"What should we call this?"...the making of a Sims story
Sul sul, Simmers. It's the holiday season, and it seems like as good a time as any to share my humble attempt at Sims storytelling with all of you. My twelve-year-old daughter, Z, is my Sims bud...
Now that I've learned how to tame Neighborhood Stories, I'm ready to resume the story. So, we return to Glimmerbrook, where Jamie Eldridge makes a decision that could change the lives of everyone in his family.
Jamie was naturally intrigued by Morgyn Ember's explanation of what it would be like to become a Spellcaster. He could play elite-level pranks. He could gain the upper hand on any bully who dared to torment him. He could perform any number of everyday tasks with ease. All these things seemed appealing, but the thought of possessing this kind of power scared him, too. Spells could backfire. Potions could poison.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Jamie had heard this before, but now he understood it more fully.
Then, another thought forced its way into his brain.
I can help Mom. Nothing else really matters.
Jamie took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. "I...I'm ready. Let's do this, Morgyn."
The young Sage smiled. "All right, Jamie. I'm going to cast a spell on you that will give you the power of Mote Sight."
Jamie wrinkled his brow. "Moat? There's a moat around this castle? How did I get..."
Morgyn laughed, but his laugh was gentle and kind. "It's M-O-T-E, not M-O-A-T. A mote is something tiny. In this case, it's a tiny bit of magical essence. There are magical motes surrounding the house here. For the next few hours, you'll have a magical power that will enable you to see these motes. Your first task as a Spellcaster involves collecting some of them and bringing them back to me. Then, I'll cast another spell on you...and when I do, you'll acquire the power to learn spells and potions. When you learn them, you may use them."
As Jamie listened, he felt his pulse accelerate. When Morgyn finished, he nodded. "Sounds...wonderful, actually. I mean, who wouldn't..."
At that moment, Morgyn took out his wand and began to wave it in front of the aspiring Spellcaster. https://i.imgur.com/MX9UBoB.png https://i.imgur.com/uJGcqd8.png Jamie didn't feel anything at first. In fact, he wondered if he was the victim of another prank, an especially cruel one. Then, an unusual warmth began to spread throughout his body, a feeling that was both comforting and exciting.
"There you go, Jamie. Now, go find me some Motes." Morgyn grinned at him. "How long do I have?" "About eight hours or so." "Cool."
Jamie had been so caught up in his conversation with Morgyn that he hadn't noticed the other people around him. Some of them were dressed more unconventionally, like Morgyn. Jamie figured they were Sages, too.
He walked through a doorway into a spacious room, dominated by a large cauldron. A young man was working at the cauldron, preparing a potion of some sort. Then, Jamie's attention was completely diverted by the bright smile of a pretty, dark-haired girl who was smiling directly at him.
Whoa, Jamie thought. I think I'm gonna like it here.
"You must be new here. I'm Grace Foster." She gave Jamie her very best smile, and she watched as it worked its own kind of magic. https://i.imgur.com/ZPIPUrS.png "I'm Jamie Eldridge. And, yeah, I'm new. Are you a Spellcaster too?" Grace nodded. "I've been training for a few weeks now. We don't all wear...that." She gestured in the general direction of the other Spellcasters, who were all wearing cloaks or capes or boots of a style one wouldn't usually see outside the Magic Realm. "It'll be fun having someone so...handsome...around here," she added.
Simeon Silversweater had heard enough. The older Sage heaved himself up from the bench where he was sitting and shambled over to the two Teenagers. "Miss Foster, I believe you have research to complete. Do you not?" Grace sighed audibly. "I always have research to complete." Simeon then turned to Jamie. "And as for you, I should remind you that Mote Sight is a very temporary power. I would suggest you begin your quest now, because you seem to be so easily distracted. You would do well to focus on what is truly important." https://i.imgur.com/gaGo51W.png Relax, bro. I've got, like, eight hours, Jamie thought. Hold up. Can that dude read minds? "Yes, Sir," Jamie replied. "I'll talk to you later, Grace." "I hope so." She smiled flirtatiously, which charmed Jamie and annoyed Simeon. Both of these responses pleased Grace greatly.
Jamie made his way out of the castle and onto the grounds. Almost immediately, he saw several bits of glowing essence, pink and blue, dancing in the air. "Motes!" he declared, out loud. A more experienced Spellcaster overheard him and giggled at his newbie excitement. Jamie made his way toward one of the Motes and, to his delight, it remained in place for him to scoop up. https://i.imgur.com/qxLOsuz.png This is going to be easy, Jamie decided as he set off to acquire more Motes. https://i.imgur.com/MX88VTs.png
It didn't take Jamie nearly eight hours to collect his Motes. Once he had enough, he headed back to the castle to present them to Morgyn. "Here you are," he told the Sage. He held one of the Motes out, and Morgyn took it with a smile. "Well done," Morgyn praised him. "Hrrumph," Simeon responded. I'm getting too old for this. They don't make them like they did in my day... Grace forced herself to remain focused on her research. She didn't want to seem too interested. https://i.imgur.com/Go4nPQc.png
"One more thing remains," said Morgyn. "Are you ready, Jamie?" "Absolutely." There was no hesitation this time. Morgyn took it from there. https://i.imgur.com/56Ft0o8.png https://i.imgur.com/VovoaFF.png https://i.imgur.com/tvK54f6.png Jamie felt the room spinning. Then he realized he was the one doing the spinning.
When he returned gently to the floor, Jamie Eldridge was a Spellcaster.
