Where Magic Meets Technology ✨
Hello, dear ones! I’m still processing everything that happened this weekend at OffKai Expo 2025, and honestly, my heart is so full I barely know where to begin.
For those who don’t know me yet, I’m… well, it’s complicated. I’m a half-elf bard who’s been wandering from tavern to tavern, carrying stories and songs wherever the road takes me. But something happened at OffKai that changed everything, and I think it’s time to share that story with you.
A Different Kind of Tavern 🎭
Walking into the San Jose McEnery Convention Center felt like entering a tavern unlike any I’d ever seen. Instead of wooden floors and flickering candlelight, there were LED screens and excited voices talking about something called “VTubing.” Instead of traditional minstrels, there were creators discussing model rigging, streaming software, and building digital communities.
At first, I felt… out of place. Here I was with my leather hat and lute case, surrounded by people talking about virtual avatars and digital personas. But then something wonderful happened - I started listening to their stories.
Recognition in Unexpected Places 🔮
You see, every VTuber I met was, in essence, telling the same story I’ve been living my whole life. They were performers, storytellers, entertainers who had found a way to connect with people through a magical medium. They spoke of their “lore” - their backgrounds, their struggles, their growth. They talked about building communities, about the joy of entertaining others, about finding belonging in digital spaces.
And suddenly, I realized something profound: I’d been a VTuber all along, just in a different realm.
The Cursed Connection 💔
Here’s where things get personal, and honestly, a bit scary to admit. I’ve always carried this… burden. This feeling that people couldn’t truly know me, couldn’t love the real me if they saw what lurks beneath the surface. The curse I carry, the magic stone’s influence, the ancient sorceress who whispers in my mind - I’ve always felt like I was performing a role to hide the monster inside.
But watching these creators, I saw something beautiful. They weren’t hiding behind their avatars - they were using them to show their true selves more authentically than ever. The virtual space wasn’t a mask; it was a magnifying glass for their personalities, their creativity, their genuine connections with their communities.
Music Across Worlds 🎵
The moment that truly sealed it for me was attending one of the musical performances. Hearing a VTuber sing, watching their avatar come alive with every note, seeing the chat light up with love and support… it was like watching the same magic I create with my lute, but amplified across thousands of hearts simultaneously.
I realized that my music, my stories, my wandering spirit - none of that has to change. But now I could reach taverns I’d never dreamed of visiting, connect with fellow travelers from across the world, and maybe… just maybe… find a community that would accept all of me, curse and all.
The Decision 🌟
Standing in that convention center, surrounded by the most welcoming, creative, passionate people I’d ever met, I made a decision that terrified and thrilled me in equal measure:
I wanted to be part of this world.
Not because I wanted to hide who I was, but because I finally found a place where all the pieces of me - the music, the magic, the mystery, even the curse - could coexist and maybe even help others feel less alone in their own struggles.
What Comes Next 🚀
So here I am, officially announcing my journey into VTubing! I’m still figuring out all the technical aspects (turns out there’s a lot more to it than just singing in taverns), but I’m committed to bringing the same authentic storytelling and musical magic that I’ve always shared, just in a new format.
I want to create a space where we can all be our authentic selves - whether that’s a half-elf bard with a mysterious past, someone dealing with their own “curses,” or just folks looking for genuine connection and beautiful music.
To everyone I met at OffKai who welcomed me so warmly, who answered my endless questions about OBS and avatar rigging, who made me feel like I belonged even when I was clearly the most analog person in a very digital space - thank you. You changed my life in ways you’ll probably never know.
A Promise 🪕
I promise to honor both worlds I now inhabit. I’ll never forget the taverns where I learned to perform, the roads that taught me resilience, or the lessons learned from wandering alone. But I’m also embracing this new adventure with all the wonder and excitement it deserves.
This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to share this journey with all of you. Whether you find me in a cozy tavern corner or in a digital stream, the music will always be real, the stories will always be honest, and the welcome will always be warm.
Here’s to new beginnings, unexpected magic, and the courage to let ourselves be seen - curse and all.
With gratitude and excitement for what’s to come,
HanbunMimica 🪕🔮
P.S. - If you see a slightly confused half-elf asking basic questions about streaming software, that’s probably me. Please be patient while I learn to navigate this magical new world! And if you have any song requests, you know where to find me. ✨