Tartosa Tales: Complete (6-Feb)

[Granny Lawlor]

Tartosa Tales: Introduction

A creative challenge that will be revealed as progress is made.

We start with Gabby BanwellGoodenough, the teenage granddaughter of Simtech Founders Chad & Hilda Banwell. How and why is she adrift and alone in the world? Find out in the Prologue and follow her journey and that of a few other people along the way.



Prologue
Requirements & Progress
Characters
- Lucia's Story
- Dominique & Camille's "happy ever after" from the Wedding Stories official trailer
- Arnessa's Story
- Princess Cordelia's Story:
--Part 1
--Part 2
--Part 3
--Part 4
--Part 5
Lady Matilda's Story

Week 1 - Starting From Scratch
Week 2 - The Arts Club
Week 3 - Rental Success
Week 4a - Helping Faiz
Week 4b - Property Development
Week 5 - Life Coaching
Week 6 - One Wedding and a Funeral
Week 7 - Bottled Up
Week 8 - Llama Dilemma
Week 9 - Spitting Image
Week 10 - They Just Arrrrr!
Week 11 - One, Two, Three, Four
Week 12 - Wrapping Up

[Granny Lawlor]

Tartosa Tales: Prologue

Gabby: This is me, Gabriela if you’re being formal. But I’ve been Gabby for as long as I can remember. And that’s a long time because today is my birthday. I’m going to become a teen today. This is my Mum, Elle Scott. She didn’t change her name when she married my Dad because everyone knew her as the innkeeper’s daughter. I never knew her parents because they died before I was born. She’s carrying a book because she’s a bookworm. Like me! We both love stories – fairytales, adventures, mysteries. You name it, we read it.



Gabby: And this is where we live, right in the centre of Finchwick village in Henford-on-Bagley. Lovely, isn’t it.
I love wandering around the ruins of Lord Volpe’s castle in Bramblewood. He was the founder of Finchwick. You know the waterfall? Cordelia Falls? Just at the top of the falls is an empty cottage where they say young royals used to come on holiday[1].
Everyone here knows me, knows all about me. At least they think they do. They know as much as me at any rate. An open book!



Gabby: This is when things start to unravel. These teens seem to have come for my birthday party and the guy looks so like my Dad, it’s unreal. My Dad? His name is Taranos Banwell. He says he’s as old as the hills but he’s not as old as Granny and Gramps, his parents. Enough of him, let’s find out who these peeps are!



Gabby: It’s nice of you to come to my birthday party.
Madilyn Robles: Birthday? Oh, I didn’t realise. My Dad invited me over.
Orion Watson: Mine too. Well, if it’s your birthday, squirt, have a good one!
Gabby: Your Dads invited you to my house? That doesn’t make sense.
Madilyn: Well he does live here.
Gabby: The only Dad that lives here is mine.
Orion: And mine.
Madilyn: And mine.
Gabby:



Taranos: I’m so glad you could both come.
Gabby: Dad?
Taranos: Ah. I did mean to talk to you sooner but there’s something I need to tell you.
Orion: Way to go, Dad. Mum was right – you do dodge your responsibilities.
Taranos: That’s not fair. It was just….
Madilyn: Never the right time? What about when my Mum died? That would have been a good time!



Garrett Bjersen: Hi.
Gabby: Who are you? Don’t tell me. You’re another half-sibling.
Garrett: If you mean we share a Dad, then yes. Carson couldn’t come. He’s only a Toddler so Mum would let him. She didn’t want to come, obviously.
Gabby: Obviously?
Garrett: You know, with Dad giving her two babies and never calling to see if we’re OK.
Gabby: MUM!!!!



Elle: Come on in, Gabby. I’ve made your cake.
Gabby: But….
Elle: I’ve lit the candles. They’re ready to blow out.
Gabby: But Dad…
Elle: I know, darling but it’s your time. Blow out the candles.
Gabby: You knew!
Madilyn: What are you moaning about. You’re lucky to have both parents celebrate your birthday with you. Blow the candles out, already!
Gabby: Pfft



Orion: Oo – that cake looks delicious. I never got cake for any of my birthdays.
Madilyn: Me neither.
Garrett: I did. There’s always cake in our house because there’s always someone aging up.
Gabby: Oh.



Hilda: Happy Birthday, darling.
Gabby: Did you know? About my half-siblings?
Hilda: Yes dear. Your father had wild oats to sow and he did so with relish. We lost track of all his girlfriends.
Gabby: But I’ve got four half-siblings.
Hilda: Seven actually.
Gabby: SEVEN!
Hilda: That’s partly my fault. I was desperate for grandchildren so…actually you could say it was Watcher’s fault.
Gabby: Watcher? Who is that?
Hilda: She…watches us, guides us, helps us through life’s challenges.
Gabby I don’t understand all this. It’s too much. Garrett says he’s got a Toddler brother, Carson. He must have been conceived after I was born.
Hilda: That’s all on your Dad. Watcher & I had nothing to do with that.  You’ve had a good childhood, you know.
Gabby: A good lie.
Hilda: Not a lie. Just a secret.



Gabby: This is too much. I can’t stay here. I just can’t!
Hilda: Look, your Gramps and I are looking to move out by ourselves and then you can come and stay with us if you like.
Gabby: Today?
Hilda: Not today, hun. Don’t do anything rash. We’ll sort something out in the next few days.



Gabby: I can’t wait a few days. I’ve moved out and I’m going to keep away from my family at the abandoned cottage. No-one will find me here. Wait a minute, there’s patio furniture. Oh no! Is someone living here already?



Kaci: Let me get this straight. You’re the Banwell girl from the village but you thought you’d come and live here?
Gabby: Well I thought it was empty. I never understood why it was called a Secret Cottage.
Kaci: It was where Princess Cordelia lived for a while.
Gabby: I’d heard royals stayed here. Wow. What was she like?
Kaci: She was actually from Tartosa but it got invaded or something and she escaped to here[2]. They say she met Lord Volpe and he let her stay in this cottage next to the waterfall. Lord Volpe liked the Princess so much, he named the waterfalls after her[3]. My guess is that he was a bit sweet on her but there’s no record of a romance.
Gabby: Cool.
Kaci: Some of the books on my nightstand have more information if you want to read them while I make some dinner.



Gabby: This book is amazing. It’s all about Tartosa. Kaci says I can stay with her tonight which is kind of her. But she’s rung my parents and says they’ll come to pick me up in the morning. I don’t think I can do that…pretend like everything’s OK…I wonder…



Gabby: Kaci’s gone to bed and I’ve decided what I’m going to do. It may be a mistake but I’m off.



Gabby: Tartosa! Home of Princess Cordelia. Isn’t it beautiful? I’ve got no money and only the clothes I’m wearing but I’m sure I can get by. After all, I can sleep on the beach it’s so warm in this glorious weather.



Gabby: Oh!



Completed
Starting requirements:
✔️   New Sim from CAS, clean clones allowed
✔️   Only one outfit – the same in each category
✔️   Purchase any lot using money cheats if necessary
✔️   Money cheat funds to zero funds after purchasing lot

In Progress
•   Aspirations: Drama Llama 0/3
•   Other: Obtain an outfit for each category (ThriftTea/shop/career/etc not CAS) [0/7]

Notes
This Prologue was played using the final Banwell Family SimTech file. Gabby at the start of this challenge is a fresh clone of that Gabby in a new save file and a brand new Simverse. Her mother and grandparents may make an appearance but they'll be the wrong age and won't know each other.

