Can the Realms of Whitmore include non-Sims lands? Windrose was a lot of fun this weekend, though I will say resource gathering is taking quite some time. Here's a start to my port with the Tavern on the Right.
I lined the main avenue and pier up with the giant tree on the hill. I think those trees look so majestic. I want to build a road up to it, but first to build my harbor out.
You can also see the makings of a Pirate Camp at the top of the hill just about my ship's front sail. The Iron mine is just to the left of the tree (not visible from this vantage).
Now fair fae of Whitmore
Draws on apace a tale
In the Forests of Innisgreen
Where no human travel Doust prevail.
But there a mortal borne,
Found by Puck of Torn
Shall cross upon the Faery Throne
And in it, call thee home.
A Midsummer's Knight, Wilhema Shookwood
The classic bard's tale, A Midsummer's Knight, tells of a human child found by the King and Queen of the Fairy Relam that caused a bout between the two lovers. Scholars once considered the work a complete fiction, but many dispute this and claim descendants of Changeling, the child of myth, still live in Innisgreen today.
In Act 1, Puck, the right hand of King Oberon and child of Queen Titania, finds the baby amongst the bushes in Everdew, where no human could travel. He immediately runs home and informs Queen Titania.
Titania found the child and deigned to raise it to serve in her court. She would teach it to grow food to sustain the animals of the forest. The midfairies of the realm heard of her plans and pulled together to create a care kit fitting for a human child. They left it on the royal balcony while the queen and child slept.
When Oberon returned home, he found the gift, opened it, and was quite flustered by what he found. Human Toys and a bottle, what was the meaning of this? It didn't take long for him to learn. When he opened the doors to the royal chamber, he found the babe laying next to the Queen. Surely, it was her gift to him. A new warrior to train and defend the forest from humankind.
When the Queen awoke, however, the two realized they had vastly different plans for the child. They chose to settle in the same manor they settled all arguments- by the thorn. The winner would direct the child's development.
The battle became heated however, as they often did between the two. They threw away their swords and spent their energies on a more fulfilling activity. Both having won the battle but neither having won the argument, after the steam had settled, they chose to share the child's development, and allow him to choose his future when the day were to come.
And so my Fustered Fae and Mortified Mortals
Doust end this tale for just the day
Changeling's fate yet to be sealed
Return for act two, his upraising revealed.
As the first generation of Patrons of Tartosa aged, they passed on their knowledge and heritage to their children. It came time to decide who would be the next leader of the Merchant Republic.
Each family sent their chosen heir to live two nights in The Rifugio dei Profugo, the first home of the first Doge, Vaughn Miranda.
Arthur Miranda, Vaughn's eldest child, took his position as the new Patron of Craftsmen very seriously. He spent hours honing his chosen craft, ceramics in hopes to keep the title of Doge within the family. His plan was to build a dedicated boarding school on the hill overlooking Tartosa. He earned $34,800.
Jaime DeLaRosa had listened to years to his mother's stories of her Doge Off and decided music was not the method to win. As the only teen in the competition, the community was unsure how he would fair, but by his mid-teens he had already made a name for himself in the art world. He wished to fulfill his mother's dream of a Cathedral to the Arts. He earned $111,100.
Maximillion Rathbone from the Patron family of Merchants, having just recently married, was perhaps the least focused on the challenge. However, once he arrived at the villa, he put forth an effort that surprised even his greatest critics. He believed his father's old plans of creating a shipping lane to a distant land would be best for the area. Unfortunately, a series of storms spoiled his sale day, and he only earned $21,350.
Having performed the upset of the Cycle, Jaime immediately set forth to design the Villa Musé. The Stunning architecture was first painted by the teen himself and then constructed by the town's residents.
Overlooking both the town and bay of Porto Luminoso, the cathedral was built to "dominate the landscape but not impose on the natural beauty."
"Guests are welcomed with a grand staircase of marble that leads to the summer sky. Upstairs, the bar welcomes guests of the Patrons."
"Behind closed doors is the private balcony set aside for the Doge's family and guests. From here, one can truly look over the band below."
"On the ground floor is the grand splendor of the gilded viewing room. Even on cloudy days, the sun shines upon the stage."
"A labyrinth of white lies in the basement. The young Doge has announced this will house the many glorious paintings of the Republic from countless ages to come. In all, this landmark is truly a sight to behold."
"On the Grand Opening of Villa Musé", Author Unknown
The Winter of Cycle 12 was an eventful winter for the Kingdom of Henford.
The Church of the Cowplant was founded by carpenter Emory Aaberg, and a mid-winter holiday was declared for the kingdom.
