Category:The Freehold of Turtle Bay

Welcome to Turtle Bay. Don't get eaten.

Primary Freehold of the The Pillars of New York VSS.

Unofficial, somewhat outdated player-compiled history: CIA Factbook - Freehold of Turtle Bay

Description

Coat of arms and banner of the Barony and Freehold of Turtle Bay, per pale purpure and argent a turtle displayed countercharged.

Situated on the site of one of the city’s many “Secret Libraries”; a members only private club dedicated to the occult, paraphenomenology, and esoterica called The Bookstore, the Baronial seat is the center to Kithain social life in the City.

In addition to the aforementioned library, the club has a history of having been a speakeasy during prohibition, and the bar itself, accessible through one of the library’s shelves, still does lively business for Kithain and their human guests.

Location: An old bookstore / speakeasy in Eastern Midtown Manhattan.

Also Known As: The Speakeasy, The Library Speakeasy.

Freehold Type: Balefire Level 3.

Leadership

• Freehold Leader - Klaus von Teutoburg, styled the Tyrant.
• Seer - Iris Argiope
• Senechal - Libtina Breathstiller, styled the Tyrant's Sinister Hand.
• Steward - Ruby Rae Montgomery
• Bard - Erzulie Daniels, styled the Tyrant's Voice.

IC Knowledge

• 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 Freehold's main tenet is, "Thou shalt not annoy the Tyrant." The Shadow Court is generally held in suspicion, though less so than in the earlier times; Shadow Courtiers openly professing their allegiance should expect to have to prove themselves worthy of trust.
• What is known about the history?
  The death of High King David, the destruction of Goblin Town, and the disappearance of both of the city's Balefires during the Timeless Years saw the majority of the city's Kithain population dead or fleeing. Those remaining were under the tentative leadership of one of High King David's former courtiers. By 2014, the storms of Winter began to take hold in earnest, and New York city was still lacking an active Balefire. Recognizing the need for one, a joint expedition by both Courts was organized, which eventually succeeded in breaching the deepest levels of Goblin Town. On 1 January 2014, a Balefire took root in a building in Manhattan, and the Freehold took up the name Turtle Bay, after the original Lenape name for the area.
• 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.
• 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 addition to the whole of Manhattan Island. In actuality, their hold over Goblin Town is tentative at best. Furthermore, possession of a part of Goblin Town located on Roosevelt Island is disputed by the Barony of Seadrake Hall.

Timeline

• Jan. 1, 2014 - The new Freehold of Turtle Bay is founded, following a quest to retrieve its Balefire from Goblin Town.
• Dec. 20, 2020 - High Regent Mielge holds court at the Winter Garden, pronouncing the dissolution of Concordia's monarchies and throwing the Kithain nation into chaos.
• Spring 2021 - Raiding Kithain from Long Island launch first attacks against the Freehold.
• Jul. 17, 2021 - Battle of Unicorn Grove. Turtle Bay forces lure the Raiders into open confrontation. The Raiders' leader, the Redcap Jenny Redteeth, reveals herself.
• Sept. - Oct. 2021 - In a massed attack, the Raiders storm Mickey Finn's Roadhouse, capturing several of its members and laying siege to the holdouts. Turtle Bay responds with a protracted campaign of terror and psychological warfare.
• Oct. 23, 2021 - On Samhain Night, the Wyld Hunt rides. The Kithain of Turtle Bay relieve the besieged Roadhouse and claim the head of Jenny Redteeth. At the same time, a force of Goblins armed with cold iron storm the Freehold under the command of Jenny's presumed benefactors. They almost succeed in reaching the Balefire, but are held back at the cost of several lives. They retreat into Goblin Town in good order, after inflicting devastating damage to the Freehold. The Unseelie leadership of the Freehold swears terrible vengeance; in a grisly nod to All Hallow's Eve, the Freehold is decorated with Thallain heads placed on spikes.