Hello and welcome!
Thanks for coming to check out my challenge/story. I'll be trying to complete the Going Solo challenge, but with a couple extra twists. The rules are simple. Complete all lifetime wishes and careers, without repeats, one LTW and career per generation, with each generation having only a single heir and not moving in partners, roommates or anyone else. For more information, this is where you can find the
full rules and
discussion.
The challenge rules cover all LTWs and careers, but I wanted to add a couple extra rules for myself that felt in keeping with the "try everything" goal of the challenge. First, I will also play all the traits. Each generation must have at least one unique trait not possessed by any previous heir. Repeats are allowed so long as each generation has at least one new trait, until all traits have been played. Second, I will play with the main family living in all the different worlds I own (which is all of them except Roaring Heights, at the moment) by the time I end the challenge.
Finally, the first generation (or two) will also be trying to overcome the 4x4 challenge, the rules for which can be found
here. I've been meaning to try this one for a while and I think I can get away with combining the two. If there are conflicts, the going solo challenge will take precedence. I will be calling the 4x4 challenge successful after the tenth expansion, so I don't see it lasting more than a generation or two anyway.
Have I made an already long and difficult challenge hard enough yet? Time to get started and find out!
Comments
Generation One - Cyprus Griffith
Prologue
Chapter 1.1 - Day One
Chapter 1.2 - Everyday Life
Chapter 1.3 - Egypt
Become a Creature-Robot Cross Breeder
Become a Master Thief
Become an Astronaut
Become a Superstar Athlete
Celebrated Five-Star Chef
CEO of a Mega-Corporation
Chess Legend
Emperor of Evil
Forensics Specialist - Dynamic DNA Profiler
Gold Digger
Golden Tongue, Golden Fingers
Heartbreaker
Hit Movie Composer
Illustrious Author
International Super Spy
Jack of All Trades
Leader of the Free World
Living in the Lap of Luxury
Master of the Arts
Perfect Mind, Perfect Body
Presenting the Perfect Private Aquarium
Professional Author
Renaissance Sim
Rock Star
Star News Anchor
Super Popular
Surrounded by Family
Swimming in Cash
The Culinary Librarian
The Perfect Garden
The Tinkerer
World-Renowned Surgeon
Bottomless Nectar Cellar
Great Explorer
Martial Arts Master
Physical Perfection
Private Museum
Seasoned Traveler
Visionary
World Class Gallery - 1 - Cyprus Griffith
Descendant of Da Vinci
Fashion Phenomenon
Firefighter Super Hero
Home Design Hotshot
Monster Maker
Paranormal Profiteer
Pervasive Private Eye
Possession is Nine-Tenths of the Law
Distinguished Director
Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous
Master Mixologist
Master Romancer
One Sim Band
Superstar Actor
The Animal Rescuer
The Ark Builder
The Canine Companion
The Cat Herder
The Fairy Tale Finder
The Jockey
The Zoologist
Master Acrobat
Master Magician
Vocal Legend
Alchemy Artisan
Celebrity Psychic
Greener Gardens
Leader of the Pack
Magic Makeover
Master of Mysticism
Mystic Healer
Turn the Town
Zombie Master
Blog Artist
Major Master
Perfect Student
Reach Max Influence with all Social Groups
Scientific Specialist
Street Credible
Deep Sea Diver
Grand Explorer
Resort Empire
Seaside Savior
High Tech Collector
Made the Most of my Time
More than a Machine
Career Checklist
Business
Criminal (Evil/Thief)
Culinary
Journalism
Law Enforcement (Forensics/Special Agent)
Medical
Music (Rock/Symphonic)
Military
Politics
Professional Sports
Science
Angler
Gardener
Painter
Author
Nectar Maker
Photographer - Cyprus Griffith
Architect
Firefighter
Ghost Hunter
Inventor
Private Investigator
Sculptor
Stylist
Education
Film (Acting/Directing)
Band
Daycare
Horse(wo)man
Acrobat
Magician
Singer
Fortune Teller
Alchemist
Art Appraiser
Sports Agent
Video Game Developer
Lifeguard
Astronomer
Bot Arena
Bookstore Clerk
Grocery Clerk
Cemetery Worker
Spa Receptionist
Spa Specialist
Absent-minded
Ambitious
Angler
Artistic
Athletic
Bookworm
Brave - 1 - Cyprus Griffith
Can't Stand Art
Charismatic
Childish
