#mackenzie tester

[goodoldgamer]

Clever Collecting (Day 3)

After a few long days of searching for skulls, with the help of Jasmine Holiday and the Circle, Mackenzie Tester was able to finally get them all and then perform the honoring ritual, protecting her from future harm from the Circle’s adversaries, and hopefully allowing her to get on with her own life.

Here’s how it went down.  Enjoy!

[goodoldgamer]

Clever Collecting (Day 2)

Here’s the second day of questing for skulls, where she gained 4 more for a total of 7 out of the 9...

[goodoldgamer]

Clever Collecting (Day 1)

Here’s the album of Mackenzie Tester’s first day of skull collecting.  She managed to get 3 unique skulls, and a few fake copies obviously put in there by evil sources in an attempt to keep her from succeeding in her mission.

[goodoldgamer]

Holiday’s Help

Mackenzie Tester recieved an encoded text from Ms. Jasmine Holiday early one morning letting her know to be ready for a meeting in an hour.

“What can I do for you today, Ms. Holiday?”, Mackenzie asked.

“You’re aware of the Day of the Dead celebration going on, yes?  The Circle has found out it’s a cover for the evil we’re fighting.  At the same time each year, certain magical skulls ‘call out’ to good natured souls like yourself, in an attempt to get said souls to collect all 9 so that their combined power can protect them from evil’s corruption.  But the celebration surrounding them is meant to be distracting, to stop that from happening.”

“We want YOU to go out there and get them this year.  If you complete the collection and perform the honoring ritual, they will protect you from evil’s corruption at its core, including that of the Soul Reaver.  We have members of our order out already trying to find them, under the guise of celebrators.  Get in touch with them and they’ll lead you to the skulls.  But beware, not every celebrator is on our side.  Some will need... convincing... to help you out.  I’ll be around to keep an eye on you, but I must keep a distance, so the Circle’s influence remains unnoticed.”

Mack took a deep breath and sighed, nodding her head.  “I’ll do my best.  How long do I have?”

“A few days at most.  The sooner you start, the better.”

And so begins her quest to collect all 9 skulls of protection and perform the honoring ritual.  From here on will be a collection of pictures of that journey...

[goodoldgamer]

Mackenzie’s Munchies

Mackenzie spent the rest of the afternoon practicing and bonding with Soul Reaver.  Time flew by and her skill seemed to get better and better.  She wasn’t sure if it was her own innate ability, or an effect of the magic, but she had a strong feeling she controlled the instrument rather than vice versa.

That evening, she took a break when she could feel her tummy rumble.  Without thinking, she grabbed both a grilled cheese and ice cream cone out of the fridge.  She was more hungry than she thought.

As she was eating, she had an urge to go watch the news.  So rather than finish her meal first, she picked up the items and went to her comfy livingroom chair and tuned on the tube.

She got a little queazy when she heard about some locals disappearing under mysterious circumstances.  One eye witness said they seen the latest victim being followed by a cloaked stranger.

After her meal, she decided to call it a night.  She had quite the day, finding out about the Soul Reaver, the Circle, etc.  The nightmares returned yet again.

The next morning it dawned on her that she hadn’t been checking on her garden for a few days.  She felt so sad for her plant friends.  So she spent the entire day taking care of them, talking and apologizing with them, and even hired a professional gardener to stop by later and give them their own version of a spa day.

As she was eating more grilled cheese that evening, Mac realized that it was Soul Reaver that gave her these cravings.  It was as if the guitar wanted to experience life through her vicariously.  Whether it be the news, the food, or her dreams.

She assumed this revelation should scare her, but oddly enough, it didn’t.  Instead, she felt as though her and Reaver were friends.  Hero and sidekick, so to speak.  And there was a bit of honor in being able to represent life to Reaver.  Perhaps showing the guitar the beauty in living would change it from dark to light.

So she, and Reaver vicariously, danced to the stereo for a time.

And they spent the rest of the evening conversing with others online, through social media and various forums.  It was eye opening for both of them, as Reaver had never had the experience before, and Mackenzie couldn’t remember the last time she did, and oh how things had changed.

