IronFistCon 2019

[JewellRavenlock]

Dates: December 6th & 7th
Time: 8:00am-5:00pm
Location: RhyDin Convention Center

The RhyDin Convention Center is all set (and dried out!) for IronFistCon. The main floor is full of booths while the variety of panels, workshops, and meet and greets are held in different halls and conference rooms throughout the center.

Everyone entering the convention is given a free t-shirt!* Several people started a competition to see how many dueling stars they could get to sign their t-shirt before the end of the convention.

Attendees are encouraged to cosplay for the event! There’s a photobooth to take a picture, memorializing your costume and giving cosplayers an entry into the IronFist Cosplay Contest!** The winner of the contest at the end of the convention will have their likeness carved into one of the Iron Fist Garden’s hedges!



((*The free t-shirt will be an icon! To get one, post your character attending any part of the convention to this thread.

**To take part in the IronFist Cosplay Contest, post a costume to this thread. Entries will be voted on with an anonymous poll!

This is a completely vapored/board event.))

[JewellRavenlock]

VENDOR BOOTHS

Real RhyDin Pies
Sponsored by Bak’d. Mellie Triste, Bakery Manager, will sell specialty Real RhyDin Pies.

Hope Naharis: Turtle Pumpkin Pie
Jewell Ravenlock: Blueberry Crumble Pie
Gren Blockman: Apple & Goji Berry Pie
Eden Parker: Cherry Cola Slab Pie
Gloria Blaze: Simple Strawberry Pie
Kheldar Drasinia: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
Michelle Monotya: Coconut-Lemongrass Lemon Meringue Pie

Bobblehead Bonanza
Specializing in bobbleheads of many famous sports stars! Want a mini Jake Thrash for your desktop? How about a Candy Hart for your car? Bobblehead Bonanza also sells other toys for the kiddos.

John’s Beans
Lima Beans are the perfect food. Ethically sourced and grown locally. Come find out how you can increase your fighting edge with an all bean diet.

Beyond the Veil
A booth for those who like to drink and drink and drink and drink and drink and and drink and fight.

Beyond the Veil is the premium spot for goods imported from Faerie. Focusing chiefly on different spirits, word on the street is that other items (including performance enhancing pixie dust) may be obtained if the price is right.

Black Magic Burger
Black Magic Burger is bringing back some of its favorite retired duelist burgers for the duration of IronFistCon 2019, and introducing an extremely limited edition burger in honor of everyone’s favorite sentient piece of luggage, Olaf Von Trunk! Get your Von Trunk Clutterburger, Yeardley Owens, Eden Parker, Bailey Raptis, or Rachael Blackthorne burgers and show your support for these IFL competitors!

The Crown: Real RhyDin Swag
The Real RhyDin Ultimate Fan Experience™ is running a booth bursting with Real RhyDin Swag. They’ve got Sugar Snatch underwear; Eden Parker adult cozy onesies (with wings!); Hope Naharis workout clothes line; OverBaker cookware line; Gloria’s Goblet of Opal Fire; punching bags with Kheldar’s face; Gren’s Grow a Forest kit and much much more (think pillow cases with your favorite teammate’s face on it and RR toothbrushes). Empress Diamond Jewell Ravenlock will be present from 3pm to 5pm each day for photographs and autographs.

Deathcake Paraphernalia
A booth run by volunteers from the Deathcake PR team, set up with various merchandise featuring the Deathcake signature skull and crossbones logo. T-shirts, hats, mugs, beer steins, shot glasses, Deathcake cupcake plushies, wallets, wrist bands, keychains, chokers, charms, blankets, pillow cases, posters, and so much more! Pre-signed autographed collector’s cards from team members of the past and present will be given away with each purchase. Current Kiowa Belt holder Canaan Devillier will be present from 2 to 4 PM for photo opportunities.

