Fabletown facts for kids

Fabletown is the fictional, clandestine community of "Fables" resident in New York in the Fables comic book universe. It exists in two locations, one being Bullfinch Street (a reference to Bullfinch's Mythology) in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and the other on a large farm in upstate New York, protected with magical spells that repel non-Fables (generally referred to as Mundanes, or, informally, "Mundys").

Founding

Fabletown was founded prior to the British acquisition of the town, when it was known as New Amsterdam, putting the founding date somewhere between 1625, when New Amsterdam was founded, and 1665, when the name was changed to New York, in all probability towards the latter end of that period, when an influx of people would be less remarked on.

The Farm

The New York City Fabletown is restricted to Fables who are, or can pass as, normal humans. Non-human-looking Fables are restricted to the facility known as the Farm, which is resented by many of them, as they feel that, regardless of the Farm's comforts and large size, to quote Posey of the Three Little Pigs, "it is a prison, because we aren't allowed to leave!"

King Cole, shortly after being voted mayor of Fabletown, was forced to sign the act banishing all non-human Fables from Fabletown and form the Farm. This was because of the approaching Mundy expansion of New York and the impossibility to hide the non-human fables from them.

The current administrator is Rose Red who took over the position from Weyland Smith after the revolt initiated by Goldilocks and the Three Little Pigs.

Wolf Manor

As a retirement package to Bigby for his years of service, he was given the Valley of the Big Sleepers, since it was now empty of its sleeping giants and dragons. This way, Bigby could have a big patch of land to live on that is not in the city nor on the farm and he can raise his children with Snow White. Currently, Snow and Bigby live in a mansion, constructed by Boy Blue and many others as a wedding present, on the property with their children. Nobody is allowed into Wolf Valley without permission.

Secrecy

Fabletown has always been kept deeply secret from the mundane authorities. During the Battle of Fabletown, Snow White enlisted the various Fable magic-users to create a thunderstorm and various other illusions to keep the mundanes from seeing what was going on. Fabletown has its own system of laws, including capital punishment or imprisonment at hard labor on the Farm for criminal Fables, or those who reveal their true nature to Mundanes.

With this in mind, many Fables have specific restrictions on their activities, designed to avoid giving away their nature. The most prominent example of this is Rapunzel, who is barred from spending more than 25 minutes with any mundane because of her rapid hair growth. She is also required to have three haircuts a day.

Fabletown East

Not content with the vast lands he held, the Adversary has begun a major push into the Arabian Fable lands. As a result, a delegation led by Sinbad arrived at Fabletown to negotiate a possible alliance. The proceedings started poorly when the two sides clashed over Sinbad's slaves; they got much worse when one of Sinbad's sorcerers released a djinn with orders to kill Fabletown's top officials.

Frau Totenkinder used her magic to stop the djinn, and though Kay was able to determine that Sinbad did not order its release, the Arab leader was still blamed for bringing it to Fabletown. This was construed as an act of war, and the Fabletown government decided that Sinbad would be banished for life. The only way he could return was as a head of state; thus Prince Charming suggested that the Arabs form Fabletown East. Though it is a distinct state, Fabletown East's charter is heavily based on New York's. Old King Cole was selected as ambassador; when he arrived, he discovered that the Arab fables still lived in mythic (not mundane) Baghdad, which was as yet untouched by the Adversary. Currently, Fabletown East is fortifying itself for a battle with the Adversary and preparing, if necessary, a controlled, orderly flight to the mundane world. In addition to Sinbad and Cole, its known residents include Ali Baba and Aladdin.