Unfortunately, the festivities did not last long.
The night after the Winterfest, Alistar and his wife traveled to Tartosa to visit their old friends, the Mirandas. During a stroll along the beach, the King Emeritus passed away.
"The only comfort is knowing he died in loving company. Vaughn and Lara have done their best in comforting me. I shall return in a weeks time. I long to see family once more, but my heart cannot take travel."
Queen Giselle in a letter to her son announcing the death.
A wake was held for King Alistar. The kingdom's knights and merchants attended to pay homage to the King. the remaining week of the season was set aside for public mourning, with many citizens visiting the throne room to say their final goodbyes to the First King.
The following spring, the children of famed artist, Mattias Fischer, Brenna and Sullivan Fischer went against their parent's warnings to skip school for a day and explore the Bramblewood.
Their hopes were life discovery. Their parents worries were that they'd find the Darkmoor Brigade. They found a patch of large mushrooms and a great fishing spot, but no bandits and no further understanding of their life's purpose.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Bramblewood, the Darkmoor Gang was growing. It's members showed off their strength and gauged new recruits at the Gnarled Oak tavern.
Meanwhile, children of the bandits worked hard to self-educate, with their faces deep within stolen textbooks. Leader Furghus Darkmoor knew the importance of being able to outsmart the enemy, and he vowed the bandit children would be just as wise as the kingdom's nobility.
Unfortunately, just after Nathanael's teen birthday, disaster struck the bandit camp as well. His mother died of the plague.
That night, Nathanael left the woods to take a stroll in his thoughts. On the walk he bumped into Princess Elle Hopewell, who was mourning the loss of her own father. However, they both introduced themselves as different surnames to hide their family and their past. Whether because of the shared misery or divine intervention, the two became fast friends that night- despite the secret expectations they'd never see each other again.
Realms of Whitmore - The Founding of the Church of the Cowplant
From the earth we came, and to the earth we'll be returned.
The Cowplant, sentinel of nature, shall provide thy final judgement.
Live by the garden, learn by the forest, and be rewarded interred.
The Holy Book of the Cowplant, Circa Cycle 12
The Church of the Cowplant was formed in Henford on Bagley in Cycle 12. Carpenter Emory Aaberg (son of Wendell Aaberg- one of the founders of Henford), renovated his childhood home into the first place of worship and became the defacto religious leader.
King Emiritus Alistar Hopewell and his son, King Basileus Hopewell, both adopted the religion quickly. They decreed the third Wednesday of Winter a royal holiday to celebrate the religion's founding. This holiday would later become known as Winterfest.
Realms of Whitmore - Cycle 12 End of the First Komorebi Era
"Even the strongest oak must branch out."
- Komorebi Proverb
The first era of Komorebi concluded with a tense split between the Komorebi Twins. A repressed dispute between the two regarding who would be the future ruler boiled over into a physical fight.
Despite her lack of military training, Kamira defeated her brother in hand to hand combat, leading many of the village to speculate that he let his sister win.
His sister certainly returned no favors, as she promptly banished Kamiran and his daughter.
Homeless and kingdomless, the two traveled many leagues until there reached the coast. Not being able to travel any further, Kamiran decided here is where they would settle.
Even as he worked to build them a home, he continued to tutor his daughter Sienna, who he nicknamed his gift from the heavens, in scholarly pursuits as well as in living with nature. Neither heat, nor rain, nor meteors stopped their teaching.
By the end of the 12th cycle, they had built a little temple of their own, adopting local architecture to allow airflow under the residential floor for temperature control.
With Kamiran gone, Kamira passed the Twin Thrones off to her two children, Gino and Chen. Just like the old arrangement, Gino would lead the military and security of the kingdom, while Chen handled the domestic and prosperity aspects.
With his uncle no longer in the picture, Gino recruited his father, Shingo, to train with him.
Although his sister spent several days preparing for and hosting luncheons in hopes of finding a suitable suitor, it was Gino who found a special relationship during one of these luncheons. He met a young man named Pat Shelley and the two became inseparable during their free time.
Realms of Whitmore - Cycle 10 & 11 Merchants and Refugees
While the Merchants of Tartosa were living a grand life, further inland, refugees from the Bramblewood were struggling in their new home of Ravenwood.
Circa Cycle 11, Maximillion Rathbone took over his father's jewelry business. He immediately noticed the lack of gems and metals were limiting their productivity, so he setout across the countryside to secure a steadier supply. In Glimmerbrook, he met with Egranor Dominion himself who agreed to hold any additional gems for the Rathbones, and in the Bramblewood, he was even able to strike a deal with Ferghus Darkmoor to procure gems they happen to come upon- he was sure not to ask how exactly that was.
