The Romeo & Juliette Story

(Year 235, Summer) You probably heard about this couple and their romance. But do you actually know how the story goes? Why they ran away, where they went - and not the least - why did they return to the neighborhood they once escaped from to protect their true love? It's time for an update!

Juliette (Capp) Monty (58) and Romeo Monty (58) arranged a chat session with us in their lovely home at Bellacorde, region Tredony. Back then, this house was the home of House de Monty, while Juliette grew up not so far away.

- House de Monty is just a bit more than a century old, not as old as House de Capp, and we never held a barony, Romeo explains. - My older brother Mercutio was raised to lead the House into the future. Our father was long gone, so Mr Mercutio actually took over at the young age of 16, probably assisted by our mother.

Painting of Mrs Cordelia Capp

(Year 235, Spring) House de Capp released a couple photos of their latest painting to decorate their estate. The person portrayed is Baron Tybalt's late mother, Mrs Cordelia Capp (Year 147-219).

Mrs Cordelia Capp held no peerage, it was her brother Kent Capp who was the first Baron de Bellacorde. Shouldn't that painting rather be of Baron Kent?

High Nobility Houses and their Crowns

(Year 235, Spring) This Spring all high nobility nobles were directed to renew the portraits showing their High Nobility Crowns, both Peer and Consort versions. The crowns are quite valuable desbite their relatively young age (crafted in Year 151), they are owned by the regional trusts and the portraits are used to illustrate the online Heirloom index (link to each House's heirlooms below).

Because they all (bar one) did visit the Photographer, it's a great opportunity for us all to take a quick look at those fresh portraits! Who are the current top nobles of Mazaloom kingdom?

Royal Speculations

(Year 235, Spring) There was quite the buzz the other day, when King Tarriot and Queen Venezia were observed in Bellacorde. An anonymous bypasser shared the two following pictures on SimMedia, stirring speculations.

Witnessing royals dancing in their outerwear might be one thing. Several commented that this sight was unexpeced and that they might had preferred some more elegant outfits when seeing royals walzing. But then it turned out the snaps were taken on one of the last days of Winter, and some found it heartwarming seeing what might be an impulsive action by a king and his queen. They are humans after all!

A Friendly Duel

(Year 235, Spring) At a press conference His Royal Majesty King Tarriot announced that he has joined the Noble Swordsmanship Club as a member. The club was founded by Crown Princess Emireza this Winter.

What he did not mention, is the fact that he and his daughter are known to challenge each other for friendly sword duels whenever they get a chance. A busy schedule is not always stopping them from pulling their swords!

Noble Swordsmanship Club Founded

(Year 234, Winter) Mazaloom kingdom got its very first swordsmanship club - at least it is the only club currently active. Noble Swordsmanship Club was founded by HRH Crown Princess Emireza (23), and she is also the Leader untill she starts University. The Crown Princess and her father, His Majesty the King, are both active swordsmanship enthusiasts.

An agreement was made for the club to use the venue in StrangerVille, recently built by Ted Rossell Mester Acres.

The Ondarion Project

(Year 234, Winter) Three very small districts from three different nations, have united in a political project called «the Ondarion Experiment». The districts were selected for the project as they are all having a long story line focusing on both leadership and knowledge, but they also happen to be located in a line along equator. Now their head persons will contribute with local information regarding science as well as politics, in order to see how much variation there might be thanks to location and politics. The idea is to learn from each other.

In the west we find Dambele (Empire of Snorthia), centered is Bellacorde
(Mazaloom kingdom), and in the east is Verdemar (Sea kingdom).

The three contributing districts are: Bellacorde in region Tredony of Mazaloom kingdom. Dambele in Simerinia kingdom of Empire of Snorthia. Verdemar in Thebia of Sea kingdom. 

Nobility Reform: Nobility Career

(Year 234, Winter) The second part of the Nobility Reform, is the new Nobility career. It is totally separated from the first part, the Dynasties. Technically a noble person won't need a dynasty, and a Dynasty member don't need the Nobility Career. In Mazaloom these two features do connect, though, as we use the career slightly different. Here, you can't have a peerage without also being member of a House, and all Houses had to register as dynasties in order to obtain their new crest emblem.

By design, the career is like most other careers, where you start on the lowest level and climb your way up through promotions. In Mazaloom and our neighboring nations, the career is used for categorizing nobility. This means you immediately get the nobility career level that suits with your highest ranked peerage. This category is static, and no promotions will be involved.

