New World Rising - Graveyard please

[fanofaband]

I fell in love with this challenge as soon as I saw it, but it took me quite awhile to get things situated and to find a decent cheat sheet to keep at my side so I wouldn't have to constantly go between windows.  The Apocalypse Challenge is definitely a challenge, as it restricts pretty much every single thing you do in the game, until you clear certain goals.  It says it can be done in as little as 10 generations, but I'm sure it will take me longer than that.

Please bear with me as I play and write, I'm setting this up as a somewhat Fallout/Matrix/my mind situation, so there will be a bit of a backstory to it before I get to the family.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

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Generation 1
Founder - Corrin Hall
Traits - Slob, Inappropriate, Never Nude, Easily Impressed, Lucky
Challenge Cleared - Hopelessness, Education
Spouse - Sheryl Hall
Traits - Mean Spirited, Frugal, Artistic, Over-Emotional, Clumsy
Challenge Cleared - None

Generation 2
Heir - Lane Hall
Traits - Absent-Minded, Good, Snob, Supernatural Skeptic, Bookworm
Challenge Cleared - Comforting Children
Spouse - Donovan Hall
Traits - Neurotic, Slob, Star Quality, Commitment Issues, Virtuoso
Challenge Cleared - Criminal-Master Thief
Spare - Len Hall
Traits - Absent-Minded, Loves the Heat, Loser, Lucky, Easily Impressed
Challenge Cleared - Culinary

Generation 3
Heir - Catie Hall
Traits - Friendly, Artistic, Athletic, Heavy Sleeper, Brave
Challenge Cleared -
Spouse - Abram Hall
Traits - Adventurous, Brave, Loves the Outdoors, Dislikes Children, Light Sleeper
Challenge Cleared -
Spare - Corrie Hall
Traits - Loves the Cold, Heavy Sleeper, Athletic, Family-Oriented, Ambitious
Challenge Cleared -

Generation 4
Heir - Aren Hall
Traits - Loves the Heat, Excitable, Daredevil
Challenge Cleared -
Spouse -
Traits -
Challenge Cleared -
Spare - Anna Hall
Traits - Athletic, Artistic, Loves the Cold
Challenge Cleared -

[fanofaband]

Entry 1 - New Beginnings


My name is Corrin Hall, and this isn't what I look like.  At least, this isn't what I thought I looked like.  A few things have been coming back to me as the weeks go by, and while I feel my mind getting weaker and weaker, I thought I should write down my story so they understand what happened.


Growing up, my name was Ptolemy.  I was immortal, or so I thought.  The last thing I remember was a fight with my several-times-great-grandfather, Menes Pharoah.  He kicked me out of the world we lived in.

At first I wasn't sure what had happened.  A brilliant flash of light, pain ripping through my muscles and tendons, and then... nothing.  Whispers came from out of the dark, and I was confronted by people I never knew.  They were ragged, dirty, hopeless, and they looked at me with such... despair.  They told me what had happened to the world, who I was, what was going on.

I was part of an underground system of capsules, a guarantee for Simanity to survive the incoming doom.  Nuclear explosions coming from Twinbrook, the atmosphere ripping apart.  Above ground was just becoming liveable again, and they needed for someone to go colonize.

Someone like me.

Part of me is still struggling to remember who I was before being put in the capsule, I just remember being a child back then.  I don't know how much time has passed, they told me they weren't sure how long ago the nuclear winter began, but they do know the capsules slowed growth.  It could have been centuries, for all we know.  Life has a way of coming back, of dragging itself back up through the depths and showing we cannot be stopped.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.  At least... I hope I am...

To my family, my heirs, those who follow me, please listen.  Follow my example and make the world better.  I won't see much of it at all, I already feel some of the madness of the others seeping into my mind.  For now, just know I love you, no matter what happens, and I hope this works.

[fanofaband]

Entry 2 - The Bunker

I'm sorry, children, for not having many images to share with you of my early years.  There aren't many of me and your fore-mother at all, but as long as we're remembered for what we've done, that's all that matters.

When I left the Founders (which is what I call the ones who helped me Awaken), they pointed me to several plots of land, saying I could lay claim to one of them.  There were several specifics to which I could build the bunker, and I'll admit it took me awhile to make it well enough to fit to their standards, but I was happy with the final result.


I was allowed a single trip to the beginnings of the town of Viper Valley, only able to buy a few books, but it was more than enough for what I needed.  Soon I became a teacher as well, going into the Education career to help the area's young people.  Learning is one thing that cannot be avoided.  We always learn, no matter what we're doing.  There were a few things I remembered from the simulation I lived in, and so I would do what I could to help the young ones become more equipped to deal with this life.