References
[1] From description of Cordelia’s Secret Cottage from Gallery:
Those willing to make the hike up Cordelia Falls are rewarded with an enchanting secret. Nestled neatly near the top of the falls and rumoured to have once secretly housed young royals on holiday, this small cottage is the perfect hideaway to enjoy nature, fish, and relax amidst the Bramblewood.
[2] From description of Princess Codelia’s Peasant Stairs in Build/Buy mode:
After the Great Sloth Invasion, Princess Cordelia was forced to flee her palace with few belongings and take refuge in the country. One of the first places she settled was Henford-on-Bagley. She spent lots of time enjoying the countryside and a simpler way of life.
One such novel experience for her was the concept of going up and down stairs. In her palace, her family prided themselves on efficiency and so she always had a stair butler who carried her up and down stairs. Since she had to fire all of her staff during the Great Sloth Invasion, unfortunately the stair-butler could not join her in Henford-on-Bagley.
On the bright side, she experienced climbing this very set of stairs for the first time. She referred to them as “peasant stairs” and wrote about them in her diary. There’s a first time for everything. And if you’re in the market for a good stair-butler, hers is still looking for work.
[3] There are various web pages that mention Lord Volpe knowing Princess Cordelia when she visited and even gifting her a bovine topiary that he’d made. One page says that Lord Volpe lived after her stay. I can’t find the original source for either version.

[Granny Lawlor]

Tartosa Tales: Requirements & Progress

I will be revealing the requirements as they become known and started.

Completed
Starting requirements:
✔️   New Sim from CAS, clean clones allowed
✔️   Only one outfit – the same in each category
✔️   Purchase any lot using money cheats if necessary
✔️   Money cheat funds to zero funds after purchasing lot
✔️    Lot Challenges: Off-Grid, Simple Living

Completed
✔️   All outfits sourced or bought (Gym/ThrifTea/Shops)
✔️   20 bottles collected
✔️   Helped People: 9 (Faiz, Lucia, Lilith, Mateo, Tomi, Rahul, Lavinia, Jenna & Alonso Akiyama)
✔️   Research 7 people for all their Grapevine Gossip

Aspirations: Drama Llama, Admired Icon, Fabulously Wealthy, Freelance Botanist, Soulmate
Skills: Gardening

In Progress
•   Grow: 25/? of available fruit
•   Write 4/? books in each category
•   Aspirations: Angling Ace, Bestselling Author, Big Happy Family, Bodybuilder, Mansion Baron, Mr Komorebi Sightseer, Serial Romantic, Successful Lineage, Super Parent
•   Build/Buy: 1/3 work items unlocked (associated with Princess Cordelia, et al)

[Granny Lawlor]

Characters

Active Players

Gabby (Goodenough) Jaleel



Bookworm, Outgoing, Creative +Cheerful
Spouse: Faiz Jaleel
Children: Rose, Rodrigo

Drama Llama, Admired Icon, Fabulously Wealthy, Soulmate, Neighbourhood Confidante

Lot 1: Baia Dell'Amore, Porto Luminoso, Tartosa (Beach Hut Rentals)
Lot 2: Via Romanza, Terra Luminoso, Tartosa (Cordelia's Tartosa Residence)

Jaleel, Faiz


Active, Loves Outdoors, Romantic +Cheerful

Spouse: Gabby Goodenough
Children: Rose, Rodrigo

Soulmate - COMPLETE

- Poetic, single (Dominique Grapevine Gossip)
- Wants to be able to flirt - COMPLETE(Grapevine Gossip)
- Wants to find love - COMPLETE (Grapevine Gossip)
- Loves writing poetry & Photography (Grapevine Gossip)
- likes Pop Music & Pink (CAS)
- dislikes Programming & Mixology (CAS)
- Wrote a love poem as a message in a bottle - RETURNED

Gen 2 - children of Gabby & Faiz:
Jaleel, Rose Loves Outdoors, Outgoing, Romantic
Jaleel, Rodrigo Creative, Romantic
Jaleel, Matilda Outgoing

Previous Household Members

Akiyama, Alonso
Green Fiend
Son of Jenna & Kado (dec)
School: C
Aspiration: Whiz Kid

Akiyama, Jenna
Loves Outdoors, Active, Perfectionist
Widow of Kado
Mother of Miki, Taku, Alonso
Career: Business Supervisor 6/10
Aspiration: Mt Komorebi Sightseer

Markovic, Lucia - Deceased


Read her story here

Spouse: Mateo
Children: Tomi & Arya

- loves Singing and Guitar  (Grapevine Gossip)
- best friends with Hilary Laurent (Grapevine Gossip)
- likes Arnessa Thebe
- dated Hector Laurent but he was a pretty big jerk, relationship doomed from the start - FORGIVEN (Grapevine Gossip/Bottle)
- met Mateo when he was playing at the lounge and while she going through a rough patch. (Grapevine Gossip)
- plays music with Mateo (Grapevine Gossip)
- wants to get married to Mateo - COMPLETED (Grapevine Gossip)
- died by falling from a great height (Tomi's family tree)

Markovic, Tomi


Creative, Good, Romantic + Active

Parents: Lucia (dec) & Mateo
Living with Rahul Chopra & their 2 children

Bodybuilder - COMPLETED
Painter: Advanced 1 milestone during 2nd stay

- good at art & music as a child (Grapevine Gossip)
- friends with Jace Laurent (Bottle)
- as a child, watched Dominique painting the harbour. Wanted to be like her in creativity & in love - COMPLETE (Bottle Message)

Markovic, Mateo (dec)



Spouse: Lucia (dec)
Children: Tomi, Arya
Spouse: Sofia Bjergsen
Children: Layla, Rylee

Aspiration: Big Happy Family - advanced 2 milestones

- wedding organiser (Grapevine Gossip)
- Goofball (Grapevine Gossip)
- minored in puppeteering (Grapevine Gossip)
- never graduated (Grapevine Gossip)
- old rivals/family feud with Hector Laurent (Grapevine Gossip)
- Good at Singing & Piano (since aged 5) (Grapevine Gossip)
- met Lucia while playing at the lounge when she was going through a rough patch (Grapevine Gossip)
- plays music with Lucia (Grapevine Gossip)
- wants to get married (Grapevine Gossip)
- lived in Porto Luminoso first but it was too close to the Laurents. Are now very happy in Terra Amorosa (Grapevine Gossip)
- would trade a pastry for a llama (Grapevine Gossip)

Chopra, Lavnina (dec)
Mother to Rahul
Aspiration: Successful Lineage - advanced 1 milestone before moving out

Chopra, Rahul (dec)
son of Lavinia (dec)
Living with Tomi Markovic and their 2 children
Aspiration: Renaissance - advanced 1 milestone before moving out

Other Characters

Buttercup, Long John
- Pirate (Build/Buy)
- 1st pirate boyfriend of Princess Cordelia Thebe (Build/Buy)
- had a galleon (Build/Buy)
- he was so stinky on board the Eppsilon that Cordelia designed a sink especially for him and installed cologne stations on every corridor. Eventually she dumped him. (Build/Buy)

Charlie, Two-Eye/One-Eye
Tried to steal the traded llamas back from the Tartosan's but Doug the llama fought him off by spitting in one eye, hence his name.

