JourneyQuest | Rilk ‘s Wolf Back Skewers

Welcome back fans of or soon-to-be-fans of JourneyQuest!

For those just joining us, JourneyQuest is a web series that follows (as creator Matt Vancil puts it): “a group of dysfunctional adventurers on a quest to discover and destroy the mythical Sword of Fighting. JOURNEYQUEST is a comedic adventure through the fantasy world of Fartherall, where intellectual orcs, incompetent wizards, and holy zombies form the living (and not-so-living) backdrop to an epic story of unrequited love, burning passions, and severely reluctant heroism. And running away. Lots of running away …”

If you thought some of those faces look familiar, it’s because JourneyQuest is also the collaborative creation of Zombie Orpheus Entertainment and Dead Gentlemen Productions. These studios are well known for their D&D fan films The Gamers and The Gamers 2: Dorkness Rising, as well as the supernatural comedic Demon Hunters franchise.

Last year I created recipes for Pineapple Tarts and Raspberry Scones inspired by Wren Birdsong and Perf the Wizard’s visits with the Oracle during Season 3. The reason why I’m revisiting this series is that one, there’s another Oracle recipe from the upcoming season. And two, JourneyQuest Season 4’s Kickstarter is up, running, and needs funding to keep this hilariously excellent story alive.

So let’s take a sneak peek into what we have to look forward to in Season 4, as well as how we got there with a recipe for “Wolf Back” Skewers inspired by Rilk, the Orcish Fighter!

Click here to skip to the recipe for Rilk’s “Wolf Back” Skewers.

Rilkean Heart

Rilk plays a unique role in JourneyQuest’s story. We’ve seen how fate subverts the tropes in the story on multiple occasions, where nothing follows the expected script of an epic. In any other story in the Fatherall universe, Rilk would be a nameless orc destined to fight and die in a random encounter with the adventuring party.

However, we soon learn that Rilk is not a side character. He is a protagonist in not one, but in the collision of three separate stories: his, Perf the Wizard’s, and Wren Birdsong the Bard’s. As the leader of an orcish war band, seeking vengeance against Glorion the Orcslayer, he is the hero in his own story. He also suffers an internal conflict between love and duty when he meets Wren.

In Season 4 we will even see his self-sacrificing nature towards the greater good during his encounter with the Oracle. He asks no questions about his favorite snack or questions about his destiny. All Rilk asks for is the information he needs to get what he needs to do done.

I’ll be very interested to see where Season 4 takes our green-skinned hero with a heart of gold.

My Rilk – Shakes Bring All the Orcs to the Bard

When JourneyQuest writer Matt Vancil and actor/director Christian Doyle first told me about this dish last Gen Con, they mentioned Wolf Back is an “orcish delicacy” and that it’s similar to flank steak. When I watched the Season 3.5 footage of Rilk’s Oracle encounter, it looked like chunks of either sirloin or ribeye on a stick.

So my assignment was obvious: red meat on a stick. I just then had to figure out what made it taste like “wolf back” and what made it an orcish delicacy. In a move I never thought I would do, I looked up what wolf and dog taste like. My research revealed that Wolf smells like death, but tastes decent if cooked properly—though its likely chock full of parasites. Dog, however, tastes like a gloriously meaty combination of beef and mutton–so I’ve read.

I went with skirt steak since it’s similar to flank steak. It’s a little stringier–so lean like a wolf’s flesh, but doesn’t take nearly as long to marinate and tenderize as flank steak does. It also contains more fat to carry and marry the notes in the recipe. To infuse it with that dog-like flavor, I marinated it in some lamb stock concentrate.

Then I needed to incorporate some ingredients likely found near forest-dwelling orc villages. Rosemary, juniper, and mustard grow wild in forest environments. I chose to include all three. Since juniper berries are commonly found in grocery stores, though, I went with the better thing. Who wants a little gin with their barbecue?

Gin is a bit harsh, though, so I chose to sweeten it up with some honey. The honey also adds a nice bit of caramelization during grilling. I used a grill pan for this recipe since it’s been like a rainforest out here lately, though. Feel free to up the authenticity by grilling outdoors or even an open fire. Just make sure to soak your skewers or rosemary stalks in water for at least an hour to keep them from charring.

Renew JQ!

So before we scroll on to the written recipe below, I want to bring up something important.

Did I mention that JourneyQuest is raising funds for its Season 4 Kickstarter? There are about 20 days left, and if you want more episodes of reluctant wizards, plucky bards, and sexy orcs, Zombie Orpheus Productions needs your help.

Shall I sweeten the deal for you? Well, I’ve been asked to not only create this recipe but three additional recipes exclusive to Kickstarter. That’s right. You won’t be able to get these on my blog, my Patreon, or my Ko-Fi. The only way you can get access to this bevy of Fatherall Feast items is to support the Kickstarter, then complete the “Ask the Oracle” challenge detailed there.

Also, I should probably mention that more support means more videos like these. Brian S. Lewis (the actor who plays the role of Carrow) asked to film himself and the actors cooking their characters’ recipes. This one, featuring Jesse Lee Keeter (Rilk), is the first of three.

Enjoy that film? Good. The written recipe is below.

recipe

SKEWEEERS!!