Soon it was my Adult birthday, and I was worried my calling would never come to pass.  What if I failed?  What if the Founders' faith in me was misplaced?  There was no one to talk to about my fears, only a few other teachers at the school, but we never had time to talk.  With the ash still falling outside, our time was spent teaching and sleeping.  There was hardly any time to do anything else.

Thanks to our efforts, the school expanded bit by bit, until we had made it into a district of sorts.  I quickly rose to the top of the ranks, showing the others alive things could change, things could get better.  Only then did I entertain the thought of marriage and children.  It was something that would have to be done, and so I readied the bunker for more life.



A woman who had worked at the school had caught my attention at one point, and so I finally mustered the nerve to ask her to come over during the daylight hours, when the ghouls were scarce, and I proposed.  My wife, your fore-mother, Sheryl, quickly became pregnant, and not a moment too soon.

It seems she would soon become unable to have children, I'm glad had the time though.  Soon, new life would grace the bunker.  Our family would be complete.

[Niana]

Bookmarked! I've always had this challenge on my to-do list, but it's super involved to set up. Looking forward to where you take this

[Audren]

I'm quite interested in see how this Apocalypse Story goes. I love how you tied in your Dynasty to it, too. Will be reading in the future. 

[fanofaband]

Thanks, I just hope I can get through the whole thing.  I'll tell you this much, I've already teared up a bit at how this family is shaping up with the rules and such.

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Entry 3 - Children's Laughter

It seems like no time has passed at all, and we welcomed our daughter to the family.

Life is complete with her around, but Sheryl has a way of getting what she wants, and soon another child was on the way.


We both adore Lane, our perfect little girl.  Some might think Sheryl had cheated on me, but I assure you, my children, that is the furthest thing from the truth.  She has Sheryl's color with my skin tone.  I must admit, I wish I could have passed down my coloring instead, but I still love my daughter.  Any free time I manage to have is spent with her, she's more than I could have wished for, especially after my strange past.


Len arrived soon after, and we finally agreed no more children.  I'm not sure how we were handling two quite so well.  But it seems as though the graces have plans for us all, and we couldn't delay the inevitable any longer.

Sheryl has become an elder.

I feel my own mind slipping from it's bonds, and I wish I could do more for my children.  All I can tell you is, my children are both toddlers now, and I've taken steps to ensure they're safety while my dear wife and I forget ourselves.

Lane, Len, my dear children.

Please forgive us, we will always love you.

[fanofaband]

Entry 1 - I'll Do My Best

I found this stashed under Mom and Dad's bed while I was cleaning.  I love my parents, but I don't know if I can handle all this on my own.

Once Dad got old, he finally let go and went mad like Mom did.  So I'm left to take care of myself and my little brother, Len.  How can I do that?  I just managed to figure out everything for myself, how can I keep him safe?  The only thing I can think of is to lock Mom and Dad downstairs and have the upstairs to ourselves.  At least they had enough brains to add on to the house before they completely lost it.


I'm Lane Hall, I'm finally old enough to go to school, and I'm raising my little brother all by myself.  How am I doing this?  I'm awesome.  I can't reach the crib though, so Len just has to either pass out on the floor when he gets tired enough, or I let him crawl into bed with me.  I get the bottom bunk so I can get to him quick in the middle of the night.  Or try and get Mom and Dad to settle down from... whatever they're doing.  They argue a lot, but then it sounds like they forgot and then they start dancing together.  I've seen them do it a lot.

At least they love each other.  I think.


Seeing Mom and Dad be like this is enough to get me to try and do something about it.  While taking care of them, me, my brother, going to school, keeping house...  I never get any sleep, this is the only break I ever seem to get.  I don't want to go mad like Mom and Dad, so I'm trying to do something about it.  Dad made a good start with the schools, but we need a little beauty in the world to keep things going.  Art and books, shouldn't that work?  I don't want Len to go through this either, which is even more motivation.

I know, it seems like I'm a lot older than I really am, but what do you expect?


At least I know Len appreciates me, sometimes it's all that gets me through the day.  I'm not sure who I'm writing this for, and I'm not really sure what all Dad wants the world to come to, but we'll try to make him proud.

Some days...

Sometimes I don't know if Len needs me more, or if I need him more.  Founders give us strength.

[MarianT]

This is so sweet. The Apocalypse Challenge has to be the hardest one out there. I'd forgotten that you can't control your elders -- who will keep trying to do things that aren't allowed. I hope Lane is close to being a teen.