Eet, Y
Pirate
- Had a parrot
- got cursed and stuck in a bottle with his parrot (bottle)
- possible 4th pirate boyfriend of Cordelia
Named as Yvonne in my story

Klobucar, Igor
- created The Glass Heart, an installation around the theme of romantic love. The material represents the fragility of something as precious as love and the twists and turns we go through to find it. The two strands reminds us that its a journey you take with another person, too.
- met Dominique Soto when he was in Porto Luminoso installing his sculpture (Grapevine Gossip)
- Charming Sim (Grapevine Gossip)
- Used to be a hatmaker for llamas & hated it (Grapevine Gossip)

Laurent, Greta



Father: Hector Laurent
Mother: Hilary Laurent
Grandmother: Arnessa Thebe (dec)

- Adventurous & Mischievous, like Princess Cordelia (Grapevine Gossip)
- Possible favourite of grandmother Arnessa (Grapevine Gossip)
- played on beach near falls as a toddler (Grapevine Gossip)
- father thinks she gets into serious mischief (GG)

Laurent, Hector (dec)



Mother: Arnessa Thebe (dec)
Spouse: Hilary Laurent
Children: Greta, Jace, Liliana, +

- Wedding Organiser (Grapevine Gossip)
- thinks he's a Party Animal (Grapevine Gossip)
- old rival/family feud with Mateo Markovic (Grapevine Gossip)
- Comes from a family with swashbucklers  (Grapevine Gossip)
- dated Lucia Markovic but was a pretty big jerk - FORGIVEN (Grapevine Gossip)
- his mother Arnessa is very proud of him (GG)
- Laurent is his father's name (GG)
- owns a few lots in Tartosa (GG)
- loves looking out to sea (GG)
- has everything he needs at home (GG)

Hilary Laurent (dec)



Spouse: Hector
Children: Greta, Jace, Liliana, +

- loves comedy & cooking (Grapevine Gossip)
- amazing chef (Grapevine Gossip)
- her family was in restaurant business and then weddings (Grapevine Gossip)
- born in a big city (Grapevine Gossip)
- her family started the restaurants in Tartosa (GG)
- she opened the stalls in Porto Luminoso (Grapevine Gossip)
- used to take Greta and Jace to play in the shallow lagoon by the Falls (Grapevine Gossip)
- Mutton biryani is her speciality (Grapevine Gossip)
- best friends with Lucia Markovic (Grapevine Gossip)
- wants to end rivalry (Grapevine Gossip)

Laurent - Jace
Parents: Hector & Hilary
- Favourite colour blue
- Friends with Tomi
- looked for buried treasure as a boy
- liked playing on the pirate playground
(All from bottle message)

McFreely, Captain Chaz
Pirate

- 2nd pirate lover of princess Cordelia
- very vain - it's why Princess Cordelia sent him away
- perptually tired arms due to holding up mirrors and blowing kisses to himself (build/buy)
- good (relative for pirates) hygiene

de Pablo, Rodrigo (dec)
Pirate

(Sim downloaded from Maxis-curated gallery household)
Clumsy

- visited Tartosa (Grapevine Gossip)
- lost his ship the Peggy Leg in an incident involving kelp, a Mersim and a dolphin
- 3rd pirate lover of Princess Cordelia Thebe and possibly the greatest love of her life (Grapevine Gossip)
- died in Tartosa
- 3 possible deaths: peg leg caught fire aboard the Eppsilon; a witch trapped him in a bottle because Cordelia though he had an affair with Lady Matilda; he choked on a tart
- immortalised with Cordelia in a ship's figurehead, now a living tree in Tartosa (Grapevine Gossip)

Pleasant - Angela, Daniel, Mary-Sue, Lilith


(taken from the Maxi-curated gallery household released to mark the Sims 19th anniversary)

- Daniel & Mary-Sue honeymooned in Sunlit Tides and wrote a message in a bottle
- Daniel was Non-Committal and Mary-Sue Ambitious
- Angela and Lilith are twins living together but studying at different universities
- The Pleasant family appear in various forms in every Sims game

Soto - Camille (dec)



Spouse: Dominique

- Writer (Grapevine Gossip)
- Tartosa historian (Family bio/gallery)
- Friends with Dominique long before falling in love. Almost didn't end up together (Grapevine Gossip)
- Married Dominique in Tartosa & sent out memorial message in bottle (Family bio/gallery)
- Returned to Tartosa each year (Family bio/gallery)
- Moved to Tartosa after both had retired (Family bio/gallery)

Soto - Dominique (dec)



Spouse: Camille

- Artist (Grapevine Gossip)
- loves books (Grapevine Gossip)
- fascinated by the Lovers Tree (Grapevine Gossip)
- knows all the best places to paint or take pictures (Grapevine Gossip)
- favourite painting spot is Hideaway Falls (Grapevine Gossip)
- favourite spot to paint is Porto Luminoso (Grapevine Gossip)
- Has lived all over the world, including her 2nd favourite place Windenburg (Grapevine Gossip)
- Not originally from Tartosa. (Grapevine Gossip)
- Met Camille & became friends in Tartosa. (Grapevine Gossip)
- Married Camille in Tartosa & sent off memorial bottle (Family bio/gallery)
- Returned to Tartosa each year (Family bio/gallery)
- Moved to Tartosa after both had retired (Family bio/gallery)
- Met Igor Klobucar when he was in Porto Luminoso installing his sculpture (Grapevine Gossip)
- her last art installation was critiqued by a dear (female) friend but she still speaks with her (Grapevine Gossip)
- Painted a lot on Thebe Estate where Arnessa provided black tea for her (Grapevine Gossip)
- Loves painting Camille and Faiz

Tartosa, Lady Matilda
Siblings: Gianna, Luca (Grapevine Gossip)
Read her story here
- increased trade in Tartosa (Grapevine Gossip)
- loved fruit (GG)
- Tarts invented in Tartosa by one of Matilda's suitors to impress her (Grapevine Gossip)
- Most famous noble in Tartosa (Grapevine Gossip)
- Lived in a grand castle close to Hideaway Falls. No ruins have been found. (Grapevine Gossip)
- Used the Hideaway Falls for illicit trades with pirates. (Grapevine Gossip)
- Was close to Princess Cordelia, going sailing and eating tarts (Grapevine Gossip)
- fell out with Princess Cordelia either because she had an affair with Rodrigo or because she "stiffed her on a fruit tart" (Grapevine Gossip)
- never married or had a lover despite lots of suitors (Grapevine Gossip)
- gave Tartosa back to the people  (Grapevine Gossip)
- died of old age (Grapevine Gossip)
- last of the nobles in Tartosa (Grapevine Gossip)

Tartosa Royalty
- used the Not Quite the Ghost Chair (Build/Buy)
- original settlers of Tartosa (Grapevine Gossip)
- lived in a castle on the cliffs but it fell into the sea (Grapevine Gossip)

Thebe, Arnessa (dec)



Read her story here

Grandfather: Rodrigo Thebe
Child: Hector Laurent
Grandchildren: Greta, Jace, Liliana, +
Aunt Queen & Uncle Eetion
Great grandparents: Princess Cordelia & Rodrigo de Pablo

- loves the glow of Tartosa's Ocean
- loves macarons (Grapevine Gossip)
- seems standoffish but a real doll once you talk to her (Grapevine Gossip)
- overwhelmed by talk of Princess Cordelia (Grapevine Gossip)
- didn't enjoy her family's notoriety (Grapevine Gossip)
- doesn't like being "mined" for gossip (Grapevine Gossip)
- Mischievous like her ancestor Cordelia and granddaughter Greta Laurent (Grapevine Gossip)
- as a girl, crossed the ocean to visit Aunt Queen & Uncle Eetion who she misses (GG)
- broke the fountain in the village square, but won't own up to it (Grapevine Gossip)
- doesn't really enjoy comedy (Grapevine Gossip)
- doesn't like Mateo Markovic (Grapevine Gossip)
- likes music, esp. piano & Jazz improv.(Grapevine Gossip)
- Granddaughter Greta Laurent is possibly her favourite but won't say (Grapevine Gossip)
- once sailed a little rowboat over Hideaway Falls. She broke a leg - literally. That's why they put in the bridge - to keep Sims from trying to sail over. (Grapevine Gossip)
- remembers Hector's father through his name
- happy with her own path through life (Grapevine Gossip)

