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In Memory of Those Who Died to the Great Famine of 1315 - 1317

Ulric Elwyne

Isaie Picard

Mademoiselle Genevote Capet

Adamuccio Ezzo

His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Frederick of Tartosa

Phillip Greenfield

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In Memory of All Those Who Died in 1317

Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth of Henford on Bagley

March 5th, 1316 - January 5th, 1317

Princess Elizabeth was born the second child of Her Majesty Queen Marjory and His Royal Highness Prince Consort Phillip of Henford on Bagley. Her birth came in the midst of the worst famines of recent history and an ongoing war, bringing a small bright spot to the kingdom. She was named Elizabeth after the queen mother, a sign of thanks from the queen because she was who delivered the child when the royal midwife didn't make it in time.

Unfortunately, the babe died suddenly and without warning, discovered by her mother at 5:20 in the morning on January 5th, 1317 - on the Twelfth Night of Christmas.

Elizabeth is survived by her parents, her adopted grandmother Her Majesty Queen Mother Elizabeth, and her older sister Her Royal Highness Princess Adela of Henford on Bagley.

Edelinne Picard

1283 - April 3rd, 1317

Edelinne Picard was a servile woman under Prince Robert, Duke of Willow Creek. She was married to her husband, Éduin, in the year 1303. They had their first child together in 1304, a little girl named Elisanna, who passed away in her crib just a few short weeks later. After that, it took them ten years to so much as conceive again; they had a little girl in 1314 and then a little boy in 1315. Unfortunately, their son couldn't thrive in the harsh environment that the Great Famine created and he died in 1316.

Those who knew Edelinne would describe her as a harsh woman. She was known to put one in their place when they got out of line, although she somehow managed to keep her husband utterly enamored with her despite her brash nature.

While trying to get supplies for her family, Edelinne was robbed. Knowing her reputation for fighting back, her would-be assailant decided to take her out with an arrow to the back (like a coward, her husband insists she would say) in order to take her coin off of her corpse. Her body was discovered at 6:04 AM on April 3rd, 1317.

She is survived by her husband, Éduin Picard, and her only living child, Mabile Picard.

Junipera Ezzo

July 1st, 1316 - May 1st, 1317

Junipera was born to a servile woman named Vanna Ezzo after the death of her father Adamuccio Ezzo. Seeing as she was born not long after her father's untimely demise to the Great Famine, she was nicknamed her mother's "little miracle" and was given as much devotion as any parent could give a little one with a brother so close in age.

From the moment she was born, it was clear that Junipera wasn't exactly healthy. She would scream for hours on end but even her cries were weak and she would struggle and gasp for air in between. Her wheezing became such a common sound in the household that her older brother and mother grew used to it.

On the morning of May Day, before the day's church services were set to get underway, her mother found her unresponsive in her crib. Her death was confirmed by the Mouths of the Watcher at 2:10 PM when her mother finally dragged herself out of the house and to the church.

She is survived by her mother, Vanna Ezzo, and her brother, Neri Ezzo.

William Greenfield

1278 - June 9th, 1317

William Greenfield began his journey as a priest living in Windenberg. He was a kind man, usually preaching in churches around low income areas and counselling peasants in time of grief, distress, or even marriage counselling. It was during one of these charitable works that he met a fellow clergy-member, a nun named Emma de Stapleton, and they fell madly and deeply in love at first sight. Soulmates, one might say.

Emma and William could not fight their love, no matter how much they wanted to stick to their vows. So in the middle of a cold January, they ran together as far away as they could get. All of the way to Granite Falls where William had a small piece of property he had managed to keep secret. They were wed on January 6th, 1313.

Their married life was bliss; both of them finding the life of unknown peasants much more fulfilling and in line with what they felt the Watcher called them to do. They were blessed with their first child not long after they were wed.

In the midst of the Great Famine, William found a job working for a local merchant, his charisma from being a priest helping him in sales. This led rival merchant families to covet him however he stuck to his morals and loyally stuck by the first man who gave him a chance, hoping to raise his family to a point of greater comfort. Unfortunately, this proved to be his downfall. A jealous merchant struck him down on his way home. William managed to write the name of said man in the mud and he was apprehended shortly afterward, however his own life could not be saved.

He is survived by his wife, Emma Greenfield, and their children.