[cndneh]

I glanced at the Apocalypse Challenge and thought "no way! too hard!"  So good job tackling it!  I'll be reading this!

[Swirl-Girl]

I'll definitely be reading, and know I want to do the challenge more than ever. But I'll probably fail because I've only gotten two sims to the top of their careers.
Great start, and keep working at it!

[fanofaband]

Thank you all so much for the encouragement!  I'm actually having a lot of fun with this, as confusing and difficult as it is.  Fingers crossed I'll actually stick with it, haha.

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Entry 2 - How We Survive


I can finally get some sleep now that Len's older.  He can actually do things on his own, he doesn't need me around constantly to make sure he's okay.  Sure, I still have plenty of scraped knees to care for, but that's okay.  At least I have a little help around the house now.

I love my brother, and I know he supports me with what we're trying to do.  We'll lay awake at night in our bunks and talk about how we're going to handle things.  Mom and Dad are still crazy, but at least they're here.  Although, honestly, I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing now.


Whenever I get time, I paint and write.  We managed to salvage a desk and typewriter somewhere in town after school one day so I can actually start.  It's better than anything else we have, at least in my opinion!



Since we can both go to school now, we try and help each other out with homework when we get home.  Len might be unlucky, but he's pretty smart when he wants to be.  He's picked up chess since there's not much else for him to do when there's free time.

I know the only reason we're doing so well is because we have each other.  Losing our parents is going to be bad, but we lost each other, I don't know what we'd do.  I hope Len feels that way too, at least.  I can see it in his eyes, he's always happy to see me.

My birthday can't come soon enough, but I can't wait until I'm old enough to have kids.  Maybe we can actually figure all this stuff out after all.

[Swirl-Girl]

Oh, I feel so bad for them. So young, and they grew up too fast, so much responsibility!

[fanofaband]

Entry 3 - The Way Things End




My birthday came and went without a nod from my parents.  I shouldn't be surprised by them now, but I wish they were all there, you know?  If anything, shouldn't they still be here to guide me?  At least I'm here for Len, that should be some comfort, but sometimes it's not.  It's hard to be strong for him when I'm just stumbling through all this.  How am I supposed to know what to do when things happen?  Some of it's common knowledge, some of it's what I've read out of the books Dad hid around the bunker, but there's other stuff.  I'm not his mother, I'm his sister.  How can I be both?


Whatever the case, I can finally use the grill in the little kitchen we have, and I set up the household with a serving of hot dogs for everyone.  I have to bribe Mom and Dad a little in order to eat, but I can finally get them around and focused long enough to do that at least.

Most of the time they just dance to the little radio we have.  At least some of the Old World broadcasts still carry over the soundwaves.  It's something for them to do at least, I have to be happy with that much.

Len helps out when he can, I think he knows how stressed out I can get taking care of everyone.  It's not that hard to notice I guess.  He does what he can, and that's really all I ask.


He's a wonderful teenager now.  Sure, we both have our off days, but we're as close as we've always been.

Nothing ever seems to go his way, I'm afraid he might be a bit of a loser, but if anyone ever calls him that, I'll beat their skulls in.  I promised him I'd always be there for him, that I'd make sure he's protected, no matter what.  It seemed to calm him down a little.

It broke my heart.  It should have been Mom and Dad telling him that, not me.  I promise the world I'll make things better.  No one else will suffer this madness if I have anything to say about it.

I'm glad Len's a teenager now.  It's made things a lot easier.

To be honest, I didn't think anything outside of our family really existed, but when Mom got out of bed one night and faced Grim, I knew I was wrong.

She was 93.  From what I know, she had a good life, but I never knew her the way I really wanted to.  There are going to be a lot of regrets in my life, and none that I could have controlled.  I just wish I could.

I made Len go to bed while I sat up with Dad, waiting for him to fall asleep.  I've never seem him so old as he looked at that moment.  Somewhere inside of him, I knew there was someone who recognized what was happening.  I could see the fight in his soul, it just wasn't strong enough.


Dad died the next night at age 94.  I may not have known him well either, but he was still my Dad, he was the one who started all of this, not Mom.  I loved him, he just didn't know that at the end, I think.  Or maybe he did, I hope he did...


He calmly went with Grim, shaking his hand, saying something about watching out for us.


Oh Founders...  What are we going to do?  Is this how it's going to end?  Or can we still push on, just Len and I?

[Niana]

Oh man, I forgot how crazy heartbreaking the lack of control of elders could be   Did they manage to lift anything before you lost control of them?

I hope the kiddos manage to move forward despite the circumstances...

[MarianT]

I think teens can live without adults -- you just can't start out with them. Good luck, Lane and Len!