eulalia plays the sims 2

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Orla: See, isn't this nice, Chewy? Such a nice little house! And now you can have lots of goaty friends too!






Orla and the other newcomers didn't bring too much, preferring a quick move over the time it would take to bring multiple wagons from Wyll to Veridia. Veridians have helped out their new neighbors by offering up old and spare furniture so that their new homes are furnished, albeit lightly, and of course the covens didn't send them off with no money.

You might recognize this as being the lot across from Shep's that matches her house. She is finally free of those horrible wheat-eating sheep. 😔 Hopefully goats are less likely to get free and eat her seedlings.






River is stuck living with Orla and Maddan for the time being and has staked out a mostly private space for themself in the corner.












Chewy sleeps on a blanket at the foot of Orla's bed. Maddan has not been able to discourage her from this, unfortunately. Nothing like waking up to a goat staring you dead in the face while it chews the end of your braid!




Speaking of Maddan, he gets to go fetch water from the nearby public well in the mornings, where Norweni happens to be finishing up a game of riverstones.

Norweni: Maddan. How is everyone settling in?

Maddan: Well. Your people are very kind.

Norweni: Some of them, yes.






Maddan: I wanted to ask, though, since it looks like we'll be here for spirits know how long... would you be willing to let me train with your town guard? I'm not made for doing nothing, and I'm afraid I don't know too much about farming. Or sheep, for that matter.

Norweni: I don't see why not, as long as you're willing to participate in guard shifts and everything. Never a bad thing to get some new blood in—and Kinet and some of the others could do with meeting a new fighting style once in a while!

Maddan: Now that I can provide. I think Orla was cooking something for lunch if you want to come over and discuss it more?




River: I suppose it isn't too bad here. I was afraid they'd want to send us to a real backwater.

Orla: Aw, you're not as much of a recluse as you pretend to be, huh?




River: No, I just like not having to walk fifteen leagues to the closest market and having to make my own... I don't know, soap and bread.

Orla: Yum. Well, I like it! This is like an adventure story! It's exciting!

River: I wouldn't go that far.






There's not a lot for River to do here, though, besides watch the rain and Orla running off to throw up her breakfast every morning. Back home they would help maintain the family hall, and sometimes wealthier people (or even not-so-wealthy people with some savings) would commission fortune-tellings from the family.

Here, Orla does a lot of the cleaning around their tiny house, and they have no idea how to go about cultivating a new market for prophecies. That probably would've been easier in a bigger place like Evervale.




Orla: Why so glum, glum-face? Cheer up!

River: Ehehehe! Orla, stoooop, that's not fair—I can't tickle you back or you'll puke on me.






The welcoming committee consists of Fial (makes sense), Faro (got dragged along with his mother), and Gytha (saw the commotion from across the street and wanted to join, I guess?).






Faro: Mum, they have a pet goat! Look how sweet she is. Can we—

Fial: No.




This is too much liking, Norweni. I thought for sure she would hate him. 😭




Orla: I think this afternoon I'm going to go see cousin Helenet. I can't believe she's here! I want to hear what she's been up to. I heard she's the village midwife too? So I should go see her anyway!

Norweni: That's true. She delivered my own children; she's very capable.




Orla: D'you want to come with me, Maddan?

Maddan: No.

Orla: You and Helenet are the same age, aren't you? You must've met her a few times before she left, I'm sure she'd love to catch up—

Maddan: I said no, Orla.

Orla: Alright, sheesh.






First, though, a nap feels very necessary (accompanied by Chewy, of course). It's good the first trimester exhaustion didn't hit until they were done traveling.






Maddan: So, Norweni the Knife. You were already a legend when I first started training; the woman who helped Maccus seize his seat from his uncle.

Norweni: I'm a person, not a legend.




Maddan: Most legends are. That's why you should never meet any; they're usually disappointing.

Norweni: *laughs* Smart. Am I disappointing to you, then, Maddan of Wyll?






Maddan: Not so far. By all accounts, you run Veridia with a steady hand. It's admirable.

Norweni: Oh, well—thank you.




