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Agnes: Now that the little ones are down for a sleep - What brings you all the way to Windenburg? I'm thrilled that you're here - but thats not an easy journey for a young woman alone...

Sarah: Although I am overjoyed to see you again.. I come due to troubles back home...

Agnes: Is it our dear brother Tristan?

Sarah: I am afraid so... He continues to lead his growing group of bandits... And although I love him dearly, especially for all that he has done for us, I am afraid I must leave... I have heard him making plans to marry me to one of his fellow bandits - and the life of a bandit's wife is not what I would like.

Agnes: Nor is it a life I would want for you, my dear Sarah. Let me plead with my husband. Perhaps we can take you in, and eventually help you find a reputable man to settle with since you are of marrying age.

Sarah: Oh thank you, Agnes. I knew that I could count on you.

Agnes: Of course! I would like to see it that neither of us must ever beg again, or rely on Tristan's Henford Hill Bandits...

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Sarah: Wow! I can't believe that all of this is yours! Land and livestock to boot!

Agnes: I know... I thank the Watcher everyday for the gifts that I've been given.

Sarah: From a beggar child living on the streets and splitting scraps with me to a shepherd's wife with plenty of crops and livestock... I almost can't believe your fortune, sister.

Sarah: Who'd have thought that you'd end up with so much after the childhood that we had...

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Very spontaneously, Agnes received word that her sister, Sarah, had arrived in town looking for her. She had travelled all the way from Henford alone in search of her sister.

Sarah: It has been far too long, dear Agnes!

Agnes: Sarah! Words cannot describe how excited I am to see you!

Sarah: ... And you are expecting! Am I to become an aunt?

Agnes: You are already an aunt... Would you like to meet your niece and nephew?

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The heavier Milo gets, the more aware Agnes is of him growing up into a little man.

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Eathun: I've been thinking... If you don't want any more children after this one... Then we can pray to the watcher for that...

Agnes: ...Really? I know how much your family values a large family when it comes to the farm though...

Eathun: I'm not my family though. I am Eathun, the husband of Agnes... And if this is many children as she wants, then I will pray that this is all that she'll have, so that she can continue to be happy.

Agnes: ... You were born to be a poet, my love, not a shepherd.

Agnes: How did I get so lucky to marry a man like this...

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Over the coming weeks, Eathun does a bit of soul searching about what is important to him and what he wants from his life.

Until he is ready to talk things through with Agnes.

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With 1370 now over, here are the current stats!

Births & Deaths to Date

The famine of 1369 had a large death toll, but no where near as bad as the Black Plague of 1348. Overall, it appears that births and deaths have both decreased as of 1370.

There was a total of 14 births this year, which is significantly low! Births haven't been under 20 since 1360.

Overall, there were a total of 16 deaths for 1370, which seems to be about average for 1360s+ (with the exception of 1369's year of famine).

Surname Stats

Currently the most common surnames in my save are:

Holloway

Shelley

Mandus

Shepherd

Whitmore

Lifespan Stats

As of the end of 1370, I have 343 living sims in the save file!

I honestly I think I need to start introducing new families to keep genetic diversity, but man does one day take me forever to complete with so many sims to account for!

Main Events from 1370

Family Tree

If you'd like to click around to see all the families in my save, check out my family tree here: https://www.familyecho.com/?p=S6LQX&c=c5wm5we5ygswjdxm&f=376592702510660857&lang=en

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Eathun and Agnes wrap up 1370 with bittersweet emotions.

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Agnes musters up the courage and tells Eathun that they are expecting. As she anticipated, Eathun is thrilled with the news.

She cannot help it and is unable to hide her dismay.

Eathun: My love... Is something wrong? You don't seem overjoyed about this news...

Agnes: I don't want to lose another. My heart cannot have another join our little Abraham...

Eathun: And so we shall pray day and night to the Watcher for mercy. But whatever the will of the Watcher is, we must follow.

Agnes: ... As much as I would love for us to have a full flock of little ones, I would rather we had no more so that we do not tempt the fates...

Eathun: Oh, Dearest wife... It pains me to hear you say that...

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Agnes can no longer ignore the signs from her body. She admits that she is with child once again... And although she still mourns from her last pregnancy, she also finds that she is excited.

The first person she tells is her mother-in-law, Elena.

Elena: What wonderful news, girl! The Watcher is blessing up with another little Shepherd!

Agnes: Y-yeah...

Elena: Have you told your husband? I'm sure Eathun will be esctatic with the news.

Agnes: not just yet... I was waiting to see if my suspicions were true... and so it seems to be.

Elena: Be sure to tell him soon. He'll want to know the joyous news as soon as possible.

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The people of Windenburg rejoice for the birth of the Honourable Hanusch Swindlehurst - who is currently the official 14th in line the the Windenburg throne. The people praise the Watcher for many plentiful sons within the royal family.

Both Hanusch and his mother, the beautiful Princess Osterhild Swindlehurst are doing well. High King Tristram Von Windenburg will be holding a grand feast to celebrate the birth of his 13th grandson!

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Everyone in the Shepherd household is pulling their weight to get through the third quarter of 1370.

Agnes loves caring for her little ones, despite her heavy heart.