Egranor was even kind enough to share an elven secret- how to grow Gemstone Trees. When he returned, Egranor planted a few alabaster seeds he received from the elf in the mines under his estate.
With the proceeds from the new jewelry made from his trip, Maximillion married his long term bothfried, Minsung.
Across town, Arthur Miranda and his siblings expanded their flower shop. The additional space and good renown of the store attracted a fairy in disguise who came to siphon some of Arthur's good essence.
Arthur kicked the man out, but he set fire to a motif above the door. His brother and sister were caught in the blaze. Luckily they were able to put themselves out.
In the final Patron's meeting of the Cycle, the three heirs were officially welcomed into the council. Jaime DeLaRosa and Arthur Miranda gave riveting presentations on the importance of shared community and business. Tylbalt Rathbone, Arthur, and Maximillion Rathbone spoke on the importance of crafting and building a better future. The plans were made for the Second Doge-Off to select the next Doge of Tartosa.
In Ravenswood, a divide was forming in the Pendragon family that had escaped the Darkmoor Brigade. Historians believe mold and the swamp air drove the family, especially the mother Margarette and her Daughter a little insane. Journals from Uther Pendragon and his brother indicate the older females changed completely after moving into the abandoned shack. They would scold the boys night and day and refuse to help or feed them.
Uther and Ether bonded together and took care of each-other, inspite of their sister's attempts to break their bonds.
Eventually tragedy struck and their mother died of mold poisoning. Despite their difficult relationship, the boys were devastated from their mother's death. Their relationship with their sister worsened and they felt they had but one choice, to escape the home that gave them refuge.
They traveled through the Balefog Bog and found themselves in a town called Crow's Crossing. Uther had aged to a teen during the journey.
The people of Crow's Crossing seemed grim, but friendly. Uther learned they wouldn't mind if the two brothers slept anywhere. Given how often their mother or sister locked them out of the house, the two could make due sleeping on the street, but Uther, the protective older brother, would not let his brother go far without him. He decided with their exhaustion, here was a good enough place to stop, for now.
Map of the Bramblewood Region of Whitmore, circa Cycle 10
Editors note: Sorry for my absence. This year has flown by and has been incredibly busy. I stopped playing Sims 2 for a while, as I felt more invested in my storylines in Sims 4, but kept forgetting to post, so here's a little catch-up.
Henford
Henford Coronation Ceremony of King Basileus Hopewell, Cycle 8
In Cycle 8, Prince Basileus was crowned King of Henfor in a royal ceremony presided over by his father. His mother and father remained in the castle to become his regents and advisors.
Wedding of Queen Michiko and King Basileus Hopewell, Cycle 9
During his coronation, Basileus was introduced to Princess Michiko Imai from a far-off land. A Cycle later the two became betrothed.
Glimmberbrook
Princess Jacqueline Hopewell's Tutelage & Rite of Ascension, Cycle 9
As King, Basileus fostered a budding relationship with the elven explorer Egranor Dominion, who had settled a garden in a valley near Henford. Basileus's younger sister, Jacqueline developed a fascination with the elf's magic and asked to be tutored by him. Basileus and Egranor agreed, marking the first Tutelage in the realms, and making Jacqueline the first Human Mage in recorded history.
Windenburg
The Making of a Robber Barron, Cycle 8
On the otherside of the Bramblewood, Basileus's estranged adopted brother, Marcus Wellborne, was building his own castle and crown by plundering the nearby lands. He made several trips to Tartosa and Henford to rob and extort the locals. On one such occasion, he met a noble lady by the name of Alina who had the same distaste for noble endeavors. After crossing paths for a cycle, they agreed to tie the knot to further bring credit to their claim to royalty.
Alina - Queen of Bees, Cycle 9
While her husband was out pillaging the countryside, Alina took up the art of beecraft, where she quickly learned bees can be useful creatures. She used them to exact revenge on a few villagers who had came to slights with her, but then she learned out to use the bees to seduce them. Kayden Guy was her first target and he fell so hard for her, he agreed to become a servant at the castle, move in, and pay rent.
"At first I was delighted, amazed, and felt blessed to have won the first ever Big Brother Challenge! I would be the first to time travel after the DaSilva Brothers themselves! I knew exactly where I was headed!
Shadyside Productions invented a Time Traveling Shack. It looked like an outhouse to me, but they said they added a toilet for the convenience of the traveler. 'Tres chic' one of their engineers said. More like tres sh-- sorry mama.
