Misc from all over town

[Year count 121] Here's one extra picture of the bride, just because I liked her movemonents and the angle...

More about the noble family in the next update, and yes - the Baroness is already pregnant :yahoo:

This update is a mixed thing. Just showing off some pics, and thoughts on what to do. One night I was hanging just west of the Old Town area, I noticed by accident how well positioned the Historical Museum is! Check out the volcano in the background, it almost looks like the building was supposed to reflect it! I'll take you to the museum later, or wait, maybe it would be better if the Seagull Cottage couple go there with you in the other thread - soon.

Don't think you ever got a good shot of the volcano, seeing how big it actually is. A windmill in the upper Farmland can be seen, and below is the industrial area of the lower Farmland. It's quite easy to see why Lady Dora who was forced to marry a farmer (Salamand) who settled in the upper Farmland, disliked the outdoors so much - I would have too, if I had to settle right under a volcano that big... Btw, Lady Dora is about to become a granny these days!

The right side picture (above) was taken very long ago, I always liked it, but never got a chance to share it :)

Do you remember the Photographer, Fredric Brottington, who wandered Old Town in the middle of the night?

Well, he has been busy photographing the polluted area, both for documenting the damages, but also to point out how bad the industry is to the people of Galucca. He is no activist, it's just his way to point this out. I actually followed him around, and planned to use him as a guide for one of the updates, but I think it's better to move on. Many of his photos were already bought by the Historical Museum. Quite impressive, as the man is not even very old yet.

I've been building, but not much. Down at the harbour there is a rather trashy area where the harbour meets the no-man's land between Old Town and the beaches. This area holds a few bigger factories, a dock sort of thing, the Military camp, and the latest addition - a messy place not really being anything special, but trashy - :)

Facing the big paper/cellulose factory, Seylouse Industries, Inc., seeing they already got car wrecks (oh, how I wish to recolour this thing!), and you see there is a subway grate, because Galucca is getting a modern subway system! On the right side picture you see how I integrated this station rabbit hole into a small building matching this area, sort of.

There's still lots of empty lots along the harbour (and yes, it seems I normally build at night). I won't need to build on them all, it gotta be kinda open here and there anyway. But right now I'm pondering on what to put there. I know I listed a few ideas earlier in the thread, but don't care to look that up. Some boat terminal is obvious, and a promenade thing and at least one outdoor fish restaurant, too. Hm... this might be a busy weekend :)

Wedding

[Year count 116] Baron Junato Pettonta is next in line to become the Count of Galucca. Recently he got engaged to Constance Rivers, they got a good chemistry going, and although the marriage was kinda planned by their parents, it all feels like real love. Today, it's their wedding, yaaay!

The whole town had been decorated somehow, outside Church of Similius a blue (the Pettonta colour) carpet welcomed the guests - and of course the happy young couple. Nikodemus Dipperwell has just left the Monastery, to replace his old father as the new Priest, which did upset Countess Maria a bit, because she would have preferred the experienced priest to marry her son, Junato.

The church was filled with guests, all waiting for the bride. Constance was met by a cheering crowd in front of the church.

We do recognize Suzi Baruba, owner of the bar Suzi's Heaven. Is it really that exciting, Suzi, or do you try to convince the wedding people to come to your bar afterwards, instead of the planned party at Pettonta Castle?

We also recognize the castle cook, Patricia S. Litter, and her son Christopher. Countess Maria made it clear that she did not want to see servants inside the church!

Inside, the church is not really decorated more than normally, except a few more flowers. The relatives of Baron Junato and Constance waited, and there she appeared! Baron Junato felt extremely happy, and Priest Nikodemus still repeated his lines quietly, hoping his green bars would make sure he remembered it all, now that it counted!

A few familiar faces inside the church. Count Gustavian and Countess Maria standing up there, both elderly now. Junato's two sisters Lady Ronda P. Turmington (long blue dress), and the evil Lady Helena, still a teen. Constance's family is on the opposite side, her father is dead, but old mother and older brother are up there (seen on a previous picture).

I don't arrange many mariages like this, so I don't have a single wedding dress in my game. I found this was probably the last time I can use this middle age dress, and I think she looks kinda okay. Historically, I think white wedding dresses has been used only for the last century or so, 100 years ago the bride often wore a black dress, at least in my corner of the world :) So, let's just say those white dresses have not yet hit Galucca...

The ceremony went well, Nikodemus remembered every single word and Countess Maria found little to complain about.

