joss

ravenclaw | bisexual | she/her | argentina | athena’s daughter | 20 years | aro spectrum

[sim-novels]

Occult Legacy Challenge - Tweaked and expanded

I found the Occult Legacy Challenge by Ayhris earlier and immediately got excited to try it. However I do prefer non-rabbit hole careers and enjoy legacy challenges that have some extra prompts that help create a storyline for your heir and keeps them busy/creates some drama for them. So I decided to build my own version of this legacy challenge, expanding upon Ayhris' original.

You can find all the rules for each generation below the cut. All credits go to @ayhris for the original version. This legacy challenge is eleven generations long and assumes you own all expansions and some of the store worlds.

Download this simple spreadsheet to track your progress.

I have not tested this legacy yet myself but do tell me if some generations need improvement!

Generation one; the inventor

After leaving home for the first time, you find yourself living on the outskirts of a desert town. You’re not there for very long before you start to notice strange things flying through the skies and the locals seem to act as if nothing is out of the ordinary especially the odd green ones. You try to make your way as an inventor, but spend most of your free time gazing at the night sky as these irregularities inspire you to question; what’s out there?

✧ Lifetime wish: The Tinkerer ✧ Required traits: Eccentric, Socially awkward, Loner, Genius, Handy. ✧ Career: self-employed inventor. ✧ Spouse: no marriage. ✧ Location: Strangetown ✧ Limit on children: you can only have alien children by abduction or through the time machine. The next-gen heir must be alien. ✧ Max skills: handiness, inventing, logic ✧ Prompts:

Buy a telescope and gaze at the stars every night.

Collect and analyze 100% of all space rocks and keep them as a collection on your lot.

Go on at least 5 online dates but never become more than friends.

Create a Simbot (or purchase the LTR if it's too hard) and have it be your only friend while it lives in your basement.

Have a hamper in your house but never do your laundry until you have a maid or a child that’ll do it for you.

Each time your sell/delete piles of clothes, you have to change one of your founder’s outfits and take a 100 simoleons from your balance.

Befriend any aliens that visit your lot.

Build a time machine and travel through time at least once.

Generation two; the alien

Your parent was always honest when they said you were different from all the other children in class, but all you really wish for is to be as normal as possible. You're always finding yourself feeling jealous of those who fit in oh so easily and know who their true authentic selves are. This pushes you to become super interested in all of the mundane things that come with a regular human life and turns you into a multi-talented artist as you try to create that perfect human picture for yourself.

✧ Lifetime wish: Renaissance Sim ✧ Required traits: Artistic, Savvy Sculptor, Art Appraiser, Bookworm, Friendly ✧ Career: self-employed painter, writer or sculptor. ✧ spouse: marriage allowed, must be human. ✧ Location: Sunset Valley ✧ Limit on children: no, but the heir must be human. ✧ Max skills: painting, sculpting, writing ✧ Prompts:

Create a private museum with your own artworks.

Make portraits and ice sculptures of your whole family (your spouse and children).

Choose whichever townie sim your alien would be most jealous of, make an ice sculpture of them and add them to your family collection, where you secretly pretend it’s you.

Have three best friends, they must be regular humans.

Send at least one of your kids to boarding school.

Become part of a bookclub.

Only ever write trashy novels.

Scan at least 5 sims to learn their traits.

Lock any alien children you have in the basement. They’re not allowed to go to school or leave the house. Kick them out the moment they age up into young adults.

Generation three; the gardener

Your parents did everything to be as normal as possible, restricting you from feeling what true freedom is like. That’s why you move to Twinbrook or Riverview, for a fresh start where you can truly taste what freedom feels like, with your feet in the dirt!

✧ Lifetime wish: the perfect garden. ✧ Required traits: green-thumb, loves the outdoors, eco-friendly, natural born cook, gatherer ✧ Career: Self-employed gardener ✧ Spouse: marriage allowed, must be a like-minded sim with an attraction score of at least 8 out of 10. ✧ Location: Twinbrook or Riverview. ✧ Limit on children: only one human child allowed. ✧ Max skills: gardening, cooking ✧ Prompts:

If you take your parents with you when you move towns, kick them out immediately.

Plant all base game plants/seeds.

If prompted, complete the Cheese, Steak, Egg and Omni Plant opportunity line.

Use apples or melons to influence the gender of your child.

Build a greenhouse in your garden.

Don’t have anything from the electronics catalogue in your house.

Grow a forbidden fruit.

Become a plant sim.

Use your own crops to make your meals.

Learn how to make Baked Angel Foodcake.

Generation four; the paranormal

Your parents love of nature and the environment has a great influence on you, but only with regards with being happy somewhere green. You find yourself living in a small gloomy town with a lot of history and oddities; two topics you find the most interesting.

