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?

Trouble in House of Thebe?

(Year 235, Spring) A delicate conflict seems to be building in the otherwise pristine House of Ross. And it looks to be caused by a two decades old interest conflict between House of Thebe and House of Ross. This might be the direct reason for Baron Rainert of Myshuno's very off-protocol behavior the other day - witnesses are still in shock!.

Members of aristocracy are deeply supporting Duchess Ribra Lynn - but everyone is still confused over her oldest son's reaction! To fully understand the conflict, which actually has the potential to grow much bigger unless handled in a civilized manner, we need to step back a few decades and look at past events involving both House of Thebe (Myshuno barony) and House of Ross (Rossie dukedom).

Hollow County not likely Accepted

(Year 235, Spring) We finally get some official report from the recent meeting between HRM King Tarriot and Count Vladislaus of Hollow, taking place at the royal palace. Vladislaus Straud (68) claims Count of Hollow, his title going 4 generations back, to be officially accepted by the Royal Chamber.

Official posing at the Majesty's Office entrance: Mr Vladislaus Straud and HRM King Tarriot.

There exist no track of such a peerage in the official formal lists issued by the Royal Chamber, meaning there exists no Count of Hollow within the great peerage. However, House of Straud is fully registered with the public residents system, and the County seems mentioned occasionally, too, the Royal Chamber just never approved, and has nothing to do with those info pages.

Recently Mr Straud was observed arriving the royal palace, so, how did the meeting turn out?

Archery Rivalry Fest

(Year 235, Spring) This weekend saw the Archery Rivalry Fest in Gibbi Point. This is the annual gathering where aristocracy dresses up in Medieval outfits, mingle and enjoy sme food and entertainments, and of course not the least; challenge each other for the Archery contest where the winner gets to own the medal for the coming year.

Traditionally 8 Houses participated, but this year the number of contending families was reduced to 6. The reason is simple; only teenagers can enter the Archery contest and the same teen can not sign up two years in a row. With 6 contenders it gets easier to find those 6 teenagers.

So, who will win, and not the least - who will shoot an apple of the head of the leading Lady of last year's winning House?

Mr Straud visiting Royal Palace

(Year 235, Spring) The other day a mysterious person was observed arriving the royal palace, and shortly entering the huge building. Curious journalists got a picture of the arrival, and then eagerly awaited for the black man to return.

They had to wait more than an hour, which is quite long for a regular audience with the Monarch or the Royal Palace Office. So what was this all about? They made contact with the mysterious man before he managed to escape.

Windenburg Dukedom

(Year 235, Spring) Duke Merlin von Windenburg (83) is reported sick. A few nights ago he was transported to a hospital where he is still resting. The press release does not give any medical details, but confirms that he is still being tested while staying there for observation a few more days.

Duchess Mandy (49) is back home at Estate von Windenburg. The couple married 8 years ago and has 5 children aged 7 to 12, including two sets of twins. Their oldest daughter, Lady Mirarda (12) is fostered by Mandy's elderly parents in Oasis Springs.

Nobility Calendar of Year 235

Royal Palace Office (RPO) has released the calendar for the Year 235. The royals attend various events nation wide as well as abroad. In addition there will be a few events hosted by them, and during a normal year there will be some stately guests, too.

Also the 8 high nobility houses in Mazaloom are included in this calendar. They equal to the knights of the High Order of the Baltazar - one from each region. They are less active in representation, but serve as a network that can step in when needed.

Traditionally each House will rarely accept more than two invitations per season, the royals a bit more, including patronages. High nobility Houses rarely take on community engagements outside their home region, unless being urged to by the.

For the royal family there is now a schedule section on the Royal Palace Office webpage.

It's Year 235!

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 Landgraab Dynasty

(Year 234, Winter) This morning a press brief hit news desks nation wide. The Landgraab business imperium is reorganizing. The top company, Landgraab Industries, Inc., is among Mazaloom's biggest companies, but there are numerous smaller companies owned fully or partly by companies within the Landgraab concern, or by members of the super wealthy Landgraab family.

Mr Malcolm Landgraab Mester Cacti posing at Landgraab Industries, Inc.'s head quarters.

