Tortuga Nights has long been known as the event where ships and houses gather to celebrate in Grand Style. Long ago, a tradition began in which the Hosts of the “Best Party” were awarded the mock titles of “King and Queen of Tortuga”. Eventually, these titles became more than frivolous bragging rights. They evolved into positions of respect, authority, and privilege. As the titles evolved, so too did the nature of parties, with each passing year seeing various groups attempt to outshine all others with libations, cuisine, entertainment, and other temptations. The competition became fierce, and many began to view it as corrupt, wrought with bribery, deception, and behavior that even Pirates scorn. There were many who denounced the parties as being elitist in the extravagance and expense. Still others opposed the power granted the monarchs and sought to overturn the entire system.
And then… Calamity. The system was in disarray. An attempt was made to restore Balance and Fairness, with a new method for electing the King and Queen, by detaching them from the lavish and elaborate Party competition. The Party Circle was no more, and various ships and households held their own celebrations, scattered throughout the Nation. Some were confused, others bewildered. Most agreed that there was a hole… an emptiness… in the heart of the Nation.
Some say it was fate, some say it was a blessing, but soon after, a Plague fell upon the Nation. A Plague that scattered every house, every ship, and every fleet, to the far reaches of the world, leaving the port abandoned.
Empty.
Eventually, the Plague subsided… and in its wake, the Nation was reborn. And with rebirth comes change. Including new opportunities and new challenges, while honoring the traditions and spirit long established by the people of the Nation.
–Note from the Lore Master
Tortuga, also known as “Port Nassau: Tortuga Nights”, is when the ships of the fleets gather with other houses, camps, and various Peoples of the Nation of Nassau to join together in epic celebration and merriment. Our Nation has long had a tradition of Parties being the central focus of the Tortuga gathering, and this tradition has evolved and been kept alive with a renewed system.
THE BASICS
First, the Producers and the Event Staff wish to thank everyone who chooses to be part of the Event experience and for helping to create the environment of celebration for all attendees. Being part of Tavern Row is no menial task and we commend all those who choose to do so.
Tavern Row will be a designated area in the central part of the event where each Party neighbors the others, allowing attendees a way to visit them all without miles of walking. A central focal point of the event, with Parties sharing guests and boosting each other in cooperative celebration, rather than a competitive wheel.
So welcome! Please take the time to thoroughly read through this document created by the Tortuga Party Coordinator, the Immersion Coordinator, and the Producers, to ensure that we all have a fun, exciting, and safe event.
REQUIREMENTS
WHY HOST A PARTY?
The main reason to host a party is to demonstrate your group's ability to throw an amazing party. The sole goal is to have FUN! There will be a voting system to determine who threw the best party. On Sunday, the populace will vote for their favorite party, and the charity of the winners' choice will receive a donation from Legacy Bay Events. Custom-engraved tokens, discounts, and a Free Land Grant are additional incentives.
INCENTIVES
THEMES
The Parties of Tortuga have long had a tradition of incorporating a Theme. Themes are completely optional, but any Themes used must NOT detract heavily from the overall immersion of the event. Anachronisms reworked to fit into the Fantasy Pirate theme of the event are absolutely acceptable, but clearly “modern” or “futuristic” Themes are to be avoided. If you have a Theme in mind and are uncertain if it is allowed or how to adapt it to suit the event, please contact the Tortuga Party Coordinator or the Immersion Coordinator.
CHARITY
Each tavern will choose a charity for donations. The selected charity will receive a donation from Legacy Bay Events, ranging from $1,000.00 to $10,000, depending on the annual event proceeds.
DEADLINES
Following are the various deadlines in place for artwork, newspaper articles, etc. Please email ALL information to legacybay.immersion@gmail.com with the name of your crew/group in the subject line. Deadlines are in place to allow the staff plenty of time to organize, create, and distribute everything needed for your party.