Clumsy
Commitment Issues
Computer Whiz
Couch Potato
Coward
Daredevil
Dislikes Children
Easily Impressed
Evil
Excitable
Family Oriented
Flirty
Friendly
Frugal
Genius
Good
Good Sense of Humor
Great Kisser
Green Thumb
Grumpy
Handy
Hates the Outdoors
Heavy Sleeper
Hopeless Romantic
Hot Headed
Hydrophobic
Inappropriate
Insane
Kleptomaniac
Light Sleeper
Loner - 1 - Cyprus Griffith
Loser
Loves the Outdoors - 1 - Cyprus Griffith
Lucky
Mean Spirited
Mooch
Natural Cook
Neat
Neurotic
Never Nude
No Sense of Humor
Over-Emotional
Party Animal
Perfectionist
Schmoozer
Slob
Snob
Technophobe
Unflirty
Unlucky
Vegetarian
Vehicle Enthusiast
Virtuoso
Workaholic
Adventurous - 1 - Cyprus Griffith
Disciplined
Photographer's Eye - 1 - Cyprus Griffith
Born Sales(wo)man
Dramatic
Eccentric
Eco-Friendly
Perceptive
Savvy Sculptor
Shy
Star Quality
Nurturing
Rebellious
Animal Lover
Cat Person
Dog Person
Equestrian
Diva
Natural Born Performer
Social Butterfly
Brooding
Gatherer
Night Owl
Proper
Supernatural Fan
Supernatural Skeptic
Loves the Cold
Loves the Heat
Avant Garde
Irresistible
Socially Awkward
Loves to Swim
Sailor
Bot Fan
Unstable
World Checklist
Sunset Valley - 1 - Cyprus Griffith
Riverview
Barnacle Bay
Hidden Springs
Lunar Lakes
Lucky Palms
Sunlit Tides
Monte Vista
Aurora Skies
Dragon Valley
Midnight Hollow
Roaring Heights
Twinbrook
Bridgeport
Appaloosa Plains
Starlight Shores
Moonlight Falls
Isla Paradiso
Start
*The rules require having a bookshelf, but I decided to go with a dresser instead. They have the same cost and footprint and a dresser made more sense in the story context.*
Expansion 1
What? Where am I?
What am I doing here?
I looked around, searching for answers to any of the questions buzzing around in my head. I was in a small clearing, surrounded by trees. Nothing looked familiar.
Well, there's only one way to go.
The path twisted and turned, but never split. That didn't stop me from feeling like I was lost in a maze of towering cypress trees. As I walked, I tried to remember. Where is this? How did I get here? But I couldn't remember. I tried to think farther back. Tried to remember... anything. Who am I?
That thought brought me up short for a moment. I didn't even remember my own name. I force my feet to keep walking. There were no answers here, in the shadows of the tree-lined path, but maybe ahead.
Just as I started to wonder if the path was going to keep going on forever, I saw the exit. I heard the roar of the waterfall and marveled at it's beauty. For a moment, I stood in awe of this natural wonder, all questions washed from my mind by the rushing water.
Looking around, there wasn't anything but bushes and flowers and a lone bench. I sat and watched the waterfall.
I found it relaxing and peaceful. I could think about my lack of memories--my lack of self-identity--without panicking. I don't know how long I sat there, my thoughts flowing in and out like the little wavelets that lapped the shore in front of me.
Eventually I was overcome by the calm, the warmth, the soothing constancy of the sound of rushing water and fell asleep. I awoke to the setting sun and a shadow being cast over me.
"Oh my, are you alright, dearie?" asked a kind, delicate voice.
I blinked up at the elderly faerie woman, then sat up. "Um, yeah, I think so," I answered uncertainly. "I was just... lost, I guess."
"Lost? Oh dear, oh dear. Maybe I can help you get home. What's your name?"
"I... uh, I don't remember."
"Oh dear, oh dear," she fretted. "Do you remember anything? Anything at all?"
"No. Nothing. I walked through that long path and came out here. That's it."
"Path? What path, dearie?"
"The one over..." I pointed, only to find that it was gone. I was surrounded by bushes and flowers, without a sign of the path I had taken to get here.
I looked all around, confused. The waterfall was just where it had been, the bench, all of it except the tree-lined path "Where did it go? There was a dirt path, with cypress trees all along it. I walked along it for a while, a long time, I think, and came out here." I was about ready to cry. I couldn't remember anything and the one thing I did remember had disappeared as if it never existed.