I had to go back to the Premiere Age of Art - when Jaime and Francesca Dalarosa founded the greatest artist colony, DeLaRosa Grove. Perhaps I would even solve the mystery as to who the third founder was and why their name was lost to time.
When I arrived though, it seemed nobody had heard of Delarosa Grove and Jaime was not yet known for his stunning artwork. 'You mean Francesca's boy? I didn't even know he painted.' One townie told me. 'You've got to be joking' another laughed, 'surely you mean Mattias Fischer is the greatest painter. Sadly, you're a long way away from Henford.'
They were kind enough to point me in the direction of the DeLaRosa's homestead, but I had to get something to eat first. I didn't understand the Old Simlish signs, but luckily speaking wasn't much different. Unfortunately, the currency was completely different, and even though I'd brought some of my 400,000 simoleon winnings with me, I quickly found it wasn't worth much in this age.
I did have to scrounge up some coins for a meal which meant I had to do somethings I wasn't proud up. I guess I really should have thought the time travel situation out better, but then again, Shadyside should have as well!
It took me so long to come up with money for food, I just barely made it to the Delarosa estate by sunset. I ran into Jaime! My inspiration! I remembered seeing his paintings in the museum as a child and instantly knowing I wanted to create as well. When I returned home, I was going to go straight to university and get my fine arts degree. It was all because of him.
It was a bit strange of a meeting though. I imagine meeting your idols is always strange, but this was really strange. Imagine meeting your idol, who's centuries older than you, but suddenly he's a teen and younger than you! I hardly knew what to say. It was then that I realized we had overshot the time travel. I would not be finding out who the third founder of Delarosa Grove was.
Sadly, I did not have much time to spend with Jaime as I had to get back to the time machine and head home. I encouraged him and his art, he probably thought I was crazy, but who knows, maybe he'll attribute his inspiration to me one day. How crazy would that be?
I returned to the Outhouse Time Machine, glanced over medieval Tartosa one final time, and entered.
There was some shaking, just as before, and then silence and stillness. I opened the doors and I remained in Tartosa. I tried it again, and again. Five more times.
The machine wasn't working.
I was stuck. Here centuries before my time. Nowhere to call home, n not a Tartosta to my name.
The first night was rough. I was hoping Shadyside would send someone back to rescue me. So I stayed within a short distance of the time machine. I sat on a cliff overlooking one of the lighthouses. The sound of waves lulled me to sleep.
The next few nights were not easy. I all but gave up on the idea of rescue, and it kept every once of my being not to rage about Shadyside's failure. One thing was for certain, I was making a lot more than 400,000 simoleons when I returned. Being in the presence of that disgusting outhouse was starting to trigger me though. I ventured into town to search for mor comfortable places to rest.
I asked some locals for some odd jobs or tasks that would pay me. They recommended I cut the tall grass around town. Often traveling merchants would lose things in the grass but either never noticed or were too wealthy and too stuck up to care to look for them.
One day it started to rain. A kind stranger passing by informed me that Piccola Luce was open to everyone to escape the weather. It was community center and sort of the precursor to the first school in the region. I had found some paints there and started painting. I didn't even notice when the rain stopped, or when Jaime DeLaRosa stood behind me to watch.
When I finished, I bumped into him while I was backing away from my work to appreciate it. I was so embarrassed. He was so awed, or so he said. He asked me then and there to mentor him.
Maybe I am becoming the inspiration of my inspiration after all!
I don't know how this journey will end, if I'll ever get to return home or see Delarosa Grove in it's fine glory, but somehow, something, tells me that for now I'm exactly where I need to be.
Big Brother Challengers, (from left to right) Maria Hernandez, John James Jacobson, Stan Dby, Ursula Jones, Sandro Sodano, Charles Wonka, Charlene Walters, Rubina Sister.
Prideful Sims Big Brother Concludes, Champion Goes Missing
The inaugural Big Brother Challenge by Shadyside Productions, has concluded with more excitement than it began. At the focus of the gossip, however, is not the competition itself but what happened to the competition's winner.
Shadyside Productions guaranteed the winner received the 400,000 Simoleans and their one day time travel trip to the period of their choice. Company Spokesperson, Walter Flyakite, maintains that the winner traveled back and time and decided to stay, but conspiracy theories surrounding her disappearance are running rampant online and in the media. (cont. on Page 2, Prideful Sims)
Prideful Sims, Cont.
While the world speculates on what became of the champion, let's reminisce on the events of the challenge.
After spending a couple of days to meet each other and gain some skills, the challengers were tasked with the Pool Challenge, where the first to leave the pool would be sent to the hot seat.