Ending this little update with an overview of the church room. I forgot to fill it completely, but I think this might be a good place even for future wedding ceremonies :)

Hooray, hooray, hooray! To Baron Junato and Baroness Constance!

The Monastery of Similius

[Year count 115] I've messed up a little with the exact time frame lately, a few events not yet presented already took place a few simdays/years ago. But hey-ho... Time is relative :)

Shortly after the big catastrophe, the old bridge crossing Gal River fell down. A new bridge was built farther down the river, actually changing some of the community structures.

The poor worker families residing Maurice Creek (the upper Gal District), used to have an effective route to old town, are now pretty much cut off, as the main route was moved farther south. Which again made for the Wooming family to expand the Science Soil Facilities (now that the facilities is actually on a dead road), and land values of Sunny Field (southern Gal district) increased now that grapes production and nectar making became more lucrative with a shorter route to old town. Bare in mind that very few families had cars yet, making distances a bigger issue.

But let's stop by at the Monastery of Similius!

In the past you learned about the Church of Similius. But there was already an old monastery in the beach area, long before Priest Edmondius Dipperwell arrived Galucca and built a church next to the old cemetery in Old Town.

Nobody knows the exact foundation of the first monastery, and fact is, it no longer exists! Church of Similus convinced the few monks to build the new Monastery of Similius.

Stones from the old monastery was reused, when a new structure was built right beside the old one. Only two monks were still around, elderly Nestor Hupert Glinch and monk Cliff Honkerlane. Two more monks have joined by now.

Monastery of Similius are now dedicated to the same beliefs as Church of Similius, it's all about appreciating the good things in life, staying in the green, but not demanding much more. The monastery has a Nestor, who is the boss of the house. It will normally be the eldest person. In addition, the monastery will be responsible to train the next Priest of Church of Similius. So, Edmondius Dipperwell's oldest son, Nikodemus Dipperwell, has joined the monastery, and will reside here until it's time for him to replace his father as the head of Church of Similius.

On the right side picture above, the Nestor is tending the holy grave. They moved 2 old graves to the new lot, and the left one has turned green over the years, making them believe it is a holy sign, relating to the green colour of Similius.

I think Hupert Glinch is a good person, but I don't know any of his secrets.

Here's a better picture of the lot:

It's pretty tiny, and upstairs there are just 3 small bedrooms with 2 beds in each. Upstairs there is also a library. Downstairs is Nestor's office, and the all room, where they all cook and eat.

There are no strict rules, they all help with whatever needs some attention. Maybe the Nestor and the Priest-to-be spend more time studying and meditating than to do chores, that's why it's good there are normally a few regular monks around to handle the daily stuff.

Nikodemus Dipperwell, the Priest-to-be, do help in the garden. He needs to build skills that helps him understand the mystery of the green bars. They eat food from the garden, no electricity involved. They buy bread from Heisserclump Bakery, in Old Town.

Here they all are gathered for a meal. To the left, Nikodemus Dipperwell. Then monks Rallo Plisterwood (he recently escaped from a ship from faraway, to join the Monastery), monk Cliff Honkerlane, and to the right, Nestor Hupert Glinch.

Not so sure that Nikodemus Dipperwell likes it here, but he is still just a fresh young adult.

At most nights, the monks gather outside to discuss what they learned during the day. Or they might all gather upstairs to read or play chess.

Nestor Hupert Glinch brought a special nectar recipe from the old convent. The monks grow just one sort of grapes, the Gralladina Fran, and each week two monks will visit the Old Mill Nectary to produce their nectar. They will also bring the secret ingredient, based on Death Flower and Life Fruit, that Nestor Hupert Glinch has secretly prepared in his locked office. Only the Nestor knows where those plants grow. Death and Life are important contrasts in this belief - represented by the red and green bars, of course!

Ha ha, on the last picture of the nectary, I actually spent time to teleport and position two monks entering the building, but now I see they are covered by the text. So much for getting it all right :)

Old town

[Year count 115] So, Galucca Old Town is practically done! :yahoo: Only need to build a little on the harbour, and then the lots will just need some adjusting as ages roll by :)

On the picture above you see the (back of) Police station next to the new Historical Museum. The museum looks a bit strange, but it's got some cool stuff inside ;) On the same lot there is a small park, and I think room for skateboarding (that I didn't check out in the game yet), but year count 115 is a bit early for that, I think.

