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BATH, 1925

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H [64] Brigadier-General Arthur Lionel Tarquin Blackstock (Emily Amy)
W [dec at 58] Venezia Romilly Hero Burdet (Wraith)

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S1 [34] Captain Arthur Hannibal Wulfhard Blackstock (cher529s)
- W [35] Thekla Miranda Heywood (JuliaF)
-- S [10] Constantine Horatio Arthur Blackstock (JuliaF)
-- D [4]

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D1 [32] Guinevere Charis Letizia Blackstock (JuliaF)
- H [37] Sigmund Franz-Joseph Cavendish (BlueOcean123)
-- D [2]

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S2 [30] Samson Jericho Marcus Blackstock (Guest)
- BF [31] Hamish Peredur MacConnell (Uilos)

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D2 [28] Evangeline Camilla Aktaie Blackstock (JuliaF)
- H [32] Valentine Francis St. Anne (Darkbone)
-- S [6] Peregrine Michael Francis St. Anne (JuliaF)
-- D [0]

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S3 [26] Second Lieutenant Leonidas Enoch Tarquin Blackstock (.)
- W [24] Alice Helena Goldsmith (Guest)
-- S [2]

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D3 [24] Lavinia Constance Hero Blackstock (Uilos)
- Fiancé [43] Ignatz Ferdinand-Gottlieb Cavendish (Wordsmith)

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S4 [21] Hector Osric Maximilian Blackstock (RowenaRavenclaw)
- GF [25]

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It is the autumn of 1925.

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Arthur has spent the last five years crystallising into a relic of a world that no longer exists. His position at the War Office has transitioned into semi-retirement. He feels increasingly irrelevant as the empire he fought to protect crumbles under the weight of economic and political instability. He was not at Venezia's bedside when she died.

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Venezia, once a formidable matriarch who withered away into a husk of the woman she once was, died in two years ago, in a bed she hadn't left since 1919. The only person at her bedside was her youngest son, Hector. The funeral was a somber, but modest affair, hardly befitting the woman who was once the cornerstone of Bath society. As Venezia was layed in her coffin, it seemed as if a world was being buried with her, a world that had, perhaps, been dead for years, but its demise was only now being acknowledged.

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Art and his family have remained in Sussex, trying to find solace in the quiet countryside. His relationship with Thekla has deteriorated further, with the couple now living almost entirely separate lives. Thekla has thrown herself into her community work, often spending days at a time away from home. The birth of their daughter initially brought hope for a reconciliation, but the rift has only deepened. Art, unable to connect with his children and wife, spends more time brooding over his past. His relationship with Constantine remains distant, while his daughter, although adored by her father, does not receive the warmth she deserves.

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Thekla, now a prominent figure in Sussex, has become known for her tireless work with war widows and orphans. She has gained a reputation as a formidable woman, respected but also feared for her uncompromising stance on social issues. Her marriage, however, is a source of deep sadness. Thekla feels increasingly isolated, trapped in a life where her personal fulfillment is sacrificed for the greater good.

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Gwen and Sigmund's daughter has brought some joy into their volatile marriage, but their ideological clashes have grown more intense. Sigmund's radicalism has only increased, leading him to clash with authorities and face arrest for his involvement in various protests. Gwen, while still a committed socialist, has started to question the efficacy of Sigmund's methods and the toll it takes on their family. Their arguments often escalate, sometimes in front of their young daughter. The political environment in London is becoming increasingly dangerous, and Gwen has considered moving the family out of the city, though Sigmund remains obstinately against it.

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Sam's life at Cambridge has grown more complicated. His controversial Marxist views have made him a pariah among the more conservative faculty, and rumours about his relationship with Hamish have only fueled the tension. Despite this, Sam has remained at Cambridge, where he has become an influential, if divisive, figure among the students. His lectures attract both admirers and detractors, and his writings have garnered attention in radical circles.

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His relationship with Hamish is stable, though they face constant scrutiny. Hamish is writing a book about monsters in medieval English literature - a thrilling, though perhaps not most profitable venture. The pair often find themselves struggling financially. They have discussed leaving England for a more progressive environment, perhaps in Europe or America, though they have not yet made a decision.

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Evie and Valentine's relationship has continued to be a mixture of love and torment. They have recently welcomed a daughter, but the birth was complicated, leaving Evie weakened and more prone to melancholy. Her paintings have become even darker. Valentine's episodes of depression and mania have grown more frequent, and his writing, once his salvation, now seems to drain him. His poetry has taken on a despairing tone, filled with the horrors of war and loss. Peregrine, now 6, is a sensitive child, deeply affected by the tensions between his parents. He is fiercely protective of his baby sister. Valentine remains distant during his darker periods, leaving Evie to manage the household alone.

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Disillusioned by the brutality Leo witnessed - and perpetrated - in Ireland, he returned to England a much more reserved and somber man. Despite this, he has married Alice, his general's daughter, and they have a son. Leo left the army shortly after his marriage, and now works in the civil service, a position that offers stability but leaves him yearning for the excitement he once felt. Alice has struggled to adjust to Leo's emotional distance. Their marriage is polite, but hardly passionate. Leo's relationship with Hector remains strong, and Hector often visits his brother's family, finding in Leo the guidance and affection he misses from his father.

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Lavinia shocked everyone when her relationship with the much-older Ignatz Cavendish, Sigmund's estranged older brother, not only survived the last five years, but also ended in an engagement. Lavinia, now fully immersed in the bohemian art world of London, revels in the attention and controversy. Ignatz,, has continued to pursue his hedonistic lifestyle, with Lavinia at his side. Their relationship is intense, characterized by passionate arguments and extravagant displays of affection.

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The engagement has driven a wedge between Lavinia and the rest of her family, particularly Gwen and Sigmund, who view Ignatz as a dangerous influence. What they find particularly troubling is Ignatz's support for the recent Beer Hall Putsch, and him attempting to persuade his brother that, as a half-German himself, should also support it.

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Lavinia, however, is unwavering in her determination to live life on her own terms, regardless of the consequences. She has become a muse for Ignatz, featuring prominently in his most provocative works, which have drawn both acclaim and outrage.

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Hector has grown into a thoughtful young man, deeply affected by his mother's passing, and the fact his other family members seemed to care little about it. He has become more introspective, withdrawn, and melancholic. Hector has recently began courting the daughter of a wealthy local industrialist, who was a close friend of Lavinia's when they were girls. Back then, she thought nothing of Hector, her friend's little brother, but recently, affection has blossomed between them - based, in large part, on their mutual concern for Lavinia.

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Art and Thekla's daughter

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First name: shared with a member of Richard Wagner's family.

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First middle name: honours her grandmother.

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Second middle name: has a meaning related to love.

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Gwen and Sigmund's daughter

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First name: contains the etymological element "aelf" (https://www.behindthename.com/element/ae32lf/related?display=alpha)

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Middle name: after a famous Italian woman from history.

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Evie and Valentine's daughter

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First name: has a meaning related to flourishing or blossoming.

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First middle name: after a character in a recently published literary work (note - it's 1925).

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Second middle name: a family name.

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Leo and Alice's son

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First name: after a region in Ancient Greece.

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Middle name: a family name.

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Hector's sweetheart

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First name: an unusual spelling variant of a common English name.

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Middle name: very long and frilly.

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Surname: starts with "van".

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masculine list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/191050/124079
feminine list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/191050/124080

This message was edited 8/18/2024, 9:54 AM