Unfortunately, several contestants quickly found out they have a phobia of water and did not last long. Rubina and Charles Wonka nearly immediately hopped out of the water. After the audience vote, Rubina was the first and only to be sent home early in Episode 1.
Episode 2's first challenge was the only team challenge in the season. Random teams of 3 were assigned to the dancefloor. Unfortunately Charles, Maria, and Stan's moves did not shake up to their competition, and Stan was told to shake his booty out the door.
The challengers then went head to head in the AR Rigs where Ursula and Charlene had the weakest performance and landed in the bottom two. In an upset, the audience determined Ursula would be put out to sea.
Charlene returned to the hot seat at the start of Episode 3, when she and John James lost the Chess Challenge. After the audience vote, the Tragic Clown herself showed up to bid John James adieu.
Charlene's bad luck continued with the basketball challenge. This time Sandro joined her in the bottom two. Charlene's fans proved determined once again, as John James was sent home this time.
The season finale began with the top three getting a pre-opening visit to Skilltown- a new skill-building park in the works by Shoque Entertainment.
After the visit to Skilltown, Charlene fans were no doubt disappointed when she came the bottom two during the first challenge of the episode, a homemaker's triathlon. Contestants had to repair a fridge, trim a hedge, paint a portrait, craft a gnome, and make a dinner. The contestant who crafted the greatest value item, Maria, was declared the winner of the challenge. Charlene's fans stuck by her side; however, and voted Charles out of the house.
In a surprise twist of the season, all of the evicted challengers were brought back for the final challenge. The Challenge Set was arranged as a party pad and the challengers partied for two nights. On their final night in the house, the evicted challengers voted on the winner of the season.
After the votes were tabulated, Maria Hernandez was the clear winner of the season- at 6 votes to 1. Even the one Audience Vote favored her over their consistent favorite- Charlene.
When questioned whether they would investigate Maria's disappearance, the Del Sol Valley Police Department responded "We have no reason to believe there is any mystery surrounding Maria Hernandez's step away from the public eye and hope everyone will respect her obvious desire to return to a private life."
Thank you to following individuals for creating Sims for this Challenge:
GraveyardGhosts - Maria Hernandez
Ranabluu - Charlene Walters and Charles Wonka
Simbuilderjess - Sandro Sodano
Bluuzol - Stan Dby
Nemertes - Rubina Sister
Quentin Douglas-Fischer, Remy Beauregard, Skylar Bruce Rathbone, and Shelby Anne Rathbone
Some might say the introduction of the Eastsiders to the peaceful valley of Hoarders Cove was more an invasion. Two siblings washed ashore found two best friends and all had big business dreams in mind.
With their ship destroyed in what her brother called a "Wild Sea Surge" Shelby Anne was concerned the locals would not be too keen or able to assist them. In scouring the shore, however, she ran into best friends, Remy Beauregard and Quentin-Douglas Fischer, and the two invited them for dinner.
Shelby shared their plight and Remy was delighted to meet one of the famed Rathbone merchant family. He shared his dream of turning the cove into a bustling business hub. Shelby agreed to help for assistance of her own and exclusive shipping rights. A deal was struck.
Unfortunately, not everything was going as smooth onboard the broken ship hull of the R.M.S. Tybalt. Skylar Bruce was up to his old ways and seeking company with anyone who would give it. Not even a month ashore, and rumors began swirling that he was the father of several children to be. Shelby Anne tried to reign in her brother but that only cause his rage to swell.
The other Eastsider men were content with the women already in their lives. Within the same week, Remy proposed to his childhood sweetheart, April, and Quentin offered a ring to his Highschool crush, Claire. Both quit their jobs to remove to the remote valley and be with their new finances. A few months later, they married.
Shelby Anne was the only one alone, until the day Remy introduced her to another High School friend, Joe London.
Joe was an executive on the board of the Dragon Coast Newspaper, headquartered in Dragon Harbor. He was a frugal and hardworking man and was excited to find the same qualities in Shelby Anne. He would drive to Hoarders Cove to meet Shelby every weekend. Within a few months, Shelby was already showing signs of carrying a child. A week later.
Joe long knew of Remy's plans to develop the valley, but it wasn't until he moved in with Shelby that he had a new dream of opening a branch of the Dragon Coast Newspaper there.
The Eastside was already gaining structure, with the opening of Beauregard's General Store and the hopes of a new newspaper. Would they soon reach recognition by the governor in Dragon Harbor?
You can watch their stories unfold live on Sundays at www.twitch.tv/standbyentrance.