River desperately needs their own house, so they don't have to listen to this.




Turns out Helenet had a similar thought to Orla and turns up to check in on her.

Orla: Helenet! Hi!

Helenet: Aaaand we're hugging. Okay.

Orla: Come inside, you must be soaked!






Orla: You're expecting too? Oh, our babies can grow up together and be friends!

Helenet: You're pregnant, Orla?




Orla: Yes! It must've happened while we were traveling. It's so exciting!

Helenet: I see. Have the two of you been married long?

Orla: Seven—oh, no, eight months now. Great-grandmother arranged it, but I don't mind, you know. He's very pretty!

Helenet: I... see.




Orla: What about you? What's happened since you left home? When did you come here, anyway?

Helenet: Oh, ages ago. Um... I've married, and we have a wee daughter in addition to this one that's brewing. And I've started teaching Angus about herbalism and healing. He's got a natural hand for it.

Orla: That's great! Oh, you should bring Angus with you next time. And your husband!




Helenet will not be doing that, thanks.






Chewy's hobbies include:

   - digging holes
   - rolling in pee
   - eating Maddan's braid
   - harassing squirrels

At least she's housebroken.




River: I'm going out for a walk.

Orla: At night? Don't get lost!




Orla is quite fond of Maddan: he's pretty and he cooks.






She wishes he would talk about work less, though. Soldiering is gory business.




Drustan's bees came to give River a warm welcome, I see.




Maddan: I'm for bed now. What about you?

Orla: I suppose—




Orla: Or we could fool around first?

Maddan: Aren't you pregnant already?

Orla: That's not the only reason to have sex, silly!

Maddan: Fairly sure it was the entire point of this marriage.


* * *




River: I think I'm going to visit the market today. Want to come along?

Orla: Sounds fun.

River: You sound noticeably less cheery this morning.

Orla: It's just the morning sickness. I'll be right as rain once I puke!

River: Uh... great.




True to her word, Orla is much perkier by the time they get to the market. So many new people to meet!




River: Um, may I join?

Derelei: Sure. You're one of the new people from Wyll, right?

River: Yes. River, I'm River, I mean.




Orla: Ooh, you're Helenet's husband, right?

Elmet: Let me guess: Orla?

Orla: Yes! It's nice to meet you!




Elmet: I have to say, you two don't look anything alike.

Orla: Haha, we're only second cousins. But in our family, everyone fifteen years or less than you is a cousin and everyone older is an auntie! Except Great-grandmother, of course.

Elmet: Ah, the one Netty keeps calling a devil.

Orla: Great-grandmother has... strong opinions. Aw, you call her Netty? That's so cute.






Derelei: So is everyone who came with you a witch?

River: Oh, no... just me and Orla. We're supposed to be 'guarding the magic bloodlines', which sounds really weird when you talk about it to anyone outside the covens.

Derelei: A bit, yes.

River: Orla's doing a better job at it than me so far.




River: What do you do?

Derelei: Weaving, mostly. I know it's boring compared to, I don't know, magic, but I like it enough.

River: No, no, not boring at all. I can do a bit of tablet weaving, but Da always said I'm too slow on a loom.




River: Um... thank you for the game, and the chat. It was really nice.

Derelei: Anytime!





* * *




Coming to Veridia has presented Maddan with an unexpected opportunity, one he really doesn't want but fears he must take anyway. So on his first free day, he summons up his courage and wits and sets out while Orla and River are at the market.






Helenet: Ugh.




Helenet: Why are you here?

Maddan: Helenet, I beg you: take back the curse.

Helenet: What are you talking about? Get off the ground, you prat.




Maddan: I've had nothing but bad luck in my life since that day—

Helenet: There's no curse, Maddan.

Maddan: I know it was cruel of me to say such things, but do you know how many times I've almost died since then?

Helenet: Unfortunately you're here, in front of my house, so I don't think you've been that unlucky.




Maddan: I would not deign to ask, but I fear what the curse could do to the baby, and Orla doesn't deserve that—

Helenet: There's no curse! There was never any curse! It was just words! I cannot do that, Maddan.




