So Abduction, But No Cigar 9.2: Life States Dynasty (Completed 25 Aug 2021)

[Rhoxi]

So many delightful sims. Sasuke looks good in pink. And yeah, Vlad can be a real pain to woo!

[oshizu]

Thank you, Rhoxi!  This last group was an attractive bunch!
This dynasty challenge, which has us raise and move out 45 kids, quickly demonstrates that we don't have enough hairstyles and wardrobe options, LOL!

[oshizu]

6.1: Tribe 6, Part 1

Week 12 Friday
Yutaka: Where are you going, Yuna? It's just past 6 am.
Yuna: Our 24-hour period isn't over yet, so I'm going to adopt a fourth child.

Yutaka: But we already adopted three nooboos yesterday, as we usually do.
Yuna: For this tribe, I want to adopt four kids alongside trying for a baby.
You could maybe help with the kids in the evenings, instead of obsessing over the observatory.


Yuna: We've adopted two boys and two girls.

Yutaka had previously completed Nerd Brain, so he insta-completed Renaissance Sim.
Now that the kids are all toddlers, I'll have time to make progress with that aspiration, too.


Ayame spends her day very productively.
After tending the garden, she takes classes in Pet Training and Herbalism.
At night, she proceeds to max Herbalism by crafting Deodorizing Ointments.


Saturday
Before her work shift begins, Ayame makes her remaining two good friends.
No surprise that her second good friend is the readily available food stall vendor.
Her third good friend is this blondie, Saori Hashimoto.


Then, Ayame takes a Citrus Soak to get Very Focused for work.
As you might know, the lemon slices over her eyes don't enhance her mood.
They're there to get rid of any dark circles under the eyes.
(I learned that by Googling, since I only ever use lemon slices for lemonade.)


Yutaka: I can't believe I maxed the Robotics skill for nothing!
Yuna: What do you mean?

Yutaka: Even with the Professorial trait, I can't write skill books for most of the newer skills.
Yuna: Well, at least you can mentor Fabrication.  Why don't you write a Guidebook to Fishing or Handiness?
Yutaka: But what's the point of writing a skill book for a skill I can mentor?


Saturday
Our third child, Chandler, is the first toddler to age up.



Week 13, Sunday
Yuna: Congrats on your third promotion, Ayame! And look, all four toddlers have aged up.
Ayame: Shall I stay home a bit longer to teach them Responsibility?

Yuna: It's a tempting offer, but I go into labor tomorrow morning.
Ayame: Right, you'd have two openings in the household if I move out today.


Ayame: I move to Dachshund Creek, a hop and a skip from the beach.
It's colder here than in Oasis Springs.
Since I'm skilled in Pet Training, though, it makes sense for me to live here in Brindleton Bay.

Recognize my house? Watcher renovated Willow Creek's Streamlet Single lot.
Also, I'm the last member of Tribe 5 to move out. And, yes, I did complete my first aspiration!

24. Ayame (Alien): Freelance Botanist & Public Enemy; Gardener 4; Gardening, Herbalism, Pet Training; Home: Dachshund Creed, Brindleton Bay; Single.


Monday
An hour after Yutaka gets abducted, I go into labor around 4 am.
We've added two spellcasters to our fold: Byakuya and Renji!
You can come back anytime, Yutaka, so we can befriend our twin sons!


As toddlers, our boys could not be more adorable!


Tuesday
Our four older kids are simply waiting for the toddlers to age up for our family photo.
Chandler already has three character values in range.
The other three are close behind, with two out of three in range.

Chandler attempts to cross-stitch but quickly stabs her finger. Ouch!


Just before midnight, Byakyua and Renji blow out their birthday candles.
Byakuya insists on wearing his hair long and Renji wants red hair, each like their namesake.

From left to right: Nadia, Bruce, Byakuya, me (Yuna), Yutaka, Renji, Jarred, and Chandler.


Thursday
Chandler (right): You and I were lucky to have skills we could start learning as children!
Nadia (right): Yes, we're both already done with skilling, but lack promotions and good friends.

Chandler: How do you like your Entertainer job? I love the night life and being a Mixologist.
Naida: I'm a Music Lover, so I can't complain about being paid to fiddle!


Jarred: Like my sisters, I earned my first promotion today to a Petty Thief (Level 2 Criminal).
I've tried pulling pranks on passers-by in the hood, but I prefer my trusty slablet.
Nothing like hiding behind a wall of anonymity while I troll the forums! Mwahahaha!