✧ Lifetime wish: paranormal profiteer or master of mysticism. ✧ Required traits: eccentric, perceptive, genius, supernatural fan, charismatic. ✧ Career: ghost hunter or fortune teller (mystic path). ✧ Spouse: marriage allowed. ✧ Location: Midnight Hollow ✧ Limit on children: two, but the heir must be a ghost. ✧ Max skills: charisma, logic (if ghost hunter), alchemy (if fortune teller) ✧ Prompts:

Become friends with a ghost.

Get at least one of your kids (the heir) killed and resurrect them as a ghost.

Get Bonehilda as a maid.

Try to become friends with the Grim Reaper.

Own the graveyard (purchase property).

Open up a shop in town selling occult memorabilia (creepy toys/decorations).

Generation five; the spirit

Your parent's love of the paranormal lead to your accidental death and resurrection. You seem to be a spirit now, but you age just like everyone else. You don't stay long in your hometown before you start jetsetting across the globe to adventure.

✧ Lifetime wish: seasoned traveler or bottomless nectar cellar. ✧ Required traits: adventurous, commitment issues, disciplined, athletic, brave. ✧ Career: self-employed nectar maker, or 'relic hunter' (make your money selling relics at the consignment store back home.) ✧ Spouse: no marriage. ✧ Location: players-choice. ✧ limit on children: at least three, and the heir must become a vampire. ✧ max skills: martial arts, nectar making ✧ Prompts:

Don’t make any friends in your hometown, only abroad.

Learn all the songs from across the world.

Have a child from a local in each of the three vacation worlds.

Have a private museum with all of the unique relics you find during your adventures.

Gain visa level 3 in each vacation world.

Own a vacation home in each vacation world.

Grow plasma fruit and have a collection of plasma fruit nectar.

Generation six; the vampire

Born (or turned into) a creature of the night you struggled to maintain relationships with non-occults which lead to a dislike to anyone who wasn't like you. You end up finding yourself in a city that never sleeps with a thirst for something other than plasma.

✧ Lifetime wish: turn the town or heartbreaker ✧ Required traits: evil, flirty, star quality, charismatic, irresistible ✧ Career: Criminal, Emperor of Evil branch ✧ Spouse: unlimited. ✧ Location: Bridgeport ✧ Limit on children: no, but the heir must become a werewolf. ✧ Max skills: mixology, piano, Athletic ✧ Prompts:

Steal your parent’s plasma fruit nectar collection and take it with you to Bridgeport.

Reach level five celebrity status.

Kill each spouse after they have given you a child and then move on to a new spouse for the next one. (recommended mod)

Lure in your dates by making them romantic drinks and using ‘Make sim think about me’ and ‘hypnotic gaze’ interactions.

Raid the hospital and grocery store

Sleep on a Vampire Altar in your basement when you’re alone, but keep a normal bed upstairs for you and your (living) spouses.

Keep all of your spouses graves in your backyard.

Generation seven; the hound

After growing up in the big city, surrounded by odd looks and flashing lights; you want nothing more than a bit of peace and quiet. Oh, and some normality. You move to a hidden town in the mountains, away from all the hustle and bustle where you start your own life and maybe a family.

✧ Lifetime wish: Leader of the pack or Surrounded by family. ✧ Required traits: friendly, family-orientated, good, dog person, born salesperson. ✧ Career: part-time jobs, opportunities and consignments only. ✧ Spouse: marriage allowed. ✧ Location: Hidden Springs ✧ Limit on children: five, but the heir must become a witch. ✧ Max skills: photography ✧ Prompts:

Have a best friend and turn them into a werewolf.

Reach the max career level of all part time jobs.

Own two dogs and breed them to have a litter of puppies (that you can give up for adoption if you like).

Document your family life with your own personal camera and place your photo’s all over the house.

Have at least three small creatures as pets (bird, turtle, snake, lizard, or rodent).

Collect all (basegame) butterflies and keep them in jars.

Cure yourself with your heir’s elixir when you turn into an elder so you can live out your last days as a human.

Generation eight; the spellcaster

With such peculiar ancestors, magic brews within you. After growing up in Hidden Springs and noticing the slight magical occurrences around, you decide you need to be somewhere where magic has deep roots which is why you find yourself in Moonlight falls. You want to prove that you're just as much a witch as anyone else here, will you succeed in this venture?

✧ Lifetime wish: alchemy artisan or mystic healer. ✧ Required traits: bookworm, perfectionist, neurotic, virtuoso, cat person ✧ Career: self-employed alchemist ✧ Spouse: no marriage. ✧ Location: Moonlight Falls ✧ Limit on children: no, but the heir must become a fairy. ✧ Max skills: alchemy, violin. ✧ Prompts:

Create a werewolf cure for your parent once they’ve turned into an elder.

Win a spellcasting duel from another witch.

Turn your dresser into a magic portal.

Own the elixir consignment store as a property.

Use the Toadification Curse on your enemies.

Use the Thirst Curse on a vampire, killing them.

Bring back a vampire your killed as a zombie with the Reanimation Ritual.

Have a cat or small creature as your familiar.

When your kids get married, play the violin at their wedding.