Georgia MacDonald, Greggory Macdonald, Luis DaSilva, and Daniel DaSilva
Historians of the realm recognize the Night of the Lights and the arrival of the DaSilva brothers in Hoarders Cove as the start of the 3rd Cycle. (With their time spent in Sims 3 as the Second Cycle, and their time in Sims 4 as the First Cycle).
After the Night of the Lights, the DaSilva twins quickly realized they were once again stuck in an unknown valley with a broken Time Machine. They had no idea their home was just over the mountain, or rather what there home was centuries after they were born.
They did spot a lone house atop the western mountain and met the MacDonald family who claimed the valley theirs.
The MacDonalds shared how their parents had left the valley after the Lights in the sky and Georgia's strange transformation. The DaSilvas were worried they were responsible and apologized, but Greggory and Georgia expressed that they believed there was more at work that night than just the DaSilva's time machine. The brothers offered to learn what they could of Georgia's condition , which they called PlantSim, and help the best they can.
The four of them became fast friends and would often have dinner at each others houses. They all agreed that Luis, the scientist, was the best cook.
The MacDonald's shared some knowledge of the area surrounding the valley- A Landgraab Science Lab was located on the other side of the mountain, and there was a vast cave network their parents had considered cursed.
Daniel spent his days researching at the Landgraab facility, hoping to find a cure to PlantSim, while Luis began to explore the caves for secrets.
Unfortunately, while they were asleep one night, a thief stole several items from their yard, including the Hot Tub Time Machine.
The DaSilva's were now stuck for the foreseeable future in the valley. They decided to expand the hovel they found and built a laboratory in the back yard.
After work, Daniel would work late into the night in his laboratory. He was determined to make another time machine and make their way home.
While he retrained himself on the circuity of mechanics, he made robots to assist both families in their homes.
One night over dinner, the MacDonalds spoke of a Grand Opening of a general store on the other side of the valley. They were upset other people were settling in the valley without their permission.
Daniel decided to visit and see if they had pieces he desperately needed for the time machine. Instead, he ran into a young woman trying to sell a historic vase that matched the description of one that was stolen from his property. Daniel waited by the door for the individual to leave the establishment and approached her.
The woman admitted to stealing his things, including the 'piece of junk mud puddle' in their back yard. This infuriated Daniel and he went on the attack. Daniel defeated the thief in a fistfight but found that she had already destroyed everything else.
If Daniel and his brother were to ever time travel again, they'd have to recreate the Hot Tub Time Machine.
Along the Dragon Coast, South of Dragon Harbor, there is a small cove where a river divides the valley in two. Legends in the area claimed this was where the dragons of the coast slept, and it became known as Hoarders Cove.
These legends and the remoteness of the valley led it to be overlooked for settlement for centuries, until several unlucky events coincided.
That day was called The Night of the Lights.
The Westlanders
Over ten generations of the MacDonald family had called the Hoarders Cove home. Their ancestors, hailing from Burdley, did not believe in such rumors as Dragons. However, no captain would sail near into the cove, so they traversed the mountains on their own. Once settled, they found the secrets of the valley and found ways to perpetuate the myth of the dragons by tricking other would-be settlers. These skills were passed down from generation to generation.
Gregory MacDonald and Georgia MacDonald continued that tradition with their parents until the Night of the Lights. Ever since a child though, Georgia became obsessed with nature, even for a farmer, and would become sickly without enough natural sunlight.
On that fateful night, Georgia woke up when the sky suddenly burst with light. She ran outside to investigate and bask in its rays. Gregory woke up to the door slamming. Noticing the strange tint in the sky and that his sister was missing, he went after her. He nearly tripped on her in the pumpkin field, as she was curled up against a pumpkin, suddenly leafy green.
The older MacDonald's were not far behind Gregory and when they saw his sister they started screaming about how they had failed their ancestors and the land was cursed. They begged Gregory to come with them and left for Dragon Harbor the next day. Gregory, however, decided to stay behind with his newly plant-sim sister.
When the DaSilva's arrived in Hoarders Cove, they had already lived numerous lives across history. Born in Dragon Harbor two centuries before, they invented not just a car, but the world's only time machine as teens. When their Hot Tub Machine took them back in time to ancient Sulani, it broke leaving them stranded there until it was fixed.
In Sulani, they met the merpeople and taught them of electricity. Empress D'Aqua, however, was a vicious woman who would mate with men and drown them after having their child. Daniel unfortunately fell for their charm. Thankfully, the young mermen of the Temple of the Moon went against their elder's orders and assisted the brothers in fixing their time machine, sending them back into the future just in time.