Arturo: But I can.

Maddan: What the fu—




Helenet: Down, boy.

Arturo: This is the man, yes, witch? Just say the word. Shall I turn him into a frog or a locust?




Helenet: I don't want you to turn him into anything, Arturo. Maddan, if you'd listen for a moment, you would hear me tell you that there's never been a curse. I've never been capable of curses. Any bad luck you've had is your own doing.

Maddan: That's...




Helenet: I am so glad to hear that you've been blaming all your ills on me for the past decade, though. Now get away from my house before I change my mind and let him do as he pleases.

Maddan: I will, but wait, please. Orla—




Helenet: Oh, that's another thing! You married my baby cousin? Really?




Maddan: I didn't exactly have much say in the matter. You must remember how it is. The elders say it's time you got married, here's your wife to be, go put on your nice shirt now.

Helenet: You're a grown man. Presumably one capable of saying no, or even leaving.

Maddan: Not everyone can walk away from everything they know as easily as you.




Helenet: You seem to have done it in the end.

Maddan: She's expecting a baby. You'll still see to her, won't you? Despite me?

Helenet: Of course I will. It's not Orla's fault that she's married to a prat.




Maddan: The boy who was with you at the hall. That's...

Helenet: I'll tell him who you are, but if he wants anything to do with you, that's wholly up to him. So let him be or I really will let Arturo do as he pleases with you.




Maddan: Yes. Fine. I'll leave now.

Helenet: Good.




Arturo: Are you sure you don't want me to kill him, little witch? One little curse?

Helenet: No, thank you, though.




Arturo: At least let us howl outside his window in the night. I've been working on a howl that is very menacing, if I say so myself. Monstrous, even.

Helenet: Hmm... no, but only because I don't want Orla to be scared. Or, worse, she might come out and try to pet you.




Helenet: Of course, if you two were to catch him alone some night...

Arturo: Excellent.

Helenet: Just no murder or maiming, love.

Arturo: Fine.


* * *








For want of anything better to do, River has decided to start a small garden. Fresh strawberries would be nice.




River: Goat, if you eat these seedlings, mark my words, someone will be eating goat stew for supper.






Maddan: Bloody goat. Someday someone's going to break an ankle in one of these holes. Someone will probably be me.




Orla: Who's the most precious baby goat? Is it you? Is it Chewy?

Chewy: Baaaaah!*

*Transl.: Mother, I'm being threatened with violence from all sides.

(Don't worry, River would never actually do that to Orla's pet! Maddan is too afraid of being hexed again to even try.)




Norweni has come by again to check on some of her newest residents.






Orla: What are we talking about here?

Maddan: Work.

Orla: Never mind!






Maddan set up a knife-throwing target by the wood pile to keep his skills sharp, and not all just because he was bored, and challenges Norweni to a friendly competition.

Maddan: That's the best you can do? I think you may need a new epithet, Knife.

Norweni: Some of us are working with compromised depth perception. I've had more practice with a bow and spear than knives since then anyway.

Maddan: You hold competitions at midsummer, right? Bet you two silver I can outshoot you then.

Norweni: I'll take that bet and your silver.


* * *






River: Derelei, hi.

Derelei: Hello! Is this your first visit to the mead hall?

River: Yes. Always important to scope out where you can drink.

Derelei: I could show you around?

River: There's not much to sho—I mean, yes, that would be lovely, thank you.




Don't worry! Brigid is here to ruin things!




Derelei: Brigid, what is wrong with you?! Go away!




Derelei: Sorry. My sister is, um... I don't know what's wrong with her, to be honest. Are you alright?

River: I'm fine. Should we get a cup of mead now?

Derelei: Yes please!


* * *










Maddan visits the lake in the forest; he's heard there's fishing and decent hunting there, if you're willing to camp out long enough.

Cara: Nice hair, bro.

Maddan: Thanks, bro.




Myr is also there for some reason.

Maddan: Myr. How are you settling in?

Myr: What's it to you?

Maddan: I'm sort of responsible for the lot of you, so.




