ECCC Recap! (Patreon)

A note: I like how the cropping of this photo makes it look kind of like I'm just standing in front of a huge sign that says "EGG"

PHEW. I got back from Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle this morning and spent most of today doing the essential post-con reboot tasks: Hydrating, eating, showering, and sleeping 😂 But now I'm ready to tell you guys all about the most magical convention experience of my life!

Part One: In Which a Blizzard Tries (and Fails) to Thwart the Geekery

Those of you who were following along on the Patreon Discord or on Twitter may have seen on Thursday that my flight to Seattle was abruptly cancelled thanks to blizzard conditions in Colorado. Last week's storm left more than 7 inches of snow around Denver's airport, and between the weather and everyone trying to rebook their flights, Southwest was unable to get my flight rescheduled until after the convention — which obviously wasn't going to work. Other airlines had a few flights available, but they were waaay out of my price range. I cried a little (okay, a lot), wrote some sad tweets, and resigned myself to skipping the con.

But then a miracle happened! Wyrmwood Gaming, a company that creates beautiful, artisan wooden tabletop equipment (like dice trays, dice towers, and even gaming tables), emailed me with an offer: They would sponsor my flight to ECCC, and I could do a meet & greet at their booth during the con.

Of course I accepted, so as of Friday morning, the con was back on. I rushed around getting a flight booked, putting finishing touches on the costume updates I was making to my Jester, and packing for a late afternoon flight. I waited to announce the change until I was actually out of Denver (I was so afraid my new flight would be cancelled, too!) but once I arrived at my layover in Portland, I shared the good news!

Part Two: In Which Belle Discovers Her New Favorite Book

Friday was pretty lowkey: I wore Belle, checked out the Artist's Alley, and just generally got a feel for the con. Belle isn't one of my more popular costumes, so I was surprised how many people recognized me! I was staying with my friend (and Stark sister!) Caitlin, aka Going Postale, so we spent pretty much the whole convention weekend together.

Towards the end of the day, I ran into Pearl Bae and Ivorivet as Jester and Marion, which was awesome! I had met Pearl before, but I was meeting Emi for the first time and she was absolutely lovely. I carried around Tusk Love as Belle because I only had room for one book in my suitcase, haha!

Part Three: In Which The Ladybug Meets the Lady

Saturday was my big day — my photo op with Laura, the Critter meetup at the con, and the Seattle Critters offsite meetup at the Raygun Lounge after the con. It was also Caitlin's big day, because she was participating in the costume contest with her Sansa Stark costume.

I got to meet a few of you lovely Patrons, which was amazing!! It's always so rewarding and so wild to meet the people who support me in person. If I didn't say it at the time, thank you for believing in me and putting your pledges towards this weird, wonderful work I get to do. I love you guys!!

The Critter meetup was held in a wildly undersized room, proving that ECCC had truly underestimated the power of this fandom! I unfortunately caused a little bit of a traffic problem by accidentally wedging myself into a corner, so anyone who wanted to meet me had to squeeze their way right next to the photo area and around some tables. (My b!) It was so cool to get to meet everyone. The energy in that room was just so positive!

Next was the Critter photoshoot, which was... crazy! There were just so many of us. Here's some of the Jesters (that's right... this wasn't even all of us.)

From there, I had to head towards my photo op with Laura Bailey! I was super duper nervous. I had no idea what I was going to say to her, and I was stressed about my makeup being cracked (at that point I'd been wearing it for four or five hours, and it had thoroughly sunk into every crevice in my skin... yikes.) 

Turns out I shouldn't have been worried!! She seemed nearly as happy to see me as I was to see her! You can read the full story on my Instagram post.

Afterwards, I spent a few hours in the Hyatt lobby drinking an overpriced hotel bar Jack & Coke and waiting for Caitlin to get done in the costume contest. But as I turned the corner to leave the hotel, I suddenly spotted... almost the entire Critical Role cast lurking by the door, waiting for their car. I wasn't going to bother them, but they spotted me and called me over, and then they all hugged me and I died. Brian W. Foster even handed his phone to Marisha and asked her to take a photo of us together. 

Needless to say, I floated to the Seattle Critters meetup in a daze. We didn't stay late because we were wiped out and I had to get back into Jester tomorrow, but it was really great to meet so many Critters in a more relaxed, offsite setting. (Much better than the cramped little convention room that the official meetup was in, haha!)

Part Four: In Which I Wyrm My Way Into People's Hearts (and Photos)

Sunday was the day I was doing the meet & greet at Wyrmwood's Booth, so I dragged myself out of bed (feeling like I'd been hit by a truck) and got all blue again! I was stunned as, throughout the hour, people lined up to say hello and take a photo with me. I also got to be on Wyrmwood's vlog, Wyrm Lyfe, for a little interview (coming soon!)

As if they hadn't already been generous enough, Wyrmwood also gifted me an absolutely beautiful Bocote dice vault (the same kind they made for Laura for Campaign 2), engraved with my name. 

After I thanked Wyrmwood approximately seven zillion times, it was nearly time for my autograph session with Matthew Mercer (or so I thought.) Turns out the cast is so sweet and so friendly that they were spending on average a solid minute with each autograph ticket holder — which meant that the lines were very, very backed up. My autograph slot was for 3:00pm, and I stood in line for nearly two hours before finally reaching the front. (Honestly though... it was fine. We made friends in line and had some great conversations! It was like a very, very crowded cocktail party with no cocktails.)

When I did finally get to meet Matt, he was holding my hands and looking into my eyes and I pretty much forgot my own name. I don't know how one person can be that kind, genuine, and engaged, with not one but hundreds of people — continuously, for hours, for multiple days in a row. It's truly incredible.

I had him sign my Tusk Love prop book! I also find it hilarious that his signature looks like "Mouth Mom." Makes me feel better about my G(scribble) D(scribble) disaster.

Part Five: In Which I Sleepwalk Through Pike Place Market

I had given myself an extra day at the end of my trip so that I would have a bit of recovery time post-con before hopping back on planes! Caitlin took me to Pike Place Market, and we did an extremely leisurely, extremely limited wandering tour. We were both exhausted, but it was nice to get outside and into the world a little. Later, we went to a super cool speakeasy that you access through a hidden door!

This morning I woke up super early, zombie-d my way through the airport, and took a long nap as soon as I got home! If this helps communicate how tired I was: There were roofers banging on our apartment the whole time, and I slept like a baby.

My time at ECCC was incredible. It was hands down the best con experience I've ever had — way beyond what I can detail even in a long post like this one!! So much of the joy at this convention was thanks to Critical Role, so I'm eager to see how that same joy and that same community affect my local convention, DPCC, in late May when the cast pays us a visit!

Now, if you'll excuse me... I have to go sleep more. 😴