Thebe, Princess Cordelia


(Sim downloaded from Maxis-curated gallery household with cc hair/clothes replaced)

Child: Rodrigo Thebe (by Rodrigo de Pablo)
Descendent: Arnessa Thebe

Read her story here
- originally from a kingdom not far from Tartosa, across the sea
- Adventurous & Mischievous, like her great granddaughter Arnessa (Grapevine Gossip)
- had astronomers (build/buy)
- had a favourite horse (build/buy)
- had a painting studio (build/buy)
- had Princes as suitors - brilliant prospects (Build/Buy)
- left home land (not Tartosa) because of the Great Sloth Invasion (peasant stairs, build/buy)
- left home in her submersible, the Eppsilon with Captain Long John Buttercups (Build/Buy)
- Long John Buttercups was so stinky she designed a sink for him and then installed cologne stations everywhere before dumping him (Build/Buy)- loved jazz and had her own band which wouldn't fit on the submersible (Build/Buy)
- lived in the Secret Cottage, Bramblewood, Henford-on-Bagley (gallery description of cottage)
- attracted to Tartosa by the glow of the ocean and lived there for a while (Grapevine Gossip)
- arrived in Tartosa with a different pirate to Long John Buttercups
- Was close to Lady Matilda Tartosa, going sailing and eating tarts (Grapevine Gossip)
- dated 4 pirates (Build/Buy - 4 parrot plates)
- lovers: Captain Long John Buttercup (1st), Captain Chaz MacFreeling (2nd), Rodrigo De Pablo (3rd & maybe greatest love), maybe Captain Y Eet? (Build/Buy & Grapevine Gossip)
- fell out with Lady Matilda either because she had an affair with Rodrigo or because she "stiffed her on a fruit tart" (Grapevine Gossip)
- may have hired a witch to trap Rodrigo/Y Eet? in a glass bottle maybe because he might have had an affair with Lady Matilda
- left Tartosa without Rodrigo De Pablo (Grapevine Gossip)
- left Tartosa because John dying suddenly made her remember her love of adventures - was considering RETURNING to the arctic (GG/Bottle)
- gave pirate companions citrus fruits to ward off scurvy and replaced their weakness for root beer with a weakness for lemonade (Build/Buy)
- portrayed as a ship figurehead with Rodrigo, now a living tree in Tartosa (Grapevine Gossip)
- wore "unmentionables" (Build/Buy)
- designed various furniture (Build/Buy)
- painted many paintings (Build/Buy)
- wrote log books of her sea adventures (Build/Buy)
- saw sea sponges/cephalopods-jellyfish/starfish which blocked the portholes while on submarine (Build/Buy)
- enjoyed scallops cooked in garlic while on submarine (Build/Buy)
- sailed on a submersible called the Eppsilon with chandeliers (Build/Buy)
- saw calcified remains of an unusually giant sea sponge deep in Paciantic Ocean (build/Buy)
- explored arctic on submersible after being on Tartosa but had been there before(Grapevine Gossip/bottle)

Thebe - Rodrigo
Mother: Princess Cordelia Thebe
Father: Rodrigo de Pablo
Grand daughter: Arnessa Thebe

- violet eyes (passed down to Arnessa from Cordelia)
- came to Tartosa 20 years after Cordelia left (Grapevine Gossip)
- had a vast fortune (Grapevine Gossip)
- built Thebe Estate in Tartosa (Grapevine Gossip)
- possibly used a chest of pirate gold but there's no evidence of that (Grapevine Gossip)
- The remainder of gold might have been buried near the village (Grapevine Gossip)
- Had other relations - ancestors of Arnessa - still around (Grapevine Gossip)

Volpe - Lord
- founder of Finchwick, Henford-on-Bagley

Jazz Band
Princess Cordelia's own jazz band in her home land, abandoned at The Great Sloth Invasion because they wouldn't fit in the submersible.
Jacob Goldentips - sax legend - was left tragically adrift during the invasion.

Llamas
Stolen by pirates and then traded on Tartosa for fruit tarts and pastries.
Doug - could spit 40 ft and took out Two/One Eye Charlie when he tried to steal the llamas back.

Pirates

L-to-R: Rodrigo de Pablo, Long John Buttercup, Captain Chaz McFreely

(Sims downloaded from Maxis-curated gallery household with cc clothes replaced)

Others:
Dread Pirate Morgan (captain of ship Red Annie) (Build/Buy)
Two-Eye Charlie (One-Eye Charlie - see above)
Captain Rachael the Fearsome
Raider Rad (who raided!)
Dash (shortest but fastest)
Five Finger Fran
First Mate Barnacle Bob

- stole llamas and traded them with Lady Matilda Tartosa for tarts, other pastries & gold (Grapevine Gossip)
- favourites of Princess Cordelia Thebe  (Grapevine Gossip)
- mentioned Princess Cordelia's unmentionables quite often (Build/Buy)
- a weakness for root beer replaced by a weakness for lemonade, introduced by Princess Cordelia to help combat their scurvy (B/B)

Tartosa - the World

- Hot air balloons (Grapevine Gossip)
- The ocean glows at night (Grapevine Gossip)
- The bridge over Hideaway Falls is to stop Sims trying to sail over it after Arnessa Thebe broke her leg doing just that. (Grapevine Gossip)
- A lot of Sims who come here to get married take pictures down the coast in Terra Amorosa, at a grove of trees.  (Grapevine Gossip)
- There's a Pirate-themed playground just outside of town.  (Grapevine Gossip)
- Originally settled by the Tartosa family in a castle on the cliffs but it fell into the sea (Grapevine Gossip)
- may be treasure in the sea below the cliffs (Grapevine Gossip)
- the Giant Sloths never invaded although the locals were terrified that they might (GG)
- tarts invented here by one of Lady Matilda's suitors to impress her.
- pirates came in order to trade their stolen llamas for the tarts which created The Great Tart Crisis and other pastries had to be made.

[Granny Lawlor]

Tartosa Tales: 1 - Starting From Scratch

Previously: Gabby found out that she had 7 half-siblings and ran away from home. Hearing that Princess Cordelia came from Tartosa, Gabby decided to live there.

Gabby: Maybe I was a bit rash, not packing any clothes. I haven’t got any money so I can’t buy anything from this shop.
Watcher: You could try fishing. Any fish you catch you can sell to earn money.
Gabby: I guess you’re Watcher?
Watcher: Yep, and I’m here to help.
Gabby: Like you helped Dad father all those children?
Watcher: That’s another Simverse. I’m here for you now. And right now you need money. Fishing is one way to get some. The docks down here have been known to cough up dragonfruit…



Gabby: I’m cold and wet and the fish aren’t biting. I don’t think I like fishing.
Watcher: Don’t decide that right now. Maybe try somewhere else.



Principal Prescott: I’m hoping to see you in school tomorrow morning, 8am sharp.
Gabby: Of course, Principal. I can’t wait to meet my fellow students.
Principal: And…
Gabby: Oh, and study too, of course!



Watcher: That’s right. The one’s with shiny bits on can be great.
Gabby: A crystal?
Watcher: Perfect. Now go and check out those old water pumps and the pond. Some frogs would be great.
Gabby: If you say so.



Gabby: OK, fishing in the sun is much nicer. Although the fish still aren’t biting. Maybe this fisherman will mentor me...
Hector: Did you say you live in Tartosa?
Gabby: Yes, on the beach.
Hector: We saw a suitcase there. I hope you’re not going to make a mess there. My wedding venue looks out over that beach and it would put the puntershappy couples off.
Gabby: I’ll make it great, I promise…



Gabby: I’m starving and someone’s left these hotdogs around. One for now and one for later. I hope they don’t mind.