Friday
Bruce: I earned my second promotion yesterday so I'm ahead of my siblings, career-wise.
But I'm lagging behind with skills, which I hope to remedy on my day off today.

With Papa's mentoring, I might be the first to move out.  Maybe.


Yuna: We've been trying something new since the previous tribe.
We don't age up the kids to teens until they have three character values in range and 2,500+ satisfaction.
Initially, we did it so that we could take a family photo of all our kids as children.

Renji's all done and is waiting on Byakuya so they can both age up.


Yutaka's helping Byakuya get his third character value (Mediator) within range.

Then, the twins age up to teens, buy their reward traits, and immediately age up to young adults.
These days, this is how we roll.


Can you believe that all of our kids are young adults now?
Of course, the older siblings helped speed up the learning of their younger siblings.
From left to right: Nadia, Bruce, Byakuya, Yuna, Yutaka, Renji, Jarred, and Chandler.

Jarred: Yo, twins! Aren't you a tad over-dressed for our hood? The look here is casual.
Renji: Maybe so, but Byakuya and I will not be living here forever, you know.
Byakuya: Also, we're going for the classy sorcerer look not, uh, tropical grunge.
Jarred: Um, sure. Whatever.

[Ricalynn]

I think Ayame managed to move into Artie’s hood.  I’ll have to show you what I mean later.

Whoo! Go oshizu go. I know we’ve talked about this challenge while I contemplated my next move but it was nice to see all the faces that went with the discussion.

[oshizu]

Hmmmm, Artie's hood.  I'm thinking perhaps Hound's Head?
Personally, I'm spoiled by the always-warm weather in Oasis Springs and Sulani, haha.

I'm close to the 2/3rds point of this challenge, having moved out 27/45 kids.
It's the final push!

[oshizu]

6.2: Tribe 6, Part 2

Week 13, Friday
Chandler: So, when I said that, my boss replied…blah blah blah.
Renji: Do you mind? I only have a little time to phone in for one skill class tonight.
You're going to make me miss that tiny window of opportunity.


Saturday
Nadia: Why are we fishing?  Chandler and I are done with our skilling.
Yuna: Precisely. And you keep distracting your brothers when they need to focus.
Chandler: …
Yuna: In my case, though, I wouldn't mind being able to mentor Mental/Fishing.


Byakuya: Wow, I'm really enjoying making tracks with Media Production!
Renji: Lucky you! I got Bowling.  And Robotics, ugh!
Byakuya: Is it faster to read a skill book or tinker on that machine?
Renji: Not sure. I'll test that this afternoon. Now I'm off to a Bowling class!


Jarred: But, Papa! I have my heart set on moving out tonight!
Yutaka: Sorry about that, Jarred. But we have to alternate life states, you know.
First, we expect Bruce to get a promoted today then move out.
Second will be Nadia who wants to become a mermaid.
Third will no doubt be Chandler.

Jarred: So, even if I get promoted tonight, one of the twins has to move out before me?


Bruce: I was soooooo close to my third promotion today.
Oh well, I'll try again tomorrow and I do still need a third good friend.


Jarred:  Well, well, well. Whaddya know? Looks like Lady Luck's smiling on me.
I visit the Wishing Well in the modest hope of a guaranteed promotion tonight.
Instead, I'm granted a full promotion!

After checking that Nadia's maxed her job performance already, I move out.


Despite being a Criminal, I'm an aspiring Master Actor with maxed Acting skill.
Naturally, I choose to reside in Del Sol Valley.
I renovate the pre-existing Inner Circle lot.
In addition to upgrading the interior furnishings, I add a helipad for my copter. Sweet!


Nadia: As soon as I get home with my third promotion, I eat some Mermadic Kelp.
I move to eastern Newcrest near my mer-siblings, Matilda and Sage.

First, I try shifting into a mermaid in the bathtub. No dice.
Bah!  I kiss my widescreen TV goodbye and can barely afford a small pool.


Jarred gets a huge house with a helipad and helicopter.
But I have to sell my TV to buy a pool so I can shift.  How fair is that!?
Seriously, every merpeep must start out with their own pool!
Didn't Watcher know that I couldn't shift for the first time in a bathtub?
Watcher: Um, no. *turns beet red



Week 14, Sunday
Chandler: It's past midnight when I 'm able to move out.
Since I'm a Mixologist, I choose to live in downtown Windenburg.
Havisham House is not far from where everything's happening.
Despite the cold weather, I'm sure I'll thrive in this lively district.


