Looking Beyond the Norn Deaths
It was a touching moment when Kari laid her egg in the same spot where Signe had passed away. She seemed completely traumatized by the event: She refused to move away from the incubator, and I had to battle her just to get a carrot into her mouth. Norns do not have any genes that would explain a grieving process, yet that’s exactly what Kari seemed to be doing. It was the very first death in Albia, and no one had known what to expect. The first death is always the most difficult: We always know that creatures pass away at some point, but the awful anticipation of the first death announcement is terrible. At least Signe died of natural old age, though, and had a chance to live a full life. The many dangers in Creatures 1 could have cut her life short at a premature age.
In happier news, Keir finally made it to the garden! Arik was his traveling companion, and the two formed a quick friendship. The elder Grendel gobbled up everything in sight: It was his first time picking carrots himself. He also enjoyed a couple of lemons from the trellis. Try as I might, none of the other Norns wanted to follow his example. In a short while, I found Keir back on the desert island. At least he made some attempts at exploration!
It was inevitable that another death would come along, but I was surprised to find out that it was Truett. He lived a fulfilling life that last 9 hours and 39 minutes. Only three eggs will eventually hatch into his progeny: I thought he had fathered several others, but I was mistaken. Folkvar and Ingelill were deeply saddened by his passing. Their sad faces mirrored the emotions of everyone who had known Truett.
Truett had been living on the desert island with Dagny and Bera for a long time, and I was very surprised to find him so far from where I had left him. Although he ate very sparingly during his last hour, he still took care of himself. Albia would be quite different without the little bald Norn. Rest in peace, Truett.
Every cloud has its silver lining. Dagny flashed me a smile and stood staring at the screen for a minute or two: Perhaps it was her way of reminding me that new life would soon come. All of the first generation Norns would pass away soon, yet there were over twenty unborn babies patiently waiting to enter Creatures 1. I knew that it would be sad for the parents never to meet their babies, but remember that a separation of generations was one of my original goals. Perhaps that would change in the future. After all the goodbyes, it would be time for new greetings.
Aww.. i’m going to miss Truett. He got even cuter as he aged, with his bald head and everything!
RIP Truett! I guess whatever made Signe age faster got to him even more quickly.
I like the approach you’re taking, with separating the generations. I personally prefered doing that in C1 too (although I was exporting the older norns when they finished breeding, I didn’t know how the death gene – or lack thereof – worked back then). Norns have no understanding of their offspring, a norn is a norn to them, so not meeting their children or parents won’t bother them (I wonder if Steve’s new creatures will have some concept of family, though – that’d be awesome).
Kittie: He was one of the cutest old man Norns! Hopefully at least one of his children will inherit the Purple Mountain Norn head so we can see the baldness again!
Tarlia: The aging is quite hard to understand. I know that there is a gene that makes Norns age quicker based on stress, which can come from excess pain, hunger, etc. Probably not a bad topic to look into a little further!
The separate generations does make a lot of sense! ArchDragon at The Arch is also doing the same thing. Breeding between parents and children isn’t a problem from a genetic standpoint, due to the haploid nature of Norn genes. I think many players find it odd and undesirable, though! For feral/wolfing runs, I don’t mind it, but with an in-depth commentary like this in C1, I prefer the separation.
That idea is awesome about the family concept! I really hope that it’s something that can be worked into Grandroids: Even if the creatures could just recognize their own children, that would be great. Every time I see the Bengal Norn graphic from C3/DS, I wish that creatures could carry their own young. Hopefully something like this can be worked in!