"Don't worry, I believe you," the faerie soothed. "That's it, nothing else?"
For just a second, I remembered something else. Something so small and fragmented, it didn't make sense. A word--a name?--carved on glossy stone, sleek with rain. "Griffith?" I said softly, so uncertain, for the memory had fled as quickly as it had come.
"Well, we'll just call you that for now, why don't we? Cyprus Griffith. I'm Dorie Sprigg."
"I suppose you don't have anywhere to go, do you, dearie?" she asked me gently. I shook my head. "Well then, you just come with me. We'll get you taken care of, you'll see!"
I followed and she led me to the road. It actually wasn't far away, just hidden by the shrubs.
She climbed into the driver's seat of a car parked there. I hesitated for a moment. Some part of me knew getting into a car with a stranger was dangerous. But what choice did I have? And surely she was harmless. She was just a sweet old lady. I got in and she drove off, heading into town.
I tried to ask her where she was taking me or how she intended to take care of me, but I couldn't get a straight answer out of her. Instead she chatted as we drove, telling me about the town, this landmark and that family who lived over there. I tried to pay attention, but it was all getting very overwhelming. Soon we arrived at a towering business building and she ushered me out of the car.
"My son works here," she told me over her shoulder as she walked up to the front door. "Don't worry, he's always working late, such a hard worker my boy is. He'll be here and we'll get you a place to stay."
Inside, she left me sitting in a waiting room for a while, then ushered me into an office and introduced me to her son, Marvin. He shook my hand, sat me down in a chair and proceeded to talk at me so fast that I only caught one out of every five words he said. Then he pushed a stack of papers across the desk at me. I stared at them blankly.
"You're... giving me a house?" I asked disbelievingly.
"Yes. You could say it that way," he said with a smile. "I just need to you sign here. And here. Initials here. One last signature."
The whole thing was hard to believe and I definitely hadn't caught all the legal jargon he had spouted, but I needed a place to sleep. How could I say no? I signed my new name, Cyprus Griffith, feeling awkward.
"That's everything. You're now the proud owner of a new home. How about I walk you out?" he asked, holding the door for me politely. Dorie had watched over the whole proceeding, beaming proudly.
Outside, he handed me keys and a slip of paper. "Here are your keys and address. A cab is on the way to take you to your new home."
Dorie chimed in, "Now I know what you're going to think when you see it. 'It's so small!' But rather than thinking of it as lacking size, think of it as being full of potential!"
I nodded, still dumbfounded by the entire day. As the cab pulled up, I finally found the words to thank them both before climbing in.
When I got dropped off at my new home, I was too tired and overwhelmed to even take a proper look around. I just climbed into bed and fell asleep.
That clearing was lovely, though, definitely not the worst place to wake up in from god knows what!
~MischiefTheKitten
@Blackrain95 I had hoped a bit of mystery would be a good hook to start my story off with. I'm so glad it worked!
Thank you both for reading and taking the time to comment!
Welcome again to the challenge! The thread has been quiet recently, but usually it's busy Do pop in every now and again! Groups like ours are even more fun with the chatter
~MischiefTheKitten
**Apologies for the walls-down pictures. That house is just too small to get pictures with the walls up.**
When I woke up the next morning, I took a proper look around.
Calling my new home small was an understatement. I'm pretty sure there are closets bigger than my house. I didn't mind, though. I didn't have a bunch of stuff I need a place for and somehow the lack of space felt right with the lack of anything meaningful in my memory.
When I went outside, I saw the little fenced in area in the front yard and some of Marvin's words from the night before came back to me. Something about encouraging residents to keep a garden to have a source of fresh, healthy food. Residents plural? I really looked around and suddenly realized that my house was only one of several tiny, identical houses along the road.
It's not like I have anything better to do, I thought and headed off to the grocery store to buy some seeds and basics to stock my fridge.
I didn't know the first thing about gardening, but I did my best, digging around and planting my seeds.
Afterward, I went inside to wash my hands and noticed something sitting on the table. That wasn't there before, was it? It was a camera and under it was a little scrap of paper with two words written on it: "DON'T FORGET"
What's that supposed to mean? And isn't it a bit late to tell me that?! The note and camera yeilded up no further hints as to where they had come from or what the message was supposed to mean. As I held on to the camera, though, I admitted to myself that there was some appeal to it. If I took pictures, I'd have a record. I wouldn't forget. Never again.
It was a good thought and I felt more sure of this choice than any I had made since waking up in that clearing. But I had no more idea how to use a camera than I had known how to garden and unlike gardening, photography was expensive to screw up.