If you miss the deadline to send artwork and did not make contact with the Tortuga Party Coordinator prior to the deadline, artwork will be created for you. This artwork will be used for both your Tokens and in other official publications and may not reflect the design you wanted.
List of Deadlines:
• Choose you Charity: July 28th
• Theme Information: July 28th
• Artwork for Tokens: August 4th
• News Article information: July 28th
• Officially Scheduled Events and Activities submissions: August 4th
Please do NOT miss a deadline. If you need assistance with artwork or need an extension, please contact the Tortuga Party Coordinator. You will most likely be accommodated, but without notification things become more difficult for everyone. Thank you in advance.
ARTWORK
Party Hosts are asked to submit Artwork to be used on their Pieces of Eight Token.
• The Token artwork is the artwork that will be engraved on wooden tokens to be passed out at your Party.
• This artwork must be appropriate and be related to the theme of your Party. It may have your ship or household logo incorporated into it, but it must not contain ONLY your ship or household logo. This is so that each token is different each year for collectors.
• File format does not matter. It can be converted into what is needed.
• Please choose which shape your Token will be:
‣ Square (1.25” width & height)
‣ Circle (1.25” diameter)
‣ Rectangle (1.5” x 1”)
‣ Oval (1.5” x 1”)
‣ Triangle (1.5” edge length)
‣ If there is a different shape you would like, please email us to discuss it. Many shapes are possible with a laser engraver.
• If you would like your artwork to be created for you, please let us know at least a month before the deadline, so that we may discuss it with you.
PARTY TOKEN
Also known as the Pieces of Eight, Tokens have always been a pivotal part of Tortuga Parties. Many attendees collect these Tokens, and some will display or trade them. These Tokens are meant to show that you hosted a Party on Tavern Row and often display the Theme you are incorporating into your Party.
• Each Party will be provided with 250 Tokens to give out, but these guidelines MUST be followed:
‣ Tokens are meant to be given out on Saturday, during the Party hours of 8pm -12am. You may not distribute Tokens prior to 8pm on Saturday, and attendees must be allowed opportunity to acquire them beginning at 8pm on Saturday.
‣ Challenges, games, or other small tasks may be required before giving attendees a Token, but you are not allowed to charge for them (neither Sterlings nor mundane currency)
‣ All attendees must be given equal opportunity to procure a Token, but distribution IS first come first serve, so when your Party runs out, please make sure that is known.
• Your Tokens should be made available to you at least a week prior to the event. This will allow you time to make any additions to them you desire, such as painting, to make your Tokens unique and interesting. Additions are NOT required, though.
PRE-REGISTRATION
Pursuant to the new registration requirements of Port Nassau and Tortuga, all attendees, including those hosting Parties, will need to pre-register for the event. This means that any performers, entertainment, or other people you may wish to add to your Party MUST be pre-registered for the event.
• Sign in & the Prereg!
EARLY ACCESS TO SITE
All Tavern Row parties will have access to the site on Wednesday at 12 noon, to ensure ample time to set-up their Party. Anyone from the Hosting group may arrive on site at this time. Make sure that all who need early access pre-register under the “Party” section. This will designate you as a Party member, and ensure you are on the early access list. No exceptions! If you cannot find the correct party section, contact us before pre-registering.
TAVERN ROW LAYOUT & CAMPING
Tavern Row will be set up along one side of the roadway across from the Town Square. Each Party will be given at least one Land Grant plot along that road and may request more. Approval of plots behind those along the road will be based on availability of space.
The plot along the road is intended for use of hosting a Party, accessible to all attendees of Tortuga. The entirety of the roadway edge shall be maintained as “Party space” and no less than two-thirds of the plot MUST be dedicated to the Party, with the entirety of the edge facing the road being part of the “Party space”. The back third of the plot may be used for camping and should be CLEARLY marked so that attendees do not accidentally enter the camping area. There are additional plots available behind the Party plots if your group needs more room for camping, or for your Party. Any group who occupies more than one plot MAY use more than the minimum two-thirds of their road facing plot, and any additional space they choose in adjacent plots for their Party area.