The men's calculations were slightly off however. They landed just south of their hometown, and two centuries in the future. Their time machine pierced the sky with a bright light and crashed into the hillside under an ancient castle. Once again it's capabilities were destroyed.
In the future, they quickly learned that their uncle stole credit for their invention of the car and destroyed any record of their time machine. To history, they officially died in a mountain slide while trying to hike to none-other-than the very valley they landed in.
The Westlanders
Beauregard, Douglas, and Fischer were all well-known names of the Dragon Coast. Remy Beauregard and Quentin Douglas-Fischer, however, were not. Their families preferred it that way.
The Beauregard name was synonymous with opulence and astute business acumen. Their merchant empire owned general stores across the New World.
Remy, however, forever lived in the shadow of his older brother who enjoyed painting him as an eccentric snake-oil salesman. Yes, he enjoyed life as a traveling salesman, but his business was legit and he was bound to prove it.
Remy had an eye on Hoarders Valley: he knew settling there was his way to make a name for himself- Remyland, Remyton, Remyopolis.. he hadn't chosen a name yet, but the possibilities were endless. Well, they'd be endless once Remytopia was accessible.
Just out of high school, he hired his best friend Quentin Douglas-Fischer to carve tunnels in the mountain for a railroad. To avoid detection and prying eyes they started on the Cove's side of the mountain.
Quentin Douglas-Fischer was a strong and popular young man in high school. To many, however, his attachment to Remy Beauregard would be his downfall. The Douglas-Fischer had long ago purchased the Dragon Harbor Quary after decades of infighting amongst the DaSilva family. They used it as a base of operations for their construction company, where Quentin worked after school.
After graduation, he followed his best friend - as he always did- to help him achieve his dream. To him, Remy was misunderstood and with his help, the two could build a truly astounding city.
Both of them were surprised when, as their explosions light the mountain in bright reds and orange, the sky suddenly became as bright as day for a brief moment. "Lo, a sign from the heavens! Excavate that tunnel faster!" Remy exclaimed.
Rathbone was an ancient family of merchants dating all the way back to the founding Patron's of Tartosa. Captain Shelby Anne was an accomplished sailor well on the way to garnering more fame than her grandfather. Skylar Bruce, on the other hand, was a bit of a Don Juan less interested in anything other than making love. Family reputation and brotherly love compelled Shelby Anne to agree to take her brother as first mate.
She knew that was a decision she would rue when she woke up to her brother shouting about lights in the middle of the night. The ship, she found, was neither on water nor in one piece. The RS Tartosa Dream had crashed.
Skylar Bruce told a story of lights of all colors drawing him to the cove. The crew, sputtering nonsense about dragons, had all jumped overboard. Then a bright green light shined over the ship. Scared, Skylar Bruce ran to hide in the ship's hull. The next thing he knew, the ship cracked in two and landed on this mysterious shore.
Stay tuned to find out how these 8 unfortunate sims will come to fare in settling down in the unlucky Hoarders Cove.
(Thank you Gummi for the name!)
Also tune in live @ www.twitch.tv/standbyentrance
Awasa poa
Oh feebe lay
Nash-Na-Poof
Choo wagga choo choo
Dag Sul
Dag Sul
Dag
Pray to the Glimmer Tree the Portario opens. Beyond the Glimmer Roots I must travel on my quest to document all living beings. I have left a note for the elders on my bed. Tomorrow my destiny begins.
Spring, Cycle 9
By the Glimmer, the gamble paid, and I have safely traveled anew. The opposing portal is perched atop a cliff along a glimmering brook. The sky here is moist, and there's a chill in the air- very unlike the steady air amongst the Glimmer Roots. I shall push further up the mountain.
I am lucky to have my familiar with me. Not only has it kept good company, but has set about pointing out the most wonderous of plants and insects. The flora here is not as vibrant as around the Glimmertree, but it smells much earthlier and feels more lively.
Cleaning Ritual
Scruberoo
I came upon a place where land met water. The ground was neither wet nor dry, but soaked, and it claims all that touches it. A simple cleaning ritual learned from Elder Merlin afterwards remedies the plight.
On the end of the first day, I sit to write my Grimoire now. An Elven Dedication rock sicks amongst a flowering thicket, my familiar found. "Elves have never left the Glimmer Roots" the elders always proclaimed. I shall stay here longer to see what I may learn.
Nutriment
Delicioso
In the morning, I conjured my fastbreaker and went for a stroll after eating. Here the glimmering brook was feisty with fish, but it was a large glimmer in the water that sought my attention. I decided to fish it out.
