The Great Cleric Quest: Part 1

The Maitre d'

While this is an article about DragonCon, it isn't really an article about DragonCon. In fact, most of this epic tale occurs before DragonCon even takes place. It is a story of friendship, of accomplishment, of man's struggle against nature, and man's struggle against his own humanity. It is not just a story about how to make a costume; it is the story about how, in the end, the least important part of a project may be the artifacts it produces.

Also, it's a story of one man's inevitable failure, because, let's face it, some of us are just destined for mediocrity at best, unable to stand out as an individual against the rest of humanity.

The finished product

The Idea

We begin our story in late June of 2008, when The Chef began talking about creating a Wash costume (from Firefly) for DragonCon. This project was entitled "The Great Wash Hunt", and The Chef began chronicling his efforts on our gaming group's forums.

I had created my first costume for MTAC about four months prior. The Chef had begun harping on me to make my next costuming project Johnny Turbo. After seeing the character, I flat out refused. So, I needed a new costuming project for DragonCon.

I can't say I hadn't thought of my idea before The Chef's Wash Hunt started, but the fact that someone else was working on a costume for DragonCon made the project more viable. So, I pitched my idea: The Great Cleric Quest. Simply put, the cleric seems to be my favorite class, having played one in Dungeons and Dragons, World of Warcraft, and a few other games. I don't know why I find the job of heal monkey so gratifying, but I do. (Well, I could probably speculate, but I don't need to get too philosophical, because that always ends up depressing.)

So, armed with my D&D character sketches that drew from World of Warcraft, anime, real vestments, and D&D art itself, I set out on the quest.

The original design


A cleric, drawn in my
Dungeons and Dragons game notes

The Forum Thread Gone Wrong

As soon as I posted my sketches and vision, the suggestions began. Russell, one of the TVGA regulars I haven't met in person, was the first to give real feedback on the idea. His suggestion? I should go for a Friar Tuck look, and use a Green Man for my holy symbol.

The former suggestion wasn't my thing, but I considered the Green Man. The Chef chimed in that I should make the holy symbol out of Sculpey, and one of the best parts of the entire costume was born (although the Green Man was later scrapped for the St. Cuthbert symbol from 3rd edition). Great suggestions all, although sadly many of them never got used, since I had a clear vision of where I was going.

Then it happened. Jen mentioned she had some boots which I should look at for inspiration on the footwear for my outfit. I snarkily responded that they'd do me no good unless they came in size 13.

Odd thing about mentioning you have ginormous feet: people start wanting to speculate on whether other parts of your body are similarly proportioned. And they speculated for two frakking pages. I offered to both confirm and deny the rumors. (The real answer? Wouldn't you like to know.)

The Great Wash Hunt Ends

Not long after I announced this, The Chef decided he wasn't going to make DragonCon, due to finances and time. Sadly, this meant that the Great Wash Hunt was off. Discouraged, but not giving up, I decided to continue the Great Cleric Quest alone. Still, The Chef offered his support.

The Night of Destiny

A week and a half had already passed since its first announcement, and the costume was naught more than HTML and pencil lines. Only two months remained, and I was determined not to wait until the last minute.

One Friday night, the rest of my roommates were out doing couple stuff, so I was left completely alone in the house. There were really only two obvious choices: descend deeper into the downward spiral of loneliness, depression, and madness. Or, call up The Chef and head into Knoxville to begin the quest.

As I'm still around to type this, I obviously chose the latter.

That night turned out to become truly epic. Though I returned with only 12 yards of cloth, the stories that The Chef and I carried back home were innumerable.

For that night, we saw the Harbinger of The End.

See more articles from: The Maitre d': A Legacy of Failure • Serious Commentary