassionally gets lost looking for it, for it is not important enough to be on any map, and none of the locals ever seems to remember it.

Like Roland himself, the cottage leaves little to the imagination. It is well-cared for, neat and clean, but there is not much to it. Three rooms, and of those, one is for sleeping and one is a water closet. A few heirlooms dot the mantel, and the furniture itself is wooden and solid, the very sort you'd expect a salt-of-the-earth fellow to own. A painting of old Jedidiah Moonstar hangs above the mantel.

The door is open, with a large 'welcome' mat, and there is food and drink for any who are hungry, and a flute-recorder on the table for any who want to be entertained.

[Roland Moonstar]

Roland stood outside the gates of his original cottage, a wave of nostalgia growing over him. Here it was that he was born and raised, and here it was that his adventuring life had begun.

He chuckled as he thought about the last question the guard had asked him: Do you mind manual labor? for in truth his early life had been nothing BUT back-breaking hard work. From dawn to dusk each day he'd had little time for anything save tilling the soil here and doing chores. There'd been no time for swordplay, no time for magic, no time in fact to learn anything at all.

The whole political mess he'd gotten into a year and a half back had actually done him a world of good. At the time he'd been unhappy with his fate and thought he'd never see Nexus Prime again, but his adventures had seasoned him. He'd finally found time for some classroom training and he'd also manage to get in some scrapes and brawls. Magic was no longer a mystery to him and he was better versed in the Law now probably more so than even old Ogabe himself. Yes, he'd picked up much skill and even more experience, but still a part of him was sad he'd ever left in the first place. This one city where it had all began for him was now the one place in all of Aelyria that he knew the least.

And that was a sad, sad thing, come to think of it. Roland let out a sigh of regret and stood around, feeling for the first time a bit lost and confused, and totally unsure of himself. Where to go? What to do? He had absolutely no idea.

[Roland Moonstar]

Era XIII Post Fractum in the Age of the Darkening
Era I of the Celestine Mandate
Era II of the Pax Imperialis
Era I of Reign of Milo the Regent
Immanis 29

It seemed like a ritual. Every several years, when he was in Arium, Roland would come by the forgotten little cottage in this quiet little part of Nexus Prime. He had no idea if it was abandoned or if anyone lived in it now. He thought at one point that Eninia would have wanted it, but she had never really expressed all that much interest in it. Neither had Ruth, Jade, or Elroth. Jenna, of course, had preferred Paxia, and so the first thing Roland had done after selling this place was move to Paxia.

Now he stood in the middle of the lane, looking at the cottage from afar. He did not feel that it was his right to bother or disturb whomever was living in his old place now, nor did he really want to see how someone else had decorated it. He preferred to simply think about his memories of earlier days. In some ways, he had been most happy here, the simple lad working as gate guard, and the day he was promoted to Rogator was one he would always remember. Titles came and went, as did provinces and emperors. But his first 'real' job as someone able to wear black in Arium-- now that was an accomplishment he would take with him to his grave.

"Ah, those were the days. Good Governor Barragot, and all the fine and honest men who served with him. I believe Ogabe is still around, I think, but what of the rest? What of fine common folk, like Rinaldo the tailor?" He glanced down at his fancy tailored charcoal-grey suit. "How this city has grown and changed in the last decade!'

[Roland Moonstar]

29th of Junctior.

Though he had come and gone over the years, that last time, six months ago, he had realized something he had never considered before: a man without roots is like a tree without a forest. And so this time, instead of just contemplating his old home, he had decided to do something about it. Yes, it had taken roughly six months, but now House Moonstar was his again.

As he had promised Eninia's colleague, things were going to be just as they were.
For House Moonstar, and for Roland, and for Arium itself.

"It's good to be home!" Clapping his hands together, Roland went inside. . .

* * *

After a bit of rearranging and decorating, the painting of old Jedidiah was on the wall, the flute recorder was on the mantel, and the basket of cheese and fruits was on the table for anyone who desired a meal.

[Medaerus]

26th of Junctior, Autumn, Era XIII, pf

Having been in the city for a Brightening, Medaerus decided to seek out his old colleague, Roland. He had heard on the streets that he had bought back his old cottage. Medaerus had even managed to wrest directions out of the passerby.

As he approached the cottage, his heart swelled. What a meaningful reunion this would be...if Roland were home.

Stepping up to the door, Medaerus knocked lightly with his slim fist, the sound resonating softly with a clunk off of the fine wood.

[Roland Moonstar]

A short, hairy little fellow opened the door. For all intents and purposes, he appeared to be a russet-colored sea otter, wearing a white powdered wig and a bronze breastplate over Navy Blue robes. "Serale, Serale, I am Roland Moonstar, just bring that large drum of sardines I ordered over here and charge it to my account with the Bank of Arium."

He looked up at Medaerus. "Waughh! Who are you? Where are my sardines?"

[Medaerus]

Medaerus took a cautious step backwards. Yes, every once in a cycle you ran into psycos here in Arium, but he had not expected meeting one at Roland's home. He attempted to remain as if he were talking to the person he had expected to greet him: Roland.

"Serale to you, good sir. I am afraid I carry no sardines. Is Roland home, by chance?"