This is Town Street. Front view - Police (guarding the ghosts, of course - after all, some of them were criminals), the Historical Museum, then the Town Hall, and in the distance you see the big Library (light building). I should give you a tour with more details later on.

Now, say hello to Fredric Brottington !

He is the first photographer, offering family portraits in the Town Hall. You also saw him arriving Pettonta Castle in the past. Anyway, he often wanders the streets at night, and he has already photographed many community builds and street life in general. His photos will soon be on display in several tiny galleries in Old Town, but also like one picture here and there, like on the wall of the Butcher Shop.

In the distance (above), Fredric Brottington is heading towards Similius Square, that is in front of the Church of Similius. In the far distance you see smoke, yup, there are factories in town, too, not only in the Lower Farmlands. The other light is a Unicorn, probably near the beaches. (phew, so many locations I'd like to show you, I need to update more often...)

I absolutely L-O-V-E the mornings in this game - not so much in Real Life... The house to the left is a tiny restaurant, Chez Ludmilla. We'll pop inside in a few.

Hm, not in a few, but right away... First, here's another shot up to Church of Similius.

On the left is the Flower Market, might give room for a few car parking lots in the future, maybe a mix. Outside Chez Ludmilla a romancing couple doesn't mind the light rain. But they moved indoor eventually :)

Ludmilla Heisser-Barksdale is the one serving the cash register. The couple just moved to Sunny Fields (lower Gal district), they both were born in Galucca. This night they got engaged!

The restaurant is just a room with 4 tables, a kitchen and a toilet. Ludmilla wanted to run a dance club, but as the Dipperwells (priest with family) lives temporarily next door and the church is just across the street, protests became too massive. So, Ludmilla just serves ordinary meals, in this pretty quiet corner of Galucca.

A huge event is coming up shortly... now that Baron Junato Pettonta is engaged, and the Pettontas and the Dipperwells made friends again, I'm looking forward to witness a wedding at Church of Similius for the first time. Hm, in fact I never arranged a proper wedding elsewhere either...

I tried to make this photo look like random women gossiping about Constance Rivers (she does wear a hair ribbon even if she is not yet married, and everyone knows why the ribbon is blue...) - but in fact, the two woman telling secrets are just Constance's mom and sister - how boring...

You have probably noticed the subway station! Yay, this place is heading for modern times! What did you think all the Miners would do after the old Mines collapsed? They started to build the subway, of course! There are just a few stops yet, but still some locals travel back and for all day long.

I know so many of my overview pics are dark night shots, so here's another shot in bright daylight!

(ohhh... too much in one go, I know, and there will be even more soon! : )

Castle News

I know, I know... I promised another community lot visit, Chez Ludmilla. Instead we'll stop by at Pettonta Castle. Got something to show you there...

So much is happening at the castle these days (or was it years...). Baron Junato grew up to young adult, and so did the young woman Junato's parents already picked for him. Junato met the girl several times and he likes her, so the planning is no big issue to him.

Count Gustavian is quite eager to step down, but rules say that the old Count must die or have reduced health before the next can take over the Countship. Well, these rules are flexible, but it would simply be wrong if they switch the ring already.

I think I might like the next Count, wonder if he will make for any changes community wise...

But this stop is of course mainly about Countess Maria... she has been worrying sick about the cook, Patricia Sculler's baby boy (who is already a toddler). Maria don't think Count Gustavian can be the father, but lately Patricia looked better looking than ever, and Maria have realized how wrong she was, hiring the girl because she was looking bad. The fact that the boy, named Christopher, is blond, helps just a little, but wasn't Gustavian's mother blond...?

Oh, really? The old painter who Maria wanted to see dead long ago? Maria saw this as a plausible exit, if everyone were told that the castle painter and the cook had a child, nobody would ever suspect Count Gustavian! Maria insisted on that they had to marry right away, or they would all three be thrown out! She sent a messanger for Father Dipperwell. Of course he suggested the wedding to take place in his Church, but Maria had no time for that! She didn't really want these servants to marry in her castle, but finally she accepted that it could take place in the kitchen!

You might remember that there was a conflict between the Pettontas and the Church of Similius, when the Pettonta family grave was moved. Well, the community structure was changed, but all that was pretty much settled long ago.

So, in the kitchen, Patrica became Mrs Litter. And Countess Maria kept thinking that one day soon Mrs Litter will become a Widow. She still disliked Emanuel Litter very much! To make it easier to check little Christopher's looks against the old painter, in a few years, Maria called for the Photographer, Mr. Brottington. He is doing pretty well photographing locals at the Town Hall, and the Pettontas naturally got the very first photo session. Now it was time to photograph the little Litter family!