Generation nine; the fae

After living in a town with such deep magical roots and pecularities all around, you feel like you blend in a little too much which drove you a little crazy - you dream of a life in the spotlight which provokes your move to a dazzling city that's all about stardom.

✧ Lifetime wish: Vocal legend or Magic Make over ✧ Required traits: social butterfly, insane, diva, party animal, natural born performer. ✧ Career: Singing profession ✧ Spouse: yes, two marriages; first with a human and last with a genie. ✧ Location: Starlight Shores ✧ Limit on children: no limit, but the heir must be a female genie. ✧ Max skills: guitar, charisma. ✧ Prompts:

As a teen, pull a bunch of fairy pranks on your classmates and/or siblings.

Obtain a genie lamp and free the genie.

Cheat on your spouse with the genie and then divorce your human spouse to marry the genie.

Keep up a garden/greenhouse with your bloom ability.

Use Aura of Creativity on yourself whenever you perform your music.

Throw a party for your fellow fairies in town inside a fairy house.

If you haven't chosen Magic Make over as your LTW, use inner bloom on at least five sims.

Generation ten; the wishgiver

Born from a fairy and a genie, you've always been told you were magical but after growing up near the beaches of Starlight Shores the only thing that seemed magical in your life was the sea, this inspired you to move somewhere that seems like it was created from your very own wishful love of the ocean.

✧ Lifetime wish: deepsea diver. ✧ Required traits: loves to swim, athletic, angler, loves the outdoors, loves the cold. ✧ Career: self employed diver. ✧ Spouse: no marriages. ✧ Location: Isla Paradiso (use the fixes!). ✧ Limit on children: three, but the heir must be a mermaid. ✧ Max skills: scuba diving, athletic ✧ Prompts:

Find all treasure chests on all diving lots.

Meet a mermaid/man, have at least one child with them and do not see the mermaid/man again after their birth.

Banish any sim that has a negative interaction with you.

Ensorcel your enemies and make them do your household chores.

Move into a houseboat.

Discover all uncharted islands.

Own a resort and upgrade it to the max level.

Teach your heir how to fish.

Generation eleven; the merchild

Your mother loved the sea so dearly which shines through you as you are a child of the ocean; a merchild. You never knew you merparent growing up but that never stopped you from seeking them out later in life. Your story and ancestry seems to hold so many mysterys, what will you uncover? As a natural swimmer with a love for humans, it’s only natural you become a life guard, using your skills to save lives on a daily basis, while in your free time you like to fish up your dinner.

✧ Lifetime wish: Presenting the perfect private aquarium ✧ Required traits: Loves the outdoors, loves the heat, charismatic, athletic, angler. ✧ Career: Life guard ✧ Spouse: someone you rescued ✧ Location: stay in Isla Paradiso ✧ Limit on children: none. ✧ Max skills: Fishing, athletic, charisma ✧ Prompts:

Don't meet your parent until young adulthood, befriend them to the max relationship.

Build a large swimming pool in your garden.

Create a private fishing pond on your lot and stock it with fish.

Only eat (raw or cooked) fish and kelp to satisfy your hunger.

Marry one of the sims you rescue during your job.

Once your parents are dead, sell their resort and use the money to become owner of a (quiet) beach property instead.

[sim-novels]

How to install the Sims 3 and make it run smooth

With DXVK and S3SS living their high days, older Sims 3 installment guides are rapidly starting to become outdated. So here's a brand new and up-to-date step-by-step guide to go through when you do a fresh install of your game that will help you get the best performance you could possibly imagine for this old and laggy gem of a game.

Have Sims 3 installed, but is it performing abhorrently? I highly recommend a fresh install. You don't have to delete your saves or mods. Just get yourself a fresh bin to work with by uninstalling, going into your program files The Sims 3 folder and deleting any remnant files still in there. Then follow my guide!

All of the steps to follow are below the line ->

Step 1: install your game through your respected platform.

Just follow the regular steps and install the game without adding any other stuff yet whatsoever.

(I personally have a legit copy of the Sims 3 on Steam. If you use another app and have any questions, I'll probably not be able to help you.)

Step 2: run the game once through the official launcher. Once you get to the main menu, you can quit again.

It is very important you run your game through the original launcher at least once after installing it. Not doing so can cause problems with programs like CC magic. You only need to do it the first time. After that, we'll be skipping the launcher entirely.

Step 3: Create a short cut of TS3W.exe on your desktop.

You'll be skipping the launcher from now on. This helps with performance and it starts up your game much faster. It is also important to do this because of DXVK.

You can find TS3W.exe in your bin folder. For me (Steam version) it's in this location: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\The Sims 3\Game\Bin

Right click TS3W.exe, click 'show more options' and choose 'create a shortcut'. Place this shortcut on your desktop and Run Sims 3 from there from now on.

Step 4: Run the GPU Add-on Support patcher

You can find this patcher here. It is essential to run this because Sims will otherwise not recognize your graphics card unless it's over 10 years old. This patcher helps to get your GPU recognized.