Phillip Greenfield

August 2nd, 1316 - July 2nd, 1317

Phillip was born the second child of Emma and William Greenfield, their first born son. He was well loved by both of his parents and they gave him all of their love and affection.

He was left without a father when William died and could often be found playing beside his father's grave. All of that being said, the boy had a cheerful disposition that kept his family smiling throughout tragedy and famine.

Unfortunately, a cheerful disposition does not keep a body going. Food does. The diet of only gruel and bits of fruit (sometimes even rotten food) took a toll on the young boy's body and he fell gravely ill. Despite his mother's best efforts to nurse him to health, it was all in vain. He died in her arms a month after his father's death, one of the final casualties of the Great Famine.

He is survived by his mother, Emma Greenfield, and his siblings Lettice Greenfield and William Greenfield II.

Sir Upton Glasse

1281 - November 4th, 1317

Sir Upton was born the youngest son in a noble family, thusly he had very little to inherit. His family, to secure his future, had him train as a page which earned him a nice life when he was officially knighted at the age of 21. His career was extremely successful and he worked himself up to being one of the king's most favored fighters, even earning a seat at court and on his counsel. He has survived multiple raids on Henford on Bagley and was sent to fight in the Granite Falls revolt, returning home with only a few scars to tell the tale.

While his work life was successful, his personal life had plenty of ups and downs. By the time he was knighted, Upton and his wife Olive had one daughter by the name of Camilla but they struggled to conceive at all after that. Lady Olive fell pregnant in 1308 and gave birth to a son who succumbed to death before she even left confinement. It wasn't until 1310 (9 years after the birth of their daughter) that they had a living son. They had no more children after that.

Despite this, Upton was well known for his faithfulness to his dearest Olive. When the other men would spend nights in the company of whores, he would take his leave and sleep on his own. He never took up an official mistress and never had illegitimate children. Despite her inability to give him more children, he adored Olive and insisted that she was the only one for him.

Upton is survived by his wife, Lady Olive Glasse, and his two children Camilla & Ylving.

The Honorable Master Edward Despenser

December 14th, 1317 - December 14th, 1317

Edward Despenser was the son of the baron and baroness of Olde Platz. After the disappearance of his older sister, his mother's health rapidly declined. When she eventually went into labor and gave birth, it all proved too much for the little boy who was born sleeping. From his mother's womb to the arms of the Watcher.

Edward is survived by his parents, Hugh and Elanor, and his four older siblings, Isabel, Joan, Hugh II, and Margaret.

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Baroness Elanor Despenser has been delivered of a son on December 14th, 1317 at 7:27 AM

Unfortunately, the child was born sleeping. In light of their family tragedies, the baron and baroness have asked for privacy.

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December 14th, 1317: The Despenser Estate, Olde Platz, Windenberg

Ever since taking to confinement, Elanor had become convinced that something was wrong. She felt awful and the babe hadn't been kicking as fiercely as he had been before. When she would express this worry to her midwives or her physician, they told her that stress can do funny things and that she should try to relax. How could she relax?

When she went into labor, she almost let out a sigh of relief among her noises of pain from her contractions. It was a quick labor as all of hers were, her body eager for her little ones to greet the world. Or maybe her children have all been strong willed from the start.

She was eased onto her back by her most trusted midwife, a gloved hand in hers, stroking and comforting her. She pushed with all of her might, needing to hold her newest child in her arms. She needed to protect one of her children.

The last push was usually triumphant; and only a precursor to the sounds of celebration and newborn cries. But as Elanor pushed for the final time, there was a deafening and horrible silence.

Her midwife pat her hand and walked away from her, leaving her laying in the bed, panting and desperately trying to wrap her mind around what had gone wrong. She heard mumbles from the women in the room, they were speaking to her child.

"Come on, dear boy. Your mother wants to meet you."

No amount of coaxing would help. The baby was born sleeping and there was nothing to be done to wake him. The midwives turned to Elanor with grave expressions.

"What... What were you going to name him? I will christen him."

"Edward," Elanor managed in a weak voice. "We were going to name him Edward."

After that, she couldn't remember much else. Not until the still and cold child was placed into her arms; the first and only time she would be allowed to hold him before he was buried. She tried to memorize his face; but she's not sure if she managed.

