Schulmania

[asturianu 4]

Jejeje! Wirt won!! Well, Wirt is so good too! Great!!

Cristian

[fledder200 5]

*opens microwave...*

*garbs the cat out of it*

well....too bad..but you are free...

[jacqulina 162]

lol ferry im pleased the cat lives

[RushHourFreak 1]

Oh my friend I missed a few. I would have vote for Temple Terrace (TT) but the poll was closed, I am glad Wirt won as well, every place is beautiful and your Coins were really awesome. I would like to have a specimen of the winner..

Cool work Schul.

RHF

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Schulmanicus: Just Because You Don't See It Doesn't Mean It Is Not There

Preamble:

The intrepid readers of Schulmania have seen all of the explored territory up to this point. And, you have been witness to a great amount of expansion and development. As Schulmania approached 70,000 inhabitants, development continues upward as well as outward. You have seen the colonial expansion southward, to Atkinos and Gran Maru and Schulmania. You have seen Temple Terrace develop on the eastern shore of Schulmanicus itself. But, you have seen very few updates from the home island of Schulmanicus. Though the towns remain small due to land and resource limitations, they are still growing. Wirt, the current capital of the nation, has grown the most. The increase in government jobs and concentration of resources which accompanies government jobs have helped spur this growth. The recent acknowledgement Wirt received for Coin of the Year resulted in a lovely new monument built at the edge of the government plaza.

Another town we will revisit is Wanda. Wanda, another of the ancient original towns of Schulmanicus, has remained a small fortified fishing village. Hemmed in by the sea on two sides and agricultural land on the others, Wanda is reaching out in a bold expansion move. It has decided to annex Newport. The unincorporated shipping port and small village which lies between Wanda and Busscastle. The port serves as the main entry and departure point for the two towns. Busscastle uses it primarily for chocolate export. Wanda uses it for both transportation and the fishing fleet. This attempt by Wanda, which recently was successful in gaining its own set of coins (despite its ~1000 population). Shows a boldness which may cause other towns to begin annexations, expansions, or other development measures. To address development concerns, the Supreme Wirdle commissioned a City Planning Office, whose role is to help existing cities plan for development wisely and to help new colonies develop rapidly and effectively.

Though the growth on Schulmanicus has been largely unseen by journal readers, with the exception of Temple Terrace, it has continued. Periodically, we will return to areas featured in prior chapters to see their progress. Today, we will see Wirt's expansion and evaluate Wanda's situation.

And now, the narrative:

As dawn breaks over the home island of Schulmanicus, the town of Wirt, administrative center of the nation as well as of the district of Schulmanicus, awakens to the start of another action-packed day.

Wirtyplace, the central plaza of town, is ringed by homes and shops. Many shops have been converted into government offices for district and national government agencies. At the center is Wirtyplace itself, which still serves as the capitol for the nation, despite its small size.

As the first workers arrive at Wirtyplace, they are greeted by a pleasant aroma- the pasty vendors have arrived! Fresh pastries of all sorts are a staple of government employees anywhere!

It's wake up time!

Homes in Wirt have been upgraded over the years, but retain their appearances on the exterior. Some new homes were built in a similar style. Others were built in complimentary style, often of locally-quarried gray stone. Home with gardens in the rear don't need alarm clocks- roosters get them up right at dawn every day.

The weak sunlight begins to illuminate the buildings of the government plaza. Built on the western edge of town, this group of buildings houses the many government agencies which do the work of running the district and nation. Yes, the pastry sellers ply these streets all morning, too! An interesting note: Wirt, which was recognized as the first Coin of the Year winner, was rewarded with the monument seen at the back of the government plaza. The obelisk is a gift of the Supreme Wirdle and the national treasury. It is to encourage artisanship in designing coins of the realm.

Once day breaks, kids head to school and the masses head off to work. As Wirt remains a small town, many workers commute from Stell, Busscastle, Wanda, and Smightower. Development pressure due to religious bureaucracy has been reduced, though, by the development of Temple Terrace. This allowed Wirt to not overdevelop, but does decentralize some of the leadership at the national level.

Most national offices are housed in the buildings on the left and district offices on the right.

A different view of national government offices. Home and shops are right across the cobblestone street, making for a very short commute for some workers.

The Coin of the Year award for Wirt, the focal point for the government plaza.

The capitol is still Wirtyplace, the Supreme Wirdle's original headquarters building. The government plaza was built over the years to accommodate the growth which the old building was unable to contain. The Supreme Wirdle still convenes sessions of government here and enjoys looking out of the windows.

Development continued on the east side of Wirt as well. Government offices did not move to the east. These buildings are primarily business and residential. A new road was constructed along the ridgeline. Most of Wirt sits on a hill, Oak Ridge, so that was the name of the new road. Another road extension brought Wirt down to the valley below. Bethel Valley Road is a small street lined with shops and other commerce.