The patcher will create a new Graphicsrules.sgr and new Graphicscards.sgr for you in your bin folder. After installing this, you can move the ones that have _old behind them somewhere else (or delete them).

P.S.: if you pirate your game you'll have to do this manually, there's guides online for it but since I have a legit copy I can't help you here.

Step 5: Install DXVK

Make sure you follow this guide by Nornite and do every single step. Don't skip anything!

I'd say DXVK is pretty essential nowadays, especially if you have a modern graphics card with 6GB of VRAM or higher. It'll greatly help to keep your game stable and can prevent a lot of crashes. The way Dxvk works, is that it loads textures through your VRAM instead of your RAM. Especially when you use a lot of CC or HD textures, this will make a huge difference for your RAM usage. Sims 3 can only use 4GB of RAM at once and will start crashing once you hit the 3GB mark in your task manager. With DXVK, you will use a lot less RAM and it'll take much longer for your game to reach this hard cap.

When not to install DXVK: if you have a shitty GPU (like an integrated graphics card on a laptop, or one with 4GB of VRAM or less).

Step 5: Start up the game

Use your new desktop shortcut that also has 'run as administrator' permissions now if you followed the DXVK guide properly.

Step 6: set up all your settings through the ingame options menu

The best graphics settings for you will highly depend on what computer you're using. But there are some things you should always turn off because they negatively affect performance. I will share my (relevant) settings with you (I use a custom UI so your screen style will look a little different from mine). Click on the images to enlarge them so you can read them:

Things of note about these settings:

I recommend you play in windowed mode, especially if you plan to use ReShade. Playing fullscreen is possible, but it does make Reshade presets behave differently in your game. I will include a step in this guide that you can follow to play windowed borderless. So, when you plan to do this: make sure you set the resolution to your display resolution.

Enable object hiding helps with performance. Advanced rendering is essential because otherwise your game looks like absolute shit.

Set your High Detail Lots to any value between 2 and 4. Don't go lower or higher, because you'll get rendering issues that lag out your game.

All other graphics settings can be set to your heart's desire. I'd say start with the highest settings and only go down if you notice your frames per second are bad.

Disable shop mode and lessons and fully disable memories or use this mod to severly limit them. Disable interactive loading screens as well. These are all performance eaters. Interactive loading screen also causes crashes. Memories also don't do anything for your sim, it's just a scrap book with no in-game effects.

Disable any online mode feature. This also lags out your game. Unless you really want to use these features it's best to just play fully offline.

Save your settings, close the game again.

Step 7: Install Sims 3 Settings Setter

This is the most recent magic genie that Sims 3 was blessed with. Especially combined with DXVK it is a life changer. Installing it is simple. You download the most recent version here and drop the .asi file in your bin. Also grab 'wininet.dll' from here (the 32 bit one) and drop that one in your bin too.

Start up your game and load up a save. Once you're inside your save, you press 'insert' to open up the menu for Sims 3 Settings Setter. Go to the 'patches' tab and enable what you like. These are my enabled patches and they all work really well for me, but feel free to experiment with them to find your own performance sweet spot:

Only enable uncompressed textures if you have a GPU with at least 8gb of VRAM. My game will use over 6gb of VRAM easily with this enabled, so you've been warned.

Once you have everything you desire enabled, press 'file' in the top left corner and click 'save settings'.

Step 7.5: if you're playing windowed mode: go into the Other/QoL tab and enable 'Borderless Window'. Set it to 'Full Screen'.

Save your settings and close your game again. No need to save the game you entered for this unless you want to.

Step 8: Install Nraas Errortrap, MasterController and Overwatch

These 3 mods by Nraas are pretty much essential to keep your game from breaking down in the long run. You can download the mods here. Have you never installed a mod for Sims 3 before? Here's a guide (skip the part about Sims3pack and go straight to the part where it explains how to install .package mods).

That's it! You can now play The Sims 3 and it'll be as smooth and stable as it'll ever be. From here on, you can stock your game with more mods and CC (check out my mods masterlist!), or you can install Reshade (here's a guide).

Some important things to keep in mind while playing:

Clean up your game regularly. You can easily do this by using Regul Save Cleaner.

When you install a new mod or update/change Sims 3 Settings Setter, always restart and clear your caches.

Use CC Magic for installing CC, because it merges your files and this really helps with performance. Here's a handy guide on how to use it. Don't put your script mods in here, just your CC.

If you plan to travel to vacation destinations in the EP World Adventures, Nraas Traveler is a must to prevent most of the bugs and crashes that happen in this expansion.

Always keep in mind: mods and corrupt CC can still break your game, make it laggy or unplayable. Always be mindful of the mods you add, so you can always trace any issues you're having back to the mod causing it. I highly recommend not downloading a ton of mods in one session, but adding them step by step and see what they do to your games performance.

Use 'Reset the entire town' from Nraas MasterController at least every other sim week. It'll help clear up any lag that happens because of NPC sims getting themselves stuck routing or annoying stuff like that.