Sassy Owl Saloon & Hangman Distillery
Pub fare food and craft drinks featuring Sassy Owl’s menu and Hangman’s booze lineup, patrons can eat their fill and pick up Team Dirty paraphernalia from IFLs past, sold by staff from the two eateries. There might even still be a limited edition Al Tan banana hammock from the 2013 season. No guarantees that it is in new/unused condition. Otherwise pick up jerseys, hats, tank tops, and Dirty branded Hangman Distillery shot glasses. A limited run (50 bottles) Hangman Black & Blue Bourbon (featuring a hint of blackberry and blueberry flavoring) will be available for purchase. Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

[JewellRavenlock]

FRIDAY

Fielding New Talent Panel (Friday, 8:30am)
Hosted by Bob Finkle from RhyDin Sports Network

A discussion of the challenges, risks, and benefits of fielding new talent in team sports. The panel will include participation from Hope Naharis (Real RhyDin); Jewell Ravenlock (Real RhyDin); Xanth VanBokkelen (Kings Gambit); Lauren Burton (Deathcake PR spokesperson); Matt Simon (Team Fist); and Rachael Blackthorne (Warrior Force).

25 Years of Diamond Quests Retrospective (Friday, 10:00am)
Hosted by Matt Simon, Kheldar Drasinia, and Jewell Ravenlock

The staff of Duel of Fists sit down to discuss the past 25 years of Diamond Quests in preparation of the upcoming Diamond Quest 100. There will be a discussion by staff members of notable Diamond Quests from the past followed by a Q&A session.

Real RhyDin Meet and Greet (Friday, 12:00pm)
This is a VIP Tickets only event where fans can enjoy a semi-private Meet and Greet with the current Real RhyDin team. No reporters allowed. Photo booth, horderves, and drinks provided.

Women of IFL Panel (Friday, 2:00pm)
Moderated by Bridgett Holm

This panel will feature many female fighters from current and past IFL seasons. Included in the discussion will be: Claire Gallows (Team Dirty), Jin Chae (Chae Dynasty), Michelle Montoya (Real RhyDin), Jewell Ravenlock (Real RhyDin), Eden Parker (Real RhyDin), Koyliak VanDuran-Simon (Team Fist), Eva Luna (Royal Rabble), Dizzy Flores (Warrior Force), Juliane Smith (Warrior Force).

They will be sharing some of their personal triumphs as well as discussing the pitfalls of being a female fighter in a male dominated league. They will also be sharing tips and tricks for young girls interested in a future of fist-fighting.

Keeping Your Head on Straight: Concussions and You (Friday, 4:00pm)
A seminar by Sandra Caramel about the nature of sports-related concussions. The seminar will cover the causes, effects and the danger of sports-related concussions as well as how to take precautions against them.

[JewellRavenlock]

SATURDAY

We Are the Crown: 2017 Championship Retrospective with Returning Real RhyDin Members (Saturday, 8:00am)
Hosted by Lexi Abrham

Returning Captain Hope Naharis, Assistant Captain Jewell Ravenlock, and team members Gren Blockman, Eden Parker, and Kheldar Drasinia take the stage to talk about what lead them to victory in 2017 and how they’re hoping to have a repeat performance this season.

Out Of Your League: IFL Fashion (Saturday, 10:00am)
Hosted by Jelani Motiri of Brix in Babel

RhyDin Wear Daily sponsors a fashion show inspired by the fighters of IFL and fashionable athletes throughout the ages. After the runway show a special panel of designers will comment on the break-throughs and faux-pas of IFL Fashion throughout the seasons, and who is setting the trends in IFL 2019.

Feminine Wiles: A Workshop (Saturday, 10:00am)
Hosted by Jewell Ravenlock (Real RhyDin)

A hands-on workshop about using feminine wiles and appeal to gain the advantage in a fight. Topics discussed will include (but are not limited to): dressing appropriately for a fight, how to take advantage of physical contact with an opponent without provoking a sexual harassment complaint, and strategizing outside the ring.

IFL Anonymous: How to Fight When Nobody Knows Who You Are (Saturday, 12:00pm)
Moderated by Lauren Burton of the Deathcake PR Team

Deathcake veteran Rekah Illyriana joins her fellow girl squad teammates Saila DeFortes, Bettle the Goblin, and Yeardley Owens in a refreshing open discussion about what it's like to be the unknown entity on a celebrity team, and how to use being underestimated to make things interesting. First fifty attendees get a free Deathcake cupcake and a limited edition "and those other guys" poster autographed by the team.

