The first shipment arrives

[Roland Moonstar]

OOC: continued from the lumber thread 'Roland's dullest day Ever.'
Here: Ariumite Highlands thread

IC:
Sometimes, Roland could stand on a soapbox and give a 3,000 word speech. This time was much different. This time, he only said two words.

Accompanied by Atlus, Arsenios, Looie, and whomever else had followed them to help guard the lumber train, Roland arrived at the gates of Paxia and asked Jasper to send someone to fetch Gena'ra, the Lionoid Aedile. "It's here." He pointed at the wood that Arsenios had piled up neatly behind Dannyboy.

From this point on, every day Roland would have Arsenios with the loggers, Medaerus with the carpenters, and the others in House Moonstar doing their part to make sure Paxia had the lumber it so desperately needed. Houses could now be rebuilt. Stores could be opened. Walls could be repaired.

After what seemed like nearly a cycle of backbreaking work and organization, recruiting and supervising, chopping and cutting, Roland had done it. He could give fine speeches as much as the next guy, even if the next guy was Duncan Sythe. But now, instead of just trying, instead of just doing, he was completing what he had started out to do.

Paxia was now one step closer to reconstruction.

And Roland, exhausted, collapsed against the nearest wall and took a nap, leaving it to Gena'ra to assign someone to handle the final steps, for these particular matters were Aedile business, and Roland would not step on Gena'ra's toes. Besides, it would be a chance for Adelyn to see a part of her job that wasn't just rent receipts and real estate: a good Aedile had a vision for a city, doing everything from building bridges to planning statues and fountains. So others would have to do their part. But Roland could now say: he had done his.

[Roland Moonstar]

OOC: first cycle of Ponutis, and on-going.

IC:
Roland made a few brief trips outside of Paxia to get things moving as far as trade was concerned. He took Adelyn with him a few times, Medearus, Arsensios: anyone who was up for it.

As time went by, trade deals began being made. He was most proud of his deal with Tearsfall, as that would definitely get the ball rolling. But even so, Roland kept things moving. He made sure to set aside some time to survey the docks, check on the warehouses, and make sure that other shipments had places to unload, that ships had docks and caravans had stables.

It was neither exciting nor glamorous work, but even so, he took to it with a gusto and determination. He was ever-mindful that being forgetful of little things could cripple the plans for Paxia's future, and while he could not control all the variables, he did what he could to make sure that potential problems were minimized.

[Adelyn Weiss]

OOC: Same time as previous post (first cycle of Ponutis)

As shipments began to unload, Adelyn made sure to take note of exactly what was unloading and from where and at what price to Paxia. She stood next to Roland, asking him questions regarding all the trades he had made with other cities, and appended them to her list, making as many revisions as needed.

Still writing on her sheaf of papers Adelyn asked Roland nonchalantly, "This lumber here," she pointed, "How many houses can it rebuild?" Though Adelyn had traveled with Roland quite a ways away, such as to Tearsfall she knew nothing of the numbers and regretted not having listened better. Suddenly she felt she understood what she was doing and would know how to handle the information given to her.

"When are the next shipments arriving?" she continued to ask him questions, anything to get all the information she needed from him. Room was not an issue in the warehouses as they were nearly empty, sadly.

Adelyn looked up at Roland, glad for his eagerness and his stamina, even though he was not as young as she. She smiled warmly, glad they were in this together, and yes, one step closer to getting the city back up on its feet.

[Roland Moonstar]

For some bizarre reason, Roland looked younger and thinner than he had the last time they had met. Well, perhaps the being a bit thinner made him look a bit younger. He was at that age where a few extra pounds tended to make one look slightly older.

Roland gladly gave Adelyn the requested information. "Some deals have actually gone better than others. We need to visit Eville at some point this season and see if it is interested in trading with us.