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The hours ticked on with no sign of Joan. After hours of riding in search of her, Hugh returned home to check on his wife. She had been seen by physicians after her horribly stressful ordeal to check on her and the babe inside of her.

When he found her, she was sitting in their dining room, staring out of the window and tapping her fingers against the wood.

"What did they say, my love?" Hugh asked, voice quiet.

"They want me to go into confinement right away." Elanor's voice gave away how she felt about that. She was approaching the end of her pregnancy, but she had arranged to go into confinement once the Christmas festivities end.

"That's probably for the best. Today has been stressful for you."

"For me? What about for Joan? For her twin sister? For her younger siblings?"

Tears started to roll down Elanor's face as she spoke. This quickly morphed into full-body sobs as she desperately tried to wipe them away.

"How can I go and rest and lay in bed while my daughter is missing? While my other children are unsure if they'll ever see their sister again? How could I ever rest when I don't know if she's safe or even alive?"

Hugh stood from his chair, reaching towards his wife. There were no words to comfort her. No magic word that could make this okay.

"Elanor, dearest wife, you must think about the babe inside of you now. Do it for him." As he said this, he pulled her into his arms, tucking her face into his shoulder. "I will not rest until our daughter is back in our arms. I will search day and night. This, I swear to you."

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Christmas, 1317: The Despenser Estate, Olde Platz, Windenberg

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Christmas, 1317: Olde Platz Cathedral

Christmas mass was usually a time of celebration, the beginning of twelve days of merriment. For the past few years, however, there has been a more somber tone.

In their little barony, people have been dying. Of starvation, of illness, of random muggings gone wrong. It was hard to even celebrate the Watcher as they're called to do.

Hugh took most of the children with his entourage, but Joan had been distressed when she had seen the suffering in the street. Elanor offered to walk home with her personally so she could answer any of her burning questions.

She rattled them off like only a toddler could. So many whys. The problem was there was no good answer this time. Why were their people suffering? Because the Watcher wills it. Why does the Watcher will it?

Nobody can say.

The questions eventually slowed to a stop. Elanor figured that her daughter was either too saddened to continue or had finally gotten distracted.

Then she realized. Her hand wasn't in hers anymore.

She didn't panic immediately. The church was a safe place, her children knew that. They often wandered back to try and make friends or trick some of the elders into giving them coin.

"Joan?" She called towards the church. When she saw Father Walter leaving and no sign of her daughter among the group of children playing tag in the courtyard? Her heart sank.

Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

"Joan?! Joan?! Has anyone seen my daughter?!"

Everything stopped. The few festivities that had begun stuttered to a halt and all eyes turned to Elanor. The children were ushered inside while other mothers and the men who had stuck around gathered around to help look.

But Joan was nowhere to be found.

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December, 1317: The Despenser Estate, Olde Platz, Windenberg

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December, 1317: The Windenberg Royal Residence

Most of the nobles had heard of the increasing hostilities between His Majesty and his brother-in-law. It was mostly the gossip mill talking about it, the two trying desperately (and failing) to make things seem cordial.

Knowing this, Hugh was worried when he was given a summons to the king's side. His worry only increased when instead of their typical meeting spot, he was ushered into the throne room.

"Hugh!" Edward greeted.

"Your Majesty," Hugh responded with a bow.

"I'm not sure if you're aware, but with the hostilities in Granite Falls, there have been many lands confiscated." He paused for dramatic effect. "I have decided that among my nobles, you are the most loyal and capable. I wish to dub you Lord of Granite Falls. Will you accept?"

There wasn't a real option. Hugh knew that this was a snub to others who were vying for this lordship. He knew that this would make him enemies. He knew that Edward, as close of a friend as he is, is terrible at court politics and keeping his allies safe.

And yet, he dropped down to his knee anyway.

"I graciously and humbly accept."

[thestressedsimmer]

Hey, gang! Little update from me!

Between work and health (I'm a chronically ill baddie and had really bad flares recently) I haven't been able to focus on writing or simming. I'll be queueing things up again soon!

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Winter Sowing, 1317

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Fall Harvest, 1317

Windenberg Harvest: Barren.

Henford on Bagley Harvest: Barren.

Willow Creek Harvest: Barren.

Tartosian Harvest: Barren.

Granite Falls Harvest: Barren.

Glimmerbrook Harvest: Barren.

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