Would you like to win a double pass to The Goblin Ball 2015 and two decks of Tarot Cards featuring your own design, presented in limited edition collector boxes? 

Total Prize value $320

Dark Realm Events is looking for the next Goblin Artist to help design the official Goblin Ball Tarot Cards. These tarot cards will be sold at events hosted by Dark Realm. Dark realm is a company that prides itself on creating evenings of mythological and mystical immersion and this is your chance to become part of the magic.

The Goblin Ball Tarot Design Competition is open to all fantasy artists and enthusiasts alike. See the below guidelines to enter and if you have any questions we will use them to create a FAQ section below.

Submit your designs after reading the details below to AskUs@TheGoblinBall.com

1. We are looking for a design that incorporates the four elemental kingdoms of The Goblin Ball 2013 - 2016. This includes The Ice Kingdom, Ember Rule, Terra Bayou and Starlantis.
   
2. Full color entries only please however work in progress or detailed sketches are accepted. Completed artwork will need to be submitted for final judging.
   
3. Information of the four realms can be found here.
   
4. Artists designs can be in the format of illustration, painting, portraiture or photography. Any visual art medium is acceptable. Get creative!
   
5. The design should leave space for The Goblin Ball logo to be added. See below for the placeholder logo. Feel free to add it into your design.
   
6. High resolution files only as all details of the artwork may appear on the card face
   
7. Your artwork should be able to be resized to fit the size of 70mm x 121mm (or 2.75" x 4.75” when printing)
   

The Tarot Suit
The Tarot suit that the cards will be used for is the Rider Waite suit. More details about the history of the Rider Waite Tarot here.

At The Goblin Ball some of our guests have decided they will be playing characters for the evening. This helps add to the magical nature of the evening and if you would like to do the same, feel free to imagine your own character. This is an amazing way to interact with other guests and also can help create memorable moments not only for yourself but also for other guests. If you would like to see how to prepare for the ball you can click here for more inspiration.

Darko the Ringmaster decided to catch up with one of the Guests Queen Thela of Selene to explore what her character was doing at The Goblin Ball and what other guests could expect when interacting with her on the evening.

Thank you for agreeing to answer some questions Queen Theia of Selene. Maybe you could begin by telling us a bit about yourself and where you come from?

It’s a pleasure to make time for the Ringmaster of the Goblin Ball. I am Queen of the Moon and Regent of the night sky. I obtained my titles an era ago after a war I waged against the God of Darkness whom, at that time, ruled over the night. I sacrificed the bulk of my powers in order to create the moon, illuminate the night sky and defeat him. I have watched over the darkness as his predecessor ever since. 

My kingdom, Selene, is situated on the dark side of the Moon and as such exists in an eternal night. Any citizen here will tell you the light side of the Moon is forbidden by our oldest and strictest laws. Selene is a place of old magic, from the days before magic had color or law. We don’t abide by the commonly accepted social definitions of right and wrong and it often shocks people to learn we allow the use of most forbidden magic here. 

We believe the intent not the medium of application is what is important. I’ve seen white magic used for great evil in my time, and black magic used to for a greater good. Everyone here has sworn fidelity in exchange for the ability to be who they really are in freedom. Some are admittedly monsters, but there are advantages to having monsters in our ranks. This makes us formidable. As we need to be, to keep the real horrors of the night in check.

At the Goblin Ball this year we expect to see many royals from all corners of The Goblin Realm. What brings you to The Goblin Ball?

Circumstances have forced my hand. There is trouble on Selene. We have tried to keep the situation contained, but the Moon is falling out of balance and I’m afraid the effects are beginning to be bleed over into other realms. Reports from my informants in Terra Bayou are particularly troubling. The sun that shines over their realm is dimming and that does not bode well. There is a reason why our creed is “Night falls over all kingdoms.”

Selene is not the only kingdom thrown out of balance. The Ice Apples are stolen, the Ice Kingdom is powerless, the Fire God is dead. I have been absent from court for over 100 years, but I cannot ignore the death of a God. Not when the last person to murder one was me.

I’m attending to reestablish my presence in these matters, to form alliances and gather information. I have a very particular purpose for attending the ball and I’m determined to obtain my objective. Everything depends on it and time is running out.

You have decided to to attend with other cohorts, who are they?

I think you will agree Ringmaster, protection for divinities and royalties alike at this event is paramount. Even though the Goblin Ball falls shortly after the full moon, when my powers are strongest, I am taking no chances. So far attending with me is the Commander of my Queensguard, Fenrir, and several representatives from the Order of the Dark Moon, which comprises of the most powerful magic-users in Selene: Scylla, the head sorceress of the order, Evienne Stormwalker and a trainee Lucille who has recently come to us from the Ice Kingdom. 
She made a personal request of me to permit her attend as part of the escort, which I permitted. I can understand and certainly reciprocate her desire to find out the truth of what happened in the Ice Kingdom. Other citizens of Selene and members of the Lunar Court are sure to attend, and we have operatives working to ensure our objectives from their respective factions. 
I am, of course, interested in receiving communication from other dignitaries before the night of the ball. I’m more than certain we are not the only one attending with our own agenda and I’m sure some of them would align with other’s.

As you are probably aware, last year there was a murder most foul and this year Princess Pintina is being brought to face the Fire Kingdom. Do you think you will help her profess her innocence or will you make sure she pays for her crime?

Her guilt or innocence... Hm. I suspect there is more to the story than that, but I can’t afford to devote my support and resources on the night purely to uncovering the truth of whether or not she is guilty or innocent in all senses of the word. My objective will be preventing her from becoming Demigoddess at any cost, and I will support any objective that supports that outcome. 

Put aside for a moment the murder of the Fire God, put aside the theft of the Ice Apples then what is left is the Princess herself. If her disposition is cruel then I will find a way to deny her divinity. 

Simple. I have more experience than most with cruel Gods. I also have other matters to investigate. How exactly a mortal Princess managed to murder a supposedly immortal God would be the most immediately pressing. If a God can be killed, what makes a God or Goddess in the first place? What is divinity? What bigger plot seems to be afoot here? How far are the troubles on Selene involved? This are the questions that trouble me, Ringmaster.

Is there anything you would like to tell the other guests about your attendance and what they can expect if they encounter you on the night?

We are happy to lend assistance to the objectives of others on the night in exchange for support and information for our own objectives. Other guests may hear rumors about why the light side of the moon is forbidden, a folklore about a 'monster' that lives there. The terrible things that happen on Selene during a New Moon and on Eclipses. 

The horrific deaths and the fact that the Queen doesn't age. Remember everything is connected and nothing is as it seems.

There you have it! Some interesting dynamics for the evening and Queen Thelia has learnt the mythology of The Goblin Ball! We can't wait to play with you all!

Tickets are selling fast so make sure to book yours ASAP!

HOW FABULOUS! Fabulous Femme have been running a competition for two passes to the Goblin Ball 2014 and the entries have exceeded 700! That is AMAZING! 

Fabulous Femme and The Goblin Ball partnered to give their readers a chance to win a double pass to the most magical evening in Melbourne for the month of June. If you would like to try your hand at winning make sure you enter at the Fabulous Femme site following this link.

Remember that tickets do tend to sell out before the event and booking early is a must as there are no tickets at the door so maybe enter to bring some friends along to avoid disappointment.

The talented Souri will be there on the night to document the evening and photos will be taken by Fresh Photography!