Today Mr. Malcolm Landgraab (81) is Head of the family, including House of Landgraab and the low nobility title Mester Cacti. To many's surprise, the Landgraabs never held any real peerage, and the Mester status doesn't really qualify as real nobility. They were never involved with Politics, at least not as electable candidates. There's no doubt they had significant influence on our community, though.

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.

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?

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!

Their Introduction to Society

(Year 234, Winter) The old term might be outdated, but this year a modernized version of the «debutante ball» made its return! Again, young members of Aristocracy can have their formal introduction to society - if their parents so wish. The format is slightly less formal and some of the traditional accessory were left out. And now, in this genders neutral era, also the young men are included.

Next year's Debutants: Ms Melida Dipperwell (24) and Mr Barros de Froux (24).

Time changes. While Mazaloom kingdom is nearly 250 years old, the two recent monarchs focused a lot on gender equality. It started with King Tybe who stated that he would accept the Mazaloom Throne only if his main heir could be the oldest child regardless of sex, so we finally got adjustments to the heritage laws, pointing at the oldest child rather than the oldest son. You may think this affected his daughter only, but such changes normally affect the broader community as well. Today it is the norm that oldest child will be anyone's main heir, regardless of class and gender. It was not that way before King Tybe forced the change 85 years ago.

Trusts Restructured

(Year 234, Winter) This Fall People Chamber debated new restrictions to private trusts, initiated by Ministry of Trades & Taxes. Existing trust owners involve the royal House of Luxe-Hamper, as well as quite a few noble Houses. According to the revised restrictions, some of the latter will now lose their right to organize their possessions in a Trust.

Minister Fanny Silverbone, Ministry of Trades & Taxes. Here from the LEFT party's office at Council House.

Most trusts are very old and were originally introduced to serve a heritage mission: It was a logical way to secure that the new Head of House would keep the essential possessions without needing to buy out siblings and other heirs. To many main heirs this could only be done by taking up big loans or splitting up ownership. Trusts were originally invented by the royal House and before Year 50 it was common with the wealthiest Houses of aristocracy. Each trust functions like a small company with a Board of 3 persons, lead by Head of House with a double vote. The two other core members normally represent other family branches in order to protect the values on behalf of future generations.

Duchess Ribra Lynn turns 70

(Year 234, Winter) This year Duchess Ribra Lynn of Rossie celebrates a new life stage. She turned 70, which is traditionally the magic number for becoming an elder. She celebrated with a gala dinner at Rossie Palace in Henford-on-Bagley, joined by family and friends.

Duchess Ribra Lynn turns 70.

Ribra Lynn is consort to the Duke of Rossie, whom she married at 36. They have been a steady couple for three decades, resulting in five handsome young men aged 4 to 32. But she was also the daughter to secure the House of her late father, Robert Thebe, Baron of Myshuno. This made a special twist to her life and is still a mission, as it stopped her from becoming a central member of her husband's Huse of Ross.

She accepted a short birthday interview, few hours before the gala event.

Royal Palace Staff - Adjustments and Job openings

(Year 234, Fall) Royal Palace Office (RPO) announces adjustments to their key staff. This happens regularly, but this time several job titles were modified. A chart showing the key functions was printed to decorate central spots in the staff sections of all royal estates. Palace Chief Attendant Ms Maiden said on this week's Monday press meeting, that RPO could not be prouder of their staff. Although some key functions rank higher due to level of responsibility and skill requirement, the daily efforts depend on every single employee.

The big news is that RPO will hire 2 more members of their staff, a 2nd Private Maid, who will work closely with the Crown Princess (23) - a position that might eventually qualify for the future Monarch's Private Attendant if you stay around long enough. The other position might seem less glamorous, but comes with plenty of possibilities for future promotions; 2nd Cook at the palace.

Paula C. Altham is dead

(Year 234, Fall) House von Kaching, residing in Gloomville, region Gloom, has today announced that their relative, Paula (Ching) Altham, Baroness of Emp, is dead at 88. She leaves behind widower, Baron Floyd of Emp (96).

Most of her adult life she was known as Paula Ching Mester Mugger, residing in Sim City (SimNation). Later she returned to Gloomville and only two years ago she married to Baron Floyd of Emp, of House of Altham.

The couple settled at Bon Voyage Retirement Home in Gloomville and shocked relatives on both sides when writing new testaments benefiting the other part at the cost of their existing family. It meant that those already seeing themselves as main heirs would lose up to 50% to the new spouse.