(Brindleton, Year 225) Deadgrass Island might be small, but means a lot to Brindleton residents. Although Whiskerman's Wharf is the oldest hood, the island captured the locals' souls after a ship hitting solid rocks during a storm and filling the island with cats and dogs. That shipwreck was partly the reason why the lighthouse was built. The other part was the fact that the King could spot foreign ships earlier with the assistant of a Lighthouse Keeper. So, the Deadgrass peerage was introduced in Year 50 - that means 175 years anniversary was to be celebrated this Winter!
The very prominent group of invitees counted nearly fifty guests, and pictured above are those of noble rank or closely related to either Lord of Deadgrass or the Cavalier dukedom.
Front row left to right: Baron Charloman de Cavalier, Duchess Claudine de Cavalier, Duke Aquess de Cavalier. Dominic Fyres, Lord of Deadgrass, von Dresden and Hunt. Moira R. Fyres, Lady of Dresden. Duke Merlin von Windenburg. Elvira de Sür-Blyth and Hugo (Villareal), Lady and Lord de Sür-Blyth.
Back row left to right: Lady Merielle de Cavalier, Lord Leon de Cavalier, Siobhan (Fyres) Hump. Duke Victus and Duchess Gloria of Meadows. Jurton Summerton, Lord Foxbury. Morgan F. Saxor, Baroness of Verde. Stephan Ebernizer (Sim City business man, descending from the first Lord of Deadgrass).
The first Lord of Deadgrass' investiture took place in Year 50. Back then the Lord was Brindleton's only nobility, and to day he is the only known Lord who is considered high nobility (reporting directly to the Monarch). Lords are normally low nob noblity, or they only hold a noble title but no real peerage. Deadgrass is the weird exception. It took almost 50 years more until Brindleton got a dukedom, Duke de Cavalier. Today Lord of Deadgrass is remotely controlled as the sovereign, Dominic Fyres, resides in Windenburg, and because the old lighthouse keeper's house was turned into a museum ages ago, it is not very likely that the Lord of Deadgrass will ever again reside on the island. As this lordship also includes Whiskerman's Wharf, the next Lord might settle there?
The event included a walk up to the lighthouse, where Duke Aquess told some vague stories about his father spending much time on the island, mostly while he was still unmarried.
Afterwards the noble group of guests gathered inside the museum - the old lighthouse keeper's house - for refreshments and a couple speeches. House of Moon expired with Brother Moon who died childless in Year 195. His closest relatives were still only distant - Jurton Summerton (38), Lord Foxbury, and Stephan Ebernizer (51), Sim City, are cousins, and their common grandmother was the niece of said Brother Moon. They were both present, but neither of them grew up in Brindleton and have no memory of the island.
Dominic Fyres (76), current Lord of Deadgrass gave a speech including the complex line of relatives which lead him to this peerage Year 195. At the time he was already Lord of Dresden and Haunt, both peerages located in Windenburg, so he had no choice but administrating Deadgrass remotedly.
Dominic Fyres is now an old man, and must step back in a few years. Everybody wonders what will happen as his only son can have just one of the three peerages. This intricate dilemma was not addressed, though.
The painting on the wall (above) shows the first Deadgrass Lord, Christopher Moon. The museum displays the investiture portrait of all Deadgrass lords.
Duke Aquess and Duchess Claudine de Cavalier listened carefully. Note the purple poppy brooch that the duchess is carrying, it's a symbol for the Moon Memorial Day. Myshuno also use a purple poppy, but only Brindleton's poppy has the white centered spot - indicating the island. All to the right sits the future duke, Baron Charloman (34) who will graduate from University of Britechester next Summer. It is expected that he will take over the dukedom shortly upon returning to Brindleton, but no date has been announced for his investiture.
Among the other guests is (blue hat) Moira Fyres, Lady of Dresden (but not Lady of Deadgrass because spouses are not titled when the sovereign is remotely resided). To the right sits Elvira and Hugo, Lady and Lord de Sür-Blyth (runs the Sür-Blyth Farm at Cavalier Cove).
A guest who seemed to enjoy the event very much was Duke Merlin von Windenburg (73). He is a member of The Brindleton Order, and will also attend the gala dinner at Chateau Cavalier in the evening. If you watched my video series As Sims Go By (season 2) you might recall that a seaman from Brindleton Bay once saved Duke Merlin's life, and with this knowledge the duke has become a friend of the district.
Most years Chateau Cavalier hosts a Moon Memorial Day gala dinner, and the guest list is not limited to members of the district order.
These dinners are rather relaxed, with mostly close friends and relatives, including one or two guests not of noble heritage, but it's still a good opportunity to show off some jewelry.
Duke Aquess (79) and Duchess Claudine (75) are both reaching their final years. It must be strange knowing that this might be the last or second to last Moon Memorial Day they help hosting. They might retire next year already, or the year after. Plan is to move up to Hindquarter Manor, a very nice property owned privately by Duke Aquess.
Duchess Claudine always wear the Mera Pearl Necklace for these dinners. The turquoise gem is said to origin from the merfolks, and was brought into House de Cavalier by Duke Aquess' mother, Duchess Mera. Her ancestors were never properly protocolled. Oh, by the way, the painting red haired woman in the background, is indeed Duchess Mera.
Lady Merielle de Cavalier wore a modest purple dress with a double pearl necklace and her Family Order bow. It's strange how the first duke's portrait displays correctly only on Merielle, but not the other two members (mother, the duchess and aunt, Lady Sür-Blyth). Please ignore her tiara, which is actually Lady Merielle's personal property, but that she is not supposed to wear until she is married... (Besides - her mother is already wearing it, LOL). Lady Merielle is engaged to Lord Edward von Kaching, the future Baron of Gloom.
Next to her sits her younger brother, Lord Leon. Neither of them is a member of the district order, so they have no sash to wear. That's pretty typical for young nobles...
Moira Fyres, Lady von Dresden, does not attend many gala events and owns less jewels to flash. Luckily she has access to jewelry owned by the Deadgrass Trust. This evening she wore the Blue Sapphire earrings that has a connection to the House of Moon. Also the tiara is from Deadgrass, actually one of the oldest tiaras of the entire region, originally carried by King Baltazar II's Queen. It was later gifted to the Deadgrass lordship. The necklace is a rather modern thing owned by Moira and that she seems to like a lot. Her exclusive Lion medal is for her earlier work for free fruit given to young students.
Finally, Lady Elvira de Sür-Blyth wore her favorite necklace and earrings, a set said to represent the love between her late parents. The Amethyst Tiara is a family heirloom. Lady Elvira has the Family Order bow, as her mother was sister of Duke Aquess. Holding the Sür-Blyth peerage she is a natural member of the district order. She is also Cavalier Cove's Hood Contact.
Her fresh husband, Hugo (Villareal) de Sür-Blyth has not attended many gala events. He should probably go for a darker tuxedo, or perhaps it was not clearly stated in the invitation. The Duchess is quite strict with traditions, but this event was always more social than formal. Anyways, Hugo owns no sash nor medal to impress.
This Sür-Blyth couple has no children yet, and rumors have it that Lady Elvira hesitates due to the possible curse: Her mother got physically disabled after giving birth to Elvira, and her grandmother Mera got ill after giving birth to Elvira's mother. They both spent about 10 years in a wheelchair, before they died at young age. I'll get back to the possible curse when/if Elvira gets pregnant...
No comments:
Post a Comment