Ciderfest has come and gone, and left Heartbreak in its wake. · 6:11pm Nov 6th, 2016
Alright, so as some of Calm Winds readers may know, Ciderfest was a thing that happened.
My vacation from work started on October 21st, my travels to the con started the next day. But I did not go directly there, oh no. I took a greyhound bus down to Roanoke, VA. Where a talented artist lives, one by the name of Penumbraglow0290 (Forever referred to as Pen.) I arrived on Sunday, and got to enjoy her and her mother's company.
"Shame? What is this shame you speak of?"
I also got to meet some of Pen’s extended family, namely her aunt. Now, I am a nice guy, i was raised on the motto: Treat others as you would be treated. I greeted myself nicely, and in response I got the most snippy “Alright” I had ever heard. So I decided to leave the room before my mouth got me in trouble, because I had some very choice words for her.
That aside; me, Pen, and her mother left on Tuesday via Greyhound to Milwaukee. After the fun and somewhat annoying bus ride, we arrived on Wednesday and stayed the night at Calm Wind’s place. It was great to see him again and the fact he was willing to keep us there a night and help out as well was awesome so kudos go to him.
Anyway, much fun and gaming was to be had. I also got to lift his new shiny great sword, took both my hands to do it effectively. (Get your mind out of the gutter, you pervs. It was an actual solid steel sword.)
Thursday morning rolled around and we got to the con via Calm’s car. We arrived really early and were unable to check into the hotel room until about 11am. Only one of the two rooms were open, but it was alright. At about 3pm, Destiny-Brave-Fire (Forever referred to as Dest) arrived at the station and I decided to meet him there and escort him back to the hotel room. About that time the second room became open and we got to see it.
The first room that opened had a single bed in it, and the other held two beds. Me and Pens mother (Forever referred to as Penmom) decided the ladies should get the room with the single bed, and the guys get to fight over the room with the two beds. There was no fighting really. Witchy, Sylvian, and Witchy’s brother Jinxy, showed up around 4:30 pm and after introductions, checking into the con, getting dinner, and such. Sleep was had by all.
"Official Equestrian sponsor."
"Jenn Blake drew me!"
This is how I was able to get a pair of rooms together. After adding up various things for this con, It was decided that going for the Equestria Sponsor level was worth it. And let me tell you, it totally was!
“Changeling not included.”
“I'm drinkable!”
“Changelings are not supposed to be front and center!”
“Signed copy went to Pen.”
The sponsor level included many things, Such as a special mug, a plush of the mascot, A special badge and a few other things, such as the hotel room.
Anyway, Friday rolled around and I was up before everyone else, so i did a little bit of shopping that we forgot last night.
After that, I waited until Pen, Sylvian, and Dest were awake. The four of us attended the opening ceremonies and I wish we had sat closer to get a better view of everything going on. After that, Witchy was able to join us for time in the vendor hall, where we reunited with Calm Wind, and after that we had Subway for lunch.
I sadly missed the Intimate Evening with John De Lancie as I had derpped and grabbed the wrong dress pants for the grand galloping gala afterwards. But they let me in anyway since I paid the Equestria level, and had a dress shirt still. After that, I slept.
Saturday started out great. Decided to check out the vendor hall with early access to look for certain things and got stopped on the elevator to receive this:
“Talon, as drawn by Jenn Blake. Go help save her with Gofundme!”
Needless to say, getting the original sketch by a famous comic artist made my day. I was staring at it until the elevator hit the floor I wanted with a silly grin. And later learning that she really liked my design and enjoyed working on it. Foxenawolf will always be my go to artist, but to see my OC drawn up by others makes me giddy.
Everyone else eventually woke up and we did other things, like hanging out near the video game room, Night Scribbler’s mother and Pen’s mother finally met as well, before I attended a panel on how to be a “con” artist with Nighty. After that was the Sponsor dinner, which admittedly was a little meh. Good food at least. After that I hung out with the others for an hour before the VIP Cocktail hour, which was also kind of meh, but I got to listen to John De Lancie for a bit.
After that was the Cider Appreciation panel. I kind of regretted that choice, I learned that I don't have a taste for the hard ciders. And also got a small headache between the people talking behind us, and the people leading the panel having to talk over them. Bed happened after that for me.
Sunday was a good day, attended the guest of honor panel. But after that, Sad times were ahead for Pen. She got to say goodbye to Dest as I got to escort him to the train/bus station at 3 pm. The rest of us attended closing ceremonies, and afterwards I got to watch Pen say goodbye to Witchy, Syl, and Jinxy.
Me, Pen, and her mother stayed the last night in the hotel, where I kept her relatively cheered up by poking fun at Star wars episode 4, A new Hope. As things drew to a close, we got to spend an evening at Calms, before taking a 4am bus ride back to Roanoke, Where i stayed another day with Pen, before I finally said goodbye to her.
THE LEWT!
"Signed by John De Lancie."
"I will find the Shadowbolt version at some point."
After all was said and done. I had an absolute blast on the convention, and would love to do it again soon. But in the end, it was sad to part from Pen and her mother. It is nice to know that my actions in allowing Pen to attend her first convention had left such a huge mark that she still misses me.
Noice m8.
Wow, you sure had fun there. I will have to wait until after college to have the time to go to this con. I would be nice to meet all of you in person at some point.