The Palace of Tears this year forms the focal point for the Fantasy Faire hunt. The hunt doesn’t kick-off on Monday May 5th, but I slipped through the gates to have a look around …

A mighty stone edifice, protected by stout walls, the Palace is nevertheless deceptively modest for a seat of power. To look at it one might think it the great home of a duke, not that man who had come to rule Surlamar with an iron fist, dividing it into nine wards, one for each of his loyal generals. Yet such it is – or at least, was.

It is said that at first the people appreciated the Emperor’s modesty. His lack of trappings, avoidance of the opulence won him the support of his subjects long after the sacking of the land had been forgotten.

But time never allows thing to go unchanged. Within their wards, the children of the generals, now dukes and duchesses in their own right, sought to remake things in their own image, and divided themselves off from the Emperor, who himself grew ever colder and more remote, imposing great gates between his Palace and the wards, while beneath them all, the people lived through growing hardship and resentment.

Then one day, uniting in the name of freedom, it is said the peoples of the provinces rose up and marched upon Surlamar to lay claim to the city and cast down the Emperor. Fearful for their own futures, the dukes and duchesses turned to the Emperor, only to find him gone, even as the army of the people could be seen approaching the city walls.

And then the mist descended … and when it lifted, even the Palace of Tears was gone!

Has the Palace been transported to the Fairelands, or has something else happened? This – and more – will be revealed when the Fantasy Faire hunt opens on Monday May 5th, and hunt organiser Da5id Abbot, who kindly provided me with the notes from which this tale has been spun , will reveal.

As always, there are some wonderful prizes to be discovered, and the Palace itself, designed and built by Rynn Verwood, is a marvel to behold and explore, rich in detail, its gardens complete with sculptures by artist Haveit Neox which may (or may not!) form a part of the story of the Palace and the city of Surlamar.

And the Role-play Continues, while Fimbleby Waits for You to Accept His Challenge

For those who can’t wait for the hunt to begin, head over to the Tavern on Wiggenstead Mooring and find loud-mouthed Fimbleby. If you can match wits with him and beat him, you might just be in for a prize!

Wiggenstead Mooring is also where the Rickety Weasels are holding their free-form role-play anyone is free to join. Things kicked-off on Monday May 1st, with a Beltaine Ceremony which went wrong, and will wrap-up on Monday May 5th with another major event, starting at 13:00 SLT.

Monday May 5th is when NeoVictoria Roleplay Group bring The Revenge of Professor Timmons to the Fairelands, where it will arrive aboard the mighty airship Asperatus. This role-play kicked-off on Thursday May 1st, and those wishing to join-in the fun will need to join the NeoVictorua Roleplay Group, and you can catch-up with things through the group, or via the role-play web page on the Fantasy Faire blog, and via a special dispatch video.

Finally, if you’re exploring Blackwater Glenn, keep one hand firmly on your purse when visiting the makeshift tavern there. It has been set-up by a rum (pun intended!) group of pirates hailing from the Trade Winds. While they may not up to anything deeply nefarious within the Fairelands, they are trying to scrape together the money they need to repair their ship – so take care of your purse and your wits, least you find yourself light a gold Linden or two!

Keeping up with Fantasy Faire

You can keep-up with Fantasy Faire preparations and activities a number of ways:

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