The Freehold of Toronto, Ontario

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Contents

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Current Affairs

The First Change of Season

A disturbing dream spread through the freehold mid-March, before the seasons switched from Winter to Spring. A gathering of ranking Changelings gathered by the Dhule Tree, and hung Pinball Jack for being an oathbreaker, by authority of the Winter King Auberon. An ominous beginning to a new season, considering the Spring court had done nothing more than announce that a new King had been found, and it was not Maxemellion Rouge.

A few weeks later, however, Spring did hold its formal event at the beautiful Carlu ballroom in downtown Toronto. All invited from across Ontario were introduced to "King Mimosa, the first of that name" (previously known as Av, of the Royal Oaks) and often clarified that the royal name was "like the tree, not the drink." It was also made clear that King Glaine of Summer had comfortably achieved the position of Bailiff to the Spring Court and was providing security. And Magistrate of the Wax Mask Ambrose Small (of Spring) appeared to have taken the position of chief assistant to King Mimosa.

When an acceptable number of Changelings had gathered, Magistrate Small, assisted by John Smith representing the Winter Court conducted a small ritual to mark the passing of Winter to Spring, and the thawing frost. At which point the ancient and traditional scepter, symbol of power of the old freehold was passed to King Mimosa.

Also adding to the legitimacy of the new Spring reign, John Smith was the first to swear the old freehold Oath of Commendation, suggesting that any bad blood between Winter and Spring had been put to bed. Many (though not all) from within the freehold came forward over the course of the evening to swear the oath publicly and privately. Most notably, previously exiled Tamarack and Edgar Dogwood -- infamous hedge-duelists -- were, in the spirit of new beginnings, given permission to swear the Oath of Commendation, and had their banishment lifted by King Mimosa. Magistrate Small estimates that by the end of the night some 26 Lost swore their glamour and assistance to the newly reformed freehold.

A challenge was held: members of the Freehold and guests were invited to enter a boast into the record. Whoever achieved the most impressive boast by June was to be given the blessing of Spring. Perhaps the most notable was the promise of Mulch to find and reform a loyalist, Steve Surefoot to win an eating competition, Glaine and Cressida promising to take Peter clubbing four Saturdays in a row, and Mr. Wednesday promising to teach the members of the Scarecrow Ministry the true meaning of fear.

As the evening progressed, Aranae of the Upstairs Underground took responsibility for negotiating appropriate boundaries for the freehold with all the various sworn and unsworn inhabitants, King Mimosa announced that Rosalie Amaranth was appointed Warden of the Gates, and the increasingly hoarse Magistrate Small appointed Max Rouge, who proved to be very loud, and a talented singer, herald to the Spring Court. Pantera Mint swore an oath of knighthood to King Tom of the Autumn Court. How this will sit with King Mimosa and the Spring Court is uncertain; Tom is an ally, but has not yet served as King, and is already appointing his own men-at-arms.

A dark note ended the evening as the valet-parked cars of all members of the Spring Court and their known friends had been vandalized. Clearly not all bad memories have been put to rest by the founders of the new freehold.

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History

The collected history can be found here.

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Heraldry

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From left to right: The Onyx Court (Winter), the Ashen Court (Autumn), the Crimson Court (Summer), the Emerald Court (Spring).

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Motleys of Toronto

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The Upstairs Underground

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The Royal Oaks

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The Blackblood Preachas aka the BBP

  • Minister Frontpage (NPC) (Fairest, Polychromatic, Autumn, Scarecrow Minister)
  • Jer$eY BoY (Elemental, Sandharrowed, Autumn, Scarecrow Minister)
  • Moondawg (NPC) (Ogre, Bloodbrute, Autumn, Scarecrow Minister)
  • Five for Silver (NPC) (Darkling, Kith Unknown, Winter)
  • Six for Gold (NPC) (Darkling, Kith Unknown, Winter)
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The Cricketbane Legion

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L.I.M.B.S. (Lost Intermediary Medical and Business Services)

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The Accidentally Named "Mmmm Pie" Motley

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The Toronto Misanthrope Society

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Other Rogues and Scoundrels

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The Missing and The Dead

Bookwyrm: Divulger of the time capsule, she has not been seen in over 10 years. She was still Queen at that time, but as no one fears someone who is likely dead (unless they're likely dead AND likely still around) it's not a title that she would hold now. However, her whereabouts, alive or dead, still remain a mystery.