Yuna: Yesterday, Yutaka stood nearby while Renji tinkered at his Robotics Station.
But Renji never gained the Parental Guidance moodlet from Yutaka's Patriarch trait.

Today, I try sitting at a computer while Renji reads a Robotics book next to me.
See the crown icon from his Parental Guidance moodlet?
I believe he's getting a skill boost now in Robotics.  Guess that answers Byakuya's question.


Tuesday
Bruce: Hey, I really need one of you to earn your third promotion tomorrow.
Since you're both Spellcasters, I've been waiting to move out in between you two.
Byakuya: No worries, Bruce.  I've got this! Maybe all three of us can move out tomorrow!
Renji: Could you two go chat somewhere else? I'm trying to finish my daily task at the Robotics Station!


Renji: Ever since Jarred and Bruce became young adults, we're all locked indoors at night. Why?
Byakuya: Mama says it's to prevent us from being abducted.
Renji: So what's the big deal if one of us gets abducted?
Byakuya: You mean, you haven't had the woohoo talk with Papa yet?!


Wednesday
Yutaka: I'm finally back home a little past 3 am.
If I were pregnant, the timing couldn't be more perfect.
Which means, no doubt, that this will be merely another vanity abduction. *sighs


Yuna: Yutaka and I are sure Byakuya and Bruce will be moving out this afternoon.
So he and I switch our aspirations to Angling Ace and Painter Extraordinaire, respectively.
This time, we start our 24 hours by each asking the Wishing Well for a child.
Going first, Yutaka is granted a fertility boost.

To me, the well grants a Genius Rambunctiou Scamp named Madelynn.
We rename her Anouk, because we already have a Madelynn in Tribe 2. And off to the adoption agency we go!


Byakuya: Of course, I earn my third promotion and move to San Myshuno.
I'm a Food Critic living in the Fountain View Penthouse in the Arts Quarter.
Yes, it's extremely pricey.
I thank Watcher's love for my namesake Byakuya Kikuchi (a manga character).


Bruce: Now that I can finally move out, I head for Brindleton Bay.
Brrrr, it's much colder and gets dark earlier here!
I live at Hindquarter Hideaway.
My nearest neighbor is my elder sister and fellow Gardener, Ayame.


I love fishing and even completed my Angling Ace aspiration!
A big attraction of this area is the natural fishing pond behind my house.
Uh oh, the fishing spot's sign says: "Cannot fish in such extreme cold."
I better run home and buy a fireplace before Watcher returns to Oasis Springs.


Thursday
Yuna: Renji's final job promotion takes two days, but he's ready.
He is the 30th child that Yutaka and I have raised and moved out.

So far, Tribe 7 includes one Wishing Well child, three toddlers, and my baby bump.
We're aiming for five kids each in Tribes 8 and 9, too.
That way, the 45th child who moves out could belong to Tribe 9.


Renji: Are you familiar with the manga Bleach or its anime adaptation?
Watcher is also a big fan of Renji Abarai, the brother-in-law of Byakuya Kikuchi.
That's why I'm able to move to this fabulous cottage at Glimmerbrook Watch.
If you look closely, you might spot me standing on the front porch.


Aight, let's get serious about Tribe 7 while we still have the energy and enthusiasm!


Tribe 6 in move-out order:
25. Jarred (Human): Master Actor; Criminal 4; Acting, Guitar, Mischief; Home: Inner Circle, Del Sol Valley; Single.
26. Nadia (Mermaid): Beach Life; Entertainer 4; Juice Fizzing, DJ Mixing, Violin: Home: Civic Cliffs, Newcrest; Single.
27. Chandler (Human): Master Mixologist; Culinary 4; Cross-Stitch, Mixology, Singing; Home: Havisham House, Windenburg; Single.
28. Byakuya (Spellcaster): Spellcraft & Sorcery; Food Critic 4; Media Production, Piano, Writing; Home: Fountain View Penthouse, San Myshuno; Single.
29. Bruce (Human): Angling Ace & Serial Romantic; Botanist 5; Fishing, Medium, Veterinarian; Home: Hindquarter Hideaway, Brindleton Bay; Single.
30. Renji (Spellcaster): Purveyor of Potions; Engineer 4; Bowling, Handiness, Robotics; Home: Glimmerbrook Watch, Glimmerbrook; Single.

