Post by Moonlight Scroll on Jul 19, 2015 17:41:55 GMT
Name: Moonlight Scroll
Nickname: Moon, Moonie
Age: 26
Gender: Stallion
Species: Unicorn
Place of birth: Canterlot
Occupation: Healer, Ex-librarian
Allgience: The princesses (or to what they stood for at least) and New Hayven.
Relationship status: Engaged to Trixie Lulamoon
Mane: His mane is a earthy red with a red streak going through the middle(the same goes for his tail). He keeps it short but otherwise unkempt.
Eyes: His eyes are a light, bright blue. Some (mostly his mother) would describe them as intelligent.
Living relatives: Free Verse (father, unknown if alive), Moonlit Meadow (mother, unknown if alive), Starlit Page (sister, unknown if alive)
General description: He stands a slight bit taller than the typical stallion but he is also a bit thinner, giving him a generally gangly build. His coat is a deep blue and marking his flank is his mark, which depicts a rolled up parchment scroll tied with a blue band. Personality-wise, he is off a mild and kind nature, prone to help whenever he can and feeling sorry when he cannot. He is also prefers to stay in the background and not attract too much attention to himself, as he is easily rather flustered when put out of his element.
Skills: Besides his education at Princess Celestia's school for gifted unicorns he has always, magically, been above average at most spells. He is however specifically adept at healing spells and supportive spells. Besides that, he also is well versed in both teleportation and telekinesis. His telekinesis specifically is a bit special, as many years of handling books as librarian (and book fantast)has given a certain proficiency at handling many smaller objects simultaneously and with delicate precision.
His healing spells especially has been well-used these past years as his role as a healer has grown, along with his proficiency at healing. Besides the usual "heal spell", he has also now learned a lesser paralysis spell, which he uses as a sort of anaesthetic when in need(it can also, if necessary, be used in self-defense to some extent), and he has also learned how to use his fine tuned telekinesis to move smaller pieces of bones (or other small, solid objects inside someponys body like for example a stuck arrowhead or bullet) without having to "open up" the target (this however is especially difficult as it needs his full concentration so he does not use it very often.).
He has had five years of intense study of certain books (including but not limited to "Supernaturals: Natural remedies and cure-alls that are simply super" which is canon btw) that he has been in possession of plus what he has learned by experience has given him the knowledge of an uncertified doctor (though he dislikes being called that, given that he has never been given a degree for it). This doesn't mean that he is a real doctor but he knows how to cure ponies from simple illnesses, create basic antidotes, patch up a hurt pony, perform basic surgeries, what roots that lowers fevers when eaten and such, how to keep a wound from being infected, how to "dispose" of infected body parts while giving the patient the highest chance of surviving and etc.
Meaning, he'll not perform any brain surgeries anytime soon but he can patch up and keep a hurt pony from dying in most cases.
Besides that, he is, or was, a legitimate scholar and librarian, and has some knowledge about a great variety of subjects and might be considered by some (sometimes even himself) as a generally intelligent pony.
Besides physical and intellectual traits, he is also proven to have a sort of single-mindedness when in stressful situations, and can act quickly when in stressed situations, provided that he knows how he can help.
Faults: He has always had an aversion towards violence and, as a matter of fact, avoided learning combat magic at all during, and after, his time at Celestia's school for gifted unicorns. However, this specific aversion seems to go deeper than just that, for at the start of his new life as refugee and travelling doctor in these dangerous times he convinced himself to at least try to at least learn some combat spell only to discover that it was next to impossible for him to manage even the simplest combat spell. He does not know what causes it but if he tries to perform a spell specifically used for hurting somepony else, like for example a lightning bolt, it needs significantly more energy and concentration for it to even come close to normal effect. This has caused him to give up the notion of learning combat spells almost entirely and lead him to instead focus on more supportive spells at which he performs much better at.