Pinball Jack: The Tolltaker Knights have an open bounty on the head of Pinball Jack for oathbreaking. Also, it's been made clear that he was the one who uprooted Bookwyrm's garden. Executed on the Dhule Tree for oathbreaking, theft, and treason.

The 49th Phalanx: Rumours persist that the Battle of St. Ogden's was not to the last man, but one phalanx was ordered away from the battle. Some say this was a strategic move that outlasted the battle's duration due to bad planning. Some say the 49th were those not of Summer who stood with Ben and thus he did not want them paying for his mistake. Some say they were still alive when Ben fell, and were devoured whole by the Huntsman. Regardless of the reason, neither the banner nor armaments of the 49th were found on the battlefield.

The Tree of Thirteen: Speculation runs rampant whether the 13 people who watched the Dhule Tree grow are each intended for a noose. If not, they must be meant for SOMEONE.

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Places of Dream and Nightmare

The Oneida Road: Overgrown. Underfed. A bastion of tradition, glamour, and community, while at the same time being a grim reminder of the mistakes of the past. Most of the hollows in the freehold branch off from this Trod. If you are lost, it's likely the place you'll find your way home on. It used to be the most well-defended place should the fae come directly in the Hedge, but its road stations and recon towers are long since abandoned, now inhabited by who-knows-what. If you stepped out of the Hedge in Toronto, this is likely where you ended up.

Peony Island: A series of trods and small hollows interconnected among the Toronto Islands, this place was noted on the Time Capsule map. Rumors abound about the nature of the hollows here and who built them, but apparently this was once a place of quite some traffic.

The North Station: The home of Toronto's Goblin Market, its frequency is almost impossible to determine. The underground, dark atmosphere, combined with rumours of disappearances due to the trains that come and go here, make this one of the more sinister Goblin Markets. Of course, that makes its wares all the more enticing to some.

The Dhule Tree: A Scottish-style moot hill. It is topped with a tree, black and gnarled like it squired its way to a death by fire, with 13 nooses hanging from its long branches. This arose after the new Oaths were sworn, and it stands now where the Oneida Road used to lead to the Clearinghouse.

The Other Side of the Tracks: A diner and bar downstairs, the apartment area upstairs actually includes a bar for Lost (occasionally referred to as the VIP Lounge) serving all manner of Goblin Fruit cocktails and shooters. It has been operated by Tom for the past few years, during which time it has come into prominence as a major spot of the city. Many travelling fae make it a stop on their visit, and the latest rumours and gossip are surely to be found here at any given time.

St. Ogden's Citadel: The blood of the last battle here still taints the ground. The hedge here is solemn, with the air of regret and desperation permanently etched into the flora and fauna. The Huntsman left much standing, but the idea of defending oneself here now is laughable; the environment is one of such loss that any man who raises a sword here would likely raise a white flag after.

Amsu Salon: Rumor has it that Edgar Dogwood has re-purchased his "old boys club" in Yorkdale and is in the process of riding the "man salon" trend of New Yorks Upper East Side. Edgar has pitched the idea as a place where a man can get a straight razor shave, a properly poured Guiness and a proper billiards opponent, as well as a secure place to have yourself pampered with less traditional masculine pursuits such as manicures and shiatsu massages. The Back Room in his previous establishment is where many dark and hushly whispered deals and rituals were rumored to take place. Time will tell whether those rumors will ring true once more.

