Here's part 4 of my series of 6-8 weekly blog posts, sharing the progress as I build a huge home for my royal family, the House of Luxe-Hamper. Here you can follow my progress as well as getting a first introduction to this family and some of their traditions.
In case you missed the previous articles; I have too much CC to provide links as we go. If you see something of interest, just drop me a comment and I'll look up credits and link.
The entrance was adjusted a bit but is not yet final. The reason I put the oval sign there is that the royal family was in fact the reason why Plumbob Pictures established their studio in Del Sol Valley. I imagine the coronation of King Tybe back in Year 150 was their very first TV production and broadcasting. I imagine someone from the royal family being their patron.
We'll check out the left side of the 2nd floor, but first I need to address the death of Queen Evez. She died suddenly at 69, and at the time her oldest son, Prince Tarriot was 31, and thankfully old enough to step right in as an active Monarch. I played his new household for a few years, but it took him 10 years until he married, so for this update just let us pretend he is still unmarried. His father, previous Prince Consort Clempus, remarried their Royal Estate Chief Attendant (Chamberlain), Mira Hoffstar. They had a daughter, and they reside at Chateau Peak, located at The Pinnacles in Del Sol Valley, where there is plenty of room for more than a single King.
Now, let's start this tour:
First two blog posts focused on first floor (ROYAL), and part 3 on the right side of 2nd floor (NOBLE). Grouping rooms by purpose was more important on 1st floor where the formal ceremonies and most of the daily business take place. On 2nd floor all dining facilities are located on the right half because that is closer to the kitchen (basement). On the left side we have two rooms that are two stories high, the lower part of the Library, and the gallery of the Chapel. The old Royal Chamber is of great importance, too.
Above is the floor map again (Blue I-M and green 4-5 is covered in this article):
A. Grand Mazaloom Hall (going 2 floors)
B. King's Tea Salon (with access to balcony in front)
C. Hunters' Nook (gaming)
D. Bird Room (dining room)
E. Consort Office
F. Medieval Dining Room
G. Youth's Hang Out
H. Wellness Wing
I. Chief Attendant's Office
J. Royal Chamber
K. Library
L. Chapel Balcony
M. Grand Suite Duchess Olexa
X. Staircase towers used by staff only. They connect underground.
1-5 Passages and corridors (3 might be Butler's room)
Some interior is temporary, but the main goal now is to get this building functional and ready to go.
First a quick walk through the eastern passage, leading from King's Tea Salon. There is one passage on each side, the eastern and western, and each will normally exhibit two valuable items from the royal collection. This will change over time, and I can't wait to build the arts collection in the basement vault.
I like logics, so in my game I try to avoid that several households own the same there-only-exists-one-original item. For each House there is a page listing heirlooms like unique jewelries and paintings and more. The page for the royal house is up, but not completed yet.
A few words about King Tarriot while he walks us to the Royal Chamber?
His full legal name is Tarriot Baritom Ruphus Luxe-Hamper, and he is the oldest son of late Queen Evez and Prince Consort Clempus. He has only one brother, Prince Blaise Clemet Morris Luxe-Hamper. Their father remarried the Royal Estate Chief Attendant (Chamberlain), Mira Hoffstar, and they had a girl named Amalia Ellice Hoffstar Luxe-Hamper. Amalia was not granted the Princess title - yet. The girl has no such right as she is neither a Monarch's child nor grandchild. Prince Clempus, Mira and Amalia resides here at Chateau Pak with King Tarriot.
Well, our guide just arrived the Chamber Corridor, and he is now standing in front of the door leading into the old Royal Bed Chamber, that was the bedroom of Tarriot's grandfather, King Tybe.
As the chateau was expanded with the 3rd floor for the royal family's private salons, the old Royal Bed Chamber was no longer used as a bedroom. Pictured above, you just about see the stairs leading up to 3rd floor, and down to 1st floor. There is a similar stair passage on the opposite half of the estate.
J. Royal Chamber
The old royal bed chamber is now the meeting room - or cabinet - of The Royal Chamber. This is a group of 5 royal advisors and is an institution that can be followed all the way back to the Medieval era.
The five life long knights are found from knights of the High Order of the Baltazar, and when a member dies the current Monarch will have him replaced. The Kingdom of Mazaloom covers 8 regions (there used to be 12, but due to political changes some of them merged in Year 120). The Royal Chamber knights represent one region each, meaning there will always be 3 regions that are not currently represented. There is a reason why, but I'll save the details for a later article on the subject.