Thanks for reading, crazy kids.  More to come later.

[goodoldgamer]

Mackenzie’s Music

Let’s check in on my favorite (and first) Sim, Mackenzie Tester, once again.

She woke up feeling strange, and couldn’t really explain it.  It was a beautiful day in Willow Creek.  The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and there was a cool crispness to the early morning air.  But still, there was something odd going on...

Trying to shake that thought out of her mind, she strolled into her living room and worked on some muscle stretches to wake her body up to the day ahead of her.

“You know, while it’s quiet, I should put Master Quan’s meditation techniques to use”, she thought to herself.  So she closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and breathed slow and deep, attempting to calm her spirit and become one with her surroundings.

At first, it was going well.  Levitation was a part of the technique, so she wasn’t surprised anymore when it happened.  She used to be, though.

Master Quan would always be amused when Mac would fidget at the sensation of being airborne, and even once cackled with glee.  “Worry not, my pupil.  Your troubles no longer hold you down to the earth.  Your spirit is free.  Weightless.  Trust in the natural order of things.”

Suddenly she felt herself being pulled!  A dark force seemed to grip her very soul!  The world around her was being torn away!  She tried to fight it, to take control, but she was not skilled enough.  And then, she vanished!

Mere seconds later, she reappeared outside of her home, still in her meditative state and position, levitating above the ground.  At first, she was confused and scared.  What had happened?  Was she ok?  Was this merely the next phase in Master Quan’s teachings that she had achieved earlier than expected?  And what was that dark force she felt?

But then she opened her eyes and took in her surroundings.  Okay, she was still in Willow Creek.  She was still on her own property.  She breathed in deep.  She sighed.  She relaxed.  She attained her calm state once more.  And then she went through the steps to conclude her meditation and stand back on solid ground.

As she turned around cautiously to further survey the situation, she saw it.  Right by her mailbox was a white guitar with pink trim.  A somewhat punkish, menacing looking skull with wings adorned the front.

Why was it here?  She didn’t order it.  She didn’t even know how to play a guitar, let alone one this tricked out.  Who left it?  Was it for her?  It appeared to be positioned like any other package to be picked up, right next to her mailbox.

There was a note attached.  She read it.

“My pupil, I apologize for the burden that you are about to bear.  It should not be yours, but I am without time nor other option.  And you are my most skilled, and most trusted of the Circle.  You have a pure heart, which I pray will see you through where others have failed.  I fear there are dire consequences otherwise.

This is no ordinary guitar.  Legend refers to it as ‘The Soul Reaver’.  It was conjured into being with the darkest of magics.  It’s purpose was to control the spirits of others, to bind them to the musician’s will.

We of the Circle are ordained, perhaps even fated, with protecting the world from these creations.  We are the balance for the natural order.  The light against the darkness.

I had planned to give you more time, more training, before receiving your own oath of devotion but that can no longer be.  The Circle was attacked, and has since gone into hiding until the threat can be assessed and dealt with.  A new enemy has emerged from the shadows.

We were only barely able to survive the ambush.  The ‘Soul Reaver’ was among the remains of the assailants, and it’s presence alone marks just how dangerous this unknown force truly is.  Until the situation changes, and for the better, I must leave this in your guard.

Bind it to you, so that only you can control it.  It won’t be easy, but you must play it.  Learn it.  And protect your very soul against it.  Stay pure, for only a pure heart can keep it from being misused.  It will fight you, and try to corrupt you.  But you must not give in!  Remember, trust in the natural order of things, not the unnatural, or impure.

Once bound to a master, the Soul Reaver is theirs alone until they perish, or willingly relinquish control to another.  It cannot be taken away and it cannot be destroyed.  It must be controlled and secured.  This task falls to you, as you are both the most pure of us all, and the most unnoticed by the darkness, as you have not yet been ordained.

You have time.  Make the most of it.  Our common enemy will cast its watchful eye on you eventually, but for now, ready yourself.  Prepare.  Do what it does not expect of you.  The world needs you.  I need you.