She relishes the nights that they have onion and potato soup, so she can blame her tears on the onions rather than her sad mood... Eathun isn't buying it though...

Cynedritha is the self-proclaimed Queen of Goats... Which considering her long line of goat herding individuals, is fairly accurate.

Eathun enjoys the precious moments with his children, however, he doesn't get much time with them due to being kept busy with the many chores of their humble farm.

That said, he never misses telling his daughter a bed time story.

Nicholas has also taken on many larger responsibilities since coming into double digits, however, is consistently found in a sour mood. He would much rather be in the village where he can see all the young ladies at the market, or napping by the stream...

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Hear ye, Hear ye!

The Drakos royal family of Tartosa have much to celebrate in these mid months of 1370. Not only is Queen Phoebe pregnant with their ninth royal child, but their eldest - Princess Lyra Drakos has finally wed. The Drakos family welcome Maximus Mandus into their embrace, a young man descended from the first king of Henford.

To honour the newly weds, King Demetrius has blessed the couple with the noble titles of Duke and Duchess of Luminoso.

The two have moved to the country of Maximus' birth, Windenburg, where they plan to reside for the foreseeable future with his unwed siblings.

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TW: Infant loss, mother grief

Poor Agnes felt very alone in her little world while having no one to confide in.. With 7 months onwards from the birth of the twins and the unbearable weight still sitting on her shoulders, she came to the conclusion that she had to confide in someone. With a heavy heart she approached Eathun's step mother, Elena, who was only a few years Agnes' senior.

Agnes: And so thats why I am afraid of having anymore... But Eathun is so adamant to have more babes... I - I secretly pray to the Watcher for no more, and for the health of our two little ones... With a son and a daughter, do we really need any more?

Elena: Stop praying to the Watcher for such things. This is just a part of how it all goes, Agnes.

Agnes: B- But my heart couldn't bare to lose another.

Elena: Then pray that you do not. I have prayed day and night for the health of my 4 living children, as well as the soul of my little Anne who I lost too young. Do the same, and let the forces that control it be.

With tears in her eyes Agnes nodded.

Agnes: Does it ever get easier?

Elena: I found that by thinking of her and talking with her everyday helps my heart heal. Some of women in the village have different strategies... Perhaps you would like us to meet and share stories together?

Agnes: *Sniffle* ... I would. I would like that very much...

Elena: ...I will arrange something then. Until then, just allow fate to run its course... and get a hold of yourself.

As always, Agnes would focus as much as she could on her children and beloved horse in between her other duties on the farm.

Agnes: You're always the best listener and hugger I know, Fable.

Agnes: Come my first little love. Come help Mama with the chickens.

Cynedritha: Eeee! Mama! Mama!

Agnes: Shush my little man, Mama will sit with you. (Featuring a bite mark on her hand from Cynedritha after getting frustrated with the chickens.)

Until she eventually had a quiet moment to herself.

Agnes: ...

Agnes: ... Hey Abraham... You're brother is pretty restless right now... But I'm - I'm really happy that you're being such a good baby... I love you, Abe...

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Although Agnes is young, healthy, and loves her husband dearly, she is terrified of becoming pregnant once more... This is not a view that she can share with Eathun, nor can she avoid marital duties that may lead to another babe.

And so she prays in secret that they will struggle to fall pregnant again... Completely unaware that both she and Eathun's high fertilities will make her prayer fall on unlistening ears. (Sorry girl, the dice want what the dice want).

But even Eathun isn't blind to Agnes' sorrow... and with only 6 months since the loss of their little Abraham, he isn't totally unaware of the reasons his wife's low mood.

Eathun: And so I must pray. I pray to the Watcher each and every evening for us to be blessed with another child. Once our home is filled with little ones, she will have all the children in the world to love... Only then will her heart heal from the loss of our dear little Ab- ... lost one...

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TW: Infant loss

Since losing little baby Abraham, Agnes has been terrified of falling pregnant again. She loves the life she has now, with her horse Fable, daughter Cynedritha, and son Milo. She loves the idea of a bigger family... but she just doesn't want to go through the loss of a babe again...

Whereas Eathun is eager for more children - the sooner the better. He loves spending time with little Cynedritha, and is eager to spend more time with Milo once he is a bit bigger.

While struggling to take on all the responsibilities to run the farm, Eathun is very aware that his father and brothers are still here to help him... But once they move on... the weight seems too enormous for Eathun. The idea of more children to keep their livelihood running seems like a win-win scenario to him.

Eathun: Agnes! Grab our daughter and come round the fire. Let us pray to the Watcher together.

Agnes: Are we praying for the children's health? Or maybe for the crop you've just sewn?

Eathun: No dearest - I want to pray for our luck in having more healthy children. It has been 6 months since our little Milo was born and if the watcher would allow us to expect another before the year is out, I would be a very happy man!

Agnes: Milo and Abraham... You won't even speak him name...

Eathun: What was that, dearest?

Agnes: I was just saying that your daughter looks sleepy! Mayhaps you would come tell her one of your stories as we settle into bed?

Eathun: You take our little one in - I will be a few moments for our prayer, and then I will be in to tell the tale of The Last Llamacorn again.

Agnes: ... Yes dear. We will meet you inside... Watcher please hear me - our family is perfect the way it is...

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