Households of Mt. Komorebi: Sloth Family (+ the Empire of Snorthia)

(Year 230, Summer) Prepare yourself for lots of Mt. Komorebi content over the next month! I decided to write more about the many households in my game, including some details on cultural and historical aspects. Such a back carpet was always essential in my sims games. I like to share, but it might also help sorting out further paths and building needed inspiration for my own game.

His Imperial Highness Orchor, Emperor of Snorthia.

My universe covers Empire of Snorthia, Kingdom of Mazaloom (my main) and Kingdom of Sea. Their cultures differ, so does their stately organization including nobility. Let's start with the households of my most recent world, Mt. Komorebi, currently the only played world of Snorthia. To avoid super long posts each will just cover one family with a few pictures and link to their family tree, but most posts will also cover various community aspects.

All these posts will get tagged #Historybook, #Historybook Snorthia, or #Historybook Sea.

Let's start the ball with the highest ranked family of them all, the so called «Imperial Lead Family». It is also a good opportunity to roughly introduce the empire.

The Empire of Snorthia

The Empire of Snorthia has the oldest traditions and is still seen as a bit old fashioned, especially regarding how their females are yet not involved with community affairs. Originally there were 3 kingdoms. When «the Great Sloth Invasion» took place (historical military battle in Year 40), the winning Sloth Family got the Jacothia kingdom. Shortly after they fought the other two kingdoms and declared a new Empire of Snorthia to overshadow all 3 former kingdoms; Simerinia, Jacothia and Komorebi. Up to now Simerinia had been the most powerful and there still exist a few valuable heirlooms from their since long expired Ming dynasty. Jacothia being the home to the Jacobian faith still holds a certain power religion wise. The new Emperor was seated in Jacothia.

To calm riots from the high status families, a system of «seven Protected Families» per former kingdom was introduced. The Emperor is still obliged to protect the Families that still remains: 5 of Simerinia, 4 of Jacothia and 3 of Komorebi.

With the new Empire most power was moved to the hands of the Sloth Family, and when they moved seats from Jacothia to Komorebi around Year 100, several protected families followed them in order to gain stronger community impact. Today 7 of 12 protected families reside in Mt. Komorebi. The soon to come post about the Nishidake Family will include some info on how those families are involved with the stately administration.

So, let's switch focus to the Imperial Lead Family, the Sloth Family!

3rd protected family of Jacothia:
Sloth Family

Protector of the Dragon, Protected by the red rose, Element Light (often visualized as Silver).

Ever since they conquered Jacothia and their head, King Albert, shortly after declared the Empire of Snorthia, this family has reigned the huge territory. All of the emperors were cruel and greedy, with Emperor Lothar being the only exception. His grandson and current head, Emperor Orchor, is also on the evil side, but his actions are at least less violent than those of his predecessors.

Seated: Emperor Orchor (75). Standing: Princess Beziyo (24), HIH Crown Princi Alyor (22),
Concubine-ichi Tamara (57), and HH Empress Consort Lea (59).

Estate

The Sloth family resides at the Sloth Palace, built 130 years ago up at Yukimatsu. The location is not random, as the Emperor benefits from being seen up to, but also being the Protector of Dragon makes an excuse for residing in the mountain. Some tourists find the Imperial Palace underwhelming, but that is because they are not familiar with this nation's traditional values, and neither they know that estates are ranked by Zen and spiritual content and history, rather than by size. On a side note it is a tad funny that while the Sloth family always focused on white and black as their signature colors, red became the Empire's official signature color. Together these colors combine the values of calmness and affection with youth's vitality (or ignorance, greed and blood hunger, as an old school critic once put it).

The Emperor's office, «The Imperial Gate»

This room is referred to as The Imperial Gate, simply because any head of a Protected Family asking favors or offering support will need to meet with the Emperor here, before their case can be handled by him and the Imperial Council (more about the council in the upcoming Nishidake Family post).

There will surely be a tour of the Sloth Palace sometime in the future.

Current household

HIH Orchor, the Emperor of Snorthia is married to Lea, from the Rapfelder family (2nd protected family of Simerinia). With genes origin from Jacothia and Simerinia this family's genes are not typical for Komorebi. However, after several generations all sides of culture has been leaking between the three former kingdoms.

Snorthia has lots of rules and old traditions, but to put it very briefly: Possessions are of less value than a strong heritage, and one man equals the value of nine women. Females have very few rights in general, and those with a traditional approach on life are happy with this. It is illegal for a woman to give birth to a son if she already has a son, or to give birth at all if she already had 3 children. Because the Emperor can hold up to 5 concubines, he is the only male who can have multiple sons without remarrying.

Princess Beziyo and Crown Princi Alyor.

Emperor Orchor and Lea have 2 daughters and 1 son. The oldest daughter, Princiss Magile (26) already married into the Akiyama Family. The Emperor also has the daughter Yokora (19) and son Mulvort (17) with his Concubine-ichi. They are being raised in Simerinia while studying there. Mulvort is 2nd in line to the Empire, but Yokora doesn't even carry the Sloth name, and will probably end up serving at the Sloth Palace.

The family is of course obliged to embrace the old traditions, regardless of their personal view. Emperor Orchor is intelligent but yet not the smartest leader this empire saw. He does succeed fairly well, and he loves exploring the mountain trails to search hints to the old dragon myth. Lea, the Empress Consort, is family minded but her temper often comes between her and the children. She was grateful that the Concubines helping with the children, it probably makes it easier for her to accept their affairs with Orchor. Lea is rather neutral to the traditions, but plays her role well. Princiss Beziyo gets well along with her father. Crown Princi Alyor has inherited his father's evilness as well as greed for wealth, and with his traditional mind set not much seems to be changed when he takes over.

Emperor Orchor is now an elder, aged 75. He might still have some good years ahead. The title is held until death, so his two sons Alyor Princi-ichi and Mulvort Princi-ichi will both be young adults before it is time to success him to the Snorthian Throne.

Sloth Family's family tree.

Animals, Crops, Pets

The Sloth Palace keeps no farm animals, instead the residents pay taxes by delivering locally grown food. Most food is imported from Simerinia, though.

There is a garden room, where they grow flowers as well as vegetables and fruits. It is the Concubines' chore to tend the plants. Teenagers of the family might do some gardening, but to train skills they will mostly tend to bonsaii shaping.

The cat is traditionally sacred in this culture, and by some Wellness enthusiasts white cats are nearly seen as holy creatures. At the Sloth Palace lives the white cat named Yiku (Snow). He adores Princiss Beziyo, but its main job is to bless the household.