Watcher's Notes
*Move-out lots: A "modified version" refers to a Gallery or premade lot with an exterior/interior that I slightly edited for my sims' use.
--Nadia's home: a modified version of "Tangled Flat Reno" by Seren323.
--Bruce's home: a modified version of the premade "Cricklet Cabana" in Willow Creek.
--Renji's home in Glimmerbrook is the "Pine Cottage" lot by CatSaar.  What an amazing, gorgeous build!

[sdhoey]

I love me some Bleach, hmmm

Kenpachi Zaraki

[oshizu]

@sdhoey
So, your favorite Soul Reaper is Kenpachi? (That's a great image of him!)

[sdhoey]

@sdhoey
So, your favorite Soul Reaper is Kenpachi? (That's a great image of him!)

You know it!! He's my number 1, then it's Isshin Kurosaki, Byakuya, Renji, Ighigo, and Hyōrinmaru 

[oshizu]

7.1: Tribe 7, Part 1


Week 14, Saturday
Yuna: Three days have passed since we started Tribe 7.
Our Wishing Well child, Anouk (right), wants to earn a little more satisfaction before aging up.
The three nooboos we adopted on Wednesday are all children now.
This is Elias (left), who is a charming lad and a very fast learner, indeed.


Watcher's current favorite is Lyla.
She has such a waifish air with her short hair and slim build.
Like Elias, she's maxed three skills already and is working on her character values.


I'm afraid June's gotten herself on Watcher's black list.
Every child makes a mess or two, but June also frequently drops her queues.
She needs to be watched constantly, because she doesn't follow directions.
Be very careful, June! Watcher gets the final say on where everybody moves.


Of course, exactly because I'd prefer give birth to a single child, I have twins, twin boys.
Mugen is human while Takumi is a spellcaster.
I wonder if their different life states means they won't be identical twins.



Week 15, Sunday
Now that Anouk's a young adult, she plays a central role in our household.
We're in our 2nd round of the 47 available skills, with 4 left to master before they can be repeated: Charisma, Fitness, Knitting, and Rocket Science.
Anouk's been assigned Fitness (done) and Rocket Science.
Look at her  triumphant return! Winning a duel earned her the household's first UFO plant!


June's in charge of Knitting, while Elias works on Charisma.
Both skills can be learned by children, which works out perfectly for us.
And Watcher has revised her initial opinion of June, who's become a talented crafter!


Lyla aspires to grow up and become a Master Maker, learning Fabrication and Juice Fizzing.
She's thrilled that her new BFF hails from Evergreen Harbor, despite his bag head.


Our beautiful toddler twins!
Yutaka's over the moon that the boys share his violet eyes.
To nobody's surprise, our fickle Watcher has a new favorite: the little spellcaster Takumi.
Don't worry, Lyla. Being Watcher's second favorite still has its perks!


Don't laugh, but Yutaka has moved his computer setup next to the launching pad.
Anouk seemed to be taking forever to learn Rocket Science.
Now that Yutaka's proximity gives her the Parental Guidance moodlet, her pace has picked up.

Is it showing how ridiculously desperate Yutaka and I are feeling to raise our remaining 15 kids?


Monday
We almost forgot that Yutaka needs to drink a Potion of Youth today.
To celebrate, he takes Family Leave to stay home to help with the twins.
If Yutaka, Anouk, and I work together, we can help the twins max their skills by tonight.


Besides Fitness and Rocket Science, Anouk's third skill is Parenting.
She helps raise the toddlers to learn Parenting, but her main duty is to Teach Responsibility.
And thanks to Anouk, Lyla's already in range to gain the Mediator trait.

Anouk's great.  We're definitely asking the Wishing Well for a child for the next two tribes, too!


Elias (front): Anouk joined the Astronaut career last night.
Lyla (center): And we've starting working on school projects like there's no (school) tomorrow!
June (rear): Yep, it all means the twins are getting close to maxing their skills.
Elias: Yay, the three of us can finally age up after the twins' birthdays!


Tada! I'm not sure what's with the hands-on-the-hips pose, but here we are.
From left to right: June, Takumi, Anouk, Yuna, Yutaka, Mugen, Elias, and Lyla.


After our family photo, we celebrate another half-dozen birthdays.
June, Lyla, and Elias age up from teens then to young adults as the night deepens.
June becomes a Gardener, Lyla a Secret Agent, and Elias a Businessman.