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Local Vernacular

12 Cent: A court pariah, or an adjective used to describe someone so despised, as in, "You lousy 12 Cent vagabond!" Named after the lowest bounty the Tolltaker Knights have ever collected on in the city.

At the Emporium: Something physically lost forever, referring to Obediah Yule and his tendency to hoard things, especially if others need them. "I had to get a new set of keys, my old pair is at the Emporium."

Circle of Flame and Ash: A term for an alliance between Summer and Autumn. The Red Courts have been a power since the the Night of Crimson Snow, when Autumn broke its traditional alliance with Winter and Summer broke its with Spring.

Circle of Jewels: Any alliance between Winter and Spring. Usually used in a mocking fashion due to the long standing bad blood between the two. To some, however, the Jewelled Courts are a lofty, noble goal.

Cupcake: An derogative term for an Autumn courtier, usually one who is more interested in the Hedge than the real world (and therefore does not inspire fear). Derived from an early draft of the Court's freehold crest, in which the candle, topped with melted wax, resembled more of a, well, frosted cupcake.

FOTH: Stands for "Fresh Outta The Hedge." Generally a grave insult; even new changelings find this one insulting. If you want to start a fight, calling someone a FOTH is a good way to do it.

Fraggle: A derogatory term for a Spring courtier in Toronto, especially one that ignores politics and freehold matters. Derived from the opening line of the television program Fraggle Rock: "Dance your cares away, / Worries for another day."

Goin' to the Crossroads: To participate in a Hedge Duel, as most took place on relatively neutral sections of the Oneida Road.

Hedgeohol: Spirits distilled from goblin fruits. Derived from "hedgefruit alcohol."

"I'm John Smith": Can be translated in most situations to "None of your goddamn business."

In My Ledger: Owing someone an official debt, a term coming from the debt-collecting habits of the Hobs at the North Station. It is said that Obediah Yule also keeps a ledger. It's an open question as to which ledger one would rather be kept in, given the choice: the Hobs' or Yule's.

Sadsack: A Winter Court member, usually one who doesn't contribute much to the freehold as a whole.

Time to Pay Your Taxes!: A Tolltaker battle cry. Kahss Faebane genuinely believes he is collecting taxes a great deal of the time.

Tracks, the: The Hedge. Used with the verb, "to cross," as in, "When did you first cross the Tracks?"

Rat: A fetch, derived from the imagery of a pest in one's house.

Rat-catcher: A Jack Ketch, usually freelance or ad hoc for a friend.

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Whispers and Treacheries Feared (Rumours)

  • The Banished are all still alive, each and every one, and still fighting amongst one another, even this long after the fact.
  • The Royal Oaks, despite being disconnected from the rest of the freehold, have their own hollow, and a powerful one at that.
  • Av's regnal name of King Mimosa was Maxemellion's idea.
  • John Smith has been giving out favours like candy as he's afraid of some trouble coming his way and knows people are more likely to protect him if he owes them something.
  • Some heard Peter, the young King of Winter, say that he had no struggle getting out of the Hedge. None at all.
  • The Scarecrow Ministry is comprised of members from a few of the older Motleys in the city before the Fall.
  • Toronto actually boasts at least five times the members of of the Winter Court than the rest of the freehold knows about, and many are holed up in one of their old hollows.
  • The recent influx of Summer Courtiers came from a distress call regarding the Cricket Warriors of the Lawn.
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OOC Information

City: Toronto, ON

VST: Mitchell Smallman


The Freehold of Toronto, Ontario
General: Toronto • History • Motleys
Places: The Oneida Road • Peony Island • The North Station

The Dhule Tree • The Other Side of the Tracks • St. Ogden's Citadel

Obediah Yule's Rare Book Emporium

Other: The City of Toronto • Domain Info
Retrieved from "http://changeling.cam-wiki.org/The_Freehold_of_Toronto%2C_Ontario"
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