Egg shaped, Azul, marine, and white- a stone from the water. I know not what compelled me, but I took it to the clearing near the thicket and planted it within the ground. To seal the deal, I casted Charm of the Greenthumb.
Charm of the Greenthumb
Floralorial
Within moments, it started to grow. In this sparkly reflective sapling, I saw myself, alone, in a vast wilderness. The cold-hearted stone begging me to realize it nor the other creatures and plants would fill the void I've been ignoring. It was then I've realized, I'd been missing my best friend, Sherry. This adventure filled my head, I never even told her goodbye.
Gardeniate
Herbio
A wrong only I could fix. Sherry loved flowers. I would turn the clearing next to the thicket into a garden to rival the Glimmer Roots, and bring her to see it. After 7 tiring days of spells and carving stone, it is ready.
I began my return trip to the portal, worried of what the elders might do or say. Would they allow me to return here? Would they allow Sherry to visit? Or would they restrain me in the Roots? I shuddered to think of what punishment I might receive, but pressed on by my familiar, I knew I must see Sherry.
The closer we got to the portal, however, the more distracted my familiar became. Once we reached the place, it pushed and tugged me away. I acquiesced and it let me further along a different path.
There, my friend Sherry sat crying under a small pavilion made of stone. As soon as she saw me, she stumbled to get up and I raced towards her. My familiar zipped about, around her, and then around my feet. The cursed thing tripped me. I fell right into Sherry. Right into her lips. Shocked, I leaped back as soon as I regained my footing and apologized, but to my surprise she pushed her lips right back onto mine.
Starcrossed Lovers
Infatuate
Some say the elder spell is more a curse than a blessing. The elders would choose who you were to marry and love 'for the betterment of the Elves' they claimed. Legends told of few who fell in love outside of these elder dealings, and how this wild love excelled in every way imaginable. I may never know whether the elders chose Sherry for me and cast the spell, but no better love could I imagine than what we experienced that night.
Magic Realm Return
Homewardial
I brought Sherry to her gardens. She adored the lush landscape. She told me the Elders were not angry at my departure, but had expected it. They had sent her to find me so that she may relay this message and offer a spell to assist when I wish to return home to visit.
She added that she wished to stay with me in her garden, while I completed my research on this world. Joy and an outlook of countless blissful years filled my hear.
The rest of the pages have been torn from the book.
By rising of the heralding sun,
The trials have begun,
Mourn not the weak,
Celebrate the heir we seek.
By fin and tail,
Toil, wit, and fervor,
The next heir will prevail.
Heralding Call of the Merlympics
In the 8th cycle of the sea, Kai L'Aqua announced the Merlympics- a weeklong competition to determine her heir amongst her daughters.
The contestants would spend 7 days locked in the Temple of the Sun and compete in various challenges to test their strength, endurance, and wit.
From left to right:
Keola - the oldest and temple favorite
Aimata - historians debate the gender of Aimata. Many believe Aimata was born male but learned quickly to portray as female to not be exiled.
Nuboo - the youngest and twin of Nuboy, an exiled merman. It was noted at the time that she had not yet grown fins or a tail
Kerry - the middle child, and confident of all her sister's but Aimata.
Staci - daughter of Lois DaSilva before the brothers time traveled to escape the Siren's Wraith. Texts indicate she also was not considered a true Mer, do to lack of fin and tail.
Day 1
The festivities started out with a competition of patience and beauty, for a ruler must remain calm and have a clear vision. They were tasked to paint the most expensive painting. Kerry won this task.
Day 2
All Mer must know their way around water, and so on Day Two, the daughters were tasked with swimming to the other side of the island. Nuboo knew she could not make it, so she hid from the challenge. Meanwhile, Aimata proved the fittest of them all, and Staci was the first causality of the week. Being human, she made the return swim but died upon reaching the golden sands of home.
Day 3
On the third day, the daughters were asked to pit their wits against each other in a tournament of Chess. Nuboo prevailed.
Day 4
A storm drenched the island on Day Four, but a game called Hoops was created to test the daughter's strength. Aimata won this day, but later in the evening Keola mysteriously drowned in the pool
Day 5
The rain continued, but that did not stop a game of darts to test the daughter's precision. Kerry defeated the others with ease.
Day 6
With the storm still raging, and only three daughters left, they were asked to display their self-reflection and mediation by sitting in the rain. Aimata was the last to leave.
Day 7
The ancient texts are not clear what the event for the final day was. Historians speculate it was a planned fight between the two frontrunners. However, Nuboo was found dead early in the morning and there is no record of an event this day besides the crowning of Kerry as the new Siren Queen of Sulani and the exile of Aimata, further backing historian theories that she was born male.