On the wall you see portraits of all members grouped with the Monarch who knighted them. So, this room holds lots of history.
Above you see the current Royal Chamber. Top left is King Tarriot. Then follows Duke Marcel Gould of Ticktop. Top right is Duke Jaron de Croismare of Aarbyville. Down left is the elderly Duke Floyd Altham of Advorton* (getting quite old, and will probably soon allow for one of the other 3 regions to be granted). The blond guy is King Tarriot's cousin Prince Jerome the Baron de Tredony. Finally down right is Duke Victus Saxor of Meadows, representing Region 12 (my main region).
The Royal Chamber normally holds their meetings annually. They debate the kingdom, the many peerages and they also stay on top of all news regarding elections and regional Councils. Every year the Royal Chamber is hosting a conference where all Dukes and Mayors are invited. It takes place in the throne room, and is often referred to as the GMG (Grand Mazaloom Gathering).
When a Monarch (or any first 3 in line of Successors) wants to marry, the Royal Chamber's approval is required, and everyone is hoping that King Tarriot will soon ask for their blessing. But no, not this year either...
Next door is an office:
I. Chief Attendant's Office
This office is reserved the Royal Estate Chief Attendant (Chamberlain), and you will probably find it a little bland. It's not exclusive as you might expect the office of one of the highest staff members. In real life it would probably be nearly as glamorous as the Monarch's office, but in my case I need to show the class gap between the royal family and the staff - and because of the 8 sims limit I have only this office to show that gap... I mean, there are many servants in a household like this, but I need to pretend they are around. The Chief Attendant still has a high position in the house, s/he is head of the staff, but also assists the Monarch and serves the Press and maintains the buildings owned by the Mazaloom Royal Trust. In real life these tasks would be on the shoulders of multiple persons, but again, I need to compromise and find solutions involving fewer persons and smaller staff structures.
That said, I won't mind giving this office some better bookcases... I think the meeting table could do with a swatch matching the chairs, but this room is only frequented by the Chief Attendant and only other staff members will attend those meetings. The royals never set their feet here.
This office is located right over the ground floor meeting room/Monarch Office/Press room, with quick access through one of the stairs towers (X).
On to the next room...
K. Library
The library spans two stories, and this is the low level which is the main level. Top level on 3rd floor includes mainly book cases and a couple desks where princes and princesses do their homework.
I was hoping that the Medieval desk to the right could be used, but it can not. Still, it's a cool object and there is some aura functionality that I did not explore yet.
Above picture is taken from the top level, looking down to the main level, and you also see there are stairs leading down to the ground level (the Gallery, between Monarch's Office and Press Room).
L. Chapel Balcony
Next door we find yet another room spanning 2 stories, but this time main floor was on 1st floor, while top level is here on 2nd floor.
Up here on the Chapel Balcony, that can only be accessed from the Chamber Corridor, the Royal house will sit, above their guests on main level.
It's a pity that the fence blocks the view, but on the other hand the Priest will not see whether a King or Queen takes a nap during the ceremony. (And I think I must try darker fence instead of white...)
The chapel is used for smaller and private ceremonies, such as weddings and funerals of minor house members. Kings and Queens are of public interest and will of course marry and have their final blessing in a much bigger venue.
So, we're moving on... the door in the end of this corridor is normally locked.
M. Grand Suite Duchess Olexa
This is where stately guests and other highly prominent visitors will stay. It's a large, light room with a private bathroom. In real life there would probably also be attached rooms for a couple servants/staff, dressing room and more. But I will gladly just pretend so.
The name of the suite is a little unclear to the current household. In the very first year of King Tybe's reigning, Duchess Olexa of Peasantview visited and was offered this accommodation. On the 2nd night she got ill, threw up all over the floor, and eventually died before dawn. Her Maid of honor assured that he was the one who had been throwing up all night, but it was harder for her to take the blame of dying. The maid fired herself in shame. The suite had to be renovated, and nobody dared to sleep there for several years. Ever since it was named Grand Suite Duchess Olexa, but the honor might be questionable.
The painting on the wall (above) might be Duchess Olexa (before she got sick).
Next weekend we're moving on to 3rd floor, which is the top floor and where the royal family is supposed to spend most of their everyday. I guess I will face some challenges when trying to lock their routing etc., but time will tell. Stay tuned!
*) After this article was published, I found that Lloyd Altham was never knighted for The Royal Chamber, in fact he was not even the Duke of Advorton. Instead, Dominic Fyres had his seat - framed portraits have been adjusted accordingly.
Part 3
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