Got a slow CAS? Use Nraas MasterController Compact mode! (Make sure you have the Nraas MasterController Integration module installed). Navigate to NRaas > MasterController > Settings > CAS. Set the following to True: Show in Compact Form: Accessories Show in Compact Form: Clothing Show in Compact Form: Hats

[flanaganfilm]

The Midnight Club - Season Two

I'm very disappointed that Netflix has decided not to pursue a second season of THE MIDNIGHT CLUB.

My biggest disappointment is that we left so many story threads open, holding them back for the hypothetical second season, which is always a gamble.

So I'm writing this blog as our official second season, so you can know what might have been, learn the fates of your favorite characters, and know the answers to those dangling story threads from the first season.

So for those of you who want to know what we were planning to do, here's a look at what would have been season 2!

AMESH Season 2 would open with Amesh, his glioblastoma advancing quickly. He would tell the first story of the season, but would be struggling to make it through. We'd focus on his love story with Natsuki for those first few episodes as it becomes clear that Amesh's death is imminent.

Meanwhile, Ilonka is trying to reconcile how she was fooled by Julia Jayne, all while falling further in love with Kevin, and she realizes he may be fading faster than he lets on.

Ilonka begins a serialized story in an effort to encourage him to "stay alive a little longer," like he did in season one. And the story she tells is... REMEMBER ME.

This was the thing I was most excited about for this season.

REMEMBER ME is one of my all-time favorite Pike books - it tells the story of a teenage girl who is pushed off a balcony, and awakens as a ghost. She has to navigate being a spirit while trying to solve her own murder. We would have stretched this story out over 5 episodes. We were going to use it as a vehicle for Ilonka to try to come to terms with the fact that she is going to die, and to begin to trying to wrap her head around being a ghost... but this is the coolest part... the lead character of Ilonka's story wouldn't be played by Ilonka. She'd be played by...

Anya.

Because this is how we live on, isn't it? In the minds of those we leave behind. And Ilonka would use REMEMBER ME as a way to imagine her dear friend Anya, waking up as a ghost, navigating the afterlife. And this sets up one of the best mechanisms of the show - even if a character dies, as long as they're remembered by members of the club, they live on in their stories.

As the story starts to pick up steam, though, the group will have to deal with the death of Amesh, which he greets with grace and bravery.

In his final moments, he sees someone in his room - the Janitor from the first season, as played by Robert Longstreet, who says comforting things to Amesh even though he can't respond.

In his final, final moments, the SHADOW descends upon Amesh, and he is engulfed into it, which reinforces the idea that the Shadow is DEATH...

With Amesh's death comes something that upends the entire thing: a NEW PATIENT. We didn't work out too much about who this would be, but it would be a new roommate for Ilonka. Someone taking Anya's old bed. Ilonka would find herself being initially cold to her - just as Anya was when Ilonka arrived. Even feeling like this new girl shouldn't necessarily be ushered into the Club. But of course they would develop a beautiful friendship over the course of the season. The new girl joins the club, where something else exciting is happening - Cheri is telling a story. We hadn't decided which one, but I think it might have been MONSTER.

Natsuki would be the next to die, which would be heartbreaking. And again, she would talk to the janitor just before it happened... and again, the Shadow would come in the final moments.

For Spence, though, things would take a different turn.

The advancements in HIV treatment in the late 90's would come into play, and we'd see his prognosis change. The HIV cocktail came out in Dec 1995, and we really wanted to explore that.

Spence would ride the swell of antiviral advancements, and by the end of the season, he'd no longer be classified as terminal. In the finale of season 2, Spence would leave Brightcliffe just like Sandra did in Season 1, heading off to manage his disease and live the rest of his life.

But onto the BIG MYSTERIES of the season one... here are some answers: What is up with Dr. Stanton's tattoo and bald head? Well, a few things. First, Dr. Stanton is actually the daughter of the original Paragon cult leader, Aceso. Her nickname was Athena, she wrote the Paragon journal that Ilonka found in S1. She turned on her mother and helped the kids escape, but because she was part of the cult in her teenage years, she had the tattoo.

It was her initials that Ilonka found carved into the tree in season 1 (her maiden name was Georgina Ballard, hence the G.B. that Ilonka finds carved in the tree).

She hated what her mother became, and the atrocities of the cult. She reclaimed the property after her mom was gone, and wanted to change it into a place that celebrated life. She was trying to undo her mother's legacy and leave something behind that was beautiful. She is wearing a wig at the end of S1 not because of a sinister reason, but because she is undergoing chemo. Dr. Stanton has cancer. Having helped so many people deal with disease, she now has to deal with it herself.

Her treatment would be successful, and she'd go into remission, but having to face that - while caring for the terminal kids at Brightcliffe - was going to be a very introspective arc for Stanton.

What about the Living Shadow? It's Death, right? Well... no.

At the end of the season, Kevin will die... followed shortly by Ilonka. And as she is dying, two things will happen. First, she'll find herself talking to the Janitor, played by Robert Longstreet... and she'll make a discovery.