Swordsmanship to StrangerVille?

(Year 234, Winter) Mr Ted Rossell Mester Acres, residing in StrangerVille, has built another community lot based on his personal uncommon architectural taste and interest. Today he invited for a small show-off at Cliff Side Crest.

Rossell has been taking a central position in the little community. This coming election is their first to elect their own district Mayor, but unfortunately he can not run, as elders are not allowed. Instead he wants to bring Swordsmanship to StrangerVille - in his own way.

New Dynasty emblems for Dukedoms

(Year 234, Winter) Today there was another ceremonial event taking place at the Royal Palace of Mazaloom. It was time to hand the framed new crest emblems to the first nobles, this time all five dukedoms were present.

The event took place in Mazaloom Great Hall, which is the entrance area of the palace, regularly used for smaller exhibitions and concerts etc. The press was there, and a few curious commoners had arrived, to witness the whole thing.

One by one the five dukes stepped forward to get their new framing. The crest will identify their brand new dynasties, as Mazaloom had no such thing in the past. Someone might need to make a few adjustments to get the symbolic deco object up on the wall...

Nobility Reform: Dynasties

(Year 234, Winter) This morning the Royal Palace Office (RPO), on behalf of the Royal Chamber, announced upcoming adjustments to the set of rules for Houses of Aristocracy. Mazaloom kingdom had a well developed system for generations. This will continue, but as the global world adjusts to various expansions, the nations of Snorthia, Sea and Mazaloom have debated to find a common base for their aristocratic structures. This means, in all three nations some fine tuning will take place this coming Spring.

His Royal Majesty King Tarriot of Mazaloom is head of the Royal Chamber.

Before you read on - in all three nations the traditional culture will stand strong. While we will still have our national uniqueness, there are some fields where we can come up with common solutions. This should be possible for both the Dynasty system and Nobility (career). The idea is that if the three nations share bits of their aristocratic structure, it will be easier for all to relate, accross borders.

One reason for the adjustments is the implementation of Dynasties. This old community form with origin in the Empire of Snorthia, never established in the kingdoms of Mazaloom and Sea. However, while the main structure from Snorthia will now be used by all, there might be minor influences going the other way - such as Mazaloom's Houses having a focus skill, which will now be adapted by Snorthian dynasties, too.

So, what is new?

Historical Society introduces new Genealogy Tools

(Year 234, Winter) These days anyone into genealogy will applaud new tools for researching your family tree. As usual, our very own Mazaloom Historical Society was involved making this available to residents of Mazaloom kingdom. With this genealogy as a hobby becomes even more interesting.

Club leader Mila Munch (80) is enthusiastic as always.

Crown Princess Emireza has left Windenburg

(Year 234, Winter) HRH Crown Princess Emireza completed her studies at Summerfield High in Windenburg and this Fall she celebrated her 23rd birthday. In jusrt two years she will celebrate her YA birthday, and the entire Mazaloom nation will follow her steps with even stronger interest.

Crown Princess Emireza (23) posing with Summerfield High's Principal, Mrs Hettie P. Fartingham (54).

The Crown Princess left Windenburg this Summer, as her studies at Summerfield High were completed with honors. The private boarding school offers a 9 years program, but students will normally not graduate until the year after, by following the regular schedule for their final year and exams. Summerfield High focuses on aristocratic values, like manners and other character values. The students are normally from high society, and right now also Emireza's brothers Prince Bazil and Prince Cecil are students there.

The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy - Hoods and geography

Oh my! The elegancy, nobility and scandals of the new EP makes it one of those packs flying straight into my game. It would be pointless to wait for a sale, and it would be wasted to debate with myself whether I want it or not. That I could have survived without it, is another dish - right now this is not so much about survival, but desire :)

Hoods Bellacorde, Dambele, and Verdemar. Each comes with dynasties claiming the vacant royal throne.

The worlds look awesome and different, and content seems promising. My only concern is that my royals already have crowns and most of what they need in their palace. And the throne is definitely not vacant. I play most of my nobility with quite regular lives, just a bit better outfits and more spacious estates. CAS look great on the ball/historical side, but we don't know yet whether there will also be a few more everyday high nobility outfits for a modern kingdom.

My biggest puzzle so far was to place the new world geographically into my existing map. And I found a surprising way!