Hm... this update seems to be quite massive. Because now that we stopped at the castle, I'd like to show you their new castle garden...

From the Butterfly Room there are now two double doors out to the terrace and the garden. The garden is facing the mountain, east, so there is no view to the ocean, and no baking sun, but who needs to be baked in the sun when it's much nicer to relax under the trees?

Two long lines cut through the garden, making entrance to the area from both sides. I love this kind of low perspective pics! :)

Maria is normally quite busy doing businesses in town, or organizing the castle, but she found this spot is perfect for thinking. After the catastrophe some time ago, she has been searching for answers - just like everyone else. What caused the damages? Scientists at Wooming Soil Facility, originally founded by Maria's brother, the scientists have not yet found the answers.

Now the Wooming Soil Facility has requested the Count for a large financial contribution to further work. Maria just needs to find a way to benefit from such a generous gift. Only the best is good enough.

Suzi's Heaven

[year count 115] So, let's forget about all those problems and stop by at a couple old town establishments. There are a few waterholes, very simple stuff yet, but I wanted to take you all there while it's still primitive, and perhaps we'll stop by again later to see the place changing.

Although the Galucca development has reached year count 115, I'm still pretty much stuck with long skirts and rather conservative clothing. You might recall Camille Kragger, the new woman at Moon District who turned down old traditions like tying up your hair to show that you were married, or cover your arms and chest with thick, woven textiles. She was the first woman in Galucca with a short haircut. Now, things should be loosing up a bit fashion wise, and I can't wait to allow more variety in clothing.

Anyways, let's visit a rather new social spot, Suzi's Heaven! This is a pub founded by a new resident, Suzi Baruba. She is a widow, and her only child, an adult son, decided not to move with her to Galucca. Nice son, not!

Suzi is nice though, I think she might even own one of those old Gramophones. But she is also business minded, not giving them everything at once. Ehem.

Suzi works here every night except Sundays. She wouldn't mind seeing her happy (and some sad) guests all nights of the week, but as soon as she opened the place, Father Dipperwell from the Church of Similius stopped by to make her think twice. Drinking too much nectar might make all needs green for a while, but then - all red-red-red! And Suzy had to agree. Besides, closing one day every week, would make her guests miss their Suzi's Heaven! She knew that Mondays were normally very busy!

This Friday, the two women from Moon District had finally showed up again. Nobody had seen them since before the catastrophe. Luphelia Moonster and Camille Kragger. Suzi knew they were involved with the MSW, but as long as they bought their nectar, Suzi never bothered anyone by digging into their business. - Stay nice here at Heaven, and I'll leave your thoughts alone!

Oh, the drunk, seated guy in the background... isn't that Rufus Hydront, the farmer who should try to build a better life with farming instead of nectar and crimes? Hm. Better luck in your next life, man!

The great thing about Suzi's Heaven, is that it attracts both snobs as well as the poor workers. Suzi could easily tell when a guest arrived, whether they would be good for her business, or if they would just hang in the room for a few hours. But as long as there was room for them, Suzi never forced anyone to buy a drink. Well, almost never.

Only Saturdays provided music and dancing. Suzi knew the locals needed more amusement in their lives! Not just work-work-work.

But Suzi and Reality is no way related. Most locals need to get early up in the morning, working 6 days a week. So, Suzi blinks the lights right after midnight. She has a plan - if she closes this early all week, she can make more noise on Saturdays without getting complaints from the town council. Again.


A few pics from another social spot, Chez Ludmilla, to be posted next, probably together with a mix of various stuff.

Abnormality

Here's more!

I love overviews, although some of the community lots in old town look empty while they are actually completed (fixed now, but not having the time to redo pics). It's not possible to walk up to the top of the volcano, and most locals never really thought of it as anything else than part of the mountain. Not even the farmers, right below the volcano, did mind - until now.

Even further down, but still pretty close to the volcano, is the industrial area with the factories and the recently collapsed mines.

The production was on again shortly after the catastrophe. They got less minerals for production now that the mines are closed. The mines wee less effective in the past anyway, as most values were already brought up. So, factory owners adjusted their main products, and modern technology (year count 115) brought more need of smaller items, used for electrics, machines etc. I'm not sure what Garton Industries actually produces, but the business is doing fine.