HE is Death. And nothing to be afraid of. It turns out no one else ever saw this character. Stanton has a cleaning service, and the Nurse practitioners make up the rooms - the only people who ever saw this mysterious Janitor were the patients. He is Death, and offers them kind words before they die. Then what was the Shadow?

This is an idea we take directly from the book REMEMBER ME, and we'll see it play out in the final moments of Ilona's final tale. In Pike's book, Shari is pursued by a dark entity called The Shadow. When it finally catches her, though, it turns out it is not a bad thing at all.

The Shadow is THEMSELVES. It's the Unknown. As it engulfs someone, in the last moment of their life, it takes them through a place of understanding and catharsis, preparing them for the next step.

THIS is what happened to Anya in S1 when the Shadow finally reached her - that's why she fantasized a life beyond Brightcliffe, which ultimately let her find acceptance of her death. It looks different for everybody, depending on their mind-set - because it is simply an extension of themselves.

The Shadow is just the final catharsis, a return to our original form - it is a moment of true understanding, and once we experience it, we move on to the next place.

We see the Shadow in full effect when it finally comes for Kevin. KEVIN DIES with Ilonka at his side, and it leads to the biggest reveal of the season:

Who were the Mirror Man and the Cataract Woman?

They were Stanley Oscar Freelan and his wife, who built Brightcliffe (fun trivia, he is named after the real-life Freelan Oscar Stanley, who built my favorite hotel in America - the Stanley Hotel. The Stanley is also the inspiration for THE SHINING!).

But more than that... there's a reason that Ilonka only sees Stanley in the mirror, and sees the Cataract Woman whenever she looked at Kevin. This is something else we took from Pike's original book... these aren't ghosts, but glimpses of PAST LIVES.

Ilonka WAS Stanley Oscar Freelan, and Kevin WAS his wife. They've lived many lives this way, and are true SOUL MATES - they always find each other, and they always fall in love. In this life, they knew it would be a short one, so they agreed to find each other in the house they built. They've been "remembering" who they are, and glimpsing their former selves in reflections, and sometimes when they look at each other. This is also why Ilonka's very first words to Kevin in S1 were "Do I know you?" and why Kevin thought she was familiar as well. They are two souls who always find each other, again and again.

The story is this: Stanley was dying, and built this cliffside home hoping that the seaside air would help him. It did, and he far outlived his prognosis (this is also true of the real-life Freelan Stanley). However, his wife began to succumb to dementia.

She would wander the halls, looking for him ("Darling!") and would even forget to feed herself ("I'm starving...") and she eventually refused to leave the basement. Heartbroken for her, Stanley painted the walls to resemble the woodland view, and the ceiling to resemble the night sky, so that it would be a little more beautiful for her.

He also painted a labyrinth on the floor, which was a technique used to try to curb the effects of dementia. She'd walk the pattern of the maze and it was believed it could help her cognition. Eventually, she developed frightening cataracts, but Stanley loved her through it all.

They were soul mates.

So while they seemed scary in season 1, that was just how Ilonka and Kevin's mind were trying to remember their pasts. We even had their faces distorting in ways consistent with how memories degrade over time. When the Shadow comes for Ilonka, and gives her this understanding - this "remembering" - she realizes she has nothing to fear. She and Kevin will shed these personas and be reborn, and have the joy of finding each other another way. The Shadow comes for her, Death takes her gently, and Ilonka goes off with Kevin back into the cosmos, ready for their next incarnation. The series would end with Cheri telling this story to a whole new table of patients, including our new series leads. Most of our original cast now would exist as stories, a story told to the next "class" of storytellers at the table, all of whom we will have met by the end of the season. A story called "The Midnight Club."

Well, that's it... that was what we had in mind. It's a shame we won't get to make it, but it would be a bigger shame if you guys simply had to live with the unanswered questions and the cliffhanger ending. I loved making this show, and I am so proud of the cast and crew. Particularly our cast, who attacked this story with incredible spirit and bravery each and every day.

But for now, we'll put the fire out, and leave the library dark and quiet. To those before, and to those after. To us now, and to those beyond.

Seen or unseen, here but not here.

I'll always be grateful that I got to be part of this Club.

[skysmadness]

he did not need to do all that

[eaasims3]

The Pen to Legacy Challenge

Since I’m currently building up a new savefile, I decided to create my own legacy challenge to kickstart the gameplay in my town

Generations:

Gen 1 - The aspiring journalist

Gen 2 - The artist of truth

Gen 3 - The Performer

Gen 4: The Politician

Gen 5 - The Scandal

Gen 6: Redemption

Feel free to participate in the challenge! I would love to see updates if you try it out <3

More info below the cut:

Generation 1 – The Aspiring Journalist

Everyone has a story. I just need to be the one to write it.