Rohan: I’ve not seen you around here.
Gabby: Oh…um…oh….um



Kevin: If you’re studying you must be in High School like me.
Gabby: Oh…um…oh…um



Gabby: I had to get away from all the teens in the park. They’re all too gorgeous and I really don’t need a lot of crushes right now.
Marcus: Less chat, more running.
Gabby: OK OK
Marcus: Phooey! Time to hit the showers, young lady!



Gabby: Whoops, the taxi whisked me back home before I could get changed. Still, the gym must allow for a few towels to go missing, every now and then…This would be perfect to sleep in, if only I had a bed….?
Watcher: No bed yet but how about a tent. Hey look over there…
Gabby: A suspicious pile of sand. What could be in there? A bottle? So pretty.
Watcher: And yet worth zero simoleons.
Gabby: I’ll keep it as décor.



Gabby: My first day of school…
Watcher: What are you doing?
Gabby: I’ve read all about pranking toilets…I’ve just got to do it.
Watcher: OK but I’d rather you didn’t get caught. Not yet, anyway.



Gabby: Why did Sidney have to stop doing the T-pose just as I started. I feel stupid now. Sidney’s got me to join the cheerleading squad so that’s another outfit I’ve got – for exercising – although I’m a bit confused about whether it’s a long-sleeve or sleeveless top… Noah Kane over there…he’s my Rival. We didn’t like each other even before we met.



Gabby: Hey Wolfgang. Why do you have to be Mean to everyone. Even the teacher!
Wolfgang: Harmless fun.
Gabby: No – you really upset some people.
Wolfgang: You?
Gabby: No – maybe we can be friends. Shake on it?
Wolfgang: Argh! Miss? Miss? Did you see what she just did?
Teacher: Didn’t see a thing dear!



Gabby: You were right about those frogs. I can breed them and get about $400 a day. Plus the spare fruit and flowers that I didn’t plant. And thanks for helping me get some things.
Watcher: A loo and sink aren’t up to much without a water catcher but we can’t afford one of those yet. You’ll need to keep gathering water from the sea.
Gabby: No problem. Did you see I found some more bottles. Aren’t they pretty?
Watcher: I guess so. We’ll put them on a shelf when you can afford a shelf.



Gabby: I don’t fancy school today – it’s exams and I’m not feeling prepared. Besides which, Rohan has asked me to the Prom as friends and I need something to wear.
Watcher: You’ve probably got enough to get an outfit at ThriftTea.
Gabby: Great. I’ll go while everyone is at school so they won’t know it’s all second-hand.



Gabby: I don’t know, Watcher. These are all separates. Shouldn’t I have a dress for Prom?
Watcher: These days you can wear whatever you like. Why don’t you take these into the changing room and I’ll keep bringing stuff in to try?



Gabby: I’ve been to the gym for a shower and now I’ve just got time to hunt for more bottles. Wow, I should have come to this other beach before. 5 bottles all in one spot! That’s 18 different ones now, plus a few spares.



Dominique: Are you the young lady setting up a hut on the next beach over?
Gabby: Yes. It’s so beautiful. One day I’ll have a house that’s just as lovely.
Camille: We love it here too.
Gabby: What do you know about the area?
Camille: Tartosa is famous for its history with pirates. In the old days, they used to steal llamas and bring them here for a quick trade. Sometimes for gold, sometimes for tarts and pastries (and lots of them, I’d wager). Porto Luminoso is almost as famous for its tarts and pastries as it is for its history with pirates. (Grapevine Gossip)
Gabby: Well, I don’t think I can afford to keep a llama just yet but I am growing strawberries. Maybe I can start making strawberry tarts… What about you, Dominique, what have you got to tell me?
Dominique: Faiz is a poetic soul. I do hope he finds love soon. He’s too sweet a rose to go unnoticed, don’t you think? (Grapevine Gossip)
Gabby: Faiz? I haven’t met anyone called Faiz. I wonder where he lives.



Cassandra: Wow, Gabby! Cool outfit!
Gabby: Thanks Cassandra. I hope Kevin likes it. I’ve got a big crush on him.
Cassandra: Check he likes girls before embarrassing yourself.
Gabby: Thanks, that would be awful.
Cassandra: Yes it is!



Gabby: I love your earrings!
Rohan: Thanks. I got them at ThriftTea.
Gabby: My whole outfit’s from there!
Rohan: That’s amazing. Crazy how some people pay silly money for brand new things when they’re only going to wear them once.
Gabby: Thanks for asking me here as friends. You’re the best.



Gabby: I’m so glad you like women, Kevin. Wanna be my boyfriend?
Kevin: Ooh yes. And mess around in the Cuddle Carts.
Gabby: You must be reading my mind!



Gabby: You’re wonderful, Kevin, but I’m exhausted. I need to head home to sleep.
Watcher: In a bed!
Gabby: Really, Watcher? You’re the best!



Gabby Goodenough: Bookworm, Outgoing, Relatable
   Observant
Lot: Baia Dell'Amore, Porto Luminoso, Tartosa – Tiny Residential, Off-the-Grid, Simple Living, Chef’s Kitchen, Home Studio, Great Soil
Week 1 (Spring 1/4)

Completed
Starting requirements:
Lot: Off-the-Grid, Simple Living

In Progress
•   Teen Aspirations: Drama Llama 1/3, Goal Oriented 1/3
•   Aspirations: Freelance Botanist 1/4
•   3/7 Obtain an outfit for each category (towel from gym for nightwear, cheerleading outfit for active, ThriftTea for formal)
•   Skills: Charisma 2, Gardening 3
•   Collections: 18/20 Bottles
•   Grow: 2/? of available fruit
•   Research Grapevine Gossip 2/?

Previous Progress

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Completed
Starting requirements:
✔️   New Sim from CAS, clean clones allowed
✔️   Only one outfit – the same in each category
✔️   Purchase any lot using money cheats if necessary
✔️   Money cheat funds to zero funds after purchasing lot

Notes

Gabby is shooting for all 4 Teen Aspirations but I’ve never had the opportunity for a Sim to Sneak out to a Party, necessary for level 1 of Live Fast. She hasn’t even got one window yet, never mind a sneakable one, so she’ll not pursue that Aspiration until/unless that opportunity arises. I am swapping around the Aspirations as appropriate.

[Granny Lawlor]

Tartosa Tales: 2 – The Arts Club

PreviouslyGabby scratched around, starting from scratch, to get enough money for essentials and set up home on the beach at Tartosa, an excellent place to practise for her new cheerleading activity. She found out about the pastries & pirates of Tartosa, that Faiz single plus she developed a lot of crushes

Gabby: Ah – you’re Faiz!
Faiz: Faiz Jaleel at your service. I run the flower cart here. Feel free to come by anytime to pick out the best flowers, or just to say hello. (Grapevine Gossip – GG)
Eloise: Aren’t you the girl who bought the electric green top and blue skin-tight trousers for your Prom from me?
Gabby: That’s me!
Eloise: How did it go?
Gabby: It was great although I want something else for my next Prom.
Eloise: Always happy to see return customers at ThrifTea. By the way, the flowers here are all local. If you hunt around Tartosa, you’ll probably be able to pick some for free (GG).
Faiz: Hey! I thought you liked me!
Eloise: I do like you but when are you going to do something about it?



Gabby: Sidney, my cheerleading teammate, says Tartosa is famous for its fruit tarts (GG). I’m learning so much about Tartosa that I’m going to start writing it down. Maybe I should write a guide book so that other people can read about it…



Gabby: Ugh! Today is the worst. I’ve got a crush on so many of my fellow students that I can hardly breathe here!