Besides magic, he also rather physically inept at combat, and the only time he might actually handle a weapon with some skill is if he uses his telekinesis to do so, which he still dislikes. Personality-wise he's also always been a bit meek and he can easily get nervous if he is forced to perform outside his area of comfort. He is however a, for good and evil, self-sacrificing sort, and is willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of the general good. This causes him to not quite know when to stop when working for others to the point of burning himself out, unless somepony would point it out and reason him out of it.
Equipment: During his time travelling he would almost always keep his saddlebags close, as they were filled to the brink with anything a travelling healer might need (including some precious books, tools, supplies etc), but now as he has adjusted to the camp life, he travels considerably lighter. The medical tools he had acquired now find use in the medical grotto while most of the books and other precious items are being kept safe in the keepsake-cavern. He always carries a small, sharp knife that can be used in self-defence if necessary but is mostly just used by Moon when he is out gathering resources. Around his neck he also always wears a small silver ring in a chain as a necklace, which is very precious to him. Everything else he keeps in his shelter.
History: Moon was born in Canterlot to a family of generally well-versed and not at all noble (except if you'd count his mothers side but she barely communicated with them anyhow since being "disowned" so that doesn't count) ponies which, thankfully, spared him from the generally snobby upbringing which is common among most of those from Canterlot. He was quickly found to be a bright, but a little shy, colt who found the library to which his father (who was a writer) took him to be the most amazing place he had ever seen. The knowledge-hungry quickly grew a passion for reading and it was with great excitement that he finally began school when he came of age. His attentive, curious and well-behaved nature quickly made him the teachers favourite... which unfortunately combined with his rather lanky build and unassuming nature quickly caught the attention of the less well-behaved of the Canterlot foals.
He was so rather often bullied which gave him little friends in school and further made him find comfort in the world of literature and study instead. Also, due to his nature, it took a very long time for this to come to light, as his young self was convinced that if he just let the bullies be, then it would be alright. This of course didn't last forever, but when his teacher and parents finally found out, it had already gone a couple of years and his mind had already been set in his views of himself as "not so important".
Thankfully, his next school would prove to be a better experience, as due to his excellent grades and aptitude for magic, he was one of the few to be accepted into Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns to which he gladly transferred (mainly because it's reputation as one of the best schools in Equestria but also because he could now leave his bullies behind). Of course, due to his previous experiences, he was much more careful with the other students and had little friends, instead choosing to pour himself into his studies. During his time at the school he however did manage to both get his cutiemark and find a kindred soul in another, similarily focused on study, unicorn. She went to become one of his very first real friends.
The years went by with tedious, but never dull, study and when he graduated he did so in flying colours. After graduation, he went to apply himself for the role as librarian at Canterlot library and got in easily at his, as it was, dream job.
He was then present when the news of another alicorn reached the castle and he even met this forgotten alicorn during his duties as librarian. The alicorn both perplexed and, most of all, fascinated the young stallion with his tales of ancient events and was, like most were, positively inclined towards him.
Besides that, he often found himself in the middle of the many intrigues and mishaps that befell the palace, but the single most important event that came upon him during that time, at least if you ask him, would be his meeting with what might very well be the love of his life.
When he first saw Trixie Lulamoon, for that was her name, he was stricken (and to some extent, dumbstruck) by everything about her. Her looks, her voice, the way she moved with confidence and a thousand other things. He simply fell in love. But after having spent some time with her (making careful attempts at courting along the way), he learned of something that sent him even deeply in love: He learned that she had regrets and doubts and faults, in some ways, just like himself. So his response after the moment of closeness was simply "I don't care" and "I'll be there for you". She gave him her love in turn, and they've been together ever since.
In fact, it was together that he learned and did a great deal of things, including getting to know about the "new" alicorn's more sinister nature (through his hold on Trixie), the attack on the palace by a marauding minotaur, a supposed vacation trip to ponyville where he and Trixie got carried off (and in his case; dropped) by a swarm of flying monkeys, gained possession of a powerful magic shield called Gaia Heart, assisted Discord, briefly fought the monstrosity that is Skud the minotaur, traveled through time in a blue police box, helped free another ancient alicorn, tangled briefly with nightmares made by Nightmare Moon and got assaulted by a murderous orange pegasus and her undead friends.