For Show vs. For Fun (Saturday, 2:00pm)
Hosted by Saila DeFortes (Deathcake)

From the Stage to the Ring and Back Again: Théâtre Allumé Director, veteran actress and circus tumbler Saila DeFortes gets real about how she managed to parlay years of stage combat and performance art experience into an unexpectedly interesting fighting debut, earning her spot as the Heartbreaker of the Iron Fist in her inaugural performance.

Arm Wrestle A Giant (Saturday, 4:00pm)
Hosted by Lillthinia Alvirez

In a roped off square outside the main building a large, sturdy table is set up for fans to try and arm wrestle Runt of Team Fist. The only rule is no magic! Winners will receive a free, signed “I Wrestled A Giant” tee-shirt with the Team Fist logo on the back.

Cosplay Contest (All Day Friday & Saturday)
Run by the RhyDin Sports Network

Come dressed up as your favorite dueler! Prizes will be awarded to the top three cosplayers.

[JC]

Already attending the Con for the sake of the Women of IFL Panel, Jin brought 1 year old Kenji along on Saturday and dressed him up for the cosplay contest.

She put the little dude in a brown bomber jacket, aviator glasses, and even colored his dark hair bright blue. It smelled a bit like blue raspberry kool-aid though, so it wasn't like she had actually dyed a toddler's hair. But in the end, Kenji Chae had plenty of fun dressing up as Harris D'Artainian <TOP>.

[JewellRavenlock]

During the very slim window when Jewell wasn't involved in panels or at the Real RhyDin swag booth, she and Sapphire sported matching cosplay outfits on the convention floor.

Jewell went as Kalamere Ar'Din, 16th Overlord of the Duel of Swords. She had a long cloak, glamoured her hair blonde, and carried around some matching daggers as well as a bottle of scotch and a bookie notebook.



Sapphire went as Dead Jewell, 110th Overlord of the Duels of Swords. She wore a shirt with a blood spot on it and a dagger sticking out of the side paired with high heels, a scepter, and a crown. She had a name sticker that said "Empress Overlady May Queen" on it.

[XanthVanBokkelen]

After the “Fielding New Talent” Panel, the orc and goblin fans of King’s Gambit that had assembled to listen to Xanth Van Bokkelen’s perspective, got into a shouting match over who was the better (and hotter) fighter, Sophia Song or Xiaofan Li. One of Sophia’s goblin fans grabbed a Xiaofan sign and broke the wooden handle across his knee, which caused one of Xiaofan’s orcs to rip the head off a Sophia plushie doll, instigating a full blown riot that took out a funnel cake stand, two t-shirt booths, and a sanitizer dispenser. Security was able to disperse the raucous crowd, but the war between Team Sophia and Team Xiaofan shows no sign of abating.

Despite all this, King’s Gambit merchandise continued to sell, including Sophia Song CD’s and MP3’s, as well as Xiaofan Folding Fans. Life-size posters of both fighters were available and almost instantly sold out. There is a rumor that a special item will be for sale should King’s Gambit reach the playoffs, but no official word as of yet.

[Bailey Raptis]

IronFistCon attendees hoping that Bailey might show up for the first time this Iron Fists League season were disappointed when, perhaps predictably, the former Archmage did not show up for any of the events. In his place, however, his loyal statue proxy, Proxinho, did make an appearance at the event.

The marble mannequin statue did their best to cosplay as Eden Parker from Real RhyDin. Their usual white marble had been transformed to pink stone, and they wore a red crewneck sweatshirt with a sunglasses-wearing pineapple on the front. Several Christmas bulbs and a bright holiday star hung from the fruit's leafy crown. Two holes had been cut out of the back of the sweatshirt to accommodate a pair of (fake) shimmery wings resembling a dragonfly's.

Since they didn't really need to eat or drink, Proxinho skipped the food booths in favor of the merch ones: they browsed the bobbleheads, tried to convince the Real RhyDin booth operator to give them an Eden Parker onesie for free, got their picture taken with Deathcake's Canaan Devillier, and pawed over the Team Dirty jerseys at the Sassy Owl Saloon's table. Their attempts to sweet-talk the bouncer into letting them into the Real RhyDin Meet and Greet failed, but they could be spotted in the audience Saturday at the We Are the Crown, IFL Fashion, and For Show vs. For Fun sessions.