And I'll be travelling to Eunesia in a month or so, to renew some old deals and set up some new ones." Roland gave Adelyn a list of all the places he had been and was going to visit. It pretty much included all of Alleria, and a few outside cities in N'danosh. The man would sell fish-bait to the Xet if he thought they had anything a human might want in return.

"I am still on the lookout for stone for Mileswick, but I may have a lead in Enamoria. I'll be gone for a few days to check it out. I'll send for you or Halfpint if it looks like there's a possibility of a trade deal."

He looked around, and turned to Adelyn. "As time permits, set up a meeting with Gena'ra and anyone at the Aedile's office that is interested. I want a list by the end of the season of what we ourselves are actually able to export once more."

[Adelyn Weiss]

Adelyn had expressed some concern over Roland's new physique to Looie; the Lutran didn't know much of Roland's exercises, but what was certain was that Roland was losing weight quickly. The girl tried her best to ignore it, but laughed in her mind recalling how out of shape he'd been when they had met in the very beginning of Kalendryas. The past felt so far away, and yet it was not. Instead, it'd been a busy couple of months full of pro-active activities towards the betterment of Paxia.

Adelyn made note of all Roland was saying, nodding accordingly, "Visit Eville you say? And Eunesia? Truly, there is nowhere you won't go for Paxia, Roland." She continued in writing down a list and murmured a few times, expressing concern.

"If you should ever need a traveling partner do not hesitate to ask me to go with you. You ought to know by now I don't mind meeting officials in other places!" Adelyn smiled childishly, giving away the fact that she still greatly looked up to people in government positions though she was in one herself.

Adelyn turned to Roland and looked at him carefully, almost examining him, before nodding, "Yes, I'll speak to Gena'ra again concerning exports. I definitely need lists of these sorts around. I'm a note-taker, what can I say?" She laughed merrily, and waved the sheaf of papers as well as the quill in her hand towards her brother-in-law.

After a few moments of silence Adelyn was done writing down all she could, and the girl turned to face Roland. With a quiet voice, she asked, "How's your health, Roland?"

[Roland Moonstar]

Roland looked away, not meeting Adelyn's eyes. "Ah, you know how it is, a bit of diet, a bit of exercise. It's good to not have a potbelly anymore, really." He shrugged, looking around. "As you probably know, or have heard, I've spent the longest amount of time in Paxia since the end of the war. I did nothing for months except move rubble and eat rations. I guess... I guess it just took some time to show."

He gave her a reassuring grin. "I can honestly tell you I don't have consumption or anything like that. I'm not sick. In fact, I've become quite the health buff. No smoking, no drinking, and I often go running with the West Wardens in the morning."

Roland broke into a broad smile, his eyes twinkling. "Trust, me, Adelyn. You're looking at a man in perfect health."

He then looked seriously at Adelyn. "But enough about me. I'll be here in Arium as long as I'm needed. Now I need you to do some things for me. Mr. Howitzer in Vortex is expecting you. Meet with him as time permits, though of course that's just south of us and you can be there in back in a cycle, perhaps much less if negotiations go well.

Mr. Howitzer is the City Councilman; for whatever reason Thane Brightwing assigned him to trade details, instead of the Aedile." Roland gave Adelyn a copy of the trade treaty that he and Thane Brightwing had signed.

Then he frowned. "I also need you to fix a situation that I messed up. The Thane of Imperia is a rather nasty, paranoid little fellow. We were not able to come to terms. See if you can salvage things. If not with him, then with the Aedile there, or with Master Dzrg the Justicar/Harbor Master. I have other places I need you to go, but those two need to be addressed first, as I want to secure our western trade route first."

He then actually blushed. "Oh, and Nexus Prime. I am still listed as being on the Prefecture payroll of Nexus Prime, so I need a non-Moonstar to go to Nexus Prime, so no one accuses our two cities of collusion as far as trade treaties. Though if you meet with Eninia, that's fine with me. I just want to avoid the appearance of impropriety."