Though, if you'd ask him, he felt that his involvement in most of those events was only circumstantial. To be completely honest, he most of the time, when he wasn't fascinated by what was going on around him, felt out of place and didn't think he really provided much with his prescence there, especially when compared to the achievements made by the others.
5 year summary: During the start of what would be the war for Equestria, both Moon and Trixie found themselves in Ponyville and so had a clear view to watch as the dark forces began their advance towards Canterlot and its neighbouring cities.. While he first wanted to, foolishly, run to the aid of the lost capital, he was talked down by his marefriend and it was on her request that they then fled the town, only bringing what few supplies they could muster in that short time (and on Moons impulse; some books he managed to retrieve from the library in ponyville) to avoid getting caught by the soon arriving forces of darkness.
While they at first had no destination, it was by Moons suggestion that they would start their trek with Hoofington as their goal, for this was where his family resided and he had to make sure they were alright, even if he had a nagging feeling that they weren't. And it was good that it was Trixie he was travelling with, as her background as travelling showpony came in handy on the road. But the trip took time, so when they finally arrived, it was already too late and Hoofington was already under Tenebris' control.
Moon was crushed by this. He realized that what he had built up during his whole life, his career as a librarian, his home, his library, his future, nothing would be like it was meant to be. Even the small hope of finding his family disappeared the moment he saw Hoofington conquered. He didn't even know if they were alive or dead at this point, and he had no way to find out. He had no purpose, and the only thing that kept him going at that point was that Trixie was beside him.
But luckily for him, he soon did find a purpose.
As he and Trixie began travelling again, without destination this time, the roads were now starting to fill with other refugees that, like them, were wandering aimlessly. Many of those refugees were also hurt, and so, Moon began offering to heal those that he could with few healing spells that he knew off. It was after he had done this a couple of times, healing somepony the best he could and then being thanked by the pony in turn, that he realized that this could be his purpose. That in these times, ponies would need a doctor or healer to keep everypony healthy and alive. He could be that pony.
For the following years, he lived by that. The few books he had on medicine and medical practice were quickly studied and treasured, any new books he found during his travels were hastily acquired by any means necessary. In the absence of normal medicine he instead studied natural remedies and cures that could be found in the nature he now so often wandered. He even managed to acquire a few real medical tools (a bonesaw, a few scalpels, some other things) over the years. So he became a sort of doctor in many ways, though while some would call him that, he always insisted that they would call him a "healer" as a real doctor had a degree, and he did not.
And so he and Trixie traveled Equestria, stopping by every camp they could on the way, Trixie protecting against more physical threats while he healed and cured the sick the best he could. They of course couldn't save everypony they found. There were always some beasts or troops that got past Trixie and killed those they could, and there were always those whose wounds were too great, or had illnesses that Moon couldn't cure(which he always regretted and blamed himself for). But on a whole, they saved more than they lost. Moon even managed to propose to Trixie during this time (after having drunk a bottle of cider maybe, but still) that if this war ever ended they'd get married.
In short, it was a life. Not a perfect one as their homeland was conquered, more evils were beset on Equestria than ever, his family was probably dead or worse, they were constantly hunted by enemy troops and ponies died every day, but it was the best they could do with how everything was.
Maybe it was because of this that their guards were lowered when they visited that one refugee camp.
4 years had passed since the start of all this when they visited a refugee camp close to White Tail Woods. At first, everything was calm and Moon quickly got to his now practiced procedure on the hurt ponies there. It then came unexpected when in the middle of his procedure, the camp was assaulted by a large group of enemy soldiers out of nowhere. Moon never knew why they attacked just then, maybe they had waited for him and Trixie, maybe it was just a streak of bad luck, but the fact were that they were far too many and determined for Trixie to easily intimidate and scare away. The camp quickly broke into chaos, with ponies running for their lives and freedom, and in the middle of it were Moon and his patients. As soon as Trixie had found them, Moon and her took it upon themselves to get the hurt ponies out of there, and through sheer willpower (and magic) they managed to fight their way out and headed for White Tail Wood to try and escape the now in flames camp and its tormentors. However, they were followed and due to the wounded ponies that followed them, the troops were gaining on them.