Gabby: The day got better. Cheerleading was fun today and I got a promotion. Plus Bella Goth wants to buy my Prom outfit at double what it cost. That means I get to sell it and keep it at the same time, if you see what I mean. I bet Bella will look great in it! The best thing about today? I’ve got a plan to get to know Camille and Dominique better. They seem to know a lot about this area.



Dominique: Thanks so much for letting us come and paint on your beach.
Camille: I’m not much good at painting. I’m better at writing.
Dominique: You’ll get better, love, with my help. But I do love a good book, you know. A nice cozy mystery or, better still, a romantic story set against the backdrop of a historical moment. I’ve been trying to get Camille to write one about the area for years. A historical fiction, drama’d up to be fun. (GG)
Camille: It could be about Lady Matilda Tartosa. She’s the area’s most famous noble. We don’t have lords or ladies here anymore, of course. She was the youngest of three children and the last to inherit her title. Her eldest sister Gianna, loved maps and left to chart the world, never returning. Her brother, Luca, was next in line and something of an astronomer. He would spend his nights looking up into the sky through a telescope he invented himself. It’s said one night he simply disappeared. Nobody knows what happened to him. They both left Matilda here on her own, and she proved to be a very fruitful steward of the area. Most notably she increased trade and gave the area its first real staple: desserts. (GG)



Gabby: The next day, I decide to invite Kevin for a date at ThrifTea – 2 birds with one stone – a date and some shopping. I’d like some more outfits.
Kevin: Thanks for asking me out, Gabby. Hey – isn’t that your Prom outfit that Greta’s wearing?
Gabby: Well it can’t be my actual outfit because I’ve still got it. And so has Bella Goth.
Kevin: They say imitation is the best form of flattery.



Gabby: Inside, not only is Darling Walsh rocking my style. So is my Cheerleading Rival, Noah Kane! You know, I guess he looks pretty good in it too…



Kevin: And here’s us in the Cuddle Carts, getting friendly, if you know what I mean.
Yuki: Well, Kevin, I can SEE what you mean. Wow. Did Gabby know you were taking that?
Gabby: No I didn’t! Kevin!
Kevin: Just a keepsake photo. You look good – so do I. It’s a win-win, you becoming something of an icon…
Gabby: Look Kevin, let’s just cool things off for now.
Kevin: You’re breaking up with me?
Gabby: Not technically but we’re no longer dating. And I’d like you to delete those pics.
Kevin: Oh. OK…



Gabby: Duane! I’ve had a crush on you and I thought…let’s go for it. Will you go to the Prom with me?
Duane: Absolutely
Gabby: Let’s make it official – be my boyfriend too?
Duane: Absolutely.



Gabby: Hey, Ash! Thanks for dropping by.
Ash: Are you kidding? This is such a cool place to live. Did you know – ages ago, a local shipwright carved the likeness of Princess Cordelia and her pirate lover, Rodrigo De Pablo, into the figurehead of a ship. When the ship sank those who remembered their love carried the figurehead to the top of the hill by Hideaway Falls as a reminder. A year passed and it magically began to sprout leaves and branches, a sign that their love lived on even though Rodrigo had passed. Today, you can visit the tree, and if your heart is pure, some of that love magic will rub off on you! (GG)
Gabby: That’s wonderful. I must go and visit that tree.



Dominique: How are you getting on with that painting, sweetheart.
Camille: I’ll never be as good as you. You’ve done so much in the art world.
Dominique: Did I ever tell you that I had the opportunity to meet Igor Klobucar when he was in Porto Luminoso installing his sculpture. Artist to artist! Can you imagine? What a charming Sim. Did you know he used to be a hatmaker for llamas? Hated it. You have to chase your dreams, even if it does lead you away from llamas from time to time. (GG)
Gabby: What is it with llamas and Tartosa? They’re obsessed!



Gabby: Ah. I wondered why Faiz hadn’t joined our art club. I don’t think Dominique needs to worry about his romantic prospects.



Gabby: Oh – this random berry from the spice festival seems to have grown into a Cowplant. I’d better feed it before I go to school. The art club will be here all day…



Gabby: I don’t think it was the cowplant, but this happened while I was at school. Faiz sent me a text to let me know. It’s so sad. Dominique is all alone now and I hardly had the chance to get to know her.



Gabby: I thought I’d better come and pay my respects before it’s too late.
Arnessa Thebe: Too late for what?
Gabby: Too late for…..politeness…?
Arnessa: Oh, I see.
Gabby: You know Tartosa well. Where’s your favourite place?
Arnessa: Well, I’ve always felt drawn to the ocean. I love seeing the glowing tides at night. It makes me feel like I’m part of something truly mysterious and interesting. Isn’t nature spectacular in that way? (GG)



Hector Laurent: How did you get up here?
Gabby: Your mother said I could look around. She said something about your family running a wedding business?
Hector: My family’s great at helping everyone set up the best wedding you can buy, even on a smaller budget. Sure you can get married at City Hall if you’re in a big rush, but why not opt for a big ceremony and reception? Ask anyone! Well, don’t ask Mateo Markovic. The guy’s nice enough, but, well, local rivalries die hard I guess. (GG)
Gabby: Is that bust of your mother?
Hector: No. It’s her grandmother, my great-grandmother, Princess Cordelia.
Gabby: You’re royalty?
Hector: Not exactly. But it’s a long story. There’s a plaque on the bottom that says all about it…”Princess Cordelia Royal Bust – Before the Great Sloth Invasion, Princess Cordelia was said to have brilliant prospects. Princes came from miles around just to have tea with her. Of course, we know today that the Princess had a thing for pirates, but we still created this stunning bust to remind us  how she would have looked to prince and pirate alike.” (Description from Build/Buy item)
Gabby: I must start making notes – all this information – it’s wonderful.



Gabby: I thought a quick date in ThrifTea would be a good idea. With Duane, my boyfriend, you understand. Not with Kevin, my ex. This isn’t awkward, one bit!



Duane: But Gabby! You’re wearing dude’s clothing!
Gabby: Anything goes, these days, Duane. Anyway, I’ve just heard that my good sourcefriend Arnessa Thebe has died. I’m really sad about that.
Duane: Hey, she was ancient. It’s no surprise.



Gabby: Duane? I don’t think this is going to work for me.
Duane: Are you breaking up with me?
Gabby: Yes, I am, officially!
Duane: Oh no!



Gabby: It was not a good night. Losing Arnessa, breaking up with Duane and then getting another crush, on Gemma this time. When Noah came and showed off his jester crown, I lost it. There may have been some shoving. That jerk!



Gabby Goodenough: Bookworm, Outgoing, Relatable
   Observant
Lot: Baia Dell'Amore, Porto Luminoso, Tartosa – Tiny Residential, Off-the-Grid, Simple Living, Reduce & Recycle - Chef’s Kitchen, Home Studio, Great Soil
Week 2 (Spring 2/4)

Completed
Starting requirements:
✔️   Obtain an outfit for each category (cheerleading outfit for active, ThriftTea for remainder)

In Progress
•   Teen Aspirations: Admired Icon 1/3, Drama Llama 2/3, Goal Oriented 1/3
•   Aspirations: Freelance Botanist 1/4
•   Skills: Charisma 4, Gardening 5, Writing 2
•   Collections: 18/20 Bottles
•   Grow: 2/? of available fruit
•   Research Grapevine Gossip 2/?
•   Write a book in each available genre 0/?

Previous Progress

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Completed
Starting requirements:
✔️   New Sim from CAS, clean clones allowed
✔️   Only one outfit – the same in each category
✔️   Purchase any lot using money cheats if necessary
✔️   Money cheat funds to zero funds after purchasing lot
✔️   Lot: Off-the-Grid, Simple Living

Notes

Asking just to be friends with Kevin did not tick the Drama Llama aspiration goal to Break Up. I guess it wasn’t very dramatic… The Break-Up with Duane was official and left everyone very sad.