You will not see me again for some time, my pupil.  But other guides, associates of the Circle, will be around to help.  Look for the golden circlet.  You are not alone.  You can do this.  You can achieve more than you ever imagined possible.  I believe in you.  We all do.

~Master Quan”

While it was a lot to take in, Mackenzie trusted her master and did her best to keep a cool head about the whole thing.  “Trust in the natural order”, she told herself.  Gingerly, she picked up the mysterious guitar, the supposed powerful artifact of darkness, and pulled its strings.

Having never touched a regular guitar in her life before, let alone a magic one, the sounds reverberating from it at first were less than pleasing.  She consoled herself and her lack of skill in the instrument by telling herself it’s a dark weapon and should sound ugly anyway, right?

Reminded of its power when a dark mist formed at her feet, Mac stopped playing and thought better to keep it inside and away from the ears of the innocent for now.

She placed it in the living room next to her favorite vase of flowers and sighed.  “This is going to be an adventure for sure.  I hope I’m ready.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door.  Peering through the window, Mac could see a dark skinned woman, beautiful and quite professionally dressed, turning and walking away.  And then she saw it.  The golden circlet upon the mysterious woman’s wrist!

“Hey!  Miss!  Miss!!” Mackenzie shouted, trying to get her attention, as she jogged out the door to catch up.  “Miss!  I think I’m supposed to speak to you about something!”

“Greetings, child.  I’m Ms. Holiday.  Ms. Jasmine Holiday.  You must be Ms. Tester, I presume?” she smiled sweetly.

“Why yes, I am!” Mac said with a surprised look on her face.  “How did you know?”

“Our ‘mutual friend’ has asked me to give you some assistance, my dear.  I do hope you understand that ears are listening, so I must be... careful?  You did get the note, yes?”

“Yes, I did!  I thought that’s why you were here!” Mackenzie squealed a bit excitedly.

“You’ll forgive me for walking away from your door.  I felt... uncomfortable.  Anyway, I have things to do as I’m sure you do, so here.  ‘Trust in the natural order.  May the light guide you.’“

A light flashed all around Mackenzie.  The world went an absolute white.  A warm, loving energy consumed her essence, and her very being.  For a moment, she felt incredible!  Smarter!  Faster!  More alive!

And then Ms. Holiday bowed as if nothing had happened, bid her farewell, and turned to walk away.  Overcome with emotion, Mackenzie jumped up and down, crying and laughing and making a bit of a ‘scene’ about the whole thing.

Neighbors stopped to ask if she was okay, and she told them about the light.  She asked if they felt it, if they could see it.  But they had no idea what she was on about.  They looked at her confused.  Worried.

Ms. Holiday, walking past Mackenzie as she was making her exit, briefly rested a hand on her shoulder and whispered, “it was a gift for you alone, my dear” and with a wink, she then disappeared around the corner.

“Sorry, guys.  I guess I just caught the sun’s glare in my eye.  Too much coffee, huh?  Or maybe not enough!” she laughed, and that seemed to calm everyone down and people went their separate ways.

Back inside her home, she picked up Soul Reaver again, and played it once more.  She spent a couple hours practicing, getting better and better, improving at a much faster rate than she thought possible.  She was certain by the time she finished for the day that it was undoubtedly bound to her, but she still feared the worst was to come.

But that would be for another day.  For now, she was hungry.  And she had a lot to think about and process.

Two grilled cheese sandwiches later and a quick stop by the bathroom left her feeling much better.  She spent some time recalling her Master’s teachings, regaining her confidence.  She found herself excited, if not a little more than nervous about her future.  By all accounts, she was in the Circle now!

But, as we all know, with great power comes great responsibility.  And as the evening settled in and she fell into the deepest sleep of her life, Mackenzie’s dreams became nightmares.  Untold horrors.  A future to be feared.  A war that could be lost.  And the smallest, quietest voice in the back of her mind hissing “let us sing them a song... string them along...”

Will she play the Soul Reaver, or will it ultimately play her?  Stay tuned, next time.  Thanks for reading, crazy kids!

[goodoldgamer]

Mackenzie’s Muscles

As promised previously, we’re joining up with Mackenzie Tester as she begins her day leading up to a trip to the gym!