It was then that Trixie decided and told Moon her plan. They would split up, Trixie taking all the attention so he and all the wounded could flee safely. He of course first objected, but he knew that it was their only chance and so, hating it all the same, finally agreed. What followed was a far to quick farewell, followed by a last kiss before she was gone with a massive show of light and magic.
And Moon, he ran, the refugees in tow, as he tried, and failed, to ignore what he had just left behind.
They ran, until the flames and screams were well behind them, until they paused so Moon could care to their wounds and share his small supply of food. Hurting all the same.
In any case, Moon and the refugees then headed north to put as much distance between them and the now ruined camp, Moon all the while worrying about how they would survive. The food he had left would, if eaten sparely, maybe be enough for one pony to survive for a while but to be shared among the whole group? Not likely. But nevertheless, they trudged on northward, the Smokey Mountain looming ahead, for what else could they do?
It was in this state, hungry and growing desperate, that lady luck smiled upon them and they were found by a patrol. Not a patrol of enemy troops that had caught up to him like Moon first feared (and prepared to fight) but a patrol of ponies much like them, but armed with simple weapons and somewhat well-fed. It turned out that these ponies were from a place called Camp New Hayven, and that all of them were free to come with them if they wanted. Moon, who for now seemed to lead these ponies, after short consideration agreed and so the group set off towards safety.
Moons original plan was first to go there, make sure the wounded ponies were alright, maybe restock his supplies and then head out again to search for Trixie, but when they arrived, he was almost stunned with what he saw. He understood rather quickly that it deserved its name as a "haven". But as he learnt more about New Hayven (they even had a library!), the more he started to see their need. They were almost 200 ponies in total and they had gone through almost 4 years with very little in the way of medicine and medical knowledge, and they were growing desperate... and here he was. It was growing harder to keep to his plan of leaving, and after a while he (though he rather would have ignored it) realized that the chance for him to find Trixie was miniscule, as well as his chances to avoid capture by enemy troops and keeping himself safe from wild animals without Trixie. So in the end, he let himself be convinced that he'd do most good at New Hayven and so he made himself at home in what would be just that; a new home.
Now, 1 year later, he has grown rather accustomed to his role as resident healer of New Hayven and what you could call "camp life". And to be fair, he likes it. Like when he travelled, he has a purpose, and he has over the course of a year gained respect from the ponies living there for his skills, and due to his unique background as scholar and mage he now has a hand in many roles in the camp and even Genesee sometimes ask him for advice (though this is rather due to friendship than anything else if you ask Moon). He's now even an unofficial caretaker of the Keepsake-cavern (though it is mostly actually for his own peace of mind rather than an actual need). He's even managed to make some friends at camp, including those he share shelter with, like Moxie and Flux.
However, all is of course not well with Moon, as any who share shelter with him would notice, as more oft than not is plagued by nightmares by night, where he sees the faces of those he couldn't save while travelling, those refugees still out these who is without anypony to heal and cure them, his family whose fate is still unknown, and most of all, Trixie.
But he's loyal, and grateful, to New Hayven now and even though that he sometimes thinks about leaving to find Trixie, he knows that he'll not. They need him... and he needs them.
So to speak.
Camp New Hayven information:
Primary role:
Medical Pony
Division 1: View on participating in the ongoing War
Caution before all. One wrong step could hazard the entire community. They have both foals and eldery here and if the camp is dragged into the war by a rash decision, then we have very large chance of loosing all that has been built up.
Division 2: Allegiance
To the princesses and their views, undoubtedly.
Division 3: View on camp future
We need to continue to develop, expand and build the camp. It's safe and well-hidden but the caves and supplies are not endless, so steps needs to be taken to solve this at some point.
Division 4: View on how the camp is being run
The rules are there for a reason and without them the camp might not have been at all. While sure, not all of the secondary tasks are particularly fun, he recognizes that if nopony wanted to do them, then nopony would do them at all.