Unfortunate circumstances. The Adversary, a dark power who rose rapidly, began to take over our kingdoms at an alarming pace. We realized too late, but many of us escaped through portals from various places in the Homelands to the mundane world. Originally, Fabletown was not a part of New York City, but as the world does, it the city eventually came to our doorstep and swallowed us so now we're a neighborhood.