Baron Auphor of Verde is dead

(Year 234, Summer) What baron could need a long necrolog, if not Lord Verde? His history is quite unique, even for aristocratic standards. And his life was pretty long, passing at 93. Although he struggled after the death of his first wife, often referred to as «the love of my life», he had a pretty high life satisfaction in his later years.

Auphor Juan Humphor (Saxor) Sax-Donnersmalt, Year 141-234.

Auphor Juan Humphor did not only have a complex firstname, he also changed his lastname ten years ago. Aged 83 he started a new life, founding a brand new House of the aristocracy, involving remarrying and moving to Oasis Springs. So, this little article written to honor this private man with such a pristine reputation, will actually cover both the House of Saxor and the House ofSax-Donnersmalt.

He was born into the Meadows dukedom. Being the only child of Duke Bentius and Duchess Victoria, the future was paved for Auphor as the next Duke of Meadows. But adult life came sooner than anyone could expect, as he was aged only 6 when his father died young, and only 5 years later his mother died, too. Aged 11 Auphor had no parents and no siblings. He was pretty much alone. Inheriting the dukedom at 6, will naturally mean someone else will reign in your name. Duchess Victoria ran the peerage in her son's name for 5 years. All grandparens were long gone, but Auphor's uncle, Lord Charles Saxor, who had moved to Oasis Springs, now returned to Meadows to administrate the dukedom for a few years - still in Auphor's name. In addition their staff handled most in-house matters. Year 157 Lord Charles married into House of Rossell and moved to StrangerVille, explaining why his son, Ted Rossell Mester Acres, residing in StrangerVille, seems so engaged with the Meadows dukedom. At this time Auphor was 16, and despite the general claim is 20 to reign a top nobility peerage, we can assume that he was old enough to handle most of the business himself. It must have been a pretty lonely life, though, a life very different from other teenagers.

Probably due to his tough growing up, he did not get any University degree, but he studied at Windenburg Business School (high school), and shortly after growing up he married The Honorable Cordenza of House of Brixerwood (Gloom barony). They had 2 children, Lord Victus and Lady Victoria. Duke Auphor started his Military career, and most things seems to go well for the dukedom. Aged 48 he was knighted for the Highest Royal Order (Royal Chamber), meaning he was among the 5 high nobility Peers with a life long seat at the Monarch's table (the Royal Chamber). In Auphor's case this should not be a life long affair though...

Left: Auphor on his investiture day as the Duke of Meadows, aged 16.
Right: Auphor with the love of his life, Duchess Cordenza, who died at 40.

Year 180, when Auphor's children were 6 and 3, the love of the Duke, Duchess Cordenza died in a car crash, aged 40. This is when the Duke's mental health took a deep dive, and Auphor was for a decade described as nothing but a shadow.

He managed to reach Officer rank in Military, and he was also knighted for the High Order of Warriors. In this mix there also exist notes that he took up a Law career, which he did not reach far with, though.

Then, Year 197, tragedy struck again, as his daughter, Lady Victoria, died aged 21. Just like Auphor, also his son Lord Victus would be quite alone with his future dukedom, which we'll see happened much sooner than anyone could predict. High nobility peers normally secure their House with many children, but in the case of the Meadows dukedom there was hardly a next generation.

Aged 83, Duke Auphor became, appointed by Court, the heir to the Verde barony in Oasis Springs. This peerage used to have the rank of high nobility, but since Year 232 they lost their District Order, which is needed for that rank, making Verde just an ordinary barony overnight. He could not hold that title as a secondary peerage, because no member of aristocracy can hold more than one high nobility peerage. He obviously saw this as a chance to get away from the dukedom. Being a duke is a lifetime commitment, because you are not allowed to retire. Auphor found a way, though, which many did criticize him for in the years to follow. He knew that he, as the Head of House of Saxor was tied to all peerages he had collected. And also being a Head is a lifetime commitment. However, Head must carry the same lastname as the House, so he simply changed his lastname to Sax-Donnersmalt, meaning his son Victus Saxor was appointed as the next Head of House of Saxor. This strategic move made it easier to apply to the Royal Chamber to step back from the dukedom. His application was approved, but only with 4 against 3 votes. As Victus had his investiture in Year 212, Auphor could move to his Verde estate in Oasis Springs, starting a new life there. And the old man surprises everyone by marrying the much younger Miss Morgan Fyres from House von Fyres in Windenburg, and they had 3 children including a male heir to the barony. It's said it was nectar making that brought Auphor and Morgan together. Also horses might have been a common interest - most people don't know that Auphor actually won silver medal in the Simlympics, equestrian contest.

From the wedding of Baron Auphor (84) of Verde and Ms Morgan Fyres (31).

Choosing the name Sax-Donnersmalt was not random. Sax obviously is a nod to House of Saxor, while the rest comes from the extinct House von Donnersmalt, the house that Auphor's mother, Duchess Victoria, hailed from. She was daughter of the 4th Baron of Verde, August von Donnersmalt. House von Donnersmalt goes all the way back to Year 6 when King Baltazar II created the Verde barony for his knight, Wilhelm Donnersmalt. By inheriting this old barony, Auphor also got the Verde Trust, owning the barony's main estate, including plenty of old heirlooms telling the history of House von Donnersmalt. They were mostly Militarians with a strong focus on training horses for battles.

Now that this special man is gone, he leaves behind lots of questions regarding his heritage. There is the Verde barony that also includes the Verde Trust, worth more than 1 million Simoleons. He also had additional ownings worth about another million. Widow Morgan will not be entitled to the peerage as spouses are not seen as heirs to such, but she has the right to 50% of any values outside of the trust. There should be about §500,000 waiting for her, including 2% shares in SimCity First Trust Bank, Inc. The other half, aside of the trust, will go to the children. Baroness Morgan can hold on to most of those values for a bit, as 3 of the children are not even teenagers, but there is also Auphor's oldest son, Duke Victus of Meadows, who will claim 1/4 of the children's half. Victus is of course also 1st in line to any peerage held by his father, including the Verde Trust. Now that Verde is no longer ranked high nobility, there's no rules stopping him. Duke Victus had little contact with his half-siblings so far, after all they are still just kids, and it's not very likely that he will just wait or pass on his share to them.

The big question will be whether Duke Victus accepts the Verde barony. He has the right to decline, meaning he can pass the Verde barony on to his halfbrother, the Honorable Dominus Juan Sax-Donnersmalt (8), who is 2nd in line - but will he? And, is there a way for Broness Morgan to influence on this? After all, Duke Victus doesn't even have a male heir to his own dukedom, so why gather even more peerages that his family might not be able to keep, anyway? If he never get a son, everything including the dukedom might end up on the hands of Dominius anyway.

Baroness Morgan did already prepare at the family crypt. Funeral takes place this Fall.

Regarding House of Sax-Donnersmalt, it's not clear who will be the next Head. The Honorable Vitorina Cordenza Sax-Donnersmalt (9) is the oldest and logical next Head, but if Dominus gets the peerage, he will also become the next Head, because everyone would want the Head to hold the most important peerage. This is all rather open at the moment. Baroness Morgan will administrate the House for the next decade anyway, as Head must be 20 years old to operate.

Auphor did leave a testament that might affect some details, but of course not the peerages he held. Testament reading will take place later this Summer, but a testament can not benefit more than 50% of available values. All heritage details must be handled within a year. It will sure make for another article!

First there will be the funeral for Auphor Juan Humphor (Saxor) Sax-Donnersmalt, Baron of Verde.

Auphor S. Sax-Donnersmalt familytree