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BATH, 1895

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H [34] Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Lionel Tarquin Blackstock (Emily Amy)
W [29] Venezia Romilly Hero Burdet (Wraith)

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S1 [4]
D1 [2]
S2 [0]

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It is the autumn of 1895, and the Blackstocks are back in Bath. Arthur's military acumen, which he has demonstarted through strategically brilliant, but frequently grisly operations in British India and West Africa has earned him a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.

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Venezia followed him faithfully to each new post, drinking in the atmosphere of each new country they visited. She has grown from s rebellious young woman to a dutiful officer's wife, but has not abandoned her vigorous passion for music.

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Wherever the Blackstocks stationed, she quickly became entangled in the cultural lifeforce of the colonial establishment, organising concerts for charitable causes and amusement and teaching the wives and daughters of the other officers and soldiers to play the violin.

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The Blackstocks' first child, a son, was born in the May of 1891, when they were stationed in West Africa. He is now four years old, and large and robust for his age - the spitting image of his father, who he tries to emulate in every way - mostly by waging war on his younger siblings with his array of toy soldiers and cannons that have followed him faithfully from continent to continent.

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Next came a girl, born in 1893 in India, shortly after Arthur was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. She was born in the house of her paternal grandparents, who owned a textile fortune - and thus, christened after Arthur's unmarried younger sister, who took care of Venezia during her difficult pregnancy, and who, like her elder brother, has an Arthurian name.

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The Blackstocks' youngest child is a son, born only a few months ago - in Bath, and not in colonial territories like his older siblings. The Blackstocks have returned to England for good. Officially, Venezia insisted, because their eldest is nearly of schooling age, and she would like her son to be educated on British soil. But their return to Bath coincided with riots in the Lieutenant Colonel's posting in the Middle East - riots that were prompted by a massacre of the native population some rumour was ordered by Arthur.

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And so, Arthur is now a respected military advisor to a nearby garrison, and has to get used to a life filled with far less adrenaline - something he is not taking to particularly well, and he can often be found brooding at a veteran's club with a glass of knock-me-down in his hand. Venezia, on the other hand, is flourishing - even though she has given birth near months ago, she has become involved with local musical societies, and organises many a soirée in the Blackstocks' grand Georgian townhouse on the Royal Crescent (a wedding gift from her parents).

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The elder son

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First name: any of his father's names (Arthur, Lionel, or Tarquin).

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First middle name: after a famous military general from ancient history.

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Second middle name: comes from this list (https://shorturl.at/sXD8K).

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The daughter

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First name: that of her paternal aunt. A tragic and/or murderous female figure from Arthuriana.

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First middle name: one of the name of one of the three Graces in Greek mythology (Namebank: Aglaea, Euphrosyne, Thalia, Euthymia, Eutychia, Charis. All variants thereof also accepted).

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Second middle name: chosen by Venezia - an Italian name ending in -zia.

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The younger son

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First name: after a biblical character renowned for his courage, strength, or military prowess.

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Middle name: after a famous city in the Levant.

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Second middle name: after a member of the Roman gens Tarquinia (variants are permitted: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarquinia_gens#Members).

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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 8/4/2024, 12:39 PM