[Hope]

In between braving the booths and participating in the various team exercises Hope had time to devise a few different looks to surprise the crowd and her teammates alike. The first was a popular Mage Emeritus who visited the Feminine Wiles and IFL Anonymous booths.



Lem DeAngelo was a pretty great hit to start the shenanigans.

Once the wise wizard vanished the next up was a staggering traveler who smelled vaguely of alcohol. He kept going on about something or another in an Irish accent. He swore he could fight even though he was stumbling between For Show vs. For Fun and Arm Wrestle a Giant.



Mur Ollavan made his appearance as another Beatdown legend amongst the con. He may have even been spotted performing a few spinkicks for the crowds.

Hope had been seen Friday wearing some peculiar leathers dragging around a large barrel of ale but had abandoned it not long after. Her initial cosplay was tossed in the trash on arrival when she deemed it offensive.



Maybe her Jake cosplay would be ready by the next convention. Maybe not.

[JewellRavenlock]

Jewell went to Saturday as her fabulous self until after the Feminine Wiles workshop. Then she put on.. a pirate outfit and glamoured her hair blonde?


When people asked, she just told them that she was a prettier Teagan. When Jewell was questioned by the press about Michelle, she deflected. When she was asked about her relationship with Saila and Harris, she responded enigmatically. "I'll never forget the night we spent on Harris's yacht. It was truly special."


Sapphire went as Rakeesh.

[Michelle Montoya]

Despite recent events, Mellie Triste from Bak'd sold out of every pie (except the Michelle Montoya) on both Friday and Saturday.

The Overbaker herself was absent from Friday's panel: Women of IFL and the Real RhyDin Meet and Greet. PR agent Lexi Abrham made a brief statement at the beginning of the convention: Unfortunately, Ms. Montoya will not be attending IFLCon this year, but she will be participating in the rest of the IFL Season. The Real RhyDin team and support staff are doing their best to rally around Ms. Montoya and support her during this difficult time. Any communications or requests for information can be sent to our Public Relations department.

A group of fans - or hecklers - dressed up as Michelle Montoya for the convention sporting slime-stained Real RhyDin jackets, seaweed hair, and webbed feet. During the convention, a series of pamphlets began to circulate amongst small groups. When questioned by security, the pamphlets would disappear or turn into harmless itineraries for the convention.

Rumours say the pamphlets were titled "Rise of R'lyeh: The Dawn of a New Age"

[KhaoticBliss]

Conspicuously absent from Friday's festivities, Saila barely made it to the first of her two back to back panels on time. Dressed in her customary black on black, she wore one of her now-trademarked homemade Deathcake "jerseys", a rainbow cupcake outlined on the front and the number 624 on the back. Between her shoulder blades, where her own name should have been, today's shirt said: Entertaining to Watch.

Her hurried contribution to dressing up like other IFL fighters was as tongue in cheek as it was blatantly obvious: Saila's signature waist length, traffic-stoppingly purple locks had become bright-freaking-blue.



Which only left one real question: Was it a tribute to Jewell, or to Harris? The rumor mill had, after all, recently linked the Heartbreaker of the Iron Fist to both legendary athletes.

...A rumor both the Empress and the Rookie were apparently doing everything they could to exacerbate, considering Jewell's sensational answers to the press, and the steamy smooch the temporarily twinned titans shared "for luck" just moments before Saila's stand alone For Show vs. For Fun panel. The pair were later spotted arm in arm as they toured the vendor hall together, looking very cute and cozy even though their teams are squared against one another this week.

When the press finally caught up with the mercurial wildcard at the Deathcake Paraphernalia booth where she'd stopped to sign a couple of limited edition ...And Those Other Guys posters for the fans and to pose for a handful of pictures with Kiowa Belt Winner and rumored goblin owner Canaan DeVillier, Saila just grinned, rolling her shoulders in an enigmatic shrug.

"Watch us and see."

[Lisa Takamine]

“I certainly don’t want to go to it. The past two weeks have been a collective shit storm. I am this close,” Lisa held too claws up tightly together, “To ripping someone or something's throat out. DO YOU HEAR ME?!?!”