I originally planned to run the game while typing this, in order to give you the exact names of the workers. But no time for that right now. Sitting at his desk overseeing the workers, is business owner, Jim Garton. He is married to Ellen, who is a distant relative of the noble family.

The woman claiming a pay raise, is the workers' elected representative, Mandie H. Gnomes. She resides the lower farmland, and most of her household works in the factories. I doubt there will be any risk pay, though...

You've already seen many pictures of the sunken land. Long after the tragic events, the ground is still discoloured, and it seems to stay this way. The water is still stinking, but the odor is less frightening, or just less obvious as the poor families of this area grew used to it. It's not allowed to catch fish from the upper pond, as it's obviously poisoned. Occasionally some gas reach the surface.

The old cemetery near Old Town is pretty much full. A total of 14 locals died directly or indirectly from the damages. Both Gal District and Farmland District suffered, only Moon District was not at all affected. This naturally made someone suggest that the entire catastrophe was caused by Magic, performed by the MSW that most locals had heard about, and that still attracted new magic focused residents to Moon District.

But most locals thought the land sunk because of the heavy mining activity in the past, and the poison might come from some underground gas chambers connected to the volcano. In fact, nobody knew what the first industry owner, The Honorable Maurice Pettonta, had been organizing down there.

The effect of the poisoned water had already appeared. Kids from near the sunken land, or along the Gal River, were born with a different skin tone. Parents worried, but the Council didn't make any actions. After a while the weird skin tones didn't bother most, it was simply a signature - a memory from the terrible night some time ago.

Sculler's son, Borris, got a yellow/greenish skin which did not look healthy at all, but at the local Hospital they found nothing else was wrong with the boy.

Brit Humph (Wrong name on the picture, Gnomes should read Humph) was born with a red'ish skin that none of her ancestors had. And the Albertin Smith was born with green'ish skin. And there might be more abnormal kids on their way. It was a mystery to the Hospital how the effected children could be so differently affected, not even getting the same skin colour.

Some had only grown up kids, born long before the catastrophe. But it was still hard to handle that a hubby was killed in the mines. Lindy Hill was widowed back then, and still her teen kids find her standing outside, gazing towards the mines at night.
(Btw, I love the tight outdoor corridor between their small builds :D )

More in a few days, leaving the sad stuff behind, stopping by at one of the popular waterholes, Lucy's Heaven!

Inspecting damages

[Year count: 110]  Need to push this story, or I won't reach the starting point of the actual story, Seagull Cottage Bed & Breakfast, in years. You might not know that many of the Galucca events will tie in with the separate Seagull Cottage story (blog not operative yet).

This update is a quick summing up the damages caused by the catastrophe.

After the night that filled the Farmland with dark smoke, it rained for days. Perhaps that was a good thing, because the smoke obviously was polluted, and now the rain washed most of its particles off the ground, into the water. And the water was already stinky, so... well... no good at all...

In the morning, a small delegation rode into the lower farmland to inspect the damages. Count Gustavian Pettonta of Galucca, Baron Junato Pettonta, and Industry owner Jim Garton.

This far nobody knew what had started it all. The huge volcano could obviously be involved, even if it never erupted.

Most buildings were fine, some broken windows or a ripped off door. But nothing serious that could not be repaired. The factories seemed pretty fine, too. Both Count Gustavian and Jim Garton knew that the tall chimneys should be checked before production was restored, but they also knew that it would halt the business, and that production was more important than anything.

When they arrived the point where the ground had vanished, they hardly believed their own eyes. And that horrible smell? It couldn't be chemicals from the industry, smelling that bad?

On these pics it looks like all the water connects directly to Gal River. There is a tiny passage of land cutting off the inner pond. The Smith's house and the factory near their house had miraclously been saved.

It's difficult to see on these pics, but while the men gazed, the old bridge down there crossing the river, fell down! A delayed effect of the events, meaning the households west of the Gal River were temporarily cut off from town.

Both mines had collapsed, but during the day the dead miners were brought up. Seven locals were killed, amongst them David D. Hill from Maurice Creek (upper Gal District). Also my all time favourite Galuccian, Darling Sculler, was found dead outside the mine - I think she used to bring food up to the workers.

It's also strange how many locals actually died at the time of the catastrophe, totally beyond my control. Fiction meets game randomness meets good or bad luck.

You probably guessed that the poisoned water can't be good for the families living nearest. More about the effects in next update :)