And so my induction ended, and I began to pursue my destiny in earnest.
They say that life is what happens when you're busy planning. I had certainly planned to work out a spell or exercise regimen to offset muscular degeneration, but I never anticipated I'd do it by becoming a Simball player.
I started off in the minor leagues without even knowing the rules, seriously questioning what sort of society decides that in the depths of destruction, team sports are apparently a high priority for preservation. But I suppose it does make a twisted sort of sense; if you're trying to find something to improve bodily fitness, why not test it on the sorts of individuals that have historically been associated with abusing their bodies with such regimens? If they can take it, anyone ought to be able to.
And so I began my career, and I was a quick study. Moving quickly into the starting line up, our first game ended in a 13-0 victory - a complete shut out. I would like to be modest and say that it was a team effort, but really, children? It was all me. I scored half the goals personally, assisted on all of the rest, and personally blocked all the opposing team's attempts to score. The team agreed, and made me the captain.
Now that I actually was in charge, we then proceeded to win 18-2 next time. Part of this was my performance enhancing supplements I was giving to the players - but part of it was just skilled leadership and athleticism.
There was very little magic still around, my children, but I needed one spell - the spell of stasis. My body was already aging too fast, and I needed time to achieve my goals. I know I consumed much of a precious resource you'd have liked to use yourselves, but I can only assure you that your existence would not have been possible otherwise; trust that I knew what I was doing.
Under the spell of stasis, I called one of my University friends over, and informed him that he was now my boyfriend - that I would call for him soon, and we would be married and starting a family. Blair took this reasonably well, I assume because he - quite correctly - feared the consequences should he dare refuse.
They say that life is what happens when you're busy planning. I had certainly planned to work out a spell or exercise regimen to offset muscular degeneration, but I never anticipated I'd do it by becoming a Simball player.
I started off in the minor leagues without even knowing the rules, seriously questioning what sort of society decides that in the depths of destruction, team sports are apparently a high priority for preservation. But I suppose it does make a twisted sort of sense; if you're trying to find something to improve bodily fitness, why not test it on the sorts of individuals that have historically been associated with abusing their bodies with such regimens? If they can take it, anyone ought to be able to.
And so I began my career, and I was a quick study. Moving quickly into the starting line up, our first game ended in a 13-0 victory - a complete shut out. I would like to be modest and say that it was a team effort, but really, children? It was all me. I scored half the goals personally, assisted on all of the rest, and personally blocked all the opposing team's attempts to score. The team agreed, and made me the captain.
Now that I actually was in charge, we then proceeded to win 18-2 next time. Part of this was my performance enhancing supplements I was giving to the players - but part of it was just skilled leadership and athleticism.
There was very little magic still around, my children, but I needed one spell - the spell of stasis. My body was already aging too fast, and I needed time to achieve my goals. I know I consumed much of a precious resource you'd have liked to use yourselves, but I can only assure you that your existence would not have been possible otherwise; trust that I knew what I was doing.
Under the spell of stasis, I called one of my University friends over, and informed him that he was now my boyfriend - that I would call for him soon, and we would be married and starting a family. Blair took this reasonably well, I assume because he - quite correctly - feared the consequences should he dare refuse.
Back from University, at level 4 (Minor Leaguer) in the Professional Sports career, Poledra spends the first two days meeting all her team mates. I could have had her ask the boss over and get promoted before Tuesday, but it wouldn't have actually saved time, since Wednesday and Thursday are days off anyway. Unfortunately that means that in the first 4 days I only get 1 promotion, and to add insult to injury I have a bare Game Record metric. Indeed it is basically useless to me to ask for promotions, as it just means I miss a game, and this will unfortunately slow my progress rather than speed it.
Professional Sports can be a time wasting career; there are 3 days off per week even at fairly low levels, and you can't Work Hard. On the days off I upgrade the toilet and sink to be self cleaning, get myself a computer and boom box, and then start writing novels.