[Roland Moonstar]

The sea otter shook his head. "He had to go to the store, he said he would be back in a minute-" Then he stamped his paws together. "Wait wait! You're trying to trick me! I am Roland Moonstar! I am! Look!"'

And he pulled out an official-looking visa. It had a picture of Looie, and it did say "Roland Moonstar" on it. It was officially signed and dated by Sitandria Rusalaem, the Senior Aedile of the Sodality of Carmelyn Province. It also said that he was a female Dracon born in PF XXXVII, and 'S A M P L E' in big red letters. But you could not argue with the fact that it did say "Roland Moonstar" on it, in small print at the bottom, above the line 'Acting Governor of Carmelyn Province' at the very bottom.

"Hey, anyway, enough chit-chat! Where are my sardines?! We need to find them before Roland gets back. I mean, I Roland need to find them. Roland Moonstar is one hungry Lutran."

[Medaerus]

The elf just barely refrained from raising his eyebrows.

"Well then, hello Roland. Do you know just when Rol - I mean...your friend will be home? If not, I can always try again later."

Medaerus fixed the creature with a steady stare, although not unkindly. The ridiculous sample visa was still clutched in the creature's hand. Poor thing. Medaerus searched the depths of the otter's eyes, compelling him to speak the truth.

[Roland Moonstar]

Seeing Medaerus look him in the eyes like that, the furry little otter burst into tears. He grabbed Medaerus around one leg and start bawling againt his knee. "Waaaugh! Waaugh!"

Of course, at that exact moment Roland came trotting up the walkway. Hearing the cries of Looie in distress, he dashed up the rest of the way. "Hey! What's all this, then? What's going on?"

Looie continued crying at the top of his lungs. "Waaaugh! WAAUGH!" He pointed a paw at Medaerus. "He's a stinky poopyhead, he ate all my sardines, and he hates me." He kicked Medaerus on the shin and then ran under the bed, letting out a series of otter-like barks.

Roland put his hands on his hips. "Is this true young man?"

[Medaerus]

At this childish act Medaerus did not flinch, but stood very still, watching and waiting. When he saw Roland dashing up the manicured walkway, he smiled. The man had changes since the last time they had met. He seemed a little older; after all, it had been over a year since they had come in contact. And here he finally was.

As Medaerus thought this and tried to ignore the wetness of his breeches from the tears streaming down the sea otter's face, he realized that Roland might not even recognize him either. He had cut his hair far shorter than before... So saying, he waited for him to finish.

"I'm sorry, Roland, but I have never touched a sardine. I came to visit you - I wondered if you still lived here - and this fine otter answered the door, claiming that he was you and inquiring about an order of sardines. There must have been some misconception, and I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience." The elf then realized that Roland hadn't recognized him. "Oh, yes - I'm Medaerus - I hope you remember me?"

[Max Moonstar]

OOC: The second day of the Month of Kalenydryas, in the Season of Winter, Era 2 of the Celestial Mandate, Era 14 Post-Fractum.

IC: Max remembered that his cousin Roland was having a birthday on the fourth of Kalendryas. Max was not sure if he would be around then or not, so he decided to drop by Roland’s house and say hello. He walked up to the door and knocked on it. “Hello, it is your cousin Max. Is anyone home?” He wondered if Roland’s pet talking otter was home. Max hoped not. Max loved fish, and otters ate fish.

[Josephine Wis]

Max & Roland

Josephine stood not far from the house, deep in thought. She had heard that Roland was back, her big brother. Its been a long time since she sow him last and it was a long time since she was in her family house too.

All of last month she thought about it, but didn't come. Eninia had told her that Roland was back, a thing that surprised her. She had never thought he will come back to Arium. After all, he made a name for himself in other Provinces. Bah! A name indeed... He has been disgracing the Moonstar name for patterns now... Yes, rumors about him going with the side of the Imperials, being a Justicar and a Governor!

Dark eyes narrowed as she looked at the house. And here he was again, back in Arium, back to the family house.

What was he planing next?...

The woman signed and shock her head. He was a Moonstar and she cared for him, but, in father's name, if he will continue to work for the Imperials, she would want to take his head of!

She sow Max approach the house and knock on the door. A smile appeared on her face. She had remembered Max, even thou she hadn't seen him for some time now. Moving from the shadows, where she stood till now, she walked toward Max, a smile on her face "Max... It's been some time now, haven't it? It's me, Josephine, remember me?"

[Tylag Moonstar]

2nd days of Kalendras
Tylag had been walking through the Nexus Prime looking for the old family homestead. The human had finally found the old Moonstar place. Tylag stood and watche the house.

As the male human stood and watched the house a flood of memories came back to tylag. Memories of happy times and gathering of family. Although the amle human had only been gone from the farm for a short time he did miss the closeness of the family as they worked on their farm.

Tylag decided to get a closer look and approached the house looking to see if anyone was at home.

[Leon Kraus]

The second day of the Month of Kalenydryas, in the Season of Winter, Era 2 of the Celestial Mandate, Era 14 Post-Fractum.

Leon arrived at the house after he left his inn. He looked at the house and he saw Tylag,Josephine,and Max. He then yelled "Hi." He hoped they looked because he waved.