Gabby’s home is building nicely:



My aim was to have Gabby rent out some of the space to Dominique however, making the lot into a rental seemed to turn Gabby into just a tenant. If she wants to be a landlord, I think she has to buy a designated rental lot. I still need to experiment…but that’s the fun part, right?

Still being a teen, Gabby can’t invite Dominique to move in. I could move her in using Manage Households but I’ll move her in to an empty lot. The bones of this challenge are established but the details are a bit more fluid.

[oshizu]

I'm enjoying seeing Gabby's beach house evolve.
That first shot with just the werewolf single bed and toilet--what a classic.
Here and there, you've written (GG). I assume you are referring to a reference but what does it mean?

Enjoy your new challenge, Gabby and Watcher!

P.S. I've never managed to get a party invite for the Live Fast aspiration...

[Granny Lawlor]

I'm enjoying seeing Gabby's beach house evolve.
That first shot with just the werewolf single bed and toilet--what a classic.
Here and there, you've written (GG). I assume you are referring to a reference but what does it mean?

Enjoy your new challenge, Gabby and Watcher!

P.S. I've never managed to get a party invite for the Live Fast aspiration...

I love starting from scratch but I always forget that the first week is always taken up with establishing some income and meeting all the needs. 

GG refers to Grapevine Gossip. I've been using the full name at the first mention but then abbreviating it. I'll use the full phrase from now on.

My hope for the Live Fast aspiration is a vain one but you never know, lol.

[GlazeyLady]

What a fun start! I’m really enjoying the Grapevine Gossip - I admit (with some embarrassment) that I did not even know that Grapevine Gossip was a thing. Apparently I have not been socializing with Tartosa residents. Thank you for introducing me to it!

I’m looking forward to watching Gabby’s lot and story evolve. Maybe Gabby could turn her lot into a rental and she could be a landlord by moving to an empty lot (selling everything), changing the lot type in Manage Households, and then buying it back?

It’s a shame you can’t change the lot type and then choose to play as landlord or tenant. Turning an area of your own property into a rental and becoming the live-in landlord is such a realistic thing - they really should have allowed that.

[Granny Lawlor]

What a fun start! I’m really enjoying the Grapevine Gossip - I admit (with some embarrassment) that I did not even know that Grapevine Gossip was a thing. Apparently I have not been socializing with Tartosa residents. Thank you for introducing me to it!

I’m looking forward to watching Gabby’s lot and story evolve. Maybe Gabby could turn her lot into a rental and she could be a landlord by moving to an empty lot (selling everything), changing the lot type in Manage Households, and then buying it back?

It’s a shame you can’t change the lot type and then choose to play as landlord or tenant. Turning an area of your own property into a rental and becoming the live-in landlord is such a realistic thing - they really should have allowed that.

It may be possible but I haven't worked out how...
I went into build/buy mode and changed the lot to a rental and designated 2 units plus a shared area. When I came out, Gabby couldn't do landlord things. In the business section on the phone, there's an option to buy a rental property but she can't buy the one she's on... I should probably playtest it in another file because I get distracted with the challenge I've set myself, lol.

[Granny Lawlor]

Tartosa Tales: 3 - Rental Success

Previously: Gabby completed her wardrobe using ThrifTea and broke up with her second boyfriend Duane. She tried to turn an extra room into a rental but her Watcher let her down. She was crushed by the deaths of Camille Soto and then Arnessa Thebe.

Gabby: I’m so pleased that you’ve joined the Arts Club meeting. I was worried that you’d hide yourself away somewhere. I’m so sorry about Camille. She seemed like a lovely person.
Dominique: Camille & I were married years ago in Tartosa. Each year we returned on vacation in hopes of re-experiencing the love - and rich local culture - only Tartosa offers. Once we’d both retired, we decided to make our yearly trip more permanent. Camille had a keen interest in the area's storied history. Many consider her to have been the Porto Luminoso historian. (From their family bio in Manage Households)
Faiz: I wish I could find a Soulmate like you two were. Once I picked up the book, “Pickup Lines for the Flirtatiously Inept” by Dr Phyllis. Im not sure it was very helpful; I much preferred “Diplomacy for Dummies” by Dimitry Hard. Of course, Dimitry tends to skimp a bit on the romance but nobody’s perfect (Grapevine Gossip)



Gabby: I’m sure you’ll get there, Faiz. What are your plans, Dominique? I wish I could work out how to let you rent my spare room but someone isn’t helping me much!
Watcher: Sorry.
Dominique: I’ve lived all over the world, actually. Windenburg was lovely and probably my second favourite. Tartosa is where I’ll live out the rest of my days, though. If you don’t live in your favourite locale, are you even living? (Grapevine Gossip)
Gabby: Oh Dominique!
Dominique: I’ll be okay, hun.



Gabby: Just as I suspected. The Laurent family have just left Arnessa’s urn in the hallway. They must be too sad to move it. Hmmm, I’ll just strengthen her connection to this world and then I really must find time to chat to Greta about this.



Molly: What’s Noah doing here at your dinner party? I thought he was your rival.
Gabby: He is. I just sent out an open invitation so that people could come and see my spare room, in case they want to move in…
Watcher: Working on it…
Gabby: And he just showed up. Plus Greta didn’t come and I really want to ask her something.
Molly: The nerve of the guy! Hey is that the artist Dominique Soto doing your catering.
Gabby: Yes, she said it would help take her mind off things.



Dominique: Camille! I’m coming to you, my darling.
Gabby: What? No! Dominique!



Noah: Ha – you hired an ancient person to be your caterer and, surprise – surprise, she conks it. What a loser!
Gabby: I can’t believe you just said that! You really are a jerk.
Noah: What’s your problem?
Gabby: My problem is you. That’s it. You are officially my enemy.
Noah: You’re such a Drama Llama!
Gabby: OK folks. Thanks for helping make this a Gold Dinner Party but it’s over. I need to see to Dominique.
Molly: Wow, Gabby! You’ve really got it together even when so much stuff is going on. You’re such….an Admired Icon



Gabby: Erm, I don’t mean to be rude, but do you usually hang around after….helping the dead?
Grim: When life gives you pom-poms in Tartosa, you just have to cheer!
Gabby: What do you know about Tartosa?
Grim: It’s a common rumour around here that when the Thebe Estate was built, construction was funded using a chest of pirate’s gold. There’s another rumour that after he built the Villa, Rodrigo Thebe buried the rest of the gold somewhere near the village. If you could find it, you’d be rich! Then again, they sure seemed to spend an awful lot to make that place look luxe, didn’t they? Maybe all that’s left is a bit of pocket change (Grapevine Gossip)
Gabby: Wow! That’s very interesting. I must write that down – in my journal, not in a guidebook…



Camille: BOO!
Gabby: Camille! You came back! I’m so glad. Did you…did you hear about Dominique?
Camille: She’ll come along another night. She’s just settling in to her new existence. We’ve got a cosy pad – just the right size for 2 and it’s even better than Tartosa.
Gabby: She told me you’re the local historian.
Camille: Has anyone told you about the couples tree?
Gabby: Yes – it sounds so romantic!
Camille: I think, as romantic as that is, sometimes a tree is just a tree. Dominique is utterly fascinated by it all the same, though. (Grapevine Gossip)



Watcher: Gabby was really tired and had to go to bed but while she slept…Camille had fun.