So I headed to the library to do some reading up before I started snapping pictures. When I saw how many other people seemed to be spending the day there, I almost turned back around to go home. Crowds make me nervous. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because of uncertainty about myself, maybe it's some sort of subconscious memory. I just knew that as soon as I saw that many people gathered together, I got anxious.
Fortunately, there was plenty of room inside the library and the crowd dispersed. I had no trouble finding a quiet spot to settled down with the book I found on photography.
I was fascinated. Everything from technical discussions of camera specs and development techniques to the art of composition and color theory had my complete attention, I couldn't get enough. Finally, I closed the book with a satisfied snap and looked around.
The library had emptied and it had gotten dark outside without me taking any notice. I was also starving, I realized abruptly. I hadn't eaten since breakfast.
I went to the diner and took my first picture of the light spilling out though the diner's doors before going inside to get some food. When I got home, I hung that picture on the wall. I wouldn't forget.
I like the name she sorta picked for herself. Cyprus. I'm a fan of unusual names (at times). So some random fairy happens upon her, takes her somewhere and just gives her a house??? Ever hear if it's too good to be true then it isn't. Just saying, I know she's had a rough day, but wow. She doesn't know who she is or where she is. Has no job and no memory. What's going on in that town??? The fairy didn't even seem bother by her lack of memory or the fact the path she talked about was no longer there. Too many questions!!!!
Next part.
Wow, so it's a whole neighborhood of tiny houses. Interesting. Although it's kinda creepy that she gets back to find a camera and a note in her house. Someone had been in her house!!! WTH is going on???
Yes, it is all rather strange, isn't it? I'm afraid you'll have to bear with me a little longer to start getting some answers. And some might take longer than others...
I don't think they're doing this for her wellfare. I think it's their fault she lost her memory to begin with, and now they're using her to their own ends.
This is creepy. Cyprus had better watch her back!!
I'm excited that she's getting into gardening and photography!! I studied photography at uni and am excited to see her progress I also hope she makes a friend of her own soon, not someone that old lady and her son planted. I have a feeling she'll need someone to help her very soon
This is really exciting, well done!
~MischiefTheKitten
It is a great beginning and I look forward to reading more of it.
A Race Against Time
Romance on the Horizon
Raven's Nest-A 100 Baby Challenge
Diary of a Drifter
@MischiefTheKitten Those are some very interesting suspicions! I tried photography for the first time in the game a couple months ago and was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I wanted to give it another go and see how far I could get with it, so I picked it to be her career. As for making a friend... you might be right, she probably will end up needing help. But Cyprus is a loner to start with and her loss of her memories has made her feel even more isolated. I'm not sure she'll have an easy time finding or making friends.
~MischiefTheKitten
I wanted to pursue my lost memories, to find where I had come from, who I had been, but I didn't even know where to start and there was always something more immediate to take care of. I spent the mornings taking care of my little garden. I savored my time outside in the fresh air, with the sun shining down on me.
I also enjoyed my photography. I often wandered the town, looking for new subjects to take pictures of.
That's how I found myself at the cemetery one day. I had a strange, niggling feel while I was there. It creeped me out and I left quickly after snapping a couple photos.
I decided to sell some of the photos that I took and even registered at City Hall as a freelance photographer.
After all, there were bills to pay. I spent some of the money I earned on a bike, too, so that I wouldn't have to take a taxi everywhere.
Before I knew it, my garden was fully grown and I collected my first harvest. I supposed this was what it felt like to be settled-down, but the mundane routine quickly began to grate on me.
I found myself drawn to the cemetery even as that nagging sensation drove me away from it. I snuck in one night to explore the catacombs, but whatever I was searching for in the eerie depths, I didn't find.
It teased my growing dissatisfaction, though, and I realized I wanted more adventure in my life. I wanted new places to see and explore. Checking my phone, I discovered that there was a special deal on tickets, making a trip quite affordable. I booked a flight for the next day without hesitation.
It was as I was walking out to the cab that I was suddenly struck by a memory.
I had been leaving... for Uni?
While my parents waved goodbye.
My parents?! I clung to the memory, focusing, trying desperately to remember their faces, their names, anything. But instead there was a sudden flash of light and pain, followed by darkness. The memory was gone and instead I saw only a pair of eyes that seemed to glow out of the surrounding dark.
"Oh no you don't. Not yet," chided a voice in my mind.