Monday, November 16, 2009

Bonus: Burning Night

This is for the November Challenge over at the VSS forums. The theme for the month was Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes. And I happen to see a bit of a parallel between one of my characters and Fawkes.

This is also a preview for Paula's Story coming up in a few weeks if it'll work with me and stop throwing me curve balls.








An ember. An ember in the fire that catches my attention. I watch it floating through the fire until at some point it disappears into the tendrils of the flame.

On this night, the darkest night of the year (so they say, but I don’t know how they would know) Southlanders light fires to brighten and warm the night as they remember the dark days before the Revolution. They remember and tell the story of The Original Experiment.

The past is something everyone here guards closely. It’s taboo to speak about another’s past. And it’s an honor when someone chooses to share any bit of their past with you.

Yet on this night, they stand together, freely remembering the history of the Original Experiment. His past is everyone’s past. Never mind that the exact story is something that no one seems to agree on.


Some have said that it was a mistake. A scientist hit the wrong button on the overly complicated control panel, releasing him and dooming all of the scientists.

Others were saying that it was a girl in the lab, an inherited servant whose parents passed away while working for the labs, trapped there the same as the experiments. She fell in love with him, and, seeing his pain, she let him out, once again dooming all the scientists. (And probably herself if he was as cranky back then as he is now.)

A few others have said they think he was just too powerful. No one is sure what his power is now, and those that do know hold onto the information the same as they normally do the past. Those who don’t know, but like to speculate once a year, say that he’s so powerful he can’t use his power for fear of what he might do or what mental instability it’ll cause.


He never wanted to be their savior or their father. Of that I'm sure. But sometimes it seems these things are thrust upon you despite what you want, despite your original intentions. And you just have to carry on the best you can.

15 comments:

  1. Wow, excellent work! I like the way you integrated the challenge theme into your own universe. And the photos are lovely - good lighting!

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  2. I have no words. This was incredible. That last shot was so powerful.

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  3. Thanks a lot guys!

    For the lighting, all I can say is thank you buyable fire! It turned out rather well once I made sure to get rid of that pesky Brave trait from the few sims who had it.


    Thank you Gail. That lost shot is one of my favorites now. Totally on accident. Those are the best ones.

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  4. I couldn't help thinking of this line, "With great power comes great responsibility."

    This was great. More background information for us and it's nice to see someone else's views on the "him" in question.

    I'm excited.

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  5. Oh, this was great! The last shot is superb - he looks like he's got the weight of the world on his shoulders there.

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  6. LMAO! Whoa.. I was thinking that line today but for another character that happens to be connected to these two.

    Oh good! I hope so. The story is finally coming together I think so it should be ready to post by the time I'm done with Michael and Edith.

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  7. Whoa, you snuck in there, Carla, while I was posting. Thanks a lot!

    The man is going to be an interesting read I hope.

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  8. You know, just when I think "Argh I never want Michael and Edith's story to end" you throw us something like this and I think..."oh...wait, I can handle it as long as she keeps other stuff coming"--I'm completely entranced with your world! I love it!

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  9. Aww! Thank you! I sure hope you all like the next part. It's something almost completely different, and yet not.

    And don't worry. I'm horrible at endings, so I just stop telling the story. They never end.

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  10. I cheated, I clicked on this first without getting caught up, I could not resist. Will definitely get caught up when I get home, regardless, wonderful Lunar, Love the tats on his back! Is that something you did, or a Custom skin? Fitting, I'd say.
    "The past is something everyone guards closely." Yep.

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  11. Hey Drew! Welcome Back.

    What's awesome about TS3 is that there are not categories of stuff- like top, bottom, shoes and accessories. So sims can wear socks, watches, earrings all at once.

    So the tats are actually accessories on the ring finger. Gets a little tricky though. Like I have lovely male body hair accessories I can't use because the tats and the hair share the same ring slot.

    In the next story, the tattoos are going to be a rather important little detail, so I'm glad you noticed.

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  12. I can see why you enjoy writing backwards with this story. There's just so much rich history to discover.

    And can I just say that I SO envy Sims 3 with its awesome bodyshapes? That dude is built like a tree, lol!

    Great entry for the theme! And I can't wait to hear more from Paula.

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  13. I'm like the story telling version of Merlin. Working backwards is fun. XD

    lol, yes you can. AND new sliders are in testing including the height slider which makes sims taller and the body size sliders for bust, waist and butt! I can't wait to get my game working and test those out.

    Thanks for reading and the support, Laura, as always.

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  14. This is wonderful. You totally get that bonfire ambiance.

    Oh my, Southlanders! Do they all wear tattoes? I assume the Original Experiment was a Southlander too?

    Mm, I like that he is still around, a 'reluctant' savior and father... the leader?

    What a great update! A real treat!

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  15. Thanks, Moondaisy!

    The Original Experiment was technically the first Southlander. As in, where he was experimented on was in the south. But those are more stories for another time I think. ;)

    I will say that yes, anyone in that tribe, worthy of that tribe will wear a tattoo across their back.

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