Gabby: Thanks for coming, Greta.
Greta: I know I’ve been promising to come but, the whole family’s in mourning from Grandmama.
Gabby: That’s why I wanted to see you. I was wondering how your family would feel about her being buried here on the beach. I know she loved the way the moon glows on the ocean.
Greta: I think it’s a great idea but I’ll have to talk it over with Dad.
Sidney: Aren’t the hot air balloons in the sky romantic? (Grapevine Gossip)
Gabby: Oh that’s a little out of left field but, OK.
Sidney: Will you go to the Prom with me? As a date?
Gabby: We have absolutely no romance between us and I’ve just developed a crush on Greta. But, yes Sidney, that would be lovely.



Gabby: Ah, Dominique! Camille said you might come. Why are you so angry?
Dominique: It’s a default thing. I’ll calm down in a bit.
Gabby: I think Greta’s going to bring Arnessa’s urn down here too. I hope that’s OK? I know the Markovics don’t get on with them
Dominique: I don’t think about the family feud between the Markovics and the Laurents much. It’s such a lovely area. Why doesn’t everyone try and get along for once? Let bygones by bygones. If I felt like holding a grudge, I still wouldn't be speaking with one of my dearest friends after she critiqued my last art installation. (Grapevine Gossip)
Gabby: I’m so glad you’ll be OK with Arnessa being here.
Dominique: The more the merrier!



Gabby: Hello Fatima. Thanks for coming to be my Butler.
Fatima: You are welcome, Miss. And I understand you have arranged for someone else to pay my wages?
Gabby: Yes. I don’t know who but I get Free Services.
Fatima: As long as I get paid somehow, have a bed and get treated with respect, I shall be content.
Gabby: You’ll have a maid and a gardener to help too so it shouldn’t be too hard.
Fatima: Tell me, Miss, why do you need a Butler?
Gabby: To be honest, Fatima, I don’t need a Butler but I’ve been researching Princess Cordelia and she had butlers for everything, even one to carry her up stairs.
Fatima: I note that you do not appear to have any stairs…



Molly: What are you cooking, Gabby? It smells delicious.
Gabby: Just some Forager’s stew. I need something to wake me up. Camille visited again last night.
Molly: Ooooh! What did she tell you?
Gabby: She reckons that Greta, you know Greta Laurent, resembles the descriptions she’s read about Princess Cordelia. Mostly her adventurous nature, but perhaps it’s also her penchant for mischief. She said Arnessa had that as well and thinks that Greta was her favourite. (Grapevine Gossip)
Molly: Hey – can ghosts lie? Or make things up?
Gabby: I don’t know.
Molly: Anyway, does the ocean really glow at night?
Gabby: Yes. It’s….magical.
Molly: Some say that’s what attracted Princess Cordelia to Tartosa back in the day. (Grapevine Gossip)
Gabby: I can believe it. It’s what attracted my new tenant, Kazuhiko? He’s an Erratic, Socially Awkward Freegan.



Kazuhiko: Thanks for my room – such a cheap rate. But then there is only a bed and an armchair.
Gabby: The kitchen and bathroom are shared with me. By the way, Kazuhiko, thanks for paying the fine for not keeping the place clean. $500 will go a long way to improving things.



Gabby: Thanks for inviting me as your date to the Prom
Sidney: You’re very welcome but I’m confused why all our low-key flirting is getting us nowhere.
Gabby: Maybe it’s because I’ve got crushes on nearly everyone here except you! I keep trying to get over them but there’s still 7 left!



Gabby Goodenough: Bookworm, Outgoing, Relatable
   Observant
Lot: Baia Dell'Amore, Porto Luminoso, Tartosa – Residential Rental – 2 apartments, Off-the-Grid, Simple Living, Reduce & Recycle - Chef’s Kitchen, Home Studio, Great Soil
Week 3 (Spring 3/4)

The information that Gabby has discovered about the various Characters mentioned in Grapevine Gossip and elsewhere can be found on the Characters post

Completed
•   Teen Aspirations: Admired Icon ✔️, Drama Llama ✔️

In Progress
•   Teen Aspirations: Admired Icon 1/3, Drama Llama 2/3, Goal Oriented 1/3
•   Aspirations: Freelance Botanist 3/4
•   Skills: Charisma 6, Cooking 6, Gardening 6, Writing 2
•   Collections: 18/20 Bottles
•   Grow: 2/? of available fruit
•   Research Grapevine Gossip 19/?
•   Write a book in each available genre 0/?

Previous Progress

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Completed
Starting requirements:
✔️   New Sim from CAS, clean clones allowed
✔️   Only one outfit – the same in each category
✔️   Purchase any lot using money cheats if necessary
✔️   Money cheat funds to zero funds after purchasing lot
✔️   Lot: Off-the-Grid, Simple Living
✔️   Obtain an outfit for each category (cheerleading outfit for active, ThriftTea for remainder)

Notes

I don’t know what I was doing wrong when I set Gabby’s lot to a Rental the first time but it worked fine the second, showing as 2 units with Gabby as the owner-occupier of no. 1.
The rent she’s charging Kazuhiko is about $15 a day but on the very first day he violated the keep clean policy. Gabby fined him remotely through the mailbox and he paid it straight away. Kerching!

[oshizu]

Thanks for explaining your GG acronym!  Like Glazey, I'd never heard of Grapevine Gossip before either!
Absolutely love the shot of Grim with his pom-poms!  Shake it like a pom-pom! (Sony by Missy Elliott)

How curious that that Gabby could rent out her second unit the second time but not the first.
I still have the For Rent pack disabled until one of my sims is ready to move to the new town, so I'm learning about the pack's gameplay through your story!
Please make extra sure to explain everything in complete detail!  (er, half kidding?)

[Granny Lawlor]

Thanks for explaining your GG acronym!  Like Glazey, I'd never heard of Grapevine Gossip before either!
Absolutely love the shot of Grim with his pom-poms!  Shake it like a pom-pom! (Sony by Missy Elliott)

How curious that that Gabby could rent out her second unit the second time but not the first.
I still have the For Rent pack disabled until one of my sims is ready to move to the new town, so I'm learning about the pack's gameplay through your story!
Please make extra sure to explain everything in complete detail!  (er, half kidding?)

Best advice re rental pack? Save - Save - SAVE! lol

I think my main problem was that I thought, as landlord, Gabby would manage it by clicking on the apartment. The various controls are actually divided between build mode and the owned-business tab (like the restaurant/shop/etc).
I play tested it in a separate save file with the Lewis family. Eric set their house to rental with the top floor as unit 1 and the pink room/ensuite as unit 2. Their daughter then "split and moved" into it. It seemed to work as one would hope.

One thing that surprised me was that you can't edit any tenanted units but I guess that makes sense. It does mean that you need to finalise the build of any to-let units before filling them.

One thing that really made me think I'd got a bug was, having tried and failed to do the rental on her existing lot, I tried to get Gabby to buy another lot as a rental and then move in. She lost all assets whichever way I did it - keep furniture/sell furniture - she neither had the furniture in the household inventory nor got the value of them. I'm not sure she got the value of her initial lot either. The same thing happened when she just moved to a regular lot... It was very weird and I just hope I remember to save carefully before she moves again, just in case...

[oshizu]

Wow, it all sounds very confusing!
I'm not going to worry about it just yet as Hiro still has a ways to go before he's revealed/completed all his requirements.
And...I'll do a thorough-enough test play in a separate file before I actually dive in.
I did already decide all the requirements of the next generation and I'm excited to start!
But first, Hroki and his stupid Luna Fish! Grrrr.

[GlazeyLady]

I'm so glad you worked out the landlord issue! How funny that Gabby has a crush on so many Sims, but not the one who asked her prom. 🤣
That photo with Grim with the pom-poms! I want to print it out and tape it on my wall by my computer. 😂