Traits: Bookworm, Ambitious, Charismatic, Workaholic, Good (swap one if desired)

Career: Journalism (start as a Paper Deliverer → aim for top of career tree: Star News Anchor or Distinguished Writer)

Lifetime Wish: Professional Author (or Star News Anchor if you want to tie it tighter to the journalism career)

Skills to Max: Writing, Charisma

Lifetime Rewards to Buy: Observant, Office Hero, Acclaimed Author

Goals:

• Start with a tiny house (one-bedroom shack).

• Publish at least 10 novels (at least 2 must be non-fiction or biography of another Sim in town).

• Reach Level 10 in Writing.

• Reach Top of Journalism Career.

• Host at least one party for coworkers every week (networking matters!).

• Have at least two children to continue the story—one becomes Generation 2’s heir.

Generation 2 – The Artist of Truth

You grew up around books and newspapers, but never loved words the same way. Instead, you find truth in creative expression.

Traits: Artistic, Perfectionist, Loner, Neurotic, Brooding

Career: Painter OR Photography (if you have World Adventures). If Ambitions is installed, Stylist career also works.

Lifetime Wish: Illustrious Author (Writing + Painting) OR Visionary (Painting + Photography)

Skills to Max: Painting (and Photography if chosen)

Lifetime Rewards to Buy: Extra Creative, Professional Slacker (you want to focus on art, not “work”)

Goals:

• Paint at least one portrait of every family member.

• Earn §50,000 simoleons from art/photography.

• Never have a “normal” job besides self-employment.

• Have a public art exhibition (throw a party where at least 5 paintings are displayed in the home).

• Marry a Sim with the Rebellious or Dramatic trait (artist’s muse).

• Raise at least one child surrounded by creativity.

Generation 3 – The Performer

You grew up in a household filled with art and creativity, but you crave attention and applause instead of solitude.

Traits: Charismatic, Dramatic, Virtuoso, Over-Emotional, Star Quality (if Showtime is installed)

Career: Singer (Showtime) OR Music Career (Rock Star branch) OR Film Acting (Late Night)

Lifetime Wish: Rock Star, Superstar Actor, or Vocal Legend (depending on career choice)

Skills to Max: Charisma, Guitar (or Singing if Showtime)

Lifetime Rewards to Buy: Superstar, Attractive, Fast Learner

Goals:

• Perform in public at least once per sim-week.

• Reach Top of chosen career path.

• Have at least 3 failed romantic relationships (fame has its cost).

• Own a luxury mansion before adulthood ends.

• Have at least one child out of wedlock to continue the dramatic family saga.

Generation 4 – The Politician

You grew up under the spotlight but wanted something more meaningful—the road led you to politics.

Traits: Ambitious, Charismatic, Good, Schmoozer, Workaholic

Career: Politics (become Leader of the Free World)

Lifetime Wish: Leader of the Free World

Skills to Max: Charisma, Logic

Lifetime Rewards to Buy: Office Hero, Networked, Long Distance Friend

Goals:

• Reach Top of Political Career.

• Have at least 15 friends.

• Donate at least §20,000 to charities.

• Throw campaign fundraisers every week.

• Have at least 3 children—your heir must be the one with the Evil or Mean-Spirited trait (to set up Gen 5).

Generation 5 – The Scandal

You grew up in politics but resented the constant pressure. Therefore you rebel by choosing chaos.

Traits: Evil, Kleptomaniac, Snob, Charismatic, Mean-Spirited

Career: Criminal (Master Thief branch) OR Business (Corrupt CEO style)

Lifetime Wish: Master Thief or Emperor of Evil

Skills to Max: Logic, Athletic, Charisma

Lifetime Rewards to Buy: Opportunistic, Moodlet Manager, Master Thief

Goals:

• Reach the top of the Criminal or Business career.

• Steal from at least 20 different houses.

• Have at least 2 enemies in the family (fight with siblings or parents).

• Amass §100,000 simoleons before elderhood.

• Leave one heir to rebuild the family’s reputation in the next generation.

Generation 6 – Redemption

You are the child of the scandalous Sim from gen 5. You carry shame but want to restore the family’s good name.

Traits: Family-Oriented, Good, Ambitious, Friendly, Hopeless Romantic

Career: Education or Medical

Lifetime Wish: Surrounded by Family or World Renowned Surgeon

Skills to Max: Cooking, Logic

Lifetime Rewards to Buy: No Bills Ever, Super Green Thumb (if they garden), Fertility Treatment (family restoration)

Goals:

• Raise at least 5 children.

• Reach the top of chosen career.

• Rebuild the original family home into a massive legacy mansion.

• Hold a family reunion party where at least 15 Sims attend.

• Complete the legacy with the family’s reputation fully restored.

ENJOY!