Tavern Row is open on Saturday night, from 8pm – Midnight, but any group who wishes to allow open access to their Party area prior to this, or later than this, is welcome to at their discretion.
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Many Parties will host events and activities that they want to draw crows to (i.e., Burlesque, Talent Auctions, etc.). All events must be approved by the Producers and Coordinator before they will be put onto the Official Program.
Friday is the day that many attendees of Tortuga arrive on site and set up. Some Parties may wish to have events that enhance or otherwise add to their Party on Friday night, but this is never required. Having your Party area open and ready for people to stop by and socialize is always encouraged, though.
Saturday during the day is the Tortuga Olympics. Many attendees will be busy participating in the Olympics, and as such, hosting events during the day is not always advisable. You may, however, choose to host a casual event to give attendees an option should they not choose the physical nature of the Olympics. You may also wish to field your own team in the Olympics, whether directly connected to your Party or not.
Saturday night is the Main Event. If you have elected to occupy a space on Tavern Row, you are required to have your space open to attendees on Saturday Night from 8pm – Midnight (known as Party Hours). This is the whole point of Tavern Row, to offer options to attendees in a party atmosphere. While there are no minimum requirements and no set definition of what makes a “party”, and there will no longer be voting, the expectation is that your Party will provide refreshments and activities to all guests. This is a Party after all. Please plan and budget within your means but be creative and inventive in how you choose to provide a fun experience for the Nation.
SCHEDULE SUBMISSION
When you pick your event you want to host or sponsor, you will want it entered into the official schedule, they need to be submitted to the Programming Director by the Deadline. These would be outside of the standard Tavern Row hours, or a special performance or entertainment that you would like to draw specific attention to.
SOUND AND MUSIC
In an effort to increase the immersive feeling of events, any music played inside your Party must be appropriate for the event. All music should be kept “thematic” and should not detract from anyone’s experience. This does NOT mean it needs to be period authentic, although that is highly encouraged, but it must have the “feel” that doesn’t take people out of the Fantasy Pirate theme of our events. Any music that is deemed by the Producers or Coordinator to be not in the spirit of immersion will be disallowed and you will be asked to turn it off.
Electronics, such as speakers and amplifiers, may be used only to enhance the experience within your Party, but should not be easily heard outside of your designated area. You will be next to other Parties and it is not polite to pollute their atmosphere with your music and sounds. If your music is too loud, we will ask you to turn it down or stop using electronic amplification.
Obviously, noise travels, and the din of conversation, merriment, and acoustic music will not cause a violation of these rules.
SERVING ALCOHOL
We card everyone at gate, so If you plan on serving alcohol at your party, make sure to look for peoples bracelets to identify any minors. Yes, Tortuga is a 21+ event, we all know pirates will be pirates and there may be underage people present, even if not permitted. The bartender, encampment leader, Tavern Row LT’s, Immersion Head, or Producers have the right to ID anyone you deem might be under age. Using our best judgment.
TEAR DOWN
As always, Tear Down begins Sunday night and goes into Monday morning. All attendees, including Tavern Row Parties, must be off site by 12pm on Monday. No exceptions. Each Party is responsible for the Tear Down and clean up of their claimed space. Failure to leave your space clean may result in a loss of some Incentives, at the discretion of the Producers and Immersion Coordinator.
DISQUALIFIERS
A party may be subject to loss of some or all of their incentives, at the discretion of the Producers or the Party Coordinator, if found participating in any of the following:
• Closure of the Party area during the Party Hours of 8pm – Midnight on Saturday.
• Holding a “private” party where only certain people are welcome during Party Hours. Tavern Row is intended for all attendees and must remain open to the general event public
• Intentionally interfering with, or causing damage to, another Party
• Leaving garbage or other debris in the area you claimed for the event
We hope these changes and new mechanisms will allow everyone at Tortuga a chance to enjoy hosting and attending Parties once again.