Make the Most of Meridell: A Tourist's Guide

     Give a Mortog a smooch. Those princes and princesses can’t rescue themselves! Peck one of the Mortogs on the cheek, and you may restore a royal to their former selves—but kiss a non-magical Mortog, and you’ll get to witness their yucky insides from the outside when they explode. (A poncho is recommended for this activity.)

     Take aim at Ultimate Bullseye II.Set up not far from Meri Acres Farm, a Meridell-armored Turtum has dragged his ballista out for some target practice. If you ask nicely, he and his Buzz will let you have a go. If you’re lucky, you might even get a chance to take aim at some Meridell-themed balloons—or even poor Punchbag Bob, ever-smiling as he hopes you hit the apple on his head and not any of his straw-stuffed body parts.

     Roll, roll, roll your cheese. You’ll have to pay for a wheel up front, but Cheeseroller will help you get your daily exercise as you race your wheel down a hill. It’s a simple pastime, but it draws a crowd. It’s also tougher than it looks, as you’ll have to dodge rocks and keep your momentum going to beat the goal time of 60 seconds or less. Succeed, and you’ll be famed throughout Meridell—and the Cheese Maker will gift you your selected cheese.

     Visit the local curmudgeon. Even 20 years later, King Skarl is still grumpy about the destruction of his kingdom by Lord Darigan’s forces. The land and its people have recovered, but Skarl could still use some cheering up. Bring him your best Neopets-themed joke and see if you can make him smile. You might even leave Meridell Castle with your pockets a little heavier for your trouble.

     Pester a giant Petpet… Asleep nearly all day, Turmaculus just wants his rest—and maybe a bite of your Petpet! Given that most of the ways you can try to wake him up are quite rude, do you blame him? Try singing it a nice song instead of dumping cold water on the poor thing, and Turmaculus might reward you with a stat increase or a nice souvenir. (He still might devour your precious Buzz or Weewoo, but at least you’ll have quite the story to tell over your cup of ale.)

     ...and maybe purchase a replacement. Should the worst happen and you find yourself short one Petpet, Ye Olde Petpets has you covered. The lovely Ixi has a nice stable to choose from. If you’re a fan of Ultimate Bullseye, a loyal Turtum might be best for you and your Neopet. Gallions are high-energy but also highly bitey, so they might be a good match for a tougher Woodland or Relic Neopet. Whinnies make great companions for Unis, as they bond over their shared love of open fields and some nice hay for dinner. And dour little Ukalis make excellent friends for Grey Neopets, even if it’s hard to tell when either of them are happy. (Should you see a Drackonack in the barn, they’re just visiting from the Darigan Citadel and could also use a loving home, even if their teeth look awfully long and sharp…)

     Head over to Meri Acres Farm for food-themed fun. If your Neopets are fond of berries, you can get them fresh from the berry patch at Pick Your Own—but watch out for the Piles of Dung left by ill-mannered pets among the brambles. Alton the Kacheek could also use some help counting his potato crop, and he’ll be generous with his Neopoints if you tally them up quick. (Fun fact: At 20 years old, Alton was born the year of the Meridell and Darigan conflict. His potato pile likely provided a handy hiding place for when the battles got a little too close to the farm.) And for those who are really looking for excitement, a Wocky has brought out Old Bessie, the largest Marrow grown in the region, for daily weight-guessing competitions.

     Should the wild and crazy pace of life in Meridell’s forests and fields not slake your thirst for adventure, head on over to the Darigan Citadel for darker-themed pursuits.

     Challenge the dungeon’s prisoners to a game of Cellblock. The ever-evil prison warden, Master Vex, continues to hold many of Meridell’s finest in its depths. They and their red-eyed guards are always up for a match of Cellblock, a game similar to Kacheekers where your goal is to connect five of your pieces in a line before your opponent can. Win your way through the ranks, and you get to play against the warden himself. You’ll also walk out a bit richer with Neopoints your can spend at local shops.

     Pick up a clockwork toy or two. Darigan Toys, stocked by a well-dressed Moehog with fabulously blue hair, offers the latest of the citadel’s innovative diversions for your pets. Add a little water to a Sea Darigans tank and watch them grow — as long as you remember to feed them! Take a ride on a Lord Darigan Scooter (now with light-up eyes!) but don’t get too close to the edge of the floating island, or you might need a rescue from the winged shopkeeper. There are plenty of action figures too, featuring a cast of local celebrities (like prison guard Galgarroth, with all new sword swiping and tail swishing action) and models of Darigan species, from Techos to Tigermouses (Tigermice?). Be careful of sharp edges, though, as many of the toys seem to be adorned with spikes and teeth.

     This guide is brought to you with unofficial guidance from the Meridell Tourism Association and Veterans of the Meridell-Darigan War Club.