[storytellerwhims]

A TRAGICALLY FUN LEGACY CHALLENGE!🍺💔

Hey everyone, this is the official graphics for the Tragic Tales of Life Legacy Challenge! Another realistic modded legacy challenge by me. I will be writing a non-modded version in the future. So, stay tuned for that I hope you enjoy the legacy!🤭❤️

Here is the link to the original rules if you prefer to read them!📝

Note: I have all the mods needed for each gen linked on the original rules!‼️

Introduction:🗒️

Welcome to the Tragic Tales of Life Legacy Challenge. This legacy challenge is a realistic story and goal-oriented legacy challenge. That re

___________________________________________

I play this legacy challenge on my YouTube Channel if you want to go check it out! I appreciate the support!🥰

The Sims 4: Tragic Tales Legacy Challenge🍸💔

Welcome to the Tragic Tales of Life Legacy Challenge a legacy where tragedy strikes. Drama happens and you'll have fun watching! This is ano

[kimbasprite]

9 Generation Occult Legacy Challenge by Asphodel Moon! Graphics by me. I tweaked a few of the rules' text to make it fit, so check out the link for the full rules/details.

For more information on my Sims 4 graphics, check out my FAQ here.

[kimbasprite]

🔮 Mystical Motherhood: The Occult Baby Challenge by @simssav

New challenge graphic! 💜 This one has been on my list for a while, both as a graphic and to play.👀 Maybe after my Diseny Princess challenge.

What challenge do you want to see me make graphic for next?

Btw you can help support me & my content by using my creator code "kimba" when purchasing Sims 4 packs on the EA app.🙏 Not required but definitely appreciated! 💜

For more information on my Sims 4 graphics, check out my FAQ here.

[uslessnoahtall]

Twisted Tarot Legacy Challenge

[xanwolfwrites]

how do i become my own father? - Alexander Anthony Mar

[nbddiestonight]

if u can find all the easter eggs in this ill give u a cookie or something

txtless + lines + ref below the cut

[maybebitterxox]

Something about Rarry that I think is just so beautiful is the fact that Ron thinks he needs to be better than his sibling and friends, needs to be better than what he is to be worthy of love, but the very moment Harry Potter, The Chosen One, saw the lopsided smile of the scruffy redhead with dirt on his nose and worn clothes, he loved him like he had loved nothing else. And he never, throughout his whole life, loved anyone in the way he loved Ron.

Ron believed himself unlovable — Harry had never known love until he met Ron, and loving him was as easy as breathing.

[twocrpseswewere]

is this anything

[cosmicpoutine]

i will take any and every opportunity to put him in a croptop

[hyperblue]

forever thinking about tim drake stumbling into one of the wayne manor unused nurseries through the window at 5 a.m., knowing damn well that he doesn't have much time before alfred or dick realize that there's been an intruder — so he does his best to move as quickly as possible, while simultaneously trying not to disturb the precious bundle against his chest, with the baby snoring away like tim's arms are the safest place on the planet to sleep in. something tugs painfully inside tim as he lowers his baby son mistake into the old wooden cradle, the emptiness of it — no blankets, no toys, just one of kon's t-shirts wrapped around baby's body as poor excuse of comfort — is a sudden sharp knife to his mind, which is still coming to terms with what happened in that sickly green underground lab; nothing felt quite real since then, not even the warm weight of another living breathing creature pressed against his own body. the moment tim's hands leave the baby, there's immediate sniffing and shuffling as if it knows that tim's leaving, and tim knows that he has to go, he has to find bruce because bruce would know how to fix everything, but something about this lonely dark room filled with shadows and the cold morning air outside open window reminds tim of something he's been trying to bury all of his life — and the baby crying so softly (tim used to cry softly; soundlessly, even, until it wasn't enough anymore and he had to start screaming against his own palm pressed to his mouth) somehow glues tim to the place where he's standing.

"shh, shh, i know, i'm so sorry", he's not even sure what he's saying sorry for at this point. it just feels like the only word that he knows, "they will take care of you, i promise, okay? no need to cry, please don't cry"

his hearts throbs to live at the pain, some new kind of pain that he doesn't know how to numb yet as he takes off his glove to touch baby's tears-wet cheek, and something blooms at the contact, first skin to skin contact since the moment tim pulled his experiment out of the test tube.

why can't he just leave?

the effort it takes to pull away once again almost leaves him gasping for air, and it takes a few seconds for baby to start crying in earnest this time, but tim can't afford himself slowing down; though he keeps talking desperately as he moves back to the window, tugging his glove back on.

"i'm so sorry, i'm sorry. i promise i will come back as soon as can"

we'll be back around christmas, tim, there's no need to cry. you're a big boy already, it's time to start acting like one

tim leaves with the first break of dawn, knowing damn well that this heartbroken wailing is going to haunt him to the other side of the world the same way kon's phantom touches still haunt him to this very day

[somepinkthing]

Something something tim drake who has never been put first by anyone he's ever loved in his life being told he is not only kon's first but also his only robin..... for the only thing that kon cared abt to be the fact that tim felt wanted and treasured and important to someone....., that he didn't give a damn about how other ppl might feel about what he just said....... esp knowing that he literally had his home and title and dad ripped from him in the last year......

[cosmicpoutine]

every skateboard gay needs a longboard gay