The handmaidens shrunk back from the she-wolf’s explosive outburst, while Raymond (Lisa and Nayun’s oldest) gave a small sound of stirring from his nap.

Nayun looked on passively and continued to idly rock Liyun’s bassinet. “I would rather be training.”

Lisa snapped her claws and gestured to her wife before she was hiking up the silks of her kimono as she started towards Raymond across the room, as if to say See?!?

“But I think you two will have to serve as my eyes and ears for the event,” Lisa’s voice was calmer with a honeyed tone as Raymond was scooped up into her arms and held close. “You can even enter that costume contest they have going on.”

“But my lady ---” a protest was nearly cut off as a pair of ice blue eyes slowly turned over towards them. One gulped, “We don’t have costumes ready.”

“Don’t you worry about that. I have an idea.”

* * * * * * *
The Handmaidens showed up to Saturday’s events dressed as Lisa and Nayun Takamine. “Nayun” of course remained silent and stoic for the most part, while “Lisa” did her best to live up to the she-wolf’s attitude.

As they arrived, the valet attempted to take Lisa’s keys from her, but she gave them a haughty look and a Drift Queen member suddenly showed up to take the keys as she could be heard saying, “You will not be driving my car.”

When one convention attendee walked up to the pair and appeared to recognize the woman, she took a long pull of her pipe and blew a cloud of smoke into their face asking, “Are you even on staff dove?”

Lisa


Nayun

[JewellRavenlock]

After the 25 Years of Diamond Quest retrospective discussion, the session opened up to questions from the crowd. The moderator pointed to a local journalist for the first one. "Jordan Stein from Woke RhyDin. I'm sure we're all wondering, what exactly happened at Diamond Quest 99? We all know The Empress took the win, but we've heard numerous reports of trouble with the Opals. Can you tell us more about that?"

Clearing his throat while glancing between Kheldar and Jewell, Matt responded to the question. “Something did happen, yes, but I don't know that I'd necessarily quantify it as ‘trouble’. I can say it was readily apparent that Gren had some difficulty keeping ShadoWeaver in check during the event. I don't think that's in question.”

"So it's just a coincidence that Mr. Runt also had trouble with PathFinder at the same time?" another journalist--a woman with severe painted eyebrows--asked archly.

“I didn't say that. I said I didn't know that I'd quantify what transpired as ‘trouble’, which is the word Mr. Stein used in his question.”

“No one was injured, nothing was even damaged as far as I remember.” The big man agreed with Matt.

Jewell listened quietly as Stein spoke up again, "But wasn't Mr. Simon injured?"

"And who is to say people won't be injured the next time?" someone further back shouted out.

"Do any of you even know what happened?" eyebrow woman questioned.

The faerie leaned forward to address that last question, "We believe that the Opals were reacting and drawing on a spike of elemental energy at the time."

"Finishing third and then challenging for an Opal before the end of the night are not exactly the actions someone who was injured." Kheldar countered.

“You believe? Where'd you come up with that theory?” Matt asked after nodding at Kheld's salient point.

The reporter's response about just how he knew Matt had been injured was swallowed up as several other members of the crowd--press and fans alike--shouted follow up questions. "If the Opals are drawing elemental energy, what's to stop them from doing it again?"

"What were they trying to accomplish?"

"Is this tied to rumors we heard of Opal holders having nightmares earlier this year?"

"What if they try again at DQ 100?"

"What are you going to do to stop them?"

Matt raised his hand at the cacophony of queries, “Look, we don't have all the answers. We've reached out to experienced and knowledgeable resources throughout the city to help find those answers.”

"And while you're waiting for answers, what are you doing about it? Is it even safe to hold DQ 100?" A stir of panic rippled over the crowd at the question.

"We will make sure it's safe," Jewell reassured the crowd as she leaned forward to speak into the microphone. "There are ways to block access to elemental energy, if we determine that is what they're doing."

"And when are you going to do that? DQ 100 is quickly coming up!" There were several nods from the crowd at that.

The faerie glanced to Matt and Kheld discreetly before flashing the crowd her most winning smile. "We're already on it."

((Co-written with Jewell, Kheld, and Matt))