She began her day early with a jog around the neighborhood.  She enjoyed the peace and quiet at first, until she saw some local kids passing by on their way to school, and realized that soon, the whole neighborhood would be coming alive.

She stopped back at home for a quick bite to eat, and then it was time to head to the local gym that she was recommended to check out in the previous episode.

“Movers & Shakers” was open early, fortunately.  However, no trainers had arrived yet, so Mackenzie decided to begin a routine on her own by practicing her punching with one of the bags that were available.

She was tender with it at first, but soon enough got caught up in the adrenaline and really went for it, hitting the bag so hard it nearly broke, and surprising a fellow gym member next to her.

Slightly embarrassed, Mackenzie introduced herself to the young lady and found out her name was Eliza Pancakes.  They connected quick, chatting it up, sharing techniques, etc and momentarily putting their exercise routines aside.

Soon enough however, it was time to move on, so they hugged and said their goodbyes.

Mac was about to call it a day when Gym Trainer Francis showed up and offered to mentor her in boxing for a bit, so she agreed.  Only 20 minutes later and Francis was quite impressed.  But Mackenzie had enough and bid him farewell.

By now the gym was quite full, so she went upstairs and took a shower.  Dressing casual for the rest of her day, she then stepped outside the building and stretched, saying “Hello morning!” up to the sky.

And that, friends, is where we’ll leave her for now.  Stay tuned for more, later.  Maybe.  :-P

[goodoldgamer]

Mackenzie’s Motivations

Once again, we join Mackenzie Tester as she enjoys some mid-morning ice cream on an excessively hot summer day.

She had heard about a new waterpark opening up over in Newcrest called “Ride The Waves!” (which can be found on the gallery searching #TheGoodOldGamer btw) and thought today would be a good time to check it out.  Plus, she needed to forget about her brain freeze!

When she arrived, she took in the sights of the pool and brightly colored slip-n-slides.  It wasn’t even noon yet, so she wasn’t surprised that it wasn’t crowded and those were there were mostly older folks.  But she planned to spend most of her day here, so that was abound to change.

First, she decided to wow the small crowd with a swan dive, then she spent about an hour swimming laps around the interestingly shaped pool.  Whoever owned the place had a fun asthetic with all the colored frog fountains.  Mackenzie guessed those were more for the kids in the neighborhood, just as the funky bird feeders were for the elders.

She took a break to pitch in and make some lemonade for everyone, and sat down for some avid people watching for a bit.  Nothing beats lemonade on a hot summer day, wouldn’t you agree?

Soon it was time for the slip-n-slides!  She spent an hour or so mucking about on one of the open ones to get used to moving on it and finding her groove, then she dared to try some tricks through the shark-mouthed ones.

Eventually, the novelty of the slides wore off and she took a break to grab some more lemonade and feed the birds.  An interesting addition to the waterpark, to be sure, but she appreciated the touch of nature among the more modern amenities.

Then it was time for a backflip and cannonball in the pool again, because how often did she really get the chance?  Plus, it reminded her of her childhood in a nice, nostalgic way.

As the sun began to lower toward the horizon, Mackenzie decided it was time to head home.  But wouldn’t you know it?  A bus full of kids pulled up to the entrance and blocked her way!

So she spent some time chatting with the youngins until the crowd spread out enough that she could get to the showers and wash of the cholorine.  And then finally, she was able to go back home.

And man, was she starving!  Fortunately, she had some grilled cheese left over in the fridge to munch on.  As she relaxed and tried to get used to the taste of cold cheese and bread, she heard Nancy Landgrab outside doing some exercises, so stepped out to say ‘Hello!’.

They chatted for a bit and Nancy raved about the local gym, convincing Mackenzie to check it out sometime soon, then Nancy left to head on home for the evening.

Mackenzie checked out the prices on the gym’s website, and decided she’d make of a day of it soon with a visit, then went to bed to sleep the night away.

And we leave her here as she wakes up and stretches the next morning.

Thanks for hanging out, crazy kids.  See you next time!