Author’s note: I was sick. So sorry. No, I haven’t written the episode yet, but I figured I should post something. Here’s a primer episode, containing no characters but rather information. This one is about Star city. You can skip it, this won’t make much of a difference (or it just might. ).

Primer Episode: Star City

Arthur Stark’s School History Assignment, Grade 3 (Age: 8)

Question - What is Star City’s shape? (Hint: The answer lies in the name!)

Answer:

Unless I misinterpreted your hint, the answer you expect is star. But it is not so.

Star City isn’t shaped in the form of a star. A star is a celestial body in a space producing light and heat with nuclear fusion of hydrogen and helium.

(Note: this is an extreme generalization. Stellar nucleosynthesis is not my field of expertise.)

Unless the star in the hint refers to an hypothetical, two dimensional gravitational star, which raises several other questions.

(From my calculations, such a star will never be possible, due to the nature of gravity warping above and below itself at the same time, creating a black hole which would lead to the third dimension.)

What Star City does resemble is a 5 sided star polygon, (not to be confused with a star-shaped polygon), better known as a star-pentagon or a pentagram.

So, Star City is shaped like a pentagram, not a star.

Please give better hints next time; or skip them entirely.

(Unless Star referred here to Star of David, in which case you’re right. If that’s the case, I protest the lack of the clarifying words.)

Question - Who is the founder of Star City? (You can ask your dad/mom for help, but be sure to thank them!)

Answer:

Parental assistance was not required.

As for Star City’s founders, here’s a brief run down.

It’s original name was Starling City, after Craius Starling, one of the founders of the original settlement in late 18th century. Legend has it that he gambled with Raging Bull (the Formari tribe leader) to win the land; the basis for the city.

That legend has now been disproved. He actually lost and started the Northwest Indian War, hellbent on wiping them out. The Potowami, Formari, Shikwakwa tribe were the major victims. Fort Dearborn archives have records detailing the fact.

The skirmishes continued well up till the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, in which the Native Americans were finally forced to accept the apparent generosity of Craius Starling.

They gave up the vast lands in order to retreat behind the Greenville Treaty Line, for the reputable sum of 19 dollars and 99 cents, modified to 20 dollars (Craius didn’t have any coins). It was later changed to 20,000$ per year, under the sympathetic guidance of General Anthony Wayne.

In 1797, Starling City was founded mainly by Craius Starling. Other founding members include Anthony Wayne, Isaac Stark, Jonathan Kent and of course Wallium West(not William; as frequently misspelled).

It grew moderately as a small city well up till the 19th century, partly due to it’s focus on education and research. The Starling University was founded in 1812, making it one of the oldest and prestigious universities in the whole country. Since then, Starling City has a reputation for being an intellectual and cultural hub.

Well up till the 20th century a series of good business decisions catapulted Starling City into one of the fastest growing cities on the continent.

(Mostly the ones that promoted underhanded business tactics. White collar crime was a flourishing trade.)

Then the 1920s and the production boom happened. Starling City quadrupled in size almost overnight, with new people and buildings popping up almost everywhere, bringing in a new set of problems.

Intolerant communities, riots and clashes between the students and the workers became common. The Great Fire of 1923 was the result.

To prevent total social and economic collapse, a new architect was hired (in 1924) to give the city a makeover: Alabaster Wright.

And thus, the octagonal Starling City died and the pentagram Star City was born.

Which is why we have named Alabaster Wright as our true founder and have a holiday on his birthday, whereas Craius Starling is left forgotten.

(Rightfully so, in my opinion. )

Question - Name a personal incident from the life of our founder.

Answer -

While others undoubtedly will be writing the same old story of Alabaster and his kindness to a blind woman at the end of which he supposedly gets his inspiration for the city, (which is blatantly false), I have chosen to recount another tale.

In 1920, four years before being chosen, Alabaster Wright wasn’t a famous architect. He wasn’t even an architect.

At that time, Alabaster Wright was a high school dropout who had managed to talk his way into the office of John Silsbury, an architect.

(Standards were low and jobs were plenty back then.)

In 1921, one of Silsbury’s clients was Roland Stark, my great grandfather. He wished to commission the Stark Mansion (a home to last his family forever, in his words).

Seemingly displeased with the designs, he would have left, until Alabaster showcased his work.

And the rest, as they say, is history. (Or in my case, Stark Manor).

Stark loved the blueprint, and hired Alabaster immediately. From then onwards, Alabaster’s career skyrocketed, as people began to see the brilliancy of the designs. The manor became the beginning of a deep friendship between the two. And when the fire happened, Roland also pushed for Wright as the main architect of the city.

So when time came around, and Alabaster Wright had to propose a new name, he submitted Stark City.

My great grandfather forced him to knock off the K, (he didn’t want a city in his name) and hence we have Star City.

TEACHER'S NOTE - Arthur, see me after class.