In our family, all children start with the Cheerful trait because it helps build Good Manners.


Tuesday
Elias had always wanted to become a merman, but he changed his mind last night.
He doesn't think a mer-pear would be a great look for anybody.

Lyla is lovely and sports a classic look reminiscent of a curvaceous Audrey Hepburn.


To June's dismay, she aged up from chubby to "extra-large."
After a bowl of Taste of Diet ice cream, though, she now turns heads wherever she goes.
Also, June is the first of Tribe 7 kids to max her three assigned skills.


Wednesday
Mugen: Today's Winterfest but our Watcher doesn't celebrate the Father Winter tradition.
Takumi: Instead, we wear Master Yoda costumes, because our Watcher loves Master Yoda.
Mugen: Too bad there's no holiday tradition where Master Yoda visits.


Thursday
Lyla: I'm certain I'll earn my third promotion tomorrow.
I ring up Jeb to come over and, when he does, I age up my teen BFF.
Does he have to wear the bag all the time?


Lyla: No worries about the usual invasions of privacy.
I've prearranged with our Watcher to keep them occupied.
Otherwise, you know how they are.
They'd be taking turns to casually come out to the porch. *rolls eyes


Lyla: Whoa, I did NOT expect that we'd share our First Kiss through the bag.
Hmmmm, I wonder if…


Lyla: Oh yeah!


Yuna: No, no, no, no! Not Lyla!
It seems woohoo with bagless Jeb was more than Lyla could handle.
In hysterics mid-woohoo, she tried in vain to calm down using a nearby mirror.
We are all devastated.


Yuna: I'm sure Yutaka said he would plead with Grim by giving him a Death Flower.
But nothing happens. Doesn't giving Grim a Death Flower guarantee 100% success?
Did perhaps Grim ignore my husband's plea?

Yuna: I make a second attempt…


Moved by my pleading, Grim brings Lyla back to life.

Well, I guess now we know why Jeb wears that bag over his face.


Anouk: I arrived home, unnoticed, just as Lyla was dying of hysteria.
After Lyla revives, I quietly say my farewells and move out.

I want to live in the Raffia Quinta house but in an area with a park and fishing.
So, Watcher builds its duplicate here at Potter's Splay in Willow Creek.
The house's architectural style doesn't match my hood, but I don't care.  Do you?


First move-out of Tribe 7:
Anouk (Human): Successful Lineage; Astronaut 4; Fitness, Rocket Science, Parenting; Home: Potter's Splay, Willow Creek; Single.

[reggikko]

The hysteria thing is totally out of control. I really wish the devs would do something to fix that. I’m glad you got Lyla back!

Home stretch!

[Auranaris]

Wow, you are just zooming through this!

[oshizu]

The hysteria thing is totally out of control. I really wish the devs would do something to fix that. I’m glad you got Lyla back!

Home stretch!

The parents, especially the mother, gets hysterical at least once a day. I have five mirrors around the lot for the family to "try to calm down."
I blame the Sentiments system: Same Wavelength, Deep Connection, etc.
Haha, "home stretch" would be the last bunch of kids, but we're getting closer.

Wow, you are just zooming through this!

@Auranaris
Thank you for dropping in! You're right. I'm intentionally zooming in order to complete this challenge while I have the energy and motivation.
The choice of lot traits, parents' aspirations (reward traits), and store-bought traits make a huge difference.
reggikko and I started this challenge around the same time. On my own, I might have never started it or stopped playing (because it can get very repetitious, as my updates show).
On the plus side, I've picked up a lot of new tricks! haha

[reggikko]

@oshizu I remembered a tip from long ago from Nutella. Keep a focused, confident, or inspired potion in the parents' inventory. It's faster than the mirror for them to drink it and since it gives a +100 mood, it will overpower the hysteria. I tried it last night and it worked. My Sims were only Very Playful and not yet hysterical, but it did overpower the Same Wavelength and Deep Connection buffs. Those sentiments should give a very happy buff, not playful. It drives me crazy.

[oshizu]

Thanks for sharing that great tip, reggikko!
Drinking a potion would be faster than waiting to calm down.  Lyla was actually trying to calm down but I guess it was already too late.
Looks like all the young adults in our household will need to carry a potion or two.
I seriously hate how often my sims get hysterical.  Aren't we supposed to be keeping them happy?