Bethel Valley Road was built on the slop of Oak Ridge. Most of the new commerce in town was built on the east side of Wirt. The yellow building is a popular department store. The low building to its left is a food market, selling all sorts of tastes from across the nation - suitable for even the finickiest feline or Schulminion palate. Between the Heart of It All Market and the tall gray building on the left, Project Y-12 Engineering, sits the small restaurant with the big flavor - Big Ed's.

The new road, along the crest of Oak Ridge, runs parallel to the main road through Wirt. Home and shops, as well as some civic buildings, complete this addition to eastern Wirt.

Shoppers converge on great stores. At the lower left is the roof of the new National Portrait Gallery. This art museum houses paintings and statues and other forms of art, many of which were donated from the Supreme Wirdle's own collection.

The brown building between the two taller stone ones is the Wildcat Den, Schulmania's first feline cuisine restaurant. The Supreme Wirdle and her entourage frequent it. Forcats, it's a great place to see... and to be seen!

Further down Oak Ridge are homes, as well as the Chapel of Francis & Flora.

Viewed from the southern end, Oak Ridge is a collection of homes which greatly resembles the older section of Wirt. Only the stone chapel is not a perfect match, though its style does blend in harmoniously. This level of excellence in design was facilitated by the City Planning Office.

This crossroads shows where old Wirt meets new Wirt. New Wirt buildings are larger, for the most part, but blend in remarkably well - a tribute to the City Planning Office.

The northern end of Oak Ridge is crowded with offices and shops. The large white building on the left is the Schulmanicus Cultural Center. It features a local history museum on the ground level. The second and third levels are for performing arts. The top level is office space for arts organizations and storage for municipal and district archives. An interesting note: the local history museum is the first to be bilingual - with captions and narratives written for Schulminions and for felines (in cuneiform).

Now, on to the restive little fishing village of Wanda. Wanda has, for years, been the smallest town on Schulmanicus and felt a bit left out in all the exciting growth and development. When the Schulminion Monetary Union was implemented and coins gained uniform size and fineness, Wanda had enough. Overshadowed by Busscastle and Wirt for years, Wanda's representatives sought equal representation with its sister cities. The Supreme Wirdle, concerned that a town of about 1,000 would not need its own money and that a small mint would be an unneeded expense, initially rejected the calls for new issuers. A compromise was eventually reached, one in which Wanda has a limited coinage minted in Busscastle and Wirt. Wanda still sought to grow and assume a major national role, like its ancient sister cities. Mayor Cleese decided on the bold move of annexing Newport to Wanda, giving it room to grow. Wanda, hemmed in by fields on two sides and water on the others, remained a small castle town. Famous for its fish, Wanda used the nearby port of Newport, one of the first ports built in Schulmania, for all of its trade. Annexing Newport, which consisted of the access road and the port itself, gave Wanda effective control over the tomato fields and other farmland which lies between Wanda and Newport. Newport was never established as a town, itself. It was mainly homes of fishermen from Wanda and the docks. The residents in the Newport community welcomed Wanda's annexation. But, Busscastle, which relied on the port for chocolate exports as well as other commerce, was not as pleased.

The Newport docks were managed by a consortium of Busscastle and Wanda businessmen. City leaders in Busscastle were concerned that Wandan control over the docks might impede the ever-growing export trade, favoring instead local fishermen. A contingent of Busscastle leaders was preparing to depart for Wirt to block Wanda's actions by enlisting the aid of the Supreme Wirdle. A delegation from Wanda approached Busscastle's gates just as Busscastle's party was leaving. They decided to discuss the matter and determine a reasonable outcome. A compromise was eventually reached. In it, Wanda would gain control over the land between Newport and Wanda Castle. The port, itself, would be sold to Busscastle tycoon Rich N. Taystey, owner of Busscastle Chocolates. The port would continue to operate for the collective good of Busscastle and Wanda in perpetuity. Busscastle, though, was not as concerned as it could have been about this turn of events. With its economic expansion, the town has been contemplating constructing its own modern ferry port and establishing direct cargo and passenger connections with all maritime cities.

Newport, an antiquated shipyard on the coast, became the first established community to be incorporated into a larger town. Wanda would grow as a result of this annexation, but the name "Newport" would remain for this area for years to come.

Wanda, a picturesque fishing village, watched as other towns passed it by for growth and development opportunities. With its new holdings, Wanda is poised for expansion.

As the sun sets over Newport, its residents celebrate its incorporation to Wanda. Most of the 163 fishermen and their families are from Wanda, so they see this as a natural extension of Wanda.

As the sun sets over Wanda Castle, Mayor Cleese contemplates yet another improbable victory for Wanda. His little town was asserting itself in national politics in an unprecedented way. Where will his ambition lead?

Perhaps to Wirt?

As the sun sets over Wirt, the golden rays and long shadows add a charming beauty to the ancient city.