It's important to be aware of time limits. It will take 2 pregnancy days, plus 6 days as infant and toddler, before any of Poledra's kids can feed themselves. Therefore I must either clear the career with 8 or more days to go, or else I must get married - and the latter plan is the preferable one. I'm also going to need to possibly have multiple pregnancies, as I need a witch heir, but that fits OK into the 8 day time frame.
Because of this, as I get to Friday of Week 2, it becomes clear that I am not going to make it. Lacking the ability to ask for a promotion (as I cannot ask anyone over after 1900, and if I ask them over them next day it is too late), I cannot be promoted more often than every 2 days. I will be promoted on Saturday to level 8, and then I will need 4 more work days to get to level 10. That will require 7 more actual days, so I have 8 days until I will make the lift. I have only 11 days until I age to elder. If I get married, I can have the spouse feed the infant, but it is far too close - especially since I may need multiple pregnancies.
Once you realise you're going to need aging off, you are best served by doing it as soon as possible. Thus, on Saturday Week 2 Day 7, I turn off aging, only to turn it back on on Week 3, Day 5 (so 5 days used).
Professional Sports can be a time wasting career; there are 3 days off per week even at fairly low levels, and you can't Work Hard. On the days off I upgrade the toilet and sink to be self cleaning, get myself a computer and boom box, and then start writing novels.
It's important to be aware of time limits. It will take 2 pregnancy days, plus 6 days as infant and toddler, before any of Poledra's kids can feed themselves. Therefore I must either clear the career with 8 or more days to go, or else I must get married - and the latter plan is the preferable one. I'm also going to need to possibly have multiple pregnancies, as I need a witch heir, but that fits OK into the 8 day time frame.
Because of this, as I get to Friday of Week 2, it becomes clear that I am not going to make it. Lacking the ability to ask for a promotion (as I cannot ask anyone over after 1900, and if I ask them over them next day it is too late), I cannot be promoted more often than every 2 days. I will be promoted on Saturday to level 8, and then I will need 4 more work days to get to level 10. That will require 7 more actual days, so I have 8 days until I will make the lift. I have only 11 days until I age to elder. If I get married, I can have the spouse feed the infant, but it is far too close - especially since I may need multiple pregnancies.
Once you realise you're going to need aging off, you are best served by doing it as soon as possible. Thus, on Saturday Week 2 Day 7, I turn off aging, only to turn it back on on Week 3, Day 5 (so 5 days used).
It took me a few tries, but I had a formula ready. I used it on myself, children - I kept the good stuff for us, of course - and now that I was a Sports Legend, my endorsement served to spread its use throughout the remnants of society. I couldn't do anything for our premature aging or senility, but I managed to at least get our muscles to work properly.
Week 3, Day 5 (the day I turn aging back on again), Poledra gets engaged to Blair.
On week 3, Day 7:
On week 3, Day 7:
New life. The first born into the shattered society, and I could feel you when you were but single cells.
I exercised furiously in the months ahead - it seemed as if I was able to go without sleep indefinitely. I knew I was pushing my frail body to its limits, but as I saw it I had only one remaining task - to bring my children into the world, as quickly as possible. The sounds of certain workout tunes were the key to cell mitosis - it is an old spell, almost not even magic, but it functioned even then. In the meantime Blair was working in the mess hall for the local military, in the hopes we could parley his position into getting better rations for you.
It was always for you, my children - only ever for you.
I exercised furiously in the months ahead - it seemed as if I was able to go without sleep indefinitely. I knew I was pushing my frail body to its limits, but as I saw it I had only one remaining task - to bring my children into the world, as quickly as possible. The sounds of certain workout tunes were the key to cell mitosis - it is an old spell, almost not even magic, but it functioned even then. In the meantime Blair was working in the mess hall for the local military, in the hopes we could parley his position into getting better rations for you.
It was always for you, my children - only ever for you.
Hopelessness lifted, Athletic lifted, Blair married, and babies created. Poledra has 7 days to go until she's an elder; Blair has 9 until he's an adult. (So he has less, in effect - as soon as Poledra becomes an elder, the lifespan changes). A check of the paper scores him the Culinary career.
