Myricaria always admired the craftsmanship of cosplayers, but she admits that when she started playing FFXIV as Catriona Fraser on Shiva back in January 2015, cosplaying for herself wasn’t even on her radar. Then came the release of Heavensward, and she fell in love with the Halonic Priest healing set. It wasn’t long until Myricaria realized she wanted to wear the robes herself, and thus, in 2016 she dipped her toes into the world of cosplay for the first time.
Lystrade, known as Ly’strade Navaarne on Balmung, made her first Final Fantasy XIV cosplay before even playing the game. Thanks to some friendly peer pressure, she created the female miqo'te starter set to cosplay with a group all wearing XIV costumes, including her fiance in a Jandelaine costume. She ended up having such a positive experience that she picked up the game, and her love for XIV and its community has grown ever since.
MAGfest 2019 was a roaring con of music nerds, DJs, cosplayers, and gamers of every stripe gathered together for an exciting but exhausting four-day party. Misha and Constantine were still in cosplay despite nearing the end of the day. Their easy smiles did not betray a hint of exhaustion. Professional yet genuinely amicable, they were a pleasure to speak with, and their passion for their costumes and the materials that inspire them were the shining stars in our interview that followed.
It’s late on the east coast, and I’m watching in real time as Kyle Mathis - known mostly online as ExShadow - types his extensive replies to my interview questions. “It was a nice break from my vectoring,” he assures me when I voice concern over taking time out of his busy schedule. Surely the only explanation for the time he finds for all his projects is a summoning of the primal Alexander itself to stop time. Or perhaps it’s his admirable dedication to his work, both personal and professional. After reading his interview, I believe you’ll find the latter far more likely.
Inquiries of Art 