The streets around the capitol are quiet, as folks head home for dinner.

As the last rays of light strike the stone facades of the government plaza, most government workers head home to families and dinner. But, a small group of concerned mid-level bureaucrats stay behind, meeting to discuss a new concern. They wonder, with two major victories behind him in fairly short order, what Wandan Mayor Monty Cleese will do next. When the sun rises over this fair island tomorrow, what surprises would come down the cobblestone road from Wanda?

[jcabassa 20]

Awesome update! The cobblestone pathways replacing streets is such a cool idea!

[jacqulina 162]

awesome update my friend and i enjoyed reading all about your update.i love the town its wonderfull,the castle is beautifull,i am wondering my friend the buildings inside the castle walls where did you get them from i have been looking for them everywhere,excellent work and pics

[Giligone 10]

another great update! I see your cities continue to progress. Up to the rennaisance now! Very nice little town. Looking forward to more about the mothercountry, hehe

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Jcabassa Thanks! It definitely adds to the character - and gets rid of the cars!

Jacqulina Thank you! Unfortunately, the buildings came with the castle. I am not sure if they come separately. It's listed as a "playground" under parks.

Giligone Thanks! Definitely some progress. I like having some layers of time in the town.

[fledder200 5]

wow schulman....i love the closeups!!

but did you see this???

That poor cow!! it doesn't fit in his cage!!!!!!!!

I'm gonna call Peta!! or Greenpeace...or my mother..anyhoo i'm gonna call somebody!!

Great update Schulman!!

keep it up

[sc4portugal 10]

Great Update

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Fledder, now don't make fun. The cow is trying to be a Olympic High Jumper. So far, he can almost make it over a crate. Come on.... be supportive!

[jacqulina 162]

lol ferry no the cows just escaped lol,its trying to make its way to paradise falls lol. thankyou i will have a look.i am looking out for more of your excellent work

[fledder200 5]

*calls mom again* no...no...stop the boycot!! it's a escaping high jumper from Paradise falls!!!...yes mom, you can eat cow meat again....and yes you can eat the chocolates again...and no,i'm not moving back home!!!

*hangs up*

okey....my bad!! sorry

[patriots_1228 51]

lol i no a cow trainer who could help. with his help, your cow can jump overthe castle walls. then unite with the other cows and over throw the supreme wirdle....hehe mad cows. anyway awesome job, that towns pretty awesome, and i love the castle.

[RushHourFreak 1]

Excellent update. Simply beautiful, scenic, charming and very pleasant landscapes. I love the organization you have with your buildings and your predestrain areas. Spectacular castle.

This is one of the most remarkable updates for me. Two thumbs up.

RHF

[jacqulina 162]

lol ferry and patriots i bet your mom ferry was eating them allready regardless of what you said lol

[football_fever 6]

Awesome! I love how the architecture is advancing. Your plugins folder must be ridiculous. You have every style of architecture from the beginning of time....

Oh, and maybe Queen Narya would take care of those walls for you, Jacky

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Cow trainer! Maybe Bessie will jump over the moon - bring Simlympic gold to Paradise Falls!

And, Fledder... you can't move back home... mom's changed the locks!

[jacqulina 162]

lol everyones so funny lol,i love the pic

[football_fever 6]

hahahaha I don't know where you guys get those random pics. It's an art form...

[Mikeaut1 261]

Wow great background information and impressive coastline with the castle!! Very nice town!

[Schulmanator 5,787]

For the day of love, it's time to recognize those who have captured the hearts of Schulminions everywhere!

So, without further ado, here's a little Valentine for my homeys in the S-C-H!

[Giligone 10]

haha, yay. I'm cool **puts on shades**

[Shadow Assassin 336]

Maybe Bessie jumped over the moon because the farmer had cold hands?

I like mine.

[carlbryan 0]

you know what? I am awesome! Thanks!

By the way, I love the castle!

[jacqulina 162]

hi my friend what a lovely idea with the hearts thankyou for mine,you allways do a surprise,and very nicely done too

[fledder200 5]

wow shulman....i love you!!
this is one of the nicest thing someone ever did for me!!
i'm eating the hearts candy right now!!
and feeding it to my little new kitten....yes i excedently hit the "on" buton of the microwave, so the old cat said "KABOEM!!"  anyhoo....i have new cat...called lulu..cute isn't it?
Lulu loves the candy aswel...what..ow..DAMNIT!! i hold the cat upside down and i stuffed the candy in the wrong side!!..awww what did you say Lulu??



oh....poor him

[Shanna 1]

Awesome update my friend!!!

The castle is very wonderful: I really love the picture with the cow!!!! Great town and buildings!

Thank you very much for the heart for me! It's just a sweet thought my friend!

Fledder... oh no.. poor kitten!

[sc4portugal 10]

cool update. Fledder! Bad Fledder cat killer!