Dungeons and Dragons Live-Action Weekend With Quests On Horseback

Millbrooke Realmquest: A Weekend Dungeons & Dragons Live-Action Adventure
May 1–3, 2026 | Adults 21+ | Millbrook, Illinois

Step into the Realm of Millbrooke for one of the most unusual Dungeons & Dragons–inspired live-action adventures in the Midwest. A strange illness has swept the Kingdom, pushing survivors into the wilds. Only you and your clan can uncover the truth, recover the lost relics, and save the realm before high noon on the final day.

This immersive, story-rich experience blends camping, roleplay, puzzles, quests, and optional horseback adventuring across more than 140 acres of meadows, forests, and winding creeks. Your choices matter—and the fate of the Realm rests with you.

Please note:
This is a live-action roleplay weekend, but not a combat LARP. There will be no fighting or weapon-based physical contact between players. The only competitive physical skill event is the supervised archery contest. All other challenges rely on exploration, puzzles, teamwork, and roleplay.

Join sixty-three adventurers for a weekend-long narrative experience set across three themed villages. You will be placed into a clan of seven players, and three clans will form each village. Villages have designated bonfire spaces and will serve as home base for quests, NPC interactions, puzzles, and late-night storytelling.

Gameplay is inspired by 5E philosophy and driven by your decisions. There are no magical props or real-world magical items; instead, your clan’s success will come from strategy, creativity, problem-solving, and cooperation.

We offer 49 riding tickets for participants who wish to complete certain quests on horseback. These rides are beginner-friendly and conducted at a walking pace through varied terrain with guided encounters. We provide the horses.

Each riding participant will take part in two separate quest rides, and each ride lasts approximately one hour. Depending on your assigned schedule, your rides will take place on:

• Friday and Saturday, or
• Saturday and Sunday, or
• Friday and Sunday

Riders are organized into two groups of seven per ride, each led by a professional trail guide who knows our herd and trails. Each group begins on a different path to ensure a unique quest experience.

Basic horseback instruction is provided before and during the ride. For logistical reasons, riders might not be placed in the same mounted group as their clan or village although we will try to accommodate groups or pairs.

For the health and safety of our horses, all riding questors must fit the following height and weight guidelines (including clothing):

• Minimum height: 4'4"
• Riders 4'4"–5'4": under 185 lbs
• Riders 5'5"–5'8": under 200 lbs
• Riders 5'8"–6'0": under 230 lbs
• Riders over 6'0": under 250 lbs

Please wear lightweight clothing; heavy armor is not permitted. Cosplay is welcome, though capes are discouraged while riding. Helmets are available at no cost and optional.

Riders will be matched to horses based on height, weight, and experience. Ride times will be assigned before the event via email. You must check-in at the upper level of the barn at least 15 minutes before your ride time to participate.

All players must bring their own tent. Campsites are rustic and without electricity. Potable water is available but may be up to a quarter-mile from some sites. Porta-potties and handwashing stations will be provided. Showers are not available.

To protect our free-roaming horses, no individual campfires or charcoal grills are permitted. Each village will have a designated bonfire site.

You may interact with the horses at night. If offering treats, please give carrots only. No player may attempt to mount a horse outside of designated riding times. (No jumping on a bareback horse at night!)
Please keep food and beverages secured in coolers, as some of our mules have a fondness for beer.

On Friday evening, we will host a D&D-themed potluck dinner in the barn. Electricity is available for crockpots and warming plates, and space is available for coolers. Potluck participation is optional. We will provide all serving utensils. To eat at the potluck you must bring a dish to share; if you don't wish to participate, please make sure you’ve brought your own dinner for Friday night.

Sample voting categories may include:

• Best Dish to Restore 10 HP
• Most Enchanting Presentation
• Most “I Would Order This in the Feywild”
• Best Druid’s Delight (vegetarian)

Prizes will be awarded.

• Continental breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings
• Simple à la carte offerings available on Saturday afternoon
• Hog roast dinner on Saturday evening. Llimited vegetarian alternatives provided; vegetarians are encouraged to bring supplemental options. Meal includes roast pork, cheesy potatoes, Italian pasta, Baked Beans and ColeSlaw.
• Unlimited s'mores on Friday and Saturday night

Foxes Den Meadery will host a nightly tavern pouring their award-winning meads. Whether the tavern-keeper is working in your favor—or someone else’s—remains to be seen.

Throughout the weekend, participants will encounter:

• Ground quests
• Puzzle-based challenges
• Archery competition
• Dance festival
• Exploration across 140+ acres
• Roleplay encounters and storyline decisions
• Clan and village achievements

Weather note: Activities—including riding—continue in rain unless there is lightning or thunder. Please review the weather forecast for Newark Illinois and prepare accordingly.

Full participation: Players should remain for the full weekend (Friday–Sunday) to maintain narrative continuity. Check-in begins at 2 p.m. Friday, and you will be assigned a specific arrival window via email. Award ceremony will conclude by 2pm Sunday.

Riding punctuality: Riders must check in 15 minutes before their scheduled ride. Missed rides cannot be refunded or rescheduled. If you are engaged in another activity you will still be responsible for stopping that activity and attending your ride.

Safety around animals: Secure and properly dispose of food. Do not approach the cows in the neighboring pasture. (One is a bull.) It's okay to pet the horses and mules but please do not walk directly behind any animals.

Community spirit: Flexibility, kindness, and willingness to engage with fellow adventurers are essential.

Character sheets: Character sheets (5E-based) are due mid-March and instructions about how to submit these will be available in February. No magical items or props are allowed. Please ensure you can receive emails from c2FkZGxlc25hcHMxMjMgfCBnbWFpbCAhIGNvbQ==.

Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Newark, Contests in Newark.