Category:The Pillars of New York

Region: Northeast Region

Domain: NY-004-D

Venue Storyteller: Errol L.

Discord channel: here

Description

Welcome to Turtle Bay. Don't get eaten.

VSS Document: The Pillars of New York

Geography

County of Manna Hatta: From the Catskills in the West, to the tip of Long Island in the East.

Barony of Turtle Bay: Manhattan Island.

Barony of Long Island: Based in the Mickey Finn's Roadhouse out in Long Island.

Barony of North Brother Island: The site of a long-abandoned quarantine hospital, this area has been taken over by assorted nasties.

The Freehold of Turtle Bay

A members-only private club dedicated to the occult, paraphenomenology, and esoterica.

Location An old bookstore / speakeasy in Eastern Midtown Manhattan.

Also Known As: The Speakeasy, The Library Speakeasy.

Freehold Type: Balefire Level 3.

• What do visitors know about your Freehold?
  Turtle Bay sits on top of a giant, malfunctioning magical clock inhabited by corrupted Chimera. Time occasionally runs in weird ways, and hungry chimerical beasts roam the streets freely.
• Are there any customs or local laws?
  The Unseelie leadership of the Freehold has little in terms of laws, except for several customary celebrations. Other than that, the main rule of the Freehold is, "Thou shalt not annoy the Tyrant."
• What is known about the history?
  New York City has been central to Kithain history for hundreds of years, home to the site of Goblin Town, a mighty Freehold founded in the 1600’s by commoner colonials and home to the final battles of the Accordance war, the march of the Troll Brigades and the rise of High King David, and the home of the Winter Palace, King David’s winter residence and second capital of the Kingdom of Concordia. It is also the site of crimes committed, beginning with the theft of the land from the native peoples, the death curse of David’s predecessor King Daffyl slain by a cold iron dagger in the back, and the tyranny and madness of Baron Cadmium Red, the former leader of Goblin Town.
• What has been happening recently?
  For almost a year, the city had been plagued by Fae Raiders from Long Island and rampaging Chimera. Not too long ago, the Chimera were brought under control and the Raiders forced into a decisive battle that saw their forces crushed. Yet, another force of Raiders managed to break through the Freehold's defenses and were stopped from reaching the Balefire only at the cost of several souls lost to cold iron. The Freehold still stands, though brutally punished, and is yet to decide on the course it will take in the future.
• Are there any sacred spaces or places of particular import?
  The Winter Palace is the site of High King David Ardry's winter residence, and is customarily held to be exterritorial. It is managed by the Ardry family trust. It's Balefire has been missing since the coming of Winter, but the Freehold was temporarily brought back to its old grandeur in December 2020 by High Regent Mielge, on the day he pronounced the disbandment of Concordia's monarchies.
• Are their neighboring towns, territories, or previous Freeholds, that are claimed by the authority of the Freehold?
  The Barony and Freehold of Turtle Bay claim succession to Goblin Town, and thus claim sovereignty over its full territory. In actuality, their hold over it is tentative at best.

Timeline

Unofficial, somewhat outdated player-compiled history: CIA Factbook - Freehold of Turtle Bay