Myr: I don't need the covens breathing down my neck from all the way across Abona.

Maddan: Cheers, let me just pass that onto the horse and messenger I've got waiting right here. The covens don't care about you, Myr.






I see the locals are filling in the newcomers about the 10,000 fights.




Maddan doesn't actually like fish that much. Orla does, though.






Norweni is often at the well in the morning. I guess it's a good place to catch up with everyone.

Norweni: Maddan, hi. I don't think you've met my wife. Diseta, this is Maddan, from the other day.




Wow, that's an interesting set of wants you have there.






Orla: Oh! Do you want a belly rub too?




Orla: You want to play fetch? Okay!

River: That goat acts more like a dog than anything sometimes, Orla.

Orla: Oh, it's because I raised her from a baby, and when she got big enough she would play and run with my mother's dogs. It was so cute!




Good to see Aífe keeping up on her fitness during pregnancy, I guess. Maybe I should go change her athletic wear so she doesn't have to jog in an ankle-length dress.









Norweni: Is the goat always in the house?

Maddan and River: Yes.

Maddan: *sigh* It sleeps at the foot of our bed.

Norweni: Oh, she's got you by the short hairs, huh? My wife won't even let my dog sleep on our bed.






Norweni: You... I'm just now realizing that you've been flirting with me for a while. Correct?

Maddan: And here I was starting to think maybe I'm not being obvious.




Norweni: I have a wife.

Maddan: D'you only go for women?

Norweni: No... but I have a wife.

Maddan: So do I; you might've noticed. So?

Norweni: So... I shouldn't be doing this.

Maddan: Hm. If you change your mind, you know where to find me.

I fucking jinxed myself by calling Norweni and Diseta drama-free.






Everyone loves a muddy goat.






River: Woah!

Derelei: Sorry, was that too much?

River: Uh, you just surprised me.






Despite having three bolts with Derelei, River doesn't actually seem too interested in her. why does this keep happening to her




River: Is it snowing? This place is too damn cold.






Fial: Is that from the goat?

Maddan: Unfortunately.

Fial: I never realized they were so good at digging.




Maddan: If I'm not on shift when the baby comes, I'm going to go out. Your cousin doesn't like me very much; it'll be better if I'm not here.

Orla: I'm sure that's not true.

Maddan: I assure you it is. You'll be in fine hands, from what I've heard.






Helenet is here bright and early to listen to Orla chatter.




Orla: Oooh, Helenet—

Helenet: Well, this one's quick.




Orla has a baby girl, with black hair but her own bright blue eyes, and names her Bel. I think the last five or six babies born in Veridia have all been female. Is there something in the water?




River: Oh, the baby's here? Congrats. Hi, Helenet.

Helenet: Hey.








Helenet stays a while to tidy things around the house and support Orla.

Orla: Do you think I'm doing good so far?

Helenet: I think you'll be a fine mother, Orla. No one can deny that you have an abundance of love to share.






Luckily, Maddan gets home from... whatever his guard duties are after Helenet has gone.

Maddan: Well, you're just as pretty as your mother is.




Orla: I heard that!

Maddan: Go back to sleep, Orla.

Orla: You think I'm prettyyyyyy~

Maddan: Everyone thinks you're pretty. That's no big surprise.






River does like babies, they're just not sure they're ready to have one of their own yet.




Behold: the first romantic affection I've seen Maddan show his wife. Orla is in love with him, but he doesn't even have a crush on her currently.






On his way out of the outhouse that night, Maddan gets struck by lightning from one of the many thunderstorms that have been plaguing them this spring. This is for your sins, Maddan!




After cleaning up, his fun bar was direly low, so I decided to send him to the mead hall. And surprise surprise, look who else is there.

Norweni: You look frazzled.

Maddan: Have you ever been struck by lightning?

Norweni: Is that a theoretical question or something?

Maddan: No.








Behold: two great and serious warriors having an ale-fueled belching contest.






Maddan: So... does this mean you've changed your mind? Or are you just having a bit of fun toying with me? I'd just like to know which it is.

Norweni: I—fuck it.




So this is happening now.