Lots of Love for a Little Grendel
Written onThe next inhabitant of Albia was not a Norn, but rather a tiny Grendel! The updated baby sprites I installed made this little guy almost imperceptible: He blended in so well with his surroundings! Meet Keir, pronounced [KEER], which is a Norse name meaning rough wet ground or little dark one. Quite fitting for a Grendel! Keep in mind that Creatures originally made Grendels seem like mean, nasty monsters who carried diseases. After reading more of the back story, this has some merit. However, C1 Grendels are one of the least dangerous inhabitants. A few encounters with the stinging bees, and Grendels might seem like ideal playmates! Keir was too adorable to pass by, and I was determined to eventually integrate him with the Norns.
I was baffled when Keir closed his drooping eyelids and fell asleep. Newborn Norns and Grendels are almost impossible to calm down! I would like to take the time to point out how vulnerable Keir appears in this photo. He may not have the universal cuteness that Norns possess, yet he has his own unique character that makes him just as loveable. I encourage anyone starting out in Creatures 1 to give Grendels a chance: They were initially given a bad reputation, most of which is unfounded. There are several COBs and downloads available that improve the C1 Grendels, such as the baby sprites and Grendel Friendly COB. Norns and Grendels can coexist peacefully!
Keir stared at me for a moment tapping his foot and waiting, somewhat impatiently. It dawned on me that he was probably indicating his boredom, which had previously been satiated via the fancy blue and pink Nightshade. Keir had eaten it at least twice, which explained the sheer sleepiness! Nightshade causes an unsuspecting creature to fall asleep very quickly, as Keir demonstrated! Clearly, it was time to find other forms of entertainment and nutrition.
We had a wonderful time bouncing the ball on the bridge. Keir was able to bounce it very high in the air, and had a wonderful time! His tiny, shuffling steps were simply adorable, even though it took him quite some time to move a large distance. He was not amused with the dragon-in-a-box toy, as shown above, but he delighted in watching and chasing after the ball. Keir also wolfed down a few carrots and an entire pot of honey! A Grendel never deserves to be hidden in the shadows of Albia.
Excellent post! I agree with the choice to have baby grendel sprites! Makes them seem more real and just as interactive as the norns.
And thanks for the shout-out! It was surprisingly fitting and really like Eydis. She’s got a very interesting personality.
Glad to see someone else who appreciates Grendels, Silvak! The baby Grendel sprites require a minimal change to the game, yet they really bring the Grendels to life. I also have the female Grendel sprites… We will just have to wait and see what happens in the future! Hopefully Keir will live a long and happy life, though.
I’m thrilled to read that you really like Eydis! Her personality is quite interesting, which will be revealed further in upcoming entries!
Omg, I’ve heard about the baby Grendel sprites but I’ve never used them myself. They’re adorable!
I’ve been reading this blog over the past few weeks, and I totally sympathize with your technology woes, I’ve had quite a few myself. I was so enthused when I refreshed the page and there were new updates though!
I’ve been playing Creatures since I was 8, though I lost the game from about age 15 until just recently, and I’ve always loved the games. Your blogs are an absolute joy to read, and all though I’ll miss the creatures I was reading about, I’m really excited to learn about Eydis and all the other Norns that come out of this Albia! Good luck, I’ll be waiting with bated breath for an update.
ArchDragon: I believe Geatville had both the baby and pensioner Grendel sprites. When did the site go down? I haven’t been able to access it for a long time. I do have the original .zip files, if you’re ever interested in using them in C1! They add a lot of character to the Grendels, and of course, a whole lot of adorableness!
Socksnbacon: Thank you so much for the kind comments and your support! I always enjoy knowing that there are individuals out there who enjoy following the lives of my Norns! I miss the former Norns and Grendels, too, but the benefit of having a stable computer is that we should be able to experience many generations. It’s great to hear that you’re playing Creatures again! Thanks again for the wonderful words: I hope you enjoy the upcoming entries!
I’m getting back into Creatures 1, and I would love it if I could get the .zip file you mentioned for the sprites please.
Could you send me an e-mail at the address listed in the sidebar? I would be happy to send the .zip file to you, since I’m not sure if it currently available to download. Thanks!
I wonder if the lack of exposure to sunlight is what causes the Grendels to act as they do (without COBs of course)? It’s very good that you give every race a chance, I think being multicultural is an amazing way to play Creatures.