#gladwyn

The noble Houses of Gladwyn and Blackbird are proud to announce the arrival of their newest heir!

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 14 January 2025

In a shaded urban landscape by a carpark were these clumps of Iris foetidissima (stinking iris, gladden, gladwyn, roast beef plant, scarlet-seeded iris, stinking gladwin). In winter this evergreen perennial has large pods which open to reveal bright orange-red seeds. The leaves can look rather tatty but the seeds persist through the winter providing a display.

In case anyone was wondering about the bedtime story Tabitha was reading to Arwan - here's the full thing!

Did I really slap together a whole-ass fake fairytale for the sake of one post? Yes. Was it really necessary? No. Will it become relevant at a later point? Maybe.

Transcript behind the cut!

And thus, the Gladwyn rotation is completed! The round brought lots of exciting twists and turns for the noble family - not that we're not used to seeing drama from these guys!

I hope you enjoy this exclusive sneak peek of the family's official portrait as I go on to recap the highs and lows of their 4th week:

Little Arwan continued to be the star of the show: he was doted on by everyone in the family! (even Rosalind, though it wasn't long-lived). He learned to walk from Tabitha, was taught a nursery rhyme by dada Feanor, and picked up a few Creativity and Charisma points from playing piano, singing, and... wading through a barrel.

Phillip was also hard at work skilling: he learned Physiology and Couples Counselling! Was his extensive reading a preparation for his future career as a knight, or just a distraction from a strained love and friendship...?

Rosalind too worked hard, but unlike her studious sons, her goal was to rotate through as many lovers as possible: she continued to dally with Selina, kept on stoking Feanor's flames, and even acquired an enthusiastic new lover named Charlie O'Donnel. Her stint with Charlie resulted in a pregnancy scare, which Rosalind quickly dealt with thanks to some specialized tea.

Party time! Rosalind threw a lavish double birthday for her sons, which ended up a roaring success! Phillip grew into an adult, and Arwan into a child!

Understanding that Arwan needed to learn about his royal heritage, Rosalind and her family took a trip to the Royal Seat. The young elven prince got his first lessons in politics while mingling with the townspeople!

Phillip's dream (and Rosalind's nightmare) finally came true: he got accepted into the City Watch! But Phillip had no time to celebrate, because...

...the good news were overshadowed by a shocking revelation: having finally visited the Blackbirds, Phillip found out that he would soon become a father!

The throne room was as opulent as the palace itself. Arwan had to remind himself to close his mouth as he looked around - it was unseemly for a prince to be seen slack-jawed!

People were milling about, but when the queen showed up everyone took a seat. Arwan settled primly into a gilded chair, looking up to the throne podium where his aunt - Queen Aruena, he corrected himself - stood in all her regal splendor. Elegant yet commanding, she looked every bit the monarch.

Once the queen's speech concluded, Arwan moved through the hall to meet his subjects. He'd never seen so many different people in one place: some were clever and charming, others a bit peculiar. Nearly all bowed deeply once they realized who he was. One man even had a cool metal arm!

It's Arwan's turn now!

He squeezed his eyes shut, wishing for a mountain of sweets, for music to fill the world, and for Tabitha to let him stay up past bedtime forever. With great ceremony, he puffed out every last candle, growing into a happy and heathy child.

The day of the party dawned bright and bustling. Phillip and Arwan were still goofing around in their sleepwear, while Rosalind, already dressed and dolled up, stood ready to welcome the first guests.

The salon was as dressed up as its hostess: walls decked out in flowers and ribbons, decorative vases, and platters of scrumptious foods set out on polished tables. The furniture had been pushed back to make room for a dancefloor, and in the middle stood Rosalind’s latest stroke of genius: a bard booth, outfitted with mesmerizing magic lights.