And now begins Poledra's infinite workout. The idea is that having cleared Fitness Nut, she is never fatigued from cardio workouts. Since about 2 hours of such a workout will trigger the "Pumped" moodlet, which suppresses the need to sleep, she constantly works out and takes quick breaks to use the toilet or lick a plate for hunger, in each case immediately returning to the workout before the Pumped runs out. By tuning the radio to the Kids channel, she should be virtually guaranteed of having twins.
And now begins Poledra's infinite workout. The idea is that having cleared Fitness Nut, she is never fatigued from cardio workouts. Since about 2 hours of such a workout will trigger the "Pumped" moodlet, which suppresses the need to sleep, she constantly works out and takes quick breaks to use the toilet or lick a plate for hunger, in each case immediately returning to the workout before the Pumped runs out. By tuning the radio to the Kids channel, she should be virtually guaranteed of having twins.
The records were spotty. I knew one of my children would carry the flame, but neither Glenda nor Polgara possessed the power. My body was almost worn out, but there can be no gain without sacrifice.
Glenda and Polgara are both mundane humans! Ugh, of all the rotten luck. Poledra only has 5 days to go before she's an elder, so she only gets one more try at this.
I knew Merlin would be born - I am sorry for every doubting. You are my life now Merlin - everything I have, and everything I know, is yours. I looked forward to golden years, sharing the knowledge you would need to persevere - to make everything the way it must be, the way it should be. All of existence depended upon it.
Merlin is a witch, thank goodness. His twin is still not. Is witchery a recessive trait? Not that it is that unlikely, but we're talking only a 25% chance that out of 4 babies, only one would be a witch, if you assume a 50/50 chance. But anyway, I have an heir, and I have 3 days to go. I miscalculated about how many more tries I would get - but that is the sort of miscalculation I'm happy to make. I get Poledra pregnant again.
With the birth of Gandalf, everything seemed to slip away. And now my children, I must confess.
The low magic of the era meant that my stasis spell had unforeseen side effects. Your rapid aging is the result. Here to fix the world, I broke it even worse.
But if I hadn't, Merlin would never have been born. You will learn why that was important, in time - suffice it to say, I regret nothing, I would do it all again.
For what it is worth, I did bend all my energies to trying to reverse the side effects. That didn't exactly help either.
The low magic of the era meant that my stasis spell had unforeseen side effects. Your rapid aging is the result. Here to fix the world, I broke it even worse.
But if I hadn't, Merlin would never have been born. You will learn why that was important, in time - suffice it to say, I regret nothing, I would do it all again.
For what it is worth, I did bend all my energies to trying to reverse the side effects. That didn't exactly help either.
Just a single this time. That's unfortunate; I was using the same "infinite workout" technique, but I did have her occasionally stop to change nappies or feed toddlers. Poor luck, really. Gandalf is not a witch either, so out of 5 kids only one inherited the witch gene - a less than 16% chance. I guess I should be thankful I got one.
I had them Try For Baby one last time. With 0 days to go until Poledra becomes an elder, this was never going to work - but the rule is simply that you may not Woo-Hoo until Medical is born. Your Try For Baby does not have to have a chance to succeed, and Blair desperately needed the Fun boost.
I had them Try For Baby one last time. With 0 days to go until Poledra becomes an elder, this was never going to work - but the rule is simply that you may not Woo-Hoo until Medical is born. Your Try For Baby does not have to have a chance to succeed, and Blair desperately needed the Fun boost.
Zaags abilisha.
Jhhyessaq? Unx... Kretalish surena laao.
Jhhyessaq? Unx... Kretalish surena laao.
With Poledra now an elder, I change the lifespan settings. Blair had his birthday (to adult) yesterday, so he has 15 days to lift Culinary, and he is only at level 4. I don't have the Cooking 2/3 books, so he will likely fail this, but I will of course make the attempt. The next day, Merlin becomes a child, so it's time for the heir to take over.
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