Baron Bud of Gloom is Dead

(Year 232, Winter) In a press release the House von Kaching informs that Baron Bud of Glom passed away last night, aged 84. His health was good until last few days, and he died surrounded by his family. He died as a high nobility Peer, only 2 days before losing the Gloom District Order, which according to the Regional Reform will reduce the Gloom barony to regular nobility. Therefor, he will always be remembered as a baron of high nobility.

Family photo Fall Y232: Seated are Baroness Rose and Baron Bud. Standing are their son, the Honorable Edward von Kaching and his wife Lady Merielle from the House de Cavalier, and their 3 daughters, Rosine, Cathrise and Blancheflor.

Bud von Kaching held the Gloom barony for 49 years. His father, Esmond Ching, achieved nothing more than a Mester title (Mester Mugger), but a distant relative and baron died with no male heirs. Bud demonstratively ignored his origin by changing his name from Ching to von Kaching. His ancestors came from the Ching family of Simerinia in the Empire of Snorthia, generations ago. He inherited both the Gloom barony and the less prominent Gibbs barony, and settled at the old Brixerwood House at Upperton, Gloomville.

Royal Chamber: Tax Day to affect All

(Year 232, Winter) Today a quick press meet-up took place at the Council House at Magnolia Promenade, San Myshuno. HRM King Tarriot had an announcement that was received with applause by all attendees.

Mazaloom kingdom has a system of extra taxes and tax reliefs, all to be summed up and charged on Tax Day. Tax Day occurs on 1st day of Spring every 5 years, 3 years after the election. Previously the royal family and the high nobility households were not affected by these extra taxes, but things are changing!

Breaking: Flock body Found!

(Year 232, Winter) One hour ago Landgraab Science Lab, Inc. made a special announcement regarding their Flock People project. Tonight a Flock body was discovered in a secret location, by Scientist Alexander Goth. It sure is a breakthrough, but unfortunately the more than hundred years old body is dying.

The green skinned elderly specie was hardly breathing when examined, and the team just about managed to secure his life with top notch medical equipment. Landgraab Science Lab, Inc. is known for investigating on various life forms, but in this case, Scientist Goth is not very optimistic.

Winner announced: Mazaloom Achievement Award Year 232

(Year 232, Winter) For the second time the Mazaloom Achievement Award was given to a resident who reached the top level of a skill. Last year jazz singer Olivia Clump was the very first to be honored. Speculations have been flying all over this year, because there are so many candidates. Media has been assuming that certain criteria would not repeat two following years, especially not this early in the routine. So, it was expected that this year's honoree would not be female, not from Newcrest, and not being awarded for Cooking, Painting or Singing skills.

Crown Princess Emireza and Count Vladislaus IV Straud met at the graveyard.

Yesterday, in the very early morning hour, HRH Crown Princess Emireza met up at the Henford-on-Bagley graveyard - location and hour picked by the winner, to hand out this year's award. And, the press was there, too!

Adoption at Retirement Home

(Year 232, Winter) What? A child adopted to live at a retirement home? Well, perhaps the story is less weird than you might think. It was not an elderly lodger who adopted the child, but the live-in Manager. And, the adoption is now pushing the Manager to quit her job.

Tammy Oaksdale comes from Gloomville, and will now return to the family nest at Willow Field.

Tammy Oaksdale (44) has been working at the Bon Voyage Retirement Home at Upperton in Gloomville, ever since the retirement home opened its doors a decade ago. She has her own little apartment there, and her job is to cook for the lodgers and to make sure the place is tended to. She used to be in a relation, but they sort of split when her boyfriend moved to run a small farm in Henford-on-Bagley. The idea was that Tammy should follow him, but instead she got the manager job in Gloomville, the district where they both grew up.

A pledge from the Butler Academy

(Year 232, Winter) The Butler Academy, located at Mirage Park in Del Sol Valley, is the most successful of our many private high schools. Founded in Year 136 this boarding school is clearly the oldest, but it is also winning both ranks: Most A graduatees and Most popular. The school still offers classes that were requested by Aristocracy generations ago, but with a few extras. Students no longer become butlers, cooks, maids and governesses, alone. Bartenders and Nectar makers might study here as well. Culinary chefs aiming for restaurants are welcomed, too.

Principal Abraham Golden in his office at the Butler Academy.

Not every student aims to serve a higher ranked House. No, these days even some studies there to prepare themselves for administrating the House they some day will be the Head of. However, times are changing, and the school's Principal Mr. Abraham Golden can tell us more.

Royal Palace Office Announcement

(Year 232, Winter) Early this week Royal Palace Office (RPO) called for an important press announcement in three days. Speculations have been going all over the place. Someone even suggested that an early engagement involving HRH Crown Princess Emireza could be the issue. But no, it turned out to be about the ongoing cultural conflict between Mazaloom kingdom and Empire of Snorthia.

HRM King Tarriot and Royal Chief Attendant Ms Maiden in the King's office.

HRM King Tarriot (64) and Royal Chief Attendant Miss Patrica Maiden (51) met the press. Maiden opened by giving a brief introduction to the well known conflict. Talking about the innocent event where she was seeing the exhibited painting "Moon Liza", just to reveal that the portrayed woman was indeed Miss Maiden's own late mother, Limia (Oceanus) Maiden. Emperor Orchor of Snorthia got furious as the painting was their very old heirloom seen as a national treasure, now exposed to be only one generation old. He claimed that the entire empire was deeply offended. It did not help much that Limia turned out to be a Princess of Sea, actually sister of their current King. At young age she broke with her royal family to rather dedicate her life to acting.

- My mother was a very shy actress not wanting any attention to her own person, and she died from embarrasment when papparazzis noticed her, drowning her with their blitz rain. Unfortunately, she dragged even more unwanted attention to herself by falling to the ground right on Judith Ward's fame brick at Starlight Boulevard.

Miss Maiden then introduced King Tarriot. He explained that Grand Marshal Robert Calves, President Rob Wilder and himself have been searching a peaceful end to the two years long splitting conflict. The King has reached out to Emperor Orchor of Snorthia on multiple occasions, and now there has finally been some response!

The Wealthiest Man and his Heirs

(Year 232, Winter) The wealthiest man of Mazaloom kingdom is not the King, and not even of high nobility. It is of course Mr Malcolm Landgraab Lord Cacti (79) who is not getting any younger by the years. He will have to pass on his wealth eventually, and unless he decides to involve specific heirs according to a not yet known testament, his 3 sons, twins Buffrey and Geophold (13) and Ruperty (8) will share the extreme fortune of more than §8,000,000. Although Landgraab Science Lab is known for experimenting with and modifying lifeforms, there is probably no way yet to add years to an old man's life - not even if he can pay generously.

With a testament, there can be one favored heir getting up to 50% of the value, meaning one son might get half of the fortune before the other half is shared equally between the 3 of them. But, who would be the favored one? One son is naturally the oldest, but because the two oldest are twins they might